have you had that experience when you are watching movies with subtitles/translation and the message is lost or not completely conveyed because of the translation? or the deep emotions of a song is not really felt if translated? well, read on.
Precious, my sister's grandchild and my nephew's daughter sings--- she has the passion, so we have been "modestly" encouraging her. but that's another story. anyways, she was with us when Mr. Hubbs dropped me off to work last night. she was being funny and started singing Filipino iconic song Nandito Ako. as she was singing she complained that she does not know the meaning of the song. so, as she was singing i translated. needless to say, she was not very happy and commented that " it's weird'. so i told her i will translate per line so it has more meaning. she sarted singing again and for some reason i can not completely and wholeheartedly translate the intense emotions of that song without sounding "weird". Then she stopped and said, " wait, is that how Tagalog is, like I can sing a whole 2 lines and no translation yet? uhmm, Mamu's just slow. Hahahhahha.
so, just for fun, here's my futile attempt to tranlate Nandito Ako.
Mayro'n akong nais malaman
I need to know something
Maaari bang magtanong?
Is it possible to ask you a question?
Alam mo bang matagal na kitang iniibig?
Do you know, I have been loving you for a long time/I have been in love with you for so long
Matagal na akong naghihintay
I have been waiting for so long
Ngunit mayro'n kang ibang minamahal
But you are in love with someone else/You are loving someone
Kung kaya't ako'y di o pinapansin
Thats why you do not notice me/That's why you ignore me
Ngunit ganon pa man nais kong malaman mo
Inspite of it, I still want you to know
Ang puso kong ito'y para lang sa 'yo
This heart of mine is yours alone
Nandito ako umiibig sa iyo
I am here, loving you
Kahit na nagdurugo ang puso
Even my heart bleeds
Kung sakaling iwanan ka niya
If ever he leaves you
Huwag kang mag-alala
Don't worry
May nagmamahal sa iyo,
There's someone loving you
Nandito ako
I am here
Kung ako ay iyong iibigin
If you love me back
Di kailangan ang mangamba
There is no need to worry
Pagkat ako ay para mong alipin
Because I am like your slave
Sa iyo lang wala ng iba
I am yours and no one else/I belong only to you
Ngunit mayro'n ka ng ibang minamahal
But you are in love with someone else/You are loving someone
Kung kaya't ako'y di o pinapansin
Ngunit ganon pa man nais kong malaman mo
Ang puso kong ito'y para lang sa 'yo
Nandito ako umiibig sa iyo
Kahit na nagdurugo ang puso
Kung sakaling iwanan ka niya
Huwag kang mag-alala
May nagmamahal sa iyo,
Nandito ako
Nandito ako umiibig sa iyo
Kahit na nagdurugo ang puso
Kung sakaling iwanan ka niya
Huwag kang mag-alala
May nagmamahal sa iyo,
Nandito ako
Nandito ako...
by now you probably figured i am not a songwriter nor a poet. i am a laboratory scientist. that i am. but i guess, more than my lack of skills, i really think that each language is so different and emotions are totally lost in each even if you try. darn kids, they do really say the darnest things.
but since music is universal, listen and be swayed with this beautiful love song. have a blessed Sunday my dear readers especially those from far away Middle East and my beloved Philippines. salamat po!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hhaiKGAZf8
