It may sound as a cultural bias because I'm someone of Visayan descent, both of my parents are from Cebu City in the Philippines, but I really do believe that Visayans write the finest of Filipino songs. Visayan songs convey emotion with a stronger power than the more popularized Tagalog music. So often Visayan music is turned in to Tagalog music and popularized in Tagalog while the Visayan origin of that song is forgotten. Non-Visayans are familiar with Visayan songs and dances such as Tinikling from Leyte, Matud Nila and Usahay. But the Visayan repertoire extends far beyond Matud Nila and Usahay. There are scores more songs, much in the same vain as Matud Nila, that the Visayas have produced. Much of the these lesser known songs are far more original and expressive than the more popular Tagalog songs.
I've never been to the Philippines but listening to my mother's records of Visayan and Tagalog songs have turned me into a Filipino music enthusiast but more particularly a Visayan music enthusiast. I hope one day to be able to travel to Cebu and other Visayan cities to find out-of-print Visayan music. The Visayan selection in Filipino stores now is limited and the recordings are horrible sounding. Pilita Corrales had released two Visayan albums that I know of via Vicor's Plaka Pilipino in the seventies: Visayan Love songs Vol. 1 (1976) and Matud Nila. These albums are exemplary in what I'm trying to find. That is, recordings of Visayan songs with a great singer, original Visayan songs as opposed to Tagalog songs sung in Visayan, and great orchestral arrangements.
Listen to Langgam Nga Buntog by the Mabuhay Singers
Listen to Mitu-o Ako by the Mabuhay Singers
Listen to Duol Ngare, Hagki Ako by the Mabuhay Singers
Listen to Ampinging Mga Bulak by Pilita Corrales
Listen to Wasay-Wasay by Pilita Corrales
Listen to Uhaw Sa Gugma by Pilita Corrales
Visayan Albums I Own
Pilita Corrales: Visayan Love Songs Vol.1 (1976, Vicor Music Corporation, Plaka Pilipino)
01. Adlaw Ug Gabi-i (Cebuano version of Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi composed by Willy Cruz with Cebuano Lyrics by Nora H. Pacres)*
02. Ngano Ba Gugma? (Boy Villaflor)**
03. Ampinging Mga Bulak (Doming Rosal)*
04. Sayri Ako (Siux Cabase)***
05. Nganong Mipakita Ka? (Ben Zubiri aka Iyo Karpo)*
06. Wasay-Wasay (Piux Cabajar)*
07. Ilingaw-Lingaw Lang (Juan Silos Jr.- Nora H. Pacres)*
08. Mao Ba Kini Ang Gugma (Mario Jadraque)**
09. Kulba Hinam (Cebuano version of Buhat composed by Mike Velarde Jr. with Cebuano lyrics by Nora H. Pacres)*
10. Hain Ka Na Pinangga? (Mario Jadraque)**
11. Uhaw Sa Gugma (Candido Hermosa)**
Arranged and Conducted by:
*Doming Amarillo (D'amarillo)
** Doming Valdez
***Philip Maninang
Pilita Corrales: Matud Nila (1974, Vicor Music Corporation, Plaka Pilipino)
01. Matud Nila (Ben Zubiri)*
02. Gipangita Ko Ikaw (Celestino De Garcia)**
03. Porbida (Tex Salcedo)**
04. Bulak Akong Bukidnon (Jessie C. Scalo)**
05. Bisan Sa Damgo Lang (Mil Villareal)*
06. Sayo Sa Kabuntagon (Vincente Rubi)**
07. Balud Sa Kalimot (Suix Cabase)*
08. Ampingan Mo Ba? (Mario Jadraque)*
09. Dalagang Pilipinhon (Siux Cabase)*
10. Kay Langit Ko Ang Gugma Mo (Cebuano Version of Kapantay Ay Langit composed by George Canseco with Cebuano lyrics by Mario Jadraque)*
11. Isumbong Ko Ikaw Sa Langit (Celestino De Garcia)**
12. Katulog Na Inday (Bed Zubiri)**
Arranged and Conducted By:
*Doming Amarillo (D'amarillo)
**Doming Valdez
Pilita Corrales and Susan Fuentes: Yukbo Sa Bisayanhong Awit (1980, Telesis/Jem/Vicor Music Corporation)
01. Hinugpong Nga Mga Awit (Pilita and Susan) (Gugma, Bulak Akong Bukidnon, Nalimot Ka Ba?, Paghinayhinay, Pangandoy)
02. Usahay (Susan)
03. Dili Na Mausab (Pilita)
04. Ang Gugmang Gibati Ko (Susan)
05. Pagkadali (Pilita)
06. Ilonggo Medley (Pilita and Susan) (Dalawidaw, Lumalabay Nga Daw Aso, Walay Angay, Ay Kalisud)
07. Gimingaw Ako (Susan)
08. Nahigwaos (Pilita)
09. Banyaga Nagkatawa (Susan)
10. Kamingaw Gayud (Pilita)
11. Kagahapon Ug Karon (Susan)
Mabuhay Singers: Mitu-o Ako (Villar Records, A&W)
01. Mitu-o Ako (Ben Zubiri)
02. Ang Gugmang Gibati Ko (?)
03. Gimingaw Ako (Fred Pelegrino)
04. Walay Paglubad (A. Espina)
05. Natahap Ako (Siux Cabase)
06. Ikaw Ra Gayud (P. Villaflor)
07. Tudlo-i Na Ako Tudlo-i (Siux Cabase)
08. Tungod Niana Naghilak Ako (Siux Cabase)
09. Ayaw Na Intawon Paghilak (A. Cabase)
10. Gisakit Mo Ako (Tex Salcedo)
11. Bakakon Ka (P. Villaflor)
12. Sa Gugma Gipaantus (E. Montenegro)
Mabuhay Singers: Sugbo-anon (Villar Records, A&W)
01. Langgam Nga Buntog (Siux Cabase, T. Sevilla)
02. Dili Mahimo (Hinginling Mga Bitoon) (E. Montenegro)
03. Ang Bol-anon (P. Sevilla)
04. Sinilutan (F. Villanueva)
05. Pa-ilub (E. Montenegro)
06. Pukaon Ko Ikaw (J. Climaco)
07. Modangat Dang Panahon (Z. Ravina)
08. Pangayo-on Ko (E. Montenegro)
09. Mag-antus Sa Kasakit (Z. Ravina)
10. Kon Ako Na'y Mamatay (J. Climaco)
11. Ngano Ba? (D. Regis)
12. Nahigugma Ako (M. Fernandez, R. Virtucio)
Mabuhay Singers sing Visayan Songs (Villar Records, A&W)
01. Gibakwi Mo
02. Inday Pagmatngon (E. Montenegro)
03. Sayawon Ta Karon
04. Sa Luha Gibanlas
05. Dawaton Ko
06. Ang Siloy (Siux Cabase, T. Sevilla)
07. Naghandum
08. Nahinumdum Ka Pa Ba?
09. Ang Tanan Lumalabay (E. Montenegro)
10. Tirana
11. Awit Sa Maguoma
12. Si Tukmo Ug Punay
Mabuhay Singers: Visayan Songs II (Villar Records, A&W)
01. Ay Basia
02. Bulak Nga Matahom
03. Cocowate
04. Kon Kami Ang Mahigugma
05. Mabudhi-on
06. Guihandum Ko Ikaw
07. Pagkatamis Unta
08. Kuradang
09. Sayawon Ta Na Lang
10. Mahimo Ang Tanan
11. Mutyang Bukidnon
12. Duol Ngare, Hagki Ako
Mabuhay Singers: Rosas Pandan (Villar Records, A&W)
01. Mga Hudyaka
02. Hagki Ako Makadaghan (Minggoy Lopez)
03. Rosas Pandan (Minggoy Lopez)
04. Kaguol Nga Daw Ikamatay
05. Hala Pa
06. Sala Ba Diay
07. Didto Sa Among Bukid (Doming Rosal)
08. Pahiyumi Ako
09. Wa Na'y Handumon
10. Alibangbang
11. Sala Sa Panahon
12. Awit Ko Kanimo
Mabuhay Singers: Alimukon (1973, Villar Records, A&W)
01. Pobreng Alindahaw (T. Villaflor)
02. Sa Langit Manghayhay (Tex Salcedo)
03. Alimukon (Z. Ravina)
04. Damgohon Ko Ikaw (Siux Cabase)
05. Awit Sa Antolihaw (Siux Cabase)
06. Wa Ko Hisabti (Celestino De Garcia)
07. Laylay Sa Payag (Public Domain?)
08. Ambot Ug Ngano (Celestino de Garcia)
09. Walay Tag-iya (Tex Salcedo)
10. Higugma-a Na Intawon Ako (Siux Cabase)
11. Ngano Bang Mihilak Ka? (Mil Villareal)
12. Kanus-a Pa Kaha? (Tex Salcedo)
MORE TO COME
