Here’s a cover version of the Joey Ayala song “Walang Hanggang Paalam,” a song in Filipino that talks about long-distance relationships. It was a particularly poignant song for me back when my wife was in the US and I was stuck in the Philippines waiting for my immigration papers. But the song is written in a way that transcends human relationships and could very well be talking from the point-of-view of immigrants pining for the country of their birth.
The Song
Here’s my very rough line-by-line translation of the song into English, for those of you who have no idea what’s being sung:
| Filipino | English |
|---|---|
| Walang Hanggang Paalam | Infinite Farewell |
| by Joey Ayala | |
| 01. | 01. |
| Di ba tayo’y narito | Aren’t we here |
| Upang maging malaya | To be free? |
| At upang palayain ang iba? | And to free others? |
| Ako’y walang hinihiling | I ask for nothing |
| Ika’y tila ganoon din | And you seem to be the same. |
| Sadya’y palayain ang isa’t-isa | Let us free one another. |
| KORO | CHORUS |
| Ang pagibig natin ay | Our love is |
| Walang hanggang paalam | An infinite farewell |
| At habang magkalayo | And while we are far away, |
| Papalapit pa rin ang puso | Out hearts come ever closer. |
| Kahit na magkahiwalay | Though we be far apart, |
| Tayo’y magkasama | We are together |
| Sa magkabilang dulo ng mundo | From the opposite corners of the world. |
| 02. | 02. |
| Ang bawat simula ay | Every beginning |
| Siya ring katapusan | Is also the end. |
| May patutunguhan ba | Is there a destination |
| Ang ating pagsinta? | For our affection? |
| Sa biglang tingin | At first glance, |
| Kita’y walang kinabukasan | We have no future. |
| Subalit di-malupig ang pag-asa. | But hope will always be victorious. |
A Back-to-Basics Approach
Taking a look at my video workflow, I realized how much effort was going into recording and then editing live video performances. And while it was a good introduction into the waters of video making, I figured there’s gotta be an easier way. So I set up one camera to record something in one take, live with an acoustic guitar and vocal mic. Simple. Quick. A simple black and white filter for the video, and a simple audio boost for the volume and it’s done.
It feels closer to the spontaneous way I make and produce my music. I’ll try to keep going by uploading something on a more regular basis. Crossing my fingers and hoping I can do this on a weekly basis. Wait and see. And if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my Youtube channel? Thanks!
Lionel Zivan 