I actually opened this blog to do this song. It’s still not been done by anyone else ten years later.
This will be my last post as I left the Philippines and this blog is difficult for me to maintain given the memories associated.
Thanks to my readers over the years.
[CHORUS]
Magdalena, anong problema? Bakit di ka makawala sa kadena
Magdalena, what’s your problem? Why can’t you break free from your chains?
At sa gabi gabi ikaw ay nasa selda, na hanap buhay mo ngayon
And every night you return to your cell, that’s how you make a living now
Magdalena, anong problema? Alam naman natin na dati kang nena
Magdalena, what’s your problem? We all know you were just a little girl
Na sa iyong ama ikaw ay prinsesa… Anong ng yari sa’yo?
Who was a princess to her father, what’s happened to you?
[BRIDGE]
Ito’y kwento ng isang babae, tulog sa umaga…gising sa gabi
This is the story of a woman who sleeps in the morning…and wakes up at night
Ang kanyang mukha’y puno ng kolorete! Sa lugar na ilaw ay patay sindi…
Her face is caked with make-up! In a place where the lights are always off…
Simula natin ang istorya
Let’s start from the beginning
[VERSE ONE]
Ako’y kanyang matalik na kaibigan, Ernesto ang aking pangalan
I’m her close friend, Ernesto (is my name).
Kwentong dapat nyong malaman, wag ng magbulagbulagan
Hers is a story you should know, don’t turn a blind eye
Bakit ang nais natin ay, malaman ang baho ng iba?
Why is it we all like to revel in the dirt(y deeds) of others?
Pagbibigyan kita! Kilala mo ba si Magda?
Here’s some more (gossip) for you lot. You know Magda?
Na aking kababata mula pa ng pagkabata
My childhood friend since we were young
Kami lagi magkasama Mga bangkang papel sa sapa
We were always together, making paper boats in the river
Kanyang ngiti lumiliwanag ang paligid
Her smile brightening up my surroundings
At pag siya’y dumadaan mga leeg ay pumipilipit
And when she’d pass, heads would turn
Ubod ng ganda noong sya ay nag dalaga
She was pure beauty as a young woman[1]lit. a virgin
Tuwing kausap ko, na malimit akong tulala
Every time I talked to her, I’d end up tongue-tied
Kahit may nararamdaman pinilit kong isara ang / bibig at pintig ng puso para sa kanya[2]this is two lines
Even if I felt something, I tried to keep my mouth and heart shut from her
At sasayawan matapos kaming makapag tapos
And after we had finished dancing
Dahil pinawis ang mukha ako’y nag punas ng pulbos
I wiped my sweaty face with powder
Kahit parang hindi pantay nag mamadaling hinila
(One day,)[3]implied only although it seemed off, she pulled me along quickly
Pinakilala nya lalake na taga maynila
To go with her to meet a Manileño
[REPEAT CHORUS]
[VERSE TWO]
Maraming taon ako’y nalipasan pinilit ko mang takasan
Many years have passed, I tried to escape
Bagkos ay aking nalaman ang tunay kong kailangan
But I realized what I really needed
Di ko maibaling ang pag tingin ko sa iba
I couldn’t divert my gaze to anyone else
Minamahalko sya hahanapin ko si magda
I love her, I will look for Magda
Lumuwas habang nagdarasal na maabutan
I traveled while praying to catch her
Sa lugar na ang sabi’y kanyang pinagtatrabahuan
At the place where they said she works
Nakita kong larawan nya na nakadikit sa pintuan
I saw her picture hanging on the door
Iba man ang kulay ng buhok di ko malilimutan
Although her hair color was different, I couldn’t forget
Ang kanyang mata at tamis ng kanyang ngiti
Her eyes and the sweetness of her smile
Dahil ubod ng saya hindi na nag atubili
Because it was so much fun, I didn’t hesitate
Agad pumasok sa silid pero bakit ang dilim
To immediately enter her room, but why was it dark?
Madaming lamesa’t mga nag iinumang lasing
There were many tables and drunk people
Nang biglang nagpalakpakan may mabagal na kanta
Suddenly, there was clapping and a slow song
Sa maliit na entablado ay nakita ko na
On a small stage, I saw her
Ako ay nagtaka nag tanong nag kamot
I was puzzled and asked, scratching my head
“Bakit sya sumasayaw na sapatos lang ang suot?”
“Why is she dancing with only shoes on?”
[REPEAT BRIDGE]
Ituloy natin ang istoriya.
On then with the story…
[VERSE THREE]
Agad siyang sumama sa’kin walang kakabakaba
She immediately came with me, without any worry
Ang trato niya sa’kin ay nobyo tila katakataka
She acted as if I was already her boyfriend, it was strange
Bumaba sa taxi-ng pinara sa may Santa Mesa
We got off the taxi near Sta. Mesa[4]public square in Metro Manila
Parang ako’y bida sa mga sumunod na eksena
It was like I had the lead role[5]in a porn film implied in what[6]lit. the scenes that came next
Kung ito ay panaginip ayoko nang magising
If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up
Ngunit ako’y nanaginip umaga na nang magising
But I eventually did dream, and when I woke up in the morning
Ang naabutan ko lamang ay may sobre sa lapag
All I found was an envelope on the floor
Liham para sa’kin na isinulat niya magdamag
A letter for me that she wrote all night
Kahit gulong gulo ang isip pinilit kong basahin
Even though my mind was confused, I tried to read it
‘Di malilimutan ang mga sinabi niya sa akin
I can’t ever seem to forget her last words to me
[VERSE FOUR]
Mahal kong Ernesto…
Ernesto, my love…
Alam kong tulog mo’y Malalim
I know you’re sleeping deeply.
Di nako nag paalam dina kita ginising
I didn’t say goodbye, I didn’t want to wake you up.
Salamat nga pala sa pasalubong mong kalamay
Thank you, by the way, for the box of kalamay you gave me.
At sa pinaka masayang gabi ng aking buhay
And for the happiest night of my life.
Nung iniwan ko ang baryo natin ang akala ko
When I left our village, I thought
Isang tunay na pag ibig ang matatagpuan ko
I would find true love somewhere.
Hinanap kung saan saan at kung kani kanino
I searched everywhere and in anyone.
Di ko inakalang ito ang kahahantungan ko
I didn’t expect this to be my fate.
Imbes na ako’y sagipin itinulak sa bangin
Instead of being rescued, I was pushed off the cliff.
Ito palang ibig sabihin ng kapit sa patalim
This is what “holding onto a knife’s edge” means.
Kung mabaho sabunin, Kung makati gamutin
If it smells bad, wash it. If it’s itchy, treat it.
Kung hindi na masikmura ay ibaling ang tingin
If you can’t stand it anymore, look away.
Kahit ako ay bayaran at kaladkaring babaeng
Even if I’m a paid and promiscuous woman,
Alam ang amoy ng laway ng iba’t ibang lalake
I know the smell of different men’s saliva.
Isa lang ang kaya kong sayo’y maipagmalaki
I can only brag about one thing to you:
Ikaw lang ang bukod tanging hinalikan ko sa labi
You’re the only one I’ve kissed on the lips.
Gusto ko mang manatili sayong mga yakap
Even if I want to stay in your arms,
Ako may natutuwa dahil ako’y iyong nahanap
I’m happy because you found me.
Wala na yatang walis ang makakalinis ng kalat
I don’t think any broom can clean up the mess.
At ang katulad ko sayo ay di karapatdapat
And someone like me doesn’t deserve someone like you.
Pinagarap kong sa altar akoy iyong ihatid
I dreamed of being walked down the aisle by you,
Ngunit sa dami ng pait ang puso ko’y namanhid
But my heart has become numb from too much pain.
Di ko makakalimutan ang pabaon mong halik
I won’t forget the kiss you gave me as a parting gift.
Pero pakiusap huwag ka na sana pang babalik
But please, don’t come back anymore.
Regalo ng may kapal ng ikaw ay makilala
It’s a gift from above that I met you.
Salamat sa alaala, Nagmamahal, Magda♥
Thank you for the memories. Love, Magda♥
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Ito’y kuwento ng…isang babae.
This was a story of a woman’s life.