I think I’ve just coerced myself into writing about all 20 tracks of Bukas Palad’s soon-to-be-released 20th anniversary album. While I am not going to run out of material for sure, I worry that I may lose steam in the process. So let me take the effortless route and tell you about one of the easier tracks to discuss—a song, which to me is perfectly solid: SA BATONG ITO.
It is one of 5 winners of the BAYAN, UMAWIT songwriting competition mounted last year by BP. Written by Fr. Benito Justiniano, SA BATONG ITO was among the pile of CDs and audio cassettes assigned to me for first auditioning. Having been attracted to what I heard, I introduced the song to the rest of the panel during our deliberation session in short-listing entries to the contest. After that forum, the song was given semi-finalist status.
Frankly, when I listen to a song, I am first drawn to the melody before I am to the lyrics. And this was no exception; SA BATONG ITO does have a powerful hook and energetic spirit. It has that kind of refrain that enjoins all to sing along by the sheer simplicity of its tune and impact of its rhythm. It is moving yet pushing, charming yet commanding. It has all the charisma and rallying power of a speaker who seduces you into action. Couple that with memorable lyrics like these, and you’ve got a winning song:
“Sa batong ito, itatayo Ko ang aking bayan!
Sa batong ito, titipunin ko sila’t babantayan!
Sa batong ito, kaligtasan ay siyang makakamtan!
Sa batong ito, pag-ibig Ko’y laan!”
Weeks after we had declared the winners of the contest, it was time to assign tasks in preparation for our album production. Naturally, I volunteered to arrange SA BATONG ITO as I had an instant liking to it. The challenge, however, was to piece together the voices and to score the music in a way that would enhance the inherent strengths of the song.
So I set myself to work. The choral arrangement you will hear in the album is uncluttered; much of it is in unison and only the final refrains are in full chorus, so listeners can focus on the message and not the arrangement per se. The other objective of course is to make the track as congregation-friendly as possible so choirs that fall in love with the song (as I did) may get to sing it easily and with full confidence. Mind you, however, that the coda is quite grand, to be in synch with the temperament of the song’s powerful message.
The minus one is an interweaving of instruments common to many churches: guitar, piano, flute, organ, shaker. Ok, you will hear an accordion somewhere, but that’s my personal tribute to Fr. Eddie Hontiveros, SJ, who encouraged me to pursue arranging liturgical music. But over-all, the instrumentation is churchy. And why not? The song after all speaks much about the Church Christ built.
SA BATONG ITO will make a great communion or recessional hymn. I can already hear congregations declaring their faith and singing in chorus of God’s promise:
“Sa batong ito, kaligtasan ay siyang makakamtan!
Sa batong ito, pag-ibig Ko’y laan!”
Yes, Alex, I’ll get you an audio sampler as soon as that’s ready.
And kudos, Fr. Benito! I hope to meet you one day.
SA BATONG ITO
Disc: Liturgical
Music & lyrics: Fr. Benito Justiniano (with additional lyrics from Roy Tolentino)
Vocals: The Bukas Palad Music Ministry
Instrumental and vocal arrangement: Norman Agatep
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