List of Filipino Christmas carols

This article lists Christmas carols sung by the Filipino during Christmas season. Most of these songs traditionally started way back during Spanish era and continued to be modified by modernization.

Contents

Ang Pasko ay Sumapit

Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon (English: Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year), also known as Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (English: Christmas has Arrived), is a traditional Filipino Christmas song. It was originally composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil in 1933 as Kasadya ning Táknaa (English: How Blissful is this Season!). A version of the song in Tagalog was used by Josefino Cenizal as a marching song for "Ang Pugad ng Aguila" (Hawk's Nest) in 1938. National Artist Levi Celerio also wrote Tagalog lyrics to the song during 1950s. The song is still sung today in various communities, especially in Churches both in the Philippines and abroad.

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa (Cebuano)[1]
Christmas Has Arrived (English)[2]
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (Tagalog)[3]

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Bag-ong tuig, bág-ong kinabúhì.
Dinuyogan sa átong mga pagbati.
Atong awiton ug atong laylayon
Aron magmalípayon.

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Christmas has arrived
Let us sing
beautiful hymns
because God is Love

When Christ was born
There were Three Kings who visited
And each one
offered their respective gifts.

Chorus:
'Tis New Year so we must reform our lives
so that our nation/people can be happy
Let us strive so that we can achieve
Prosperity!

Let us sing
Whilst the world is silent
The Day has arrived
of the Child brought from Heaven.

Let us love each another,
Let us follow the Golden Rule
And from this moment forth
even if it's not christmas, let us share

Ang Pasko ay sumapit
Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandang himig
Dahil sa ang Diyós ay pag-ibig

Nang si Kristo'y isilang
May tatlong haring nagsidalaw
At ang bawat isa ay nagsipaghandog
Ng tanging alay

Koro:
Bagong taon ay magbagong-buhay
Nang lumigaya ang ating bayan
Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtán
Natin ang kasaganaan

Tayo'y mangagsiawit
Habang ang mundo'y tahimik
Ang araw ay sumapit
Ng sanggol na dulot ng langit

Tayo ay magmahalan
Ating sundin ang gintong aral
At magbuhat ngayon
Kahit hindi Pasko ay magbigayan

Himig ng Pasko

Malamig ang simoy ng hangin
Kay saya ng bawat damdamin
Ang tibok ng puso sa dibdib
Para bang hulog na ng langit
Himig ng pasko’y laganap
Mayro’ng sigla ang lahat
Wala ang kalungkutan
Lubos ang kasayahan
Himig ng pasko’y umiiral
Sa loob ng bawat tahanan
Masaya ang mga tanawin
May awit ang simoy ng hangin
Himig ng pasko’y laganap
Mayro’ng sigla ang lahat
Wala ang kalungkutan
Lubos ang kasayahan
Himig ng pasko’y umiiral
Sa loob ng bawat tahanan
Masaya ang mga tanawin
May awit ang simoy ng hangin

Noche Buena

Noche Buena is a song that describes typical Filipino culture of sharing and giving gifts during Christmas among relatives. Its title refers tot the traditional nochebuena, a usually family-centred feast full of merrymaking held shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve.

Noche Buena (Tagalog)
Noche Buena (English)[2]
Kay sigla ng gabi,
ang lahat ay kay saya;
nagluto ang Áte ng manok na tinola;
Sa bahay ng Kuya ay mayro'ng litsonan pa!
Ang bawat tahanan may handáng iba't iba!
Tayo na giliw,
magsalo na tayo
mayro'n na tayong
tinapay at keso.
'Di ba Noche Buena
sa gabing ito?
At bukas ay araw ng Pasko!
The night is so lively,
Everyone are in bliss;
Older Sister has cooked tinolang manok;
In Older Brother's house, there is even lechon [roasted pig]!
Every home has prepared many different things!
Shall we go, beloved,
let us feast,
We now have
bread and cheese.
Isn't it Noche Buena
on this very night?
And tomorrow is Christmas Day!

Sa Maybahay ang Aming Bati

In a part of a series known as Maligayang Pasko, this was originally an untitled song; it is now commonly known by its incipit. Though more playful in tone, its theme is similar to the English carol Here We Come A-wassailing/A-caroling.

Sa Maybahay ang Aming Bati (Tagalog)
To The Householder We Greet (English)[2]
Sa maybahay, ang aming bati:
"Merry Christmas na mal'walhati!"
Ang pag-ibig, 'pag siyang nagharì,
araw-araw ay magiging Paskò lagi!
Koro:
Ang sanhi po, ng pagparito,
ay hihingî po ng aginaldo.
Kung sakaling, kami'y perhuwisyo,
pasensya na kayo't kami'y namamasko!!
To the householder we greet:
"A Glorious Merry Christmas!"
When Love doth reign,
every day will always be Christmas!
Chorus:
The reason we have come
is to ask for gifts.
If it so happens that we are a bother,
forgive us as we are greeting Christmas!

Notes and references

  1. ^ Composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil, originally in Cebuano language.
  2. ^ a b c NOTE: These translations are not meant to be sung.
  3. ^ National Artist Levi Celerio is credited for writingthe lyrics of this version, and set to the music by Vicente D. Rubi.

See also

Filipino traditional Christmas songs