(Ybanag version)

Cagayan, dabbun nga kakastan niakan
Egga ka lara nakuan ta piam,
Nu kurug tu naparayu ka niakan
Ariat ta ka bulubuga nga kattaman.

KORO:
Cagayan, makemmemmi ka nga innan
Cagayan, awan tu kagittam.
Nu anni paga y kasta na dabbun karuan
Egga ka la ta futu nga ideddukan.

(English version)

I.
Cagayan, my valley home is dear to me,
Though from her my footsteps far stray,
Over mountains, plains, beyond the deep blue sea
I shall love her ever be where'er I may.

Chorus:
Cagayan, O smiling land of beauty
Cagayan, my heart clings unto thee;
Though from thee my footsteps far away may stray
I shall love thee ever thee be where'er I may.

II.
Subtler charms and beauty other skies my yield
Other lands a moment may allure;
But my turn to Cagayan will be revealed
That my love for her shall ever more endure.

(Chorus)

III.
'Tis not riches of the soil, indeed, that hold me to her
But treasures of the soul, virtues humble,
Loyal Hearts with courage hold, far outweight
The earthly says the Holy Scroll.

(Chorus)

IV.
May her sons and daughters evermore aspire
To be faithful, lovely, good and true
Thrifty, peaceful learned, may they never tire
Standing for the right though for the right be few.

Ibanag folk poetry is purely sung, which explains how it was handed down to the present: by way of oral transmission.

Ibanag songs are for ceremonial and recreational purposes and they are narrative, speculative, romantic, ridiculing or titillating.

Ibanags have the singular honor of having two epic songs, the Salomon and the Pasion.

The Salomon, to the accompaniment of the "cinco-cinco" (a five-stringed instrument) is sung during the Christmas season before improvised home altars, supported through the night with wine, coffee, chocolate, and native cakes.

It is narrative on the conception, birth and life of the Baby Christ, filled with episodes that teach Cagayano children Ibanag virtues of truthfulness, honesty, loyalty, industry and devotion.

In one episode, the Virgin Mary and Joseph on their flight to Egypt from the soldiers of King Herod, with the Baby Jesus in Mary's arms, passed by a farmer sowing grains, and Mary asked:

Anni i ibini wagi? (What are you sowing, brother?)

Said the farmer: Batu i paddag gunak ku ibini. (I am sowing pebbles.)

Said Mary: Batu nga imulam, batu nga emmu gataban. (Pebbles that you sow, pebbles that you reap.)

The verzo is the Ibanag counterpart of the Spanish coplas, a four-line rhymed Spanish songs which appeared during the Golden Age of Spain's Literature. Often composed on the spot by the versista during social occasions like weddings, baptisms, it is intended to entertain and to moralize.

It may evoke sadness, joy, laughter, reiicule or wisdom. The verzista is Cagayan's version of the scop, minstrel, bards of England and European countries who is lavishly repaid by the host with gift or cash, palay, corn or any food stuff.

Among the most popular versos are the "Osse-osse" and the "Kilingkingan" usually giving the vocal accompaniment of dances by those names.

Few examples:

Arri ka mavurung ta
Kabaddi ku lalung, kuak
Ku mamayappak, kannak
Ku utun, gukak.

(Worry not my being a small cock,
For when i fly to attack
I never miss my mark.)

This is an expression of the determination of cock-sureness of the Ibanag in love, courtship, fight or contest, despite his size, humility, poverty and misery. This explains why he has survived all adversities under different regimes in the hands of colonial powers and during the Martial Law days.

FILIPINAS

Filipinas kudda nikaw
O! davvucku nga marayaw
Iyawacku nikaw y sikasikacku,
Patayacku y panguffucku.

UVOVUG A MALUMAMO

Uvovug a malumamo
Makalunne ta nono
Uvovug a pinorayan
Makadarak ta gawagawayan.

Ariammu a pakukuan
Y maguvovug ta makaninipang
Ta yatun y makavucay
Ta mapia nga ammung na totolay.

PANGUFFUN

Sinni niko maya
Nga ume maki pazzigariga
Nu ari kabi dan a mangngua
Ta ikattolem ta mapia

Sinni bi mine nalagui
Nga ume mabbaluntariu
Nu ari kabi dan a nammula
Ta semilya na aya anna mapia.

PAPASENSIYA

Map pasensia ka laman palag,
Ta panotolim ta gukag
Lubbe laggapan noka y dagun
Nga siko mabi y maganutun.

Map pasensia ka laman palag
Ta panotolim ta gukag
Backan nu ari arrerueda
Ta aggo mangngana noka.

PAMMAKAKUA

Mapia la y mammakakua
Ta totole maski sinni lara
Mavvugaw paga y karuan
Egga gabbalaman y mabattang.

Ariammu nga appatan,
Y katokatole na karuan
Ta y tiempo la y mapalappa
Ta panguli uli na palapagia.

Annung tam y mammakakua
Ta totole maski nu sinni paga
Nu egga mabba y mappanaki
Awayya na ta y mallilli.

PAKERADDAM

Nu tangngabak ku y uton
Na nanadagak ku na davvun
Alle kunna mamipippik y paginango ku
Nu keraddammakku, nagam mu
Agalak ku la nga agalan
Y nagam mu maski awan
Tu kunna egga ka la nyo
A makpaggalagalo.

Other folksongs are love songs most often with promises, pledges, assurances, lessons to teach and guidance to give.

The growth of Ibanag songs and singers reached its peak when the haranaor serenade in rustic communities was both a form of nocturnal recreation among the "babbagitolay" and a way of starting courtship for a "magingnganay."

There was a stalemate of folksong production and serenading during Martial Law days and during the twenty-year rule of the Old Regime when the freedoms were curtailed, and when the province became a critical area.

Love folksongs were common during weddings and other socials.

Here are some:

O lappaw a makayaya
Nga inimmi-immian na mata,
Pare nakuan tu ari ka matay,
Tape manayuk ka gugammay.

(O lovely flo'er
My eyes behold forever,
May you not wither, nor die,
That long you be gem of my eye.)

Some Ibanag folksongs were inspired by the reaction of people toward their environment; expression of feelings and emotions caused by their work, labors, government leaders and relationship among fellowmen.

PAGAYAYA

Pagayaya ay a metallugaring
I pattaradde tam ngamin,
Pagayaya I palu paggia
Pangawanan ta zigariga,
Pare nakuan tu yao nga gayam,
Makeyawa tam mulamuagang
Kegafuanan na kapawan
Na ziga nganufulotan.

(REJOICING

Happiness is the end
Of our being together
Happiness is the well-being
And elimination of suffering.
May it be that this occasion,
Bring us satisfaction
Which will make us forget
Our hatred and suffering.)

AYATAT TAKA

Ayatat-taka maski anni ziga-riga ku
Megafu nikaw nga nikamian na futu nikaw
Ta inga lagud ta pakemmimi nga lappaw
Cunna labbe niyo a pagayaya
Nu kemmamatan ka na mata

Chorus:
Tamu e dadan rafutu cao
Ta pawang nenang mgafu nicao
Ta innga lagud
Ta pakalallo nam maya nikaw.
Awan ta logo
Ta kunna ariyakku nga pakkakaturuk
Yoye nga aya ku
Ay pordiy os tu ikallona
Ta kunnaw nga zigariga ku.

VULAN

O! volan a kalalatuag
Mine ka nappakanauag
Mine ka nappakarenu
Ta dalan a lakaracku

Makememmi ka nga iniinan
Ta kawan niki tu kunam
Paggariaman mi tuluan mu
Y aya mi ari mofu

NELOGO NGA AYA

Nelogo ta aya awna na tu liwa
Tagapiak cu y pate
Tanu y patay capatuan
Melogo nagattam
O dios ku uffunam ma
Tapenu melillita
Anna napaaya nga

Ta minangilogo, ngapatacabi nu ari
Mapassa nga makapalilli
O dios iddu sikaw afu y mangiolu
Nga mangillilli ta dalan ira nga logi
Ickawan ma ta marenu nga dalan
Ta ariak ku nga ikaya a magattam ta ziga
Nu logo nga aya.

TADDAY NGA MAGINGNGAANAY

Tadday nga magingnganay
Kunna kristal a malaray
Nu kessidal na awa tu
Babang ay magana
Nagimmuguk ka ta annung mu
Tape ari nga magana
Ta nu magana awan ngana tu serbi na.

Refrain:
Y maginnganay ari nga mallipay
Ta logo na kagi yra na lallaki
Maggimmuguk ka ta ginuguyammu
Tape awan nikaw tu messimmu.

(Repeat Refrain)