30 iconic Filipino songs

MANILA, Philippines – To celebrate 30 great years of The Philippine

STAR, I have come up with this list of 30 Iconic Filipino Songs. It was
quite a breeze putting this together as there are so many unforgettable
songs to choose from. But then it had to be 30 so I save for one, which
I am sure you will also think should make the list. I limited myself to only
the popular works. No classical here. I am sorry if I had to miss out on
your favorites. Hopefully, they will make it to the 40 listing 10 years
from now. Here goes:

1. Bayan Ko, 1928. The kundiman is considered the unofficial national

anthem of the Philippines. It was composed for the zarzuela Walang

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 Sugat with music by Constancio de Guzman and words by the great
poet Jose Corazon de Jesus. It was first sung by National Artist Atang
de la Rama. Itʼs a moving call for freedom from oppression directed
against invaders and oppressors and helped bring down a dictatorship.

2. Dahil Sa Iyo, 1938. Composed by Mike Velarde with lyrics by

Dominador Santiago for a movie titled Bituing Marikit. It was the first
time when a sophisticated melody that belonged to a foreign nightclub
was combined with the romantic sentiments of lovelorn Filipinos. The
song became a huge hit, was recorded by many artists here and in
other countries. It was so popular that it was not unusual for Pinoys to
walk into nightspots abroad and hear Dahil Sa Iyo.

3. Ugoy Ng Duyan, 1956, by Lucio San Pedro and Levi Celerio. How
fitting it is that the two musicians who composed this beautiful lullaby
were later decIared as National Artists. It is expressive of the feelings of
overseas workers who desire to once more rest on the bosom of their
Motherland. This later became a popular choral piece for the Philippine
Madrigal Singers.

4. Hahabol-habol, 1958, composed by Clod Delfino, words by Robin

Vega. It was recorded by Bobby Gonzales and used in the soundtrack
of the movie LoʼWaist Gang. This was the first Filipino song patterned
after the then emerging rock nʼ roll style and showed that Filipinos
could keep up with changing music forms, doing it in Tagalog, too.

5. Pitong Gatang, 1960 composed by Tony Maiquez and Levi Celerio.

Written for a movie that starred Fernando Poe Jr. where it was
performed by Fred Panopio. The song proved that Pinoys can yodel as
well as their Swiss or American counterparts. To this day, it evokes

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 images of camaraderie and good times spent while istambay sa kanto.

6. Sapagkaʼt Kami Ay Tao Lamang, 1963, composed by Tony Maiquez

and Levi Celerio. This was recorded by Ric Manrique Jr. for the movie
of the same title. It is a simple danza but the theme perpetuated the
love triangle in Filipino movies and literature. It also came to be a most
popular excuse for philanderers who unluckily got caught.

7. A Million Thanks To You, 1965, composed by Alice Doria Gamilla and

recorded by Pilita Corrales. Can you think of anything more iconic that
the image of Pilita with her trademark backbend and singing “The day
you came along with your song, my heart began to sing dear, a million
thanks to you, my love”? But this song is more than that, it was one of
the first Filipino compositions in English set to a Western structure to
become a hit.

8. Kapantay Ay Langit, 1971, words and music by George Canseco

popularized by Pilita Corrales. It will be easy to come up with 30 iconic
songs written by Canseco but this is certainly the most important. It is
uniquely structured, no verse has the same melody. It marked the
arrival of Canseco as major songwriter. It introduced the
Spanish/Cebuano speaking Pilita as an interpreter of Tagalog songs
and began the most successful period of her career. Most of all, I see
Kapantay as the transition song from the kundimans, danzas and
boleros of Abelardo, De Guzman and Velarde into the new Filipino pop
song.

9. Magellan, 1972, composed and recorded by Yoyoy Villame. Back

then a lot of people asked, who on Earth could think that way, write that
way, sing that way and most of all look at Magellan and Lapu-Lapu that

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 way? The answer was then jeepney driver Yoyoy, whose strange way of
thinking and thick Visayan accent brought about this big-selling tune.
And Philippine history was suddenly so much fun.

10. Ang Himig Natin, 1973, with music by Mike Hanopol, Joey Smith and
Wally Gonzales with lyrics by Joey Smith and recorded by the Juan de
la Cruz Band. The now iconic Joey “Pepe” Smith was back home, fresh
from a stint in Japan. One day, while backstage waiting for their cues
during a gig, he started strumming his guitar and singing “Ang himig
natin/ ang iyong awitin…” and the first Filipino rock song with Tagalog
lyrics and set to a Western rock melody was born. That casual moment
was the beginning of Pinoy rock.

11. Pers Lab, 1974, written by Dennis Garcia and Ramon Torralba
recorded by the Hotdog. There are other songs by Hotdog that can be
rightly called iconic but Pers Lab was its first and it sparked a
revolution. The use of a mix of English and Tagalog lyrics, which was
sung by true-blue colegiala Ella del Rosario became the birth of the
Manila Sound.

12. Bakit (Kung Liligaya Ka Sa Piling Ng Iba), 1974, composed by

George Canseco and recorded by Imelda Papin. For some strange
reason, the title Bakit is never mentioned in the song, what people all
these years remember are the words of the refrain, “Kung liligaya ka sa
piling ng iba, at kung ang langit mo ay ang pag-ibig niya…” The song
introduced the jukebox queen and popularized the “mistress” song for
those females in extra-marital relationships.

13. The Way We Were, composed by Marvin Hamlish, lyrics by Allan

and Marilyn Bergman. So what is this song from a Barbra Streisand

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 movie doing in this list? This is because somewhere in 1975, a new
singer named Rico J. Puno changed some of the lyrics and made it his
own. When he sang “Namamasyal pa sa Luneta ng walang pera…” he
evoked images of dates on the cheap in Luneta that a lot of Filipinos
can very much relate to until today.

14. Bonggahan, 1977, composed by Gary Perez and Sampaguita. Gay

lingo made it to the mainstream and introduced what conservative
Pinoy types thought would never happen in the Philippines, a female
rocker who takes life on her own terms with the arrival of this rock tune.
And Sampaguita, a model who was a deadringer for Cher, made the
assimilation of the fun against all odds message so much easier.

15. Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika, 1978, words and music by Ryan

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 Cayabyab. This was the grand prize winner of the First Metropop Music
Festival where it was performed by Hajji Alejandro. It also won the
grand prix in the First Annual Seoul International Song Festival. It has
since then become the quintessential Filipino festival song, the type
considered most likely to win the prizes. Cayabyab has written better
songs over the years but Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika and that image of
Hajji in his barong and his little salakot endures to this day.

16. Anak, 1978, composed and recorded by Freddie Aguilar. Anak lost in
the first Metropop but it turned out to be a bigger winner. The folk
ballad about a parentʼs grief over a childʼs wayward ways also touched
the hearts of listeners in Europe and Asia, and became the first
recording by a Filipino artist to break into the foreign market. Aside
from that, Anak was covered by artists in various languages abroad,
and fuelled the folk-rock trend in local music.

17. Tayoʼy Mga Pinoy, 1978, music and lyrics by Heber Bartolome. It was
one of the finalists in the first Metropop. The melody is folksy and
reminiscent of the kundiman. But the lyrics, which call attention to the
Pinoyʼs love for things foreign, pack a mighty punch. “Tayoʼy mga
Pinoy, tayoʼy hindi Kano, huwag kang mahihiya kung ang ilong mo ay
pango.”

18. Handog, 1978, written and recorded by Florante. Filipino

entertainers often speak of their Handog moments. It is when they turn
to their fans to say thank you. The original of the song was already a
big hit for Florante when it was covered by Nora Aunor at the Film
Academy Awards for the traditional Parade of Stars. It has since then
become the “theme” of the annual event.

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 19. Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko, 1978, by Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon,
popularized by VST&Co, which was a band formed by then A&R man,
Tito Sotto. The intent was just to cash in on the disco fever trend led by
the Bee Gees. But against all expectations, VST&Co stayed and stayed
and stayed. To this day, there is still no Filipino tune that can get people
on the dance floor as quickly as Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko.

20. Pangarap Na Bituin, 21. Bituing Walang Ningning 22. Sanaʼy Wala
Naʼng Wakas, The Sharon Trilogy, 1984 to 1987, composed by Willy
Cruz. Sharon Cuneta popularized so many songs. But I think the most
iconic of those are these which came about separately in a series of
movies but which are now considered a set of three because of their
road to stardom themes.

23. Manila by Dennis and Rene Garcia and recorded by Hotdog. After
10 hits-filled years in the music business, the Hotdog declared its
retirement in 1984 with this paean to the City of Manila. No other song
about the city has been able to capture its endearing attributes the way
Manila does. “Hinahanap-hanap kita Manila, ang ingay mong kay sarap
sa tenga, mga jeepney mong nagliliparan, mga babae mong nag-
gagandahan, take me back to your arms, Manila…”

24. Farewell, 1984, words and music by Odette Quesada, recorded by

Raymond Lauchengco in 1984. It was used in the soundtrack of the
movie Bagets. Since then, no graduation exercise can be considered
complete without Farewell playing during the rites or somewhere in the
background. And to this day, those graduates recall those youthful
times listening to this song. “Farewell to you my friend, I hope this isnʼt
the end…”

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 25. Hindi Kita Malilimutan, 1984, composed by Manoling Francisco, S.J.
and recorded by Basil Valdez. Although first categorized as liturgical
and used initially in religious services, the song went on to become a
huge hit. It won the Awit Award for Record of the Year in 1985 and
became the first of many so-called liturgical songs that also became
pop successes.

26. Beautiful Girl, composed and performed by Jose Mari Chan. Jose
Mariʼs music career dates back to the ‘60s and every decade since has
seen him with memorable works. Beautiful Girl came about in 1989 and
was part of his album Constant Change. It is actually very simple, just a
song for a beautiful girl, but its success transcended that of his other
songs with multi-platinum sales here and in Malaysia and Indonesia.

27. Christmas In Our Hearts, 1990, with words and music by Jose Mari
Chan. Why is the song iconic? Because as somebody once put it, come
the Holidays and JMC could rightly be thinking, “Kontrolado ko lahat ng
speakers sa mall.” And he will be right. The duet by Jose Mari and his
daughter Lisa is so suffused with the Christmas spirit that it has
become the best harbinger of frenetic shopping. Why, those malls have
even taken to playing Christmas In Our Hearts early to get the Season
started. Keep watch, I am sure you will find yourself listening to it very
soon.

28. Rap became a Filipino music form with the arrival of Mga
Kababayan Ko by actor-turned-rapper Francis Magalona with
arrangement by Jimmy Antiporda in 1990. Well, Andrew Eʼs Humanap
Ka Ng Panget was released ahead by a few months but Panget was all
crazy fun. It was FrancisMʼs track from his Yo! album that called the
youth to adopt positive values and to instill pride in the Filipino heritage.

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 29. Pare Ko, 1993, by the Eraserheads. The arrival of the song by a new
group was like a burst of adrenalin for alternative bands in the country.
Pare Ko was fun; it makes you think of hanging out with friends. It was
irreverent. Adults found the words “ʼTang *na” shocking. The melody
echoed the early Beatles and who can resist that. Best of all, the
popularity of the song gave the band scene a very successful second
wind.

30. Tell The World Of His Love, composed by Trina Belamide and
performed by Raquel Mangaliag and Jeff Arcilla. Inspired by the words
of John 20k21, Trina entered a contest searching for a theme song for
the World Youth Day in 1995. The event was to be held in Manila and
would include the visit of Pope John Paul II. Trinaʼs song was chosen
winner by the Vatican. I do not know if it is ever performed in World
Youth Day activities in other countries, but after hearing it sung several
times during the visit of Pope Francis last year, one cannot help but feel
pride in a Filipino song that befits a Pope.

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