The return of the 85-year-old Dahil Sa’yo
The Marcoses were restored to Malacañang in an overwhelming manner during the last elections. With such a mandate, it cannot be denied that it has once again become hip or cool to like President Bongbong “BBM” Marcos and other things remembered from the Marcos era of 36 years or more ago. And that includes Dahil Sa’yo.
The song is back. Check out the new R&B laced version by The Voice of the Philippines discovery Daryl Ong from the soundtrack of the box-office hit Maid in Malacañang.
Every Filipino of a certain age is familiar with Dahil Sa’yo. This is a song composed by Mike Velarde Jr., with words written by Dominador Santiago in 1937. It was commissioned by Sampaguita Pictures for use in its first movie production titled Bituing Marikit, where it was sung by then matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa to the singing sweetheart of the Philippines Elsa Oria.
Dahil Sa’yo became immensely popular in the years that followed. The song’s easy flowing melody and simple promise of all-encompassing love made it a favorite of everybody’s. Singers, whether in the clubs, stage shows, in the then still common haranas or even in casual get-togethers, learned to sing the song.
With local musicians becoming in great demand abroad, it was no surprise that Dahil Sa’yo’s fame would also spread overseas. Visiting Filipinos of note in other countries were invariably greeted by the strains of Dahil Sa’yo that is was often referred to as the “Philippine National Anthem.” Later, even foreign singers got into the Dahil Sa’yo bandwagon. Among those were Nat King Cole, Jerry Vale, the Lettermen and later Julio Iglesias.
So did politicians. Imelda Marcos performed Dahil Sa’yo during campaign rallies in the ‘60s. With Filipinos excited over the prospect of having the brilliant senator Ferdinand Marcos as president and a beautiful first lady who could sing, it was a no-brainer that Dahil Sa’yo would grow even bigger in popularity. Marcos handily won that election. Why not, he had help in an excellent advertising jingle titled Dahil Sa’yo.
It was, however, another Velarde composition that would usher Dahil Sa’yo into the rock era of the ‘70s. With the Marcoses in power putting emphasis on all things Filipino, local music labels dove into our treasure trove of old music for recording materials. That meant songs by Velarde (Lahat ng Araw), Constancio de Guzman (Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig), Levi Celerio (Ang Pipit with Rey Alinsod, Tony Maiquez (Sapagka’t Kami ay Tao Lamang) and others.
Villar Recording gave the showband The New Minstrels Velarde’s Buhat to record and struck a gold mine. The group’s album of local oldies became a huge success. Vicor Music followed suit with a version of Dahil Sa’yo by Pilita Corrales in the incredibly big-selling Philippine Love Songs album. I believe that these recordings helped pave the way for the Manila Sound and in the process brought about the golden age of Filipino pop music.
If I am not mistaken, the last pop version of Dahil Sa’yo was recorded by Rico J. Puno in 1976. Manila Sound had become the dominant type of local music by then and the new artists were no longer interested in our standards. With the unrest fueled by the opposition in the ensuing years, the Marcoses fell out of favor. That meant also anything associated with them and one of those was Dahil Sa’yo.
The tide has now turned and Daryl’s Dahil Sa’yo is the stand-out cut in the soundtrack of Maid in Malacañang. His is an excellent, heartfelt rendition. I am thankful that he was given the chance to record the song. I am also thankful that the 85-year-old Dahil Sa’yo has been taken out of the proverbial baul of oldies and is proudly displayed on digital platforms for everybody to enjoy.
Thanks to this development, maybe we will soon be hearing new recordings of Ikaw, Buhat, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Lahat ng Araw, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and many more.
- Latest
- Trending
