Music is second nature to men. It is woven within our system. We impulsively sing or hum a tune to express either happiness or sadness. Our fingers tap or snap and our foot stamp in response to a tune. We associate sounds of nature to music – we say that the birds sing and the sea waves hum. We consider the swish of bamboo or trees as the wind blows through them as harmonic melody, which is music in itself.
Songs existed long before the world was created. It was the very first kind of literature, the media used by angels to worship God. In the bible, it occupies a special place, the Psalms, the nineteenth book in the Old Testament which features both praises and lamentation of Israel – God’s chosen nation.
One cannot deny the power of music. It changes gloom to a happy mood, it mellows and wins hearts – even make the starved forget their hunger. It aggrandizes a second rate film and used with TV commercials, it suggests a desire to viewers of wanting the product or service being promoted because it has the command to control the will and emotion. Science claims that termites or “anay” respond to music. Accordingly, they devour wood quicker when they hear fast beat music specially “rock” but chew on them more slowly with mellow ones.
In the Philippines, songs have varied functions. Starting from the traditional ethnic chants which were sang or played during religious rituals of our ancestors- through the years, Filipino music has amplified itself to become an expression of nationalism and a wake-up call for socially relevant issues aside from the romantic love, self-expression and means for the Filipino’s sense of humor through nvelty songs like “Embutsekek” of Yoyo Villame.
Our teenagers today have found another use of music, though. It serves them as energizer or mind booster as they study their books and lessons with their head set connected to their ears.
Since DepEd acknowledges the importance of teaching Filipino students in the context of our culture, Philippine Music, both the Ethnic and Contemporary, is almost a perfect tool that its inclusion to K to 12 Curriculum, particularly in English,Filipino and MAPEH subjects could be a very dynamic strategy as learners could re-learn our customs and traditions as easy as they learn the tune of a song. Without being aware of it, they may adhere to the message the song suggest as they sing it again and again. Aside from it, songs make an interesting motivation and a springboard too, in teaching language structure and literature.
Definitely, it may help streamline curriculum content in the language subjects for the attainment of functional literacy.
The Philippine Music Industries released many song masterpieces that convey strong spiritual and moral values, love of country, wholesome fun, devoted spotless romance and respect for one’s dignity and other traditions that are worth preserving. The following are a few examples:
Popular Filipino Music
- 1.-It captures the hearts of young and old around the globe that 26 countries had a version written in their own language. The moral of the song is applicable to all children of every nationality as it focuses on the attitude of a wayward child. (Freddie Aguilar)
- 2.Masdan MoAngKapaligiran – Being a pro-environment in theme, it can still awareness to the young about the problems threatening our nature. (ASIN)
- 3.Maala-ala Mo Kaya – Prior to Ms. Charo Santos’ “MMK” (Maala-alamo kaya true to life drama anthology, it was a theme song to a 1954 movie starred by Mr. Rogelio Dela Rosa and Ms. Carmen Rosales. It should help teachers redirect students’ perception of what romantic love should be.
- 4.Lord, Patawad – A popular song which is a humble prayer in itself. It may be used to correct the mischievous ways of the young generation. (Lord Divino]
Being taught at Mapeh classes, students are introduced with technical elements contained in them. It would be a waste if our learners limit their familiarity of these masterpieces to lyrics and tune or to mere technical knowledge alone.
Being taught in Mapeh classes, students are knowledgeable with technical elements contained in them. It would be a waste if our young learners limit their familiarity of our songs to lyrics and tune or to mere technical knowledge alone.
By: Loreta B. Visda | Teacher III | Bonifacio Camacho National High school | Abucay, Bataan
