Yikes!

I went to the "Messages" section of my account but when I tried to open some posts, Multiply said they either did not exist anymore or the owners hid them. So before I allowed myself to feel down, I checked my contacts. Luckily, they have not ejected me. I guess Multiply is just not working right. I hope everything gets repaired, though.

"SA UGOY NG DUYAN" (with English translation)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Music
Genre:	Other
Artist:	Lucio San Pedro/Levi Celerio

I do not know how to classify this. It is classical for me, but it hardly classifies as such in international standards. It maybe folk or maybe country.

The song Ugoy ng Duyan, literally translated to "the swaying of the hammock", was composed by Lucio San Pedro and the lyrics were by Levi Celerio, both National Artists whose memories will live on long after their death in 2003. More than a year ago, I saw an article about this song. It was actually made while one of the artists (or maybe both) were traveling by water and they/he had the inspiration as they/he felt the lulling of the waves.

What is the song about? Mainly, it is the love and longing a child feels for his mother who has either been long gone, or still alive but, you know, one really misses the simplest times in his life. It is deep and moving and, if you're the mushy type, may make you want to cry...

However, my research before brought me to the discovery that the song is not only about the mother-and-child relationship, but is rather more of the nationalistic nature. Still, it is not the nationalistic part that gets to a lot of people, but the mother-and-child bonding that makes you want to go back to those good ol' days.

Different artists have recorded the song, most recently Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, and Aiza Seguerra. Find them and compare, if you have the time.

Below are the lyrics. After it is the translation I made. I didn't make it so literal so as not to make it too corny or maybe even cheap. I also shortened it and made it as a poem so that it wouldn't sound very repetitive:


SA UGOY NG DUYAN

Sana'y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Sana'y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Refrain:

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala, ang tanod ko'y bituin
Sa piling ni Nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan.

Sana'y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan.

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala, ang tanod ko'y bituin
Sa piling ni Nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan.

Nais kong matulog sa dating duyan ko, Inay
Oh! Inay...


LULLING CRADLE

Those good old days, I pray won't fade
When I was young and in Mother's care
Oh, to hear dear Mother's lullaby again
The song of love as she rocked my cradle.

In my deep and peaceful slumber
The stars watch over me in vigil
Life was like heaven in the arms of Mother
Now my heart longs for the lulling cradle.

Those good old days, I pray won't fade
When I was young and in Mother's care
Oh, to hear dear Mother's lullaby again
The song of love as she rocked my cradle.

Lull me, Mother, in my dear old cradle
Oh, Mother.


Translation Copyright © J.Gi Federizo

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DISCLAIMER: The translation above should not, in any way, be taken as an official translation. It is only a translation I made so that people will understand. However, please do not just copy off and not give credit or link here.

UPDATE: Also, I am mentioning this as I am finding out now (October 2016) that my version is being copied and mistaken as the official translation. It is not and is probably not even the best translation out there…Thanks for understanding.

MY DECEMBER AFFAIRS

Okay, so while the brooding side of me wanted to be brooding during the Christmas season, I did decide to make my Christmas merry. So I tried not to be sad even though I very much knew it was my last month at my job.

Wasn't really that hard. I have very wonderful friends that just the thought of having them, and knowing that even other people understood why I did what I had to do without telling them the story, eclipsed the anger that I felt every time I saw Someone's face.

I didn't even have any exit interview. I guess that was because the Human Resources Dept. Head actually already knew my real reasons for leaving, plus she liked me (well, I think). Besides, there were stories/complaints about the certain Someone that indirectly backed me up.

The nasty side of me is actually laughing at her. I know that her blind ambition is going to be her downfall. Judging by what's been happening, it might come sooner, maybe she'll never know what hit her. Still, I sincerely hope she'll mend her ways...But, man, I'd love to be there when she falls right on her face! (I am sooooo bad!)

Anyway, at the school's Christmas party, the former HRD Head attended. After, I saw him at my friend's office and a bit drunk that he was, he pulled and draped an arm around me like we were close, saying, "Oh, this girl, they just don't realize her potential. I remember her, etcetera, etcetera..." My friend told him, "Sir, she resigned." So he went on with his speech about me being this kid with potential, etcetera. Really flattered me. I knew he said something positive about me before, as another friend revealed, but I never knew he thought more highly of me like that.

The good news was/is, he got my number and offered to call me for a possible job. The bad news are: One - he still hasn't called. But probably because it's their Christmas vacation, too. Two - Either he was only drunk at the time and didn't know what he promised, or he was just being nice,...Well, que sera, sera, "whatever will be, will be". Now, my real problem is whether I will like the possible job he might give me (or refer me for) or not, and will I be up to expectations?

Our house...NOT!!! I wish!!!

Going back to Christmas, I was surprised to find our barrio sparkling with Christmas lights along the way when I got home one Saturday night. I shook my head in disbelief, thinking "Just when the power rates went up, they do this!" But that wasn't really the surprise. When the tricycle stopped at our house, I laughed...Our place was sparklingly shining, shimmering and splendid as well! Like I had never seen it before! It was a scene directly out of the Twilight Zone.

We always put up lights every December, but my mother had outdone herself this time. Of course, I scolded her a bit about the impracticality of it. But of course, I got scoffed at and I shut my mouth, LOL!!! There's a funny saying here: Mahirap magpalaki ng magulang. It means "It's hard raising parents." Ha ha!!!!!

On a more serious note, it was a shocking thing when the news of the tsunamis reached us. That was one thing that made me regret not having a job now. If I still have money, maybe I could be of more help. The only thing I can do now is to donate some clothes. Good thing that there are still some left in my locker at the boarding house.

I took some from home to donate to the typhoon victims here. The school collected the donations. Then the night after they brought the donations to their destinations or to whomever the task was given, I had the urge to clean up and arrange the stuff in my locker at the boarding house only to find out I had more clothes stuffed in there. I thought, "Dang! These should have been donated, too, if I only knew." But now, I think I know where I can use them.

December also brought in something else. I met someone. Not exactly how I'd like to meet "someone", but he was persistent. Besides, I'm thinking of the phrase "Sometimes, some things happen in unexpected places or ways." So I've decided to give him a try because, you know, you never know. Of course, we're still in the getting-to-know-you stage.

I'm not sure if he will really like me enough to pursue anything. More importantly, I'm not sure if I will really like him enough to let him pursue. Right now, I'm really just not that decided if I'm interested, and I think, so is he. We'll see what happens. Maybe this January, we'll see. Let's just say I'm playing a whole, new ball game.

Oh well, it's January. Year of the Rooster. Feng shui says it's not my year, so I've heard. But guess what? I really don't believe in such things. Maybe next New Year's, I'll be frying that rooster to ashes. :)

MY GROWN-UP (AND NOT-SO-GROWN-UP) CHRISTMAS LIST

Just for fun...

Stuff that I wish I got when was a kid:

Formal voice lessons.

More books other than those required in school.

Membership in the school rondalla (I did have the chance but since the music maestra scared me, I quit before I got in so I lost the chance to learn how to play the guitar (hey, I was young!).

More encouragement from teachers.

Stuff that I wish I got this Christmas, however impossible some maybe:

Keyboard for my laptop. The built-in keyboard tends to have the number eight (8),"I", "K", and comma stuck, a common problem with laptops of the same model. So rather than have it fixed for a not-so-cheap price and encounter the same problem again, better have a detachable keyboard...I did give a hint, willing to get just one gift if they chipped in for it, LOL!!!

Copies of Harry Potter 2 & 3 (don't have those yet).

The book Anne of Avonlea (that's the only one missing in my Anne of Green Gables series).

Those in my Market List. Well, my director-teacher-friend recently e-mailed that she has bought books and VCDs for me in the U.S. Just hope she remembered my request for her to find the Dutch recording of Romeo & Juliet or its French DVD, and a DVD of CATS.

DVD Player. I wished I'd win one in the raffle, but one already rich Dept. Head won it, shoot...I did win a VCD player before that didn't really work, and I was one of the winners of a Honda car two years ago...We sold that and each got PhP 30,000. Bought a component from that money.

Tickets to HIMALA The Musical and Lea Salonga's Home For Christmas concert (lost both chances already).

Ticket to the Martin Nievera and Patti Austin January 29 concert (I love Patti!).

A chance to watch the Phantom Of The Opera movie.

A performance in the aborted Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production.

Wishes to get in the future, however impossible they sound (Hey, dreams are free!):

A good job soon.

Those in the "Stuff that I wish I got this Christmas" list.

A new USB port for my laptop in place of the one I destroyed (don't ask how).

Modem, of course.

Cellphone with a camera, whatever model, don't care if it's cheapest.

A chance to go out of the country, but not for work.

Join in an episode of Sports Unlimited, enjoy, and maybe kiss Marc Nelson (woo-hoo!), or at least, their cute guest Tim. [UPDATE 2016: I'm over these guys]

Watch Lea Salonga and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo again.

Watch a production of CATS (bonus if the players are my faves).

Watch, see, and meet Veerle Casteleyn.

Wishes for all of us:

Cliche, but sincere - World peace. End war, now!

Peace for the souls - living or non-living - that suffered during and/or after the typhoons that hit the Philippines, the tsunamis that killed thousands in Asia, the hurricanes in Florida, the earthquakes in different parts of the world...Please offer prayers for them. It doesn't matter what religion you have.

Health and prosperity. For myself, my friends, my loved ones, and all good people.

THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

Well, I wished NOT to receive any more bags, wallets, scented candles, and figurines this Christmas. So of course, aside from other stuff, I got one cute violet bag (which suits my personality...also won a mesh bag in a raffle), a nice enough blue wallet, two scented candles (one was from our exchange gift-giving), and four figurines. Argh.

Ha ha! Of course, I'm thankful, don't think me ungrateful. I actually like them. Well, except for the wallet. It's just that I have so many of them already that I either don't get to use them for a long time or there is not much space anymore where I can put them. Like a cellphone case. I only have one cheap cellphone and now my cases number to five! LOL!!! A new cellphone would be nice ;p Would you believe I have a collection of mugs without even trying to collect? I probably bought just one of them, the rest, given to me every Christmas, except this year.

But seriously, I appreciate all of them because they came from friends' hearts...Well almost all of them. I did something that will surely land me in Santa's naughty list next year. I gave away the wallet. Why? I don't think I can actually take a gift from an enemy [Ed. We're not enemies anymore, just not friends either]. No, it wasn't some kind of peace-offering, in case anyone suggests it. She gave me a gift just because it's common office practice.

How can you forgive someone who is actually threatening not to sign your clearance form if you don't finish something that she told you to do when there was not much time already? And she didn't even have the guts to tell it to my face. That coward.

Anyway, I got less than what I got these past years simply because I just wasn't visible and important enough this year. But I'm not complaining. I understand that first and foremost, people don't have money these days. Take me, for instance.

My friends know me as a generous Santa, yet this year, not one of them received any gift from me. I only bought gifts for my godchildren, all nine of them, and my parents. Still, my real friends loved me and gave me nice gifts even when they knew I wasn't going to give them anything back, and made my last Christmas party with them very memorable.

...Aww...I miss them already!

Not so Christmas-sy...

Darn. My disk drive doesn't seem to be working. I wanted to save something I typed in a diskette, about gifts I got. Also, I prepared a wish list...They will have to wait, then.

Okay, I didn't really exert that much effort, but I did try to be merry this Christmas. But how can I do that when here and there, disaster strikes?...Please, pray for our Asian brothers and sisters. The recent tragedy is simply overwhelming. Please, include them in your prayers and your wishes...

Anyway, maybe I won't be able to log in again till next week so before I lose the chance to greet them, I still would like to greet each of my friends, Abby and Joey, a Happy Birthday :) Yes, let us try to still smile despite everything...

Well...

Typed something last night for posting here but decided not to. Too whine-y, now that I think about it. Anyway, at least I was able to log in today 'cause it's Sunday and since I was going to buy a copy of a national daily anyway, decided to come here for a while and read some stuff. Funny, but yesterday, I thought it was Friday until I saw the shows on TV and realized my mind was a day late!

Will probably post more one of these days. Until then, enjoy your holidays, kids! ;p

Okay, before I forget....

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!

I may not be able to log in for a while so don't be surprised if you don't feel my presence, he he....But I will log in one of these days (for sure, my inbox would be so full, but what the hey) and fill you in about my days and maybe add "junk stories/poems" to infiltrate your inboxes...and that's a threat!!!! ;p

*kisses and hugs*

~Li'l Dovey~

Before I go home...

I slept the whole morning today because I woke up not feeling good. My throat is all parched up for some reason. Then I bathed and then arranged the stuff I brought from our office (I resigned, remember?). Goodness. Can't believe I had all of those! Going home later.

Meanwhile, am here, going through e-mails. After, will go to mall to go to FedEx and send a gift to godson. Then I eat (haven't yet eaten breakfast nor lunch and I can feel the hunger now) and then head home carrying the loot (gifts, he he) I received. Haven't opened them.

"Partying" alone...

He he, not really. After the party, we left at 8 p.m.

I went to the mall to check out if they're showing Phantom of the Opera already. Cursed under my breath. No, it's not being shown, not today, not tomorrow, not in the very near future, it seems. Ugh! I hate that! So went to department store to buy gifts for my parents. A nice beaded bracelet for Mame and a cap for Dade. Took me an hour to find and choose.

Went to 711 after and bought a bottle of San Miguel Beer Light Pale Pilsen (whatever pale pilsen means, but hey, it's "low calorie"). OMG. I sound like I love to drink. I don't. I'm not even really a social drinker either. Probably will get drunk fast if I let it. But I'm just in this stupidly sad mood. Anyway, I'm here now renting a computer, checking out entries and typing down mine, listening to songs from Romeo et Julia - van Haat tot Liefde, all songs in Dutch, as if I understand. But I love the music. And I imagine myself as Veerle Casteleyn.

Will be going back to the boarding house in a few minutes.