Padapadatayo a Siraragsak, Ilocos Norte Birthday Song

(Note: This is a lovely song I heard when I was young but for a long time, in our chaotically urbanized life in Manila, and then in exile, the tune that was so familiar to our healing lost its place. When I moved to Hawai'i two years ago, I found this song again--or this song found me, and here it is, in its glory and grace.)

Padapadatay a siraragsak
A kumablaaw, mangipaduyakyak
Ta nagtengan ti aldaw a pannakayanak
(ni_______) [or] panagtao
A napnuan gasat

Balangat a naurnos dagiti sabsabong
Ti umaymi kenka isaad ita ulom
Kasta met a yawatmi kenka
Ti naindayawan unay a palma
Tapno isu ti mangipakita
Ti ragragsakmi amin a sangapada

Sapay iti Dios ta ilayonna koma
Ta salun-atmo, pia ken regta
Ken ta singpetmo a nagpaiduma
Nga ap-apalan dagiti kas kenka

Blogged for posterity today, Feb. 19/ 2008
Honolulu, HI

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