Filipino Christmas Carol Gives Life’s Best Advice

I used to hear my grandfather whistle and sing Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (Christmas has Come) so many times that this traditional Christmas song occupies a special place in my heart. There is something so endearing about this holiday song composed by Josefino Cenizal with lyrics by Levi Celerio back in 1938 and it never fails to make me feel the joy, love and kindness only the Holy Season brings!

The other day, I was quietly humming and singing this song when the lyrics struck me over how simple and as relevant today its counsel is, as it was way back in 1938, when the song was first released. 

Ang Pasko ay sumapit tayo ay mangagsiawit (Christmas is here, let us sing)

Ng magagandang himig (Of lovely tunes)

Dahil sa Diyos ay pagibig (Because God is love)

Nang si Kristo'y isilang (When Christ was born)

May tatlong haring nagsidalaw (Three kings came to visit him)

At ang bawat isa ay nasipaghandog (Each king offered)

Ng tanging alay. (A unique gift for Him)

Bagong taon ay magbagong buhay (When New Year comes, aim a better life)

Upang lumigaya ang ating bayan (To bring joy to our nation)

Tayo'y magsipakap upang (Let us strive)

Makamtan natin ang kasaganaan.(To achieve prosperity)

Tayo'y mangagsiawit (Let us sing)

Habang ang Diyos ay pagibig (As God is love)

Ang araw ay sumapit (That day came)

Sanggol na dulot ng langit (An infant came from Heaven)

Tayo ay magmahalan (Let us love one another)

Ating sundin ang gintong aral (Let us follow the golden rule)

At magbuhat ngayon (And from now on)

Kahit hindi Pasko ay magbigayan. (Even if it is not Christmas, learn to care and share) 

In the simplicity of this Christmas song, I hear its message even louder as we continue to battle a pandemic that altered everyone’s life on Earth. It is a ripe time to go back to basics: faith and gratitude to God, unity, golden rule, always better ourselves. We often look for new mantras in life but most of the time, we just need to go back to our core values and set our sights and heart on what really matters most.