A Performance by the Tawid for Christ International

(February 05, 2008)

The Kalayaan Philippines of Hawaii had a night of affair at the Laoag Amphitheater on February 05, 2008 in celebration of the Pamulinawen Festival. They invited the group Tawid for Christ International to render a performance on that affair. The guest of honor was Former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

The group Tawid has been organized 15 years ago by Mrs. Porfiria Raval, Music Supervisor of then DECS of Ilocos Norte. Members came from the different disciplines of the Ilocos community. The group originally started with the name Choir for Christ since they sing gospel songs, later renamed as Tawid Choir since they sing Ilocano songs and currently carries its official name. They had performed several times on invitations locally and internationally such as in the United States and Hongkong.

I was invited by Mrs Raval to join the group to serve as bass, on December 2007 with some rehearsals. The said affair was my debut performance with the group. We sang medley of Ilocano songs such as Manang Biday, Dungdunguen Ka, No Duaduaem and You are the Sunshine of My Life.

The following are the lyrics of the Ilocano songs:

DUNGDUNGUEN KANTO (I Will Love You)

Dundunguen kanto unay unay

Indayonen kanto iti sinamay

Tultuloden kanto nalumanay

Pagamuanen inka mailibay

Refrain:

Annay, pusok, annay, annay,

Nasaem, naut-ut la unay.

Itdem kaniak ta pannaranay

Ta kaasiak a maidasay.

Apaman nga inkanto makaturog,

Iyabbong konto ta rupam daytoy panyok

Tapno dinaka kagaten ti lamok

Ket maimas monto't maturog.(Repeat refrain)

Apaman nga inkanto makariing

Dagdagusen kanto nga sapuyoten

Nga ilellele a kas maysa nga ubing

Ta namnamaek sam-it ni issem.(Repeat refrain)

NO DUADUAEM PAY

No duaduaem pay laeng ti pegges ni ayat

Nalawag unayen a ranggas mo kaniak

Ala man biagko, sawem ti pamuspusak

Tapno mabalinka a lipaten o imnas

Lipatenkanton wen ngemaddaakton ti tanem

Ngem no itan, saanen nga mabalinen

Ay, itdem ni ayat, dinak kad pagtuoken

Yantangay siksika ti innak ay-ayaten.

MANANG BIDAY

Manang Biday, ilukat mo man

Ta bentanan ikalumbaban

Ta kitaec ta kinayawan

Ay matayakon no dinac caasyan

A sino ka nga aglabas-laabs

Toy jardin ko pagay-ayamak

Ammon ngarud a balasangak

Sabang ti liryo di pay pagukrad