Reunion

Sorry for not posting for the last two weeks. I had been in Manila with my wife and son to spend the holidays with my mother and siblings, the first time we’ve been together on Christmas since 1990 (or was it 1991?). With my eldest brother Arnel and his family living in Los Angeles and me and my family living in Davao City, reunions are few and far between, so we were glad when my brother scheduled a homecoming with his wife and all four boys for Christmas. Above is s a picture of the entire family, together for the very first time.

Getting back on the topic of music, Arnel co-wrote a song with his high school classmate Dodjie Simon as a surprise birthday gift to his wife Agnes. Arnel says he thought of the lyrics while driving down Santa Monica Boulevard while Dodjie came up with the tune while driving along Roxas Boulevard. The song is called “Tanging Ikaw (You Alone),” and Dodjie tapped Noel Cabangon to both sing and play guitar in the recording. My wife Dadai did the CD’s artwork, and the result was a great gift to a great woman.

Here are the lyrics, and maybe in the future my brother will allow me to post the recording here as well:

TANGING IKAW

Mula nang tayo ay nagkalayo
Namalas kong ikaw ang tanging nasa puso ko
Sa bawat oras ay ika’y laman ng isip ko
Ikaw nga ang lahat sa buhay ko.

Minsa’y nawalay sa isa’t isa
Na tila hindi na habang buhay magkikita pa
Sadyang iniwan ko’ng lahat sa aking munting mundo
Upang mapalapit lamang sa iyo

REFRAIN

Maipipinta ko ba ang buhay na wala ka
Kung bawa’t guhit ko’y mukha mo ang nakikita?
Bawa’t titik at himig ang tinig mo’ng naririnig
Pagka’t tanging ikaw ang buhay ko, Sinta.

Ako’y dayuhang naglakas-loob
Na iwanan ang ating bayang pinagmulan
Pagka’t tanging ligaya ng aking buong puso
Sadyang sa iyo ko lang matatanto.

Titik ni Arnel Joaquin
Musika at areglo ni Dodjie Simon
Inawit at ginitara ni Noel Cabangon