Oras Na: A song that has inspired millions

When former President Joseph Estrada stepped down on Jan. 20, a song, pregnant with meaning, played out the full depth of the images on television screens tuned to Channel 2 nationwide, moving everyone to tears.

Little is known of the song that has inspired and influenced Filipinos for more than 20 years. But since its creation in 1978 by protest singer-songwriter Coritha and its recording and subsequent release in 1979, Oras Na has played its historic role as the conscienticizing song of the people throughout their struggle for freedom under the Marcos dictatorship and for integrity in governance under the Estrada regime.

From its humble beginnings during the Martial Law years, Oras Na has cast its spell on the listening public eventually finding its way into the cramped cells of political prisoners where Coritha performed before one of its more famous occupants, Satur Ocampo. It also found its way into Cory Aquino’s speech at a massive anti-Marcos rally in 1986 quoting its classic line Ang takot ay nasa isip lamang.

No other song except Bayan Ko, has equaled or surpassed the impact Oras Na has made on the Filipino psyche. That it would launch and close the Estrada Resign Movement is a fact that cannot be denied. Indeed, Oras Na set the stage for the anti-Estrada movement in the first rally organized by the Council On Philippine Affairs (COPA) on Oct. 18, at Ayala Avenue where Coritha performed the song "live" with Blitz Padua on keyboards and Joel Oliveros on electric lead guitar, before an estimated crowd of 50,000.

From then on, the moving melody and lyrics of Oras Na has echoed throughout the rallies, from Ayala to Mendiola, from the Senate to EDSA and in radios tuned to Radyo Bandido-DZRJ nationwide. It was also the first song sang at EDSA shrine on Jan. 16 where Coritha and angry protestors gathered for the first of many nights and days that brought the Estrada administration down.

As the curtains fell on the Estrada government, the protest song Oras Na officially closed the Estrada Resign campaign when Coritha delivered an electrifying rendition of the song before 100,000 rallyists gathered on the last day of the People Power rally at EDSA shrine, thus leaving its indelible mark in Philippine history.