Andres Bonifacio is still THE MAN!

I have written many times here in my blog about my love for Andres Bonifacio, and this is one of them. For me, he is still the national hero of the Philippines.

Many times, I got emotional upon hearing the music of the play 1896 by the Philippine Educational Theater Association on the start of the Philippine Revolution on that year. It mainly focused on Bonifacio's life as a revolutionary. I wish PETA would publish the 1896 libretto.

Meanwhile I was looking for an appropriate article for tomorrow's celebration of the birth date of Bonifacio (Gat Andres was born on November 30, 1863) and came upon this strongly worded song of the late Francis Magalona. Never heard of this song but I like the nationalistic tone of the lyrics. So this-

1896 Lyrics

Francis Magalona

Sumaludo sa harap ng bandila
Kastila ka bang umaalipin sa alila
Sinakop ng puti ang mga kayumanggi
Pinagnanakaw ang lahi at silay naghari...
Hanggang ngayon pa rin sila pa rin nakaupo
Ilang daang taon mula noon
Nakagapos ang ating mga kamay
Nakapiring ang mga mata
Dila'y pinuputol pag ika'y nagsasalita...
Tulad ni rizal na panulat ang pinairal
Si andres ay pinatay ng kanyang mga kakulay
Yo! hablo espanyol?
Si senior conio
Ako to ay isang mestisong indio po!
You a friend of uncle sam?
Yo! my man I am
I don't speak Tagalog, but I try to understand
Pilipino ka ba?!
Banzai!!!
Shinjimai!!!
Dorobo kedo moto oto kumai!!!

CHORUS:
Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Perlas ng silanganan kung tawagin ang pinas
Sinilang sa silangan angkan ni malakas
Anak ni bathala at ako'y nababahala
Di ako naniniwala, na ako ay malaya...
Akala ko ba Philippines 2000
Pero bakit ganoon, parang walang patutunguhan...
Kung buhay lamang ang ating mga bayani
Alam kong sila ang unang-unang
Magsasabi na kahit kailanman...
Bayan muna bago sarili...
Sa pagnanakaw ang nakaupo'y nawiwili...
Kapuna-puna ang mga anomalya
Ang kakapal nila mga walanghiya
Barong tagalog pa ang suot ng mga gago!
Pag nagtagalog, bako-bako, ang labo...
("Ilan sa liderato dapat sa krus ipako")
Alam ba ninyo kung sino ang mga tinutukoy ko?..

(CHORUS)

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha... 

1896 Lyrics copied from Pinoy Lyrics

T-Shirt design grabbed from sketchouse design studio

By the way, the remains of Andres Bonifacio and his brother, Procopio were missing until today. Historians claimed they have found Bonifacio's skeletal remains (or Procopio's) but never the two. Remember they were executed for treason and were buried in the same grave. Exhumed remains in Maragondon, Cavite where they were buried was that of one person only. To this day, Bonifacio's remains is a desaparecido.

Read Ambeth Ocampo's nice article on Bonifacio by clicking on this link- The mystery of Bonifacio's bones.

Final standing ovation for the Master Rapper Francis M!

Francis M was laid to rest at 12 noon today. He died last March 6. He was 44.

My final round of applause for the master rapper!

-----------------------------------------------

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run you can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes 
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Goodbye FrancisM

I am saying goodbye to a great artist, rapper Francis Magalona. Sleep tight buddy. Your music will live on.

(Photo from pinoyambisyoso.com)

Rapper Francis Magalona passes away 

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 12:44:00 03/06/2009

Filed Under: death notices, Entertainment (general)

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona died of leukemia Friday at the Medical City in Mandaluyong, his co-hosts at the GMA Network’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga” said. He was 44.

Magalona is the son of popular 1950s movie tandem Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.

“I don't want a media circus. I want privacy with my family,” Francis said in a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, after reports of his illness broke out.

“What I'd rather talk about is how to we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital,” said Magalona, the father of eight children.

Francis' wife, Pia Arroyo-Magalona, said her husband started exhibiting symptoms in March this year. “It was very gradual, hindi siya biglaang lumabas [it didn't manifest right away].”