I love love songs. I mean, I love songs in general, but I’m a sucker for passionate well-written love songs, and I believe we have plenty of that in OPM (Original Pilipino Music). Including some of my favorites in Waiting in the Wings was such a fun thing to do, but also a little daunting, only because I couldn’t really quote the lyrics in the book. Often, I wondered if describing the songs was enough to get their messages across, and when I felt that wasn’t enough, I put together a Waiting in the Wings Spotify playlist.
Today, I’m sharing the lyrics to the four OPM songs mentioned in the book, together with English translations so that international readers may also understand what they mean. Please bear in mind though that I’m not a translation expert, but I tried my best to capture the feeling of the songs. Take a look/listen:
Iniibig Kita / I Love You
Iniibig Kita (words and music by Ryan Cayabyab), or Ramon’s audition song, was first mentioned in Chapter 8, when he rehearses the song in front of Erin. Click here to listen to a version by OJ Mariano.
| Iniibig Kita | I Love You |
|---|---|
| Kulang ang araw at gabi Pag kita'y kapiling Kahit ang bukas ay di rin sapat Upang mamasdan lamang kita Labis kitang minamahal Pag-ibig ko'y walang kapantay Kung kaya ko lang abutin ang mga bituin Tiyak ito'y gagawin Chorus: Malaman mo lang Wala nang ibang Mas hihigit pa sa pag-ibig ko sa iyo Walang ibang magmamahal nang tulad ko Sana'y paniwalaan mo Iniibig kita Kulang ang araw at gabi Pag kita'y kapiling Kahit ang bukas ay di rin sapat Upang mamasdan lamang kita (Repeat chorus) | Days and nights are never enough Whenever you're beside me Even tomorrow won't suffice If I wanted to gaze at you I love you so My love is unparalleled If I could reach for the stars I will surely do it Chorus: So you would know There's nothing else That could surpass my love for you No one else will love you like I do Please believe me I love you Days and nights are never enough Whenever you're beside me Even tomorrow won't suffice If I wanted to gaze at you (Repeat chorus) |
Maghihintay Sa ‘Yo / I Will Wait For You
Maghihintay Sa ‘Yo (words and music by Dingdong Avanzado) appeared in Chapter 14. This is the song Ramon sings during the impromptu jam session that happened at Jericho and Hiraya’s engagement party. Click here to listen to the original version of the song, sung by Dingdong Avanzado.
| Maghihintay Sa 'Yo | I Will Wait For You |
|---|---|
| Ikaw ang syang ligaya ko Nagbibigay sigla sa puso ko O giliw ko, pakinggan mo Ang nais sabihin ng aking puso na... Chorus: Mahal, mahal na mahal kita Hindi ako magbabago Asahan mo ito Mahal, mahal na mahal kita Ang puso ko'y iyong iyo Asahan mong maghihintay sa'yo Ang puso ko'y malulumbay Kung 'di ikaw ang kapiling sa habang buhay Pag-ibig ko'y walang hanggan Maghihintay sa iyo magpakailan pa man (Repeat chorus) At magbuhat, ngayon at kailanman Ikaw ang iibigin Ito'y iyong dinggin (Repeat chorus) Hindi ako magbabago Asahan mong maghihintay sa'yo | You are my happiness (You) bring life to my heart Listen, my dear To what my heart wants to say, that... Chorus: I love you so much, my love Trust that I will never change I love you so much, my love My heart is yours and yours alone I promise that I'll be waiting for you My heart will be lonely If I don't get to spend the rest of my life with you My love is eternal (And) I will wait for you forever (Repeat chorus) And from now and evermore Hear this: You will be the one I love (Repeat chorus) I promise that I'll be waiting for you |
Nandito Ako
Also in Chapter 14, the song Nandito Ako (words and music by Aaron Paul del Rosario) was mentioned. It was the song Ramon and Erin danced to. Click here to listen to the Nyoy Volante version, which is how I imagined Jericho playing/singing it.
| Nandito Ako | I'm Here |
|---|---|
| Mayroon akong nais malaman Maaari bang magtanong? Alam mo bang matagal na kitang iniibig? Matagal na akong naghihintay Ngunit mayroon ka nang ibang minamahal Kung kaya't ako'y 'di mo pinapansin Ngunit ganunpaman, nais kong malaman mo Ang puso kong ito'y para lang sa iyo Chorus: Nandito ako, umiibig sa iyo Kahit na nagdurugo ang puso Kung sakaling iwanan ka niya Huwag kang mag-alala, may nagmamahal sa iyo Nandito ako Kung ako ay iyong iibigin Di kailangan nang mangamba Pagkat ako ay para mong alipin Sa iyo lang wala nang iba Ngunit mayroon ka nang ibang minamahal Kung kaya't ako'y 'di mo pinapansin Ngunit ganunpaman, nais kong malaman mo Ang puso kong ito'y para lang sa iyo (Repeat chorus) | There's something I want to know Can I ask you a question? Do you know that I've been loving you for so long? I've been waiting a long while But you love someone else And you don't take notice of me Even then, I want you to know That this heart of mine is only for you Chorus: I'm here, loving you Despite my bleeding heart In case (he) leaves you Don't worry, someone loves you I'm here If you choose to love me You don't have to worry Because I will be your slave Only for you, and no one else But you love someone else And you don't take notice of me Even then, I want you to know That this heart of mine is only for you (Repeat chorus) |
Ikaw Lamang / Only You
Ikaw Lamang (words and music by Dodjie Simon) appeared in Chapter 15 as Pio’s audition song. Click here for a version by Piolo Pascual. Did Pio’s name come from Piolo’s? Maybe. 😛
| Ikaw Lamang | Only You |
|---|---|
| Ikaw ang pangakong taglay ng isang bituin Tanging pangarap sa Diyos ay hiling Makapiling sa bawat sandali Ikaw ang pag-ibig sa araw at gabi Ikaw ang pag-asang tanglaw sa dilim Napapawing hirap at pighati Chorus: Langit ang buhay sa tuwing ika'y hahagkan Anong ligaya sa tuwing ika'y mamasdan Sa piling mo ang gabi tila araw Ikaw ang pangarap Ikaw lamang Ikaw ang pag-ibig sa araw at gabi Ikaw ang pag-asang tanglaw sa dilim Napapawing hirap at pighati (Repeat chorus) | You are the promise carried by a star The only dream I asked from God Is to be with you every moment You are love every day and every night You are hope that shines in the dark Easing away (my) difficulty and pain Chorus: Life is heaven each time I kiss you I feel such joy every time I look at you Night seems like day in your arms My dream is you Only you You are love every day and every night You are hope that shines in the dark Easing away (my) difficulty and pain (Repeat chorus) |
EXTRA NOTES: While writing the translations, I realized once again how much I love my native tongue. There are emotions expressed in Filipino that don’t quite sound as powerful when translated in English, so I felt like some of the translated lyrics read a little cheesy. 😛 I hope you guys enjoyed this, though! ^_^
