Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

"Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" (literally in Tagalog: "In the Rocking of the Cradle"; official English title: "The Sway of the Baby Hammock"[1]) is a Filipino lullaby. The music was composed by Lucio San Pedro while the lyrics was written by Levi Celerio.[1] Both of them were National Artists of the Philippines and this song was their most popular collaboration. Due to its popularity in the Philippines, it has been regarded by an entertainment writer in Philippine Entertainment Portal as familiar as the Philippine national anthem.[2] It has been interpreted and recorded by various Filipino artists.

"Sa Ugoy ng Duyan"
Song
LanguageTagalog
English title"The Sway of the Baby Hammock"
Written1948
Composer(s)Lucio San Pedro
Lyricist(s)Levi Celerio

Composition

Lucio San Pedro composed the music of "Ugoy ng Duyan"; it was derived from the fourth piece of his own Suite pastorale in the '40s.[3] San Pedro drew inspiration in composing the music of the song from the melody his mother, Soledad Diestro, hummed when he and his siblings' were put into sleep during their childhood.[1] The song was supposed to be an entry to a competition in 1943, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.[3] However, because he could not find a collaborator to write the lyrics, he was unable to submit it.[3]

In 1947, San Pedro studied at Juilliard School of Music in New York City.[1] He went aboard a ship, the SS Gordon, in 1948 to return to the Philippines. While on a stopover in the Hawaiian city of Honolulu, he met Levi Celerio, who became San Pedro's lyricist for his composition and wrote the words of "Ugoy ng Duyan" during the rest of their trip.[1] The song was completed by the time they landed in Manila.[4] Both San Pedro and Celerio were later named National Artists of the Philippines; they died in 2002, only two days apart of each other.[1]

Lyrics

The lyrics is written in the first person point of view. It comprises two stanzas, with four lines each. In the first stanza, the singer wishes that his childhood and his memories of his mother will never fade. He also wants to hear his mother's song again, which he views to be a song of love. In the second, he describes his sleep to be peaceful while stars watch and guard him. For him, his life becomes like heaven whenever his mother sings him her lullaby. Finally, he reveals the reason for his longing: He is enduring some hardship, which is why he craves for his mother's lullaby. In the final line, the singer addresses his mother, wishing that he could sleep again in his old cradle.

Renditions

The song was originally intended to be an artsong, and as a result some of its first interpreters were the baritone Aurelio Estanislao and soprano Evelyn Mandac.[4] Since then, it has been interpreted and recorded by various singers and singing groups, including Pilita Corrales (who frequently performs the works of Celerio)[5][6] with Jackie Lou Blanco,[7][8] Kuh Ledesma,[9] Lea Salonga,[10] Aiza Seguerra[11] and Regine Velasquez.[12] The song is also part of soundtrack of the 2001 Filipino film Abakada... Ina and it was performed by the Filipino band Jeremiah.[8][13] It was also performed by Christian Bautista during the funeral of former president Corazon Aquino in 2009.[14] In 2017, Corrales and Blanco together with Corrales' son, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, sang the song at a concert entitled An Evening with Pilita.[15]

References
  1. Batongbbakal Jr., Luisito (May 14, 2017). "The mother who inspired 'Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  2. Godinez, Bong (December 13, 2007). "The Genius of Composer Levi Celerio". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  3. Hila, Antonio C. (February 10, 2013). "Remembering Maestro Lucio D. San Pedro, the Creative Nationalist". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  4. Despite neglect, Lucio San Pedro and Levi Celerio remained faithful to their Muse - from Philippine Daily Inquirer, as archived in Google News
  5. Diaz, Jannica (June 29, 2012). "Celerio, music, and Freeway". Rappler. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  6. "Levi Celerio's music immortalized in fashion". ABS-CBN News. June 11, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  7. Gil, Baby A. (May 3, 2002). "Inspirational songs by Maturan all in one album". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  8. Gil, Baby A. (April 8, 2002). "Goodbye to Celerio and San Pedro | Philstar.com". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  9. GIl, Baby A. (June 1, 2007). "Kuh sings the classics". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  10. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (Original Soundtrack) by Lea Salonga", iTunes, September 9, 1997, retrieved April 27, 2018
  11. Bernabe, Kirstin (June 3, 2013). "'Wearable' classical Filipino music". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  12. "Regine Velasquez : Tagala Talaga", Amazon, Vicor, 1991, retrieved April 27, 2018
  13. "Abakada… Ina- OST by Various Artists", iTunes, January 6, 2002, retrieved April 27, 2018
  14. ""Ugoy Ng Duyan" - Christian Bautista". ABS-CBN News. August 4, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  15. Lo, Ricky (November 24, 2017). "Laughter & tears at our evening with Pilita | Philstar.com". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
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