Apat Na Buwang Pasko and songs of September

September, that balmy time of year between the heat of summer and the chill of winter, has inspired songwriters through the ages. Unlike the fun ditties of the vacation months or the rapturous rejoicing of the holiday season, the songs are most of the time, laidback, sad, introspective pieces, a wistful way of looking back at what has happened in the past months and the anticipation or sometimes dread about another year coming to an end.

The much-loved standard September Song composed by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson is about those last few precious days. September by Earth, Wind & Fire, while a booming dance track, asks “Do you remember?” September Morn by Neil Diamond remembers past September mornings. And what about the lament for a great loss that is Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. September has sadness stamped on its days. That is, except out here.

I have yet to hear a Filipino song about September. I think, the closest that local songwriters came to doing one is in Apat Na Buwang Pasko. I know Apat Na Buwang Pasko does not have the word September in the title. It is also not about September and despite that word Pasko, it is also not about Christmas. It is instead about the last four months of the year, the lead-up to Christmas, the Pinoy’s best loved celebration of all. And that begins on Sept. 1.

This situation is unique to the Philippines as other countries celebrate Christmas only for a day or not at all. It is often said that storeowners are at fault and this is merely a ploy to entice customers to start shopping early. I see the long Christmas season though as the Filipino’s way of coping with an existence that has become more and more difficult by the day. The naïve, patient and simple people that we are believe that everything will be alright if we cling to Christmas and its message of hope.

Popular arranger Gino Cruz walked into a mall one September day and was greeted with the sound of Christmas carols. “Ang aga naman,” he thought. But it gave him an excellent idea. He got hold of his friend, actor and singer Jeff Arcilla and told him, they were going to write a song about four months of Christmas in the Philippines. They did and the result is a biting though hilarious commentary on our extra long Holiday season.

Here it is, Apat Na Buwang Pasko, the song set to a rousing, jazzy melody that names those “sins” we often commit just to get hold of that happy, Christmasy feeling as early as possible.

Di ba mahaba masyado

Higit sandaang araw ng Pasko

Sobrang aga naman ng Christmas lights na yan

Teka…tinanggal na ba yan mula noong Paskong nakaraan?

Hay, Setyembre pa lang

Ano itong naririnig ko

Mga kampanang nangangalansing

Mga awiting pang caroling

Ooooooktubre pa lang

Di pa Pasko isusuot mo na yan

Bakit kailangang bonnet ay magamit (eh ang init, ang init)

At pawis na pawis na ang iyong anit

Apat na buwang Pasko

Taon taon na lang ganito

Maghintay ka lang darating din yan

Ang tunay na panahon ng Kapaskuhan

Apat na buwang Pasko

Di ba mas OK kung ganito

Maghintay na lang darating din yan

Ang panahon ng Kapaskuhan

No Nooooooobyembre pa lang

Mga patay at santo ang bida niyan

Konti namang kahihiyan diyan

Sige ka at baka bumangon sa kanilang himlayan

Dis is it! Disyembre is it

Ika ni Yoyoy… lits silibrit

Yung Christmas tree ilabas, I-dikurit

Wow, ang verse na ‘to’y pilit na pilit na pilit na pilit

Apat na buwang Pasko (minsan anim)

Taon taon na lang ganito

Maghintay na lang darating din yan

Ang tunay na panahon ng Kapaskuhan

Apat na buwang Pasko (minsan anim)

Di ba’t mas OK kung ganito

Maghintay na lang darating din yan

Ang panahon ng…

Jacket, Bonnet, sweater, hamon

Bibingka, puto bungbung, hot chocolate…pilit

Parol, belen, fruit salad, fruit cake

Caroling, simbang gabi, gabi gabi puyat

At siyempre may Santa Klaus!

Apat na buwang Pasko (Minsan anim)

Taon taon na lang ganito

Maghintay na lang darating din yan

Ang tunay na panahon ng Kapaskuhan

Apat na buwang Pasko (Minsan anim)

Di ba’t mas OK kung ganito

 Maghintay na lang darating din yan

Ang panahon ng Kapaskuhan, Kapaskuhan

Pebruary is here

Hihintayin pa ba ang Chinese New Year.

Apat Na Buwang Pasko was one of the finalists in the recently-concluded Philpop 2015 song competition where it was performed by actor, comedian and now also a singing star, Jon Santos. It is included in the Philpop 2015 commemorative album. Merry Christmas!