Appreciating Ivatan Music

When I was a kid, I didn't really appreciate people singing Ivatan songs. I guess I just didn't understand the lyrics. Of course I understand Ivatan language, but Ivatan songs, especially the laji, consist of those old Ivatan words - the sort that only your grandparents would understand. They are very deep and poetic. They talk about emotions, love, family, and just life in general - those were just vague ideas to me when I was a kid.

I know every melody by heart, though. Ivatan songs have those kinds of melodies that last, that even if you haven't heard them in decades, you still know how to sing them.

My Lola used to sing laji to me when I was young. I used to think she was just humming and just reciting silly words. Her mother was one of the best laji singers in Batanes in her time.

Old people say that people sang laji to socialize. They usually gather around after a hard day's work in the fields, drinking palek or native wine. To entertain themselves, they would take turns singing (in their own words and melody, on-the-spot). The tradition went on for decades. Sadly, my generation was not a part of that. Anyway, I still consider myself lucky to hear laji singers singing live.


"Mindichayakay Aku"
Sung by Pol Villegas

The great background song in the video I posted above is sung by Pol Villegas from Basco. It's one of the most popular Ivatan songs I know. It's about a man serenading a woman. I discovered in 2008 while trying to translate it in English that it actually resembles a poem by the English poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley called "The Indian Serenade". Since the poem is one of my favorites, I immediately recognized the resemblance. However, Mindichayakay Aku was not exactly translated per stanza. It's just based on the whole poem, but some of the lines were changed to fit the Ivatan setting. I loved "The Indian Serenade". But hearing "Mindichayakay Aku" being sung in a a familiar melody (and in my native language) makes it more meaningful and poetic.

Koro Ivatan

Anyway, moving on, I first appreciated Ivatan songs when I heard them being sung by Koro Ivatan. They won the National Music Competitions for Young Artists in the early '90s. I remember seeing them at the airport, all clad in red and white. The whole province was waiting for them. All six towns gathered there and met them with a parade. In a small province like ours, they were indeed phenomenal.

Koro Ivatan released a Christmas album entitled "Mabendito" (Holy). The choir members were around my age range so I was really amazed to hear them sing so good. I've remained a fan up to this day. Christmas won't be Christmas without hearing their voices. I am a proud owner of Koro Ivatan's Mabendito album. :)

"The Mabendito Album"

Koro Ivatan (the singing children of Batanes)