Yes, blame my love for classic music. Add that to my recent curiosity over 60's-80's Tagalog (and Bisaya) ballads , and you've gotten yours truly to post this video!
This song is called "Maging Sino Ka Man" (Tagalog for "Whoever You May Be") by a famous Filipino romantic composer named Rey Valera. He apparently composed this inspired by those who work odd jobs in multi-faceted Manila or those who feel they are in a degrading line of work (Unfortunately, job prejudice is pretty apparent here.). For those curious about the lyrics, here they are in the original Tagalog (with English translations below in italics):
Ang pag-ibig ay sadyang ganyan
Love is really like that
Tiwala sa isa't-isa'y kailangan
Trust in each other is needed
Dati mong pag-ibig wala akong pakialam
Whoever you loved before, I don't really mind
Basta't mahal kita kailanpaman
I'll simply love you forever
'Wag kang mag-isip ng ano pa man
Don't you ever worry about anything
Mga paliwanag mo'y di na kailangan
Whatever explanations, I don't need it
At kahit ano pa ang iyong nakaraan
And no matter what your past wasb
Mamahalin kita maging sino ka man
I love you no matter who you are
Mahal kita, pagka't mahal kita
I love you because I love you
Iniisip nila ay hindi mahalaga
Whatever they think, it doesn't matter
Mahal kita maging sino ka man
I love you no matter who you are
Mali man ang ikaw ay ibigin ko
Loving you may be wrong
Ako'y isang bulag na umiibig sa 'yo
But I'm just a blind man in love with you
At kahit ano pa ang iyong nakaraan
And no matter what your past is
Mamahalin kita maging sino ka man
I love you no matter who you are
Nice, aye! I love how it basically shows one facet of love --- unconditionality. I love how the persona doesn't really care what his beloved's past is or who she is or whatever. All that matters to her is that he loves her. Period. And he'll continue to love her. Period.
What was that? Yes, it's a lovely, poignant song full of the magic of love, but you're hard pressed to find anyone who still loves the same way as the persona here? Times have changed, and love is now more defined in finite, fleeting terms? Perhaps.
What if I told you, though, I know Someone personally who loves that way?
Two thousand years ago, one great big expression of the words "I love you" happened on a cross in Calvary. But, if you think He did it for someone who was fully deserving of the love, think again. First of all, she didn't love Him (at least, not at the time). She was too busy to ever think of Him. And second of all, would someone so flawed, so full of mire, so imperfect ever be called worthy of such pure and perfect love He was offering? No, I don't think so.
And yet, He did it. And yes, He loved her. He loved her despite the fact that she was too loud and hyperactive. He loved her despite the fact that she was such a huge drama queen who has slight tendencies to exaggerate things. He loved her despite the fact that she has a passport with the Procrastination Nation stamped all over it.
He loved her (and still does) no matter who she is. And she is, or should I say I am, grateful for that!
url uft
5 years ago
