List of Filipino Christmas carols
This article lists Christmas carols sung by the Filipinos during local Christmas season. As with much Filipino music, some of these songs have their origins in the Spanish and American colonial periods, with others written as part of the OPM movement.
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit
Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon (English: Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year), popularly known as Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (English: Christmas is Coming), is a traditional Filipino Christmas song. It was originally composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil in 1933 as Kasadya ning Táknaa (English: How Blissful is this Season). A version of the song in Tagalog was used by Josefino Cenizal as a marching song for Ang Pugad ng Aguila ("Hawk's Nest") in 1938. National Artist Levi Celerio also wrote Tagalog lyrics to the song during the 1950s. The song is still sung today in various communities, especially in churches both in the Philippines and abroad.[1]
Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa (Cebuano)[2]
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Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (Tagalog)[3] | Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit/Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa (Bilingual)[4]
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Christmas Has Arrived (English)[4]
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Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa |
Ang Pasko ay sumapit |
Tagalog: |
Christmas has come |
Himig ng Pasko
This song was originally written and performed by APO Hiking Society; the opening line has become a popular allusion as it describes the Amihan, or cool, northeasterly trade winds that prevail around December.
Himig ng Pasko (Tagalog)
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Music of Christmas (English)[4]
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Malamíg ang simoy ng hangin |
The breeze of the cold air: |
Pasko Na Naman
Pasko Na Naman, starting with "Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw", is a popular Filipino Christmas carol, its words by Levi Celerio and music by Felipe P. de Leon.[5][6] This song is starting with "Pasko, Pasko Na Naman, Pasko Na Naman, Sa Ating Bayan", is a popular Filipino Christmas song composed and performed by Ramon "RJ" Jacinto.
Namamasko
Namamasko is part of a series known as Maligayang Pasko, and was originally an untitled song now commonly known by its incipit. Though more playful in tone as carolling is seen as a pastime reserved for children, its theme is similar to the English carol Here We Come A-wassailing/A-caroling.
Sa Maybahay ang Aming Batì (Tagalog)
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To The Householder We Greet (English)[4]
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Sa maybahay, ang aming bati, |
To our host we'd like to say, |
Notes and references
- "Pasko 2009 Stamps Launched". Philpost. November 19, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- Composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil, originally in Cebuano language.
- National Artist Levi Celerio is credited for writing the lyrics of this version, and set to the music by Vicente D. Rubi.
- NOTE: This is only popular in Davao.
- "Pasko Na Naman" with its lyrics and English translation
- "Pasko Na Naman! for SATB voices and a cappella". Words by Levi Celerio and Music by Felipe P. de Leon. Arranged by George G. Hernandez. (Pavane Publishing, 2006)