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noblemadnessheard this on the radio a while back, and heard it performed on ANC this morning. made an effort to translate the lyrics. this was quickly done, though, so i might come back and edit some bits later.
i think it's cool that high-profile local bands are making an effort to further LGBT rights with their music. there may be some parts of the lyrics that still grate, but baby steps.
video, lyrics, and translator's notes ahead. translations are in PINK. corrections are welcome; i just found the lyrics online and tweaked it a bit, mostly for spelling.
Sirena
GLOC-9 feat. Ebe Dancel
[Ebe Dancel - refrain]
Ako'y isang sirena
Kahit ano'ng sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda
Ako'y isang sirena
Kahit ano'ng gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso, sa 'ki'y dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa'kin kayo ay bibilib
I'm a mermaid
No matter what they say, I'm super-beautiful
I'm a mermaid
No matter what they do, my flag won't fall
Diving into water-filled drums[1]
Many large arms pummel me
Diving into water-filled drums
You'll marvel at how long I can hold my breath
[Gloc 9]
Simula pa no'ng bata pa ako,
Halata mo na kapag naglalaro
Kaya parang lahat ay nalilito,
Magaling sa Chinese garter at piko,[2]
Mga labi ko'y pulang pula,
Sa bubble gum na sinaba[3]
Palakad lakad sa harapan ng salamin,
Sinasabi sa sarili "ano'ng panama nila"
Habang kumekembot ang bewang,
Mga hikaw na gumegewang
Gamit ang pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang[4]
Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha
Na galing sa aking ama
Na tila di natutuwa sa tuwing ako'y nasisilayan
Laging nalalatayan,
Sa paglipas ng panahon ay di ko namamalayan
Na imbes na tumigas ay tila lalong lumambot
Ang puso kong mapagmahal
Parang pilikmatang kulot.
Since I was a child,
You could tell when I was playing
Which was why everyone seemed confused,
Good at Chinese garter and hopscotch,
My lips so very red,
From the bubble gum I chewed
Strutting in front of the mirror,
Telling myself "they've got nothing on this"
While hips were swaying
Earrings swinging
Using powder bought from Aling Bebang
To cover up the bruises on my face
That came from my father
Who didn't seem too happy every time he saw me
Always welted,
I did not feel with the passage of time
That instead of hardening, my loving heart
Seemed to grow softer
Like a curled eyelash.
[repeat refrain]
[Gloc 9]
Hanggang sa naging binata na ako
Teka muna mali, dalaga na pala 'to
Pero bakit parang lahat ay nalilito pa rin
Ano ba'ng mga problema nyo?
Dahil ba ang mga kilos ko'y iba
Sa dapat makita ng inyong mata?
Sa tuwing nanonood ng liga[5] laging natutulala
Kahit di pumasok ang bola ako'y tuwang tuwa
Kahit binaliw na sa tapang,[6] kasi ganun na lamang
Akong paluin ng tubo kahit kinakalawang
"Tama na naman Itay, di na po ako pasaway
Di ko na po isusuot ang lumang saya ni Inay"
Kapag ako'y naiiyak ay sumusugod sa ambon
Iniisip ko na lamang na baka ako'y ampon
Kasi araw araw na lamang ay walang humpay na banat
At inaabot ang ganda ko pangilalim ng dagat[7]
Until I became a young man
Wait that's wrong, I meant a young lady
Why does everyone still seem confused
What's your problem?
Is it just because my behavior is different
From what your eyes should see?
Every time I watch basketball I'm always mesmerized
Even if the ball doesn't go in I'm filled with glee
Even if the anger drives me crazy, because I'm hit
With a rusty pipe just like that
"Please Dad, I won't be naughty anymore
I won't wear Mom's old skirt anymore"
When I want to cry I run into the rain
I just think I might be adopted
Because it's nonstop pain day by day
And my beauty dives down to the sea bed
[repeat refrain]
[Gloc 9]
Lumipas ang mga taon nangagsipag-asawa
Aking mga kapatid, lahat sila'y sumama
Nagpakalayu-layo, ni hindi makabisita
"Kakain na po, Itay, nakahanda na'ng lamesita"
Akay-akay sa paglakad paisa-isang hakbang
Ngayo'y buto't balat ang dati matipunong katawan
Kaya sa iyong kaarawan, susubukan kong palitan
Ang lungkot na nadarama, wag na po nating balikan
Kahit medyo naiinis hindi dahil sa nagka-cancer
Kasi dahil ang tagapag-alaga mo'y nakaduster[8]
Isang gabi, ako'y iyong tinawag lumapit
Ako sa'yong tabi ika'y tumangan, kumapit
Ka sa aking kamay kahit hirap magsalita,
"Anak, patawad sana sa lahat ng aking nagawa
Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha
Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla."[9]
Time passed and my siblings
Married off, they all went away
To far off places, they can't even visit
"It's time to eat, Dad, the table's ready"
Walking arm in arm step by step
Now the once-muscular body is all skin and bones
So on your birthday, I will try to replace
The sadness I am feeling, please let's not go back there
Because even if you're a bit annoyed not so much by the cancer
But by the fact that the one taking care of you is wearing a duster
One night, you called me to approach
With me at your side you held on, you took
My hand even if you had trouble speaking,
"Child, I hope you'll forgive me for all I've done
Courage isn't measured by a moustache on one's face
Because sometimes a homosexual is even manlier than a man."
[repeat refrain]
***
NOTES:
[1] the image of a young man being dunked into an outdoor storage drum filled with water is part of a popular joke, which is perhaps the reason why gay men are referred to as "sirena" and why this song is titled such. it's such an old joke that's been done so many times, nobody remembers who started it anymore.
in the joke, a father repeatedly dunks his gay son into the drum, holding his head under the water, to make him deny he's gay and say outloud that he's a man. when he pulls the child's head up for air, he asks "what are you now?" the child always answers "i'm gay!" the dad is tireless and he keeps dunking the child and asking the question, until at last the child answers "i'm a mermaid!"
yep. we all laughed at this back in the day. some of us still do.
[2] Chinese garter and hopscotch are popular games among girls, but I'm guessing the gender assignment varies with the environment. I personally grew up in a community where it was okay for boys to play them.
[3] i actually don't know what "sinaba" is... dad suggests it's "sinapal," which is an old word for sticking something on a surface after all the juice has been drained from it.
[4] "pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang" - some sari-sari stores sell talcum powder retail. connotation that the talcum is cheap and in small quantity, easily affordable by kids.
[5] yearly basketball tournaments are traditionally held for the young men of a small community. this is practiced inside and outside of cities.
[6] not sure what "binaliw sa tapang" is, guessing it means "there's so much aggression being done on me, i'm going crazy."
[7] not sure what "inaabot sa pangilalim sa dagat" means either, did my best guess with the translation.
[8] the "duster" is a long breezy dress worn around the house by filipino women. it's really comfortable and fun to move around in!
[9] in our traditionally macho society, strength = manliness, so it's not unusual for the dad to say this. in fact, "bakla" is an archaic tagalog word for "weak," which was somehow revived to become a derogatory word for homosexuals, male homosexuals in particular.
i also did not translate the line about the moustache literally, because otherwise it would be "what's measured isn't the courage and the moustache on one's face," which doesn't go over well in english OR tagalog. i still have to check if this part of the lyrics is correct.
i think it's cool that high-profile local bands are making an effort to further LGBT rights with their music. there may be some parts of the lyrics that still grate, but baby steps.
video, lyrics, and translator's notes ahead. translations are in PINK. corrections are welcome; i just found the lyrics online and tweaked it a bit, mostly for spelling.
Sirena
GLOC-9 feat. Ebe Dancel
[Ebe Dancel - refrain]
Ako'y isang sirena
Kahit ano'ng sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda
Ako'y isang sirena
Kahit ano'ng gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso, sa 'ki'y dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa'kin kayo ay bibilib
I'm a mermaid
No matter what they say, I'm super-beautiful
I'm a mermaid
No matter what they do, my flag won't fall
Diving into water-filled drums[1]
Many large arms pummel me
Diving into water-filled drums
You'll marvel at how long I can hold my breath
[Gloc 9]
Simula pa no'ng bata pa ako,
Halata mo na kapag naglalaro
Kaya parang lahat ay nalilito,
Magaling sa Chinese garter at piko,[2]
Mga labi ko'y pulang pula,
Sa bubble gum na sinaba[3]
Palakad lakad sa harapan ng salamin,
Sinasabi sa sarili "ano'ng panama nila"
Habang kumekembot ang bewang,
Mga hikaw na gumegewang
Gamit ang pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang[4]
Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha
Na galing sa aking ama
Na tila di natutuwa sa tuwing ako'y nasisilayan
Laging nalalatayan,
Sa paglipas ng panahon ay di ko namamalayan
Na imbes na tumigas ay tila lalong lumambot
Ang puso kong mapagmahal
Parang pilikmatang kulot.
Since I was a child,
You could tell when I was playing
Which was why everyone seemed confused,
Good at Chinese garter and hopscotch,
My lips so very red,
From the bubble gum I chewed
Strutting in front of the mirror,
Telling myself "they've got nothing on this"
While hips were swaying
Earrings swinging
Using powder bought from Aling Bebang
To cover up the bruises on my face
That came from my father
Who didn't seem too happy every time he saw me
Always welted,
I did not feel with the passage of time
That instead of hardening, my loving heart
Seemed to grow softer
Like a curled eyelash.
[repeat refrain]
[Gloc 9]
Hanggang sa naging binata na ako
Teka muna mali, dalaga na pala 'to
Pero bakit parang lahat ay nalilito pa rin
Ano ba'ng mga problema nyo?
Dahil ba ang mga kilos ko'y iba
Sa dapat makita ng inyong mata?
Sa tuwing nanonood ng liga[5] laging natutulala
Kahit di pumasok ang bola ako'y tuwang tuwa
Kahit binaliw na sa tapang,[6] kasi ganun na lamang
Akong paluin ng tubo kahit kinakalawang
"Tama na naman Itay, di na po ako pasaway
Di ko na po isusuot ang lumang saya ni Inay"
Kapag ako'y naiiyak ay sumusugod sa ambon
Iniisip ko na lamang na baka ako'y ampon
Kasi araw araw na lamang ay walang humpay na banat
At inaabot ang ganda ko pangilalim ng dagat[7]
Until I became a young man
Wait that's wrong, I meant a young lady
Why does everyone still seem confused
What's your problem?
Is it just because my behavior is different
From what your eyes should see?
Every time I watch basketball I'm always mesmerized
Even if the ball doesn't go in I'm filled with glee
Even if the anger drives me crazy, because I'm hit
With a rusty pipe just like that
"Please Dad, I won't be naughty anymore
I won't wear Mom's old skirt anymore"
When I want to cry I run into the rain
I just think I might be adopted
Because it's nonstop pain day by day
And my beauty dives down to the sea bed
[repeat refrain]
[Gloc 9]
Lumipas ang mga taon nangagsipag-asawa
Aking mga kapatid, lahat sila'y sumama
Nagpakalayu-layo, ni hindi makabisita
"Kakain na po, Itay, nakahanda na'ng lamesita"
Akay-akay sa paglakad paisa-isang hakbang
Ngayo'y buto't balat ang dati matipunong katawan
Kaya sa iyong kaarawan, susubukan kong palitan
Ang lungkot na nadarama, wag na po nating balikan
Kahit medyo naiinis hindi dahil sa nagka-cancer
Kasi dahil ang tagapag-alaga mo'y nakaduster[8]
Isang gabi, ako'y iyong tinawag lumapit
Ako sa'yong tabi ika'y tumangan, kumapit
Ka sa aking kamay kahit hirap magsalita,
"Anak, patawad sana sa lahat ng aking nagawa
Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha
Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla."[9]
Time passed and my siblings
Married off, they all went away
To far off places, they can't even visit
"It's time to eat, Dad, the table's ready"
Walking arm in arm step by step
Now the once-muscular body is all skin and bones
So on your birthday, I will try to replace
The sadness I am feeling, please let's not go back there
Because even if you're a bit annoyed not so much by the cancer
But by the fact that the one taking care of you is wearing a duster
One night, you called me to approach
With me at your side you held on, you took
My hand even if you had trouble speaking,
"Child, I hope you'll forgive me for all I've done
Courage isn't measured by a moustache on one's face
Because sometimes a homosexual is even manlier than a man."
[repeat refrain]
***
NOTES:
[1] the image of a young man being dunked into an outdoor storage drum filled with water is part of a popular joke, which is perhaps the reason why gay men are referred to as "sirena" and why this song is titled such. it's such an old joke that's been done so many times, nobody remembers who started it anymore.
in the joke, a father repeatedly dunks his gay son into the drum, holding his head under the water, to make him deny he's gay and say outloud that he's a man. when he pulls the child's head up for air, he asks "what are you now?" the child always answers "i'm gay!" the dad is tireless and he keeps dunking the child and asking the question, until at last the child answers "i'm a mermaid!"
yep. we all laughed at this back in the day. some of us still do.
[2] Chinese garter and hopscotch are popular games among girls, but I'm guessing the gender assignment varies with the environment. I personally grew up in a community where it was okay for boys to play them.
[3] i actually don't know what "sinaba" is... dad suggests it's "sinapal," which is an old word for sticking something on a surface after all the juice has been drained from it.
[4] "pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang" - some sari-sari stores sell talcum powder retail. connotation that the talcum is cheap and in small quantity, easily affordable by kids.
[5] yearly basketball tournaments are traditionally held for the young men of a small community. this is practiced inside and outside of cities.
[6] not sure what "binaliw sa tapang" is, guessing it means "there's so much aggression being done on me, i'm going crazy."
[7] not sure what "inaabot sa pangilalim sa dagat" means either, did my best guess with the translation.
[8] the "duster" is a long breezy dress worn around the house by filipino women. it's really comfortable and fun to move around in!
[9] in our traditionally macho society, strength = manliness, so it's not unusual for the dad to say this. in fact, "bakla" is an archaic tagalog word for "weak," which was somehow revived to become a derogatory word for homosexuals, male homosexuals in particular.
i also did not translate the line about the moustache literally, because otherwise it would be "what's measured isn't the courage and the moustache on one's face," which doesn't go over well in english OR tagalog. i still have to check if this part of the lyrics is correct.