Cherry Callao @ Aton Manggad: A song for Iloilo River

“Boundaries don’t protect rivers, people do,” a saying that inspired the men and women of JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang to start a timely advocacy. The dream to protect, rehabilitate and restore the fragile beauty of Iloilo River, a 15-kilometer arm of the sea winding through the whole City of Iloilo and the artery supplying the lifeblood of the City for over thousands of years awaken the heart of organization to pursue a noble project, a priceless advocacy that will affect the future generation of Ilonggos. This is how “RUN FOR ILOILO RIVER” was born in the consciousness of the each member of group. One of its members who pursued a passion for Ilonggo Music for the past year, envisioned to use it in channelling a significant message, a musical poetry that can touch the heart of Ilonggos towards change.

JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang decided to gather today’s new generation of Ilonggo music artists and record a special song for Iloilo River. Armed with sheer passion and God-given gift for Music, Sheila Barrios, Irish D., Cherry Callao, Mz. JT with her rap group All Out Kingz, Mix Ilonggo Crew and SYK Unit committed themselves to record “Aton Manggad” (Our Wealth). The lyrics is originally written by RSLPhoenix. The lyrics was arranged and recorded a catchy instrumental by Zpinx Angel and Joemarie Regacho of Mix Ilonggo Crew, the song is destined to become the cultural pop theme song of Run For Iloilo River. The group invited Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to be a part of the song was warmly accepted by the city official. Recorded in the home studio of Mix Ilonggo Crew, the Ilonggo artists shared their time and combined their passion to finish the song in less than a month. Driven by their desire to inspire young and old Ilonggos for change, their labor of love resulted to a sentimentally-inspiring, pop- amalgam and meaningful song fated to be heard for many generations to come.

“Aton Manggad” will be released exclusively at 93.5 Campus Radio and Iloilo City AM stations such as Bombo Radyo, RMN and DYSI Super Radyo this week. An upcoming official music video to be co-directed by former Pinoy Dream Academy alumna, Emman Abatayo with RSLPhoenix will be released online this month to support the song. With its catchy beat and meaningful lyrics that also featured the voice of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the song is eyed to promote “Sinadya sa Suba,” a yearly cultural event dedicated for Iloilo River preservation scheduled on May 20-21, 2011.

“Aton Manggad” represents the voice, the echo and the undeniable calling for Ilonggos to embrace the advocacy of preserving a priceless treasure that is Iloilo River. Let’s have a change-of-heart through this Ilonggo song and support local music artists.

"Aton Manggad"

Lyrics with English translation
Written by RSLPhoenix (Ronelo S. Ladiao)
Instrumental and Arrangement by Mix Ilonggo Crew
(Joemarie Regacho and Zpinx Angel)

Buksi ang imo nga dulunggan sa istorya sang aton suba
(Hear the story of our river)
Diin na ang imo paghigugma?
(Where is your love?)
Para sa bwas damlag sang aton mga bata
(For the future of our children)
Nga makatusmaw sa matin-aw nga tubig
(To bathe in a clear water)

makalangoy upod sari-sari nga isda
(To swim with wide variety of fish)
Tani dampigan ta ang manggad sang banwa
(We should protect the treasures of the city)
Diri nabuhi aton katigulangan
(Where our elders lived)

(Refrain 1)
Sa aton pagbugtaw karon
(As we wake up later on)
Paghigugma aton pukawon
(Let's awaken the love)
Pagbag-o aton nga himuon
(Let's make a change)
Kay pag-uswag aton maangkon
(For us to achieve progress)

(Chorus)
Halungan ta ang manggad sang aton banwa
(Let's take good care the wealth of our city)
Sa dughan naga-ilig ang tubig sang pag-asa
(Our hearts overflowing with hope)
Malimpyo nga suba para sa aton mga bata
(A clean river for our children)
Masanag nga buwas damlag
(A bright future)
Suba sang Iloilo, aton nga palangga...
(Iloilo River, our love...)

(Verse 2)
Diin na ang imo nga konsensya?
(Where is your conscience?)
Pabay-an mo na lang bala ang pagdamo sang basura?
(Will you neglect the rising garbage?)
Nagpalanggit-um ang tubig sang suba
(the waters of the river turned gloomy)
Nga nagpadulom sa aton pakadtuan
(That dimmed our pathway)
Tani aton responsibilidad
(It should be our responsibility)
pag-uswag sang aton banwang pinalangga
(The progress of our beloved city)
katahum sang aton nga palibot halungan ta
(The beauty of our surroundings we should take care)
kag aton nga tipigan
(And we should preserve)

(Refrain 2)
Sa aton nga paminsaron
(In our minds)
kaayuhan aton guid sundun
(We should do goodness)
palibot aton limpyohun
(Let's clean our surroundings)
kag ang katahum ma preserba naton
(so that we can preserve its beauty)

(Repeat chorus)

(Bridge)
Buksi ang imo tagipusuon sa sitwasyon sang aton suba
(Open your heart to the situation of our river)
Diin na ang imo pagpalanga?
(Where is your love?)
Ipadayon ta ang kawsa sang aton ginikanan
(Let's continue the cause of our forefathers)
Tumanon ta ang handum naton tanan
(Let's fulfill our all our dreams)
bantayan ta, halungan ta ang aton manggad
(Let's guard and preserve our treasures)
sa tubig sang suba makita ang katahum sang nagliligad
(Our river speaks of our glorious past)

(Rap verse and repeat chorus)