Bahay

"Bahay" is a Filipino word that means House or Home. I was in Victoria Falls a couple of weeks ago to monitor the shelter assistance project we have there for 150 mobile and vulnerable households. Photos shows the present structure they live in. These people were evicted from places that the government deemed illegal for them to stay. They have since been provided with stands to have their houses built but due to economic hardship they can't afford to build their own house following government building standards.

While I was taking these photos, the song "bahay" kept playing in my mind. It was a song that was composed by Gary Granada. He joined the Metro Manila Pop Music Festival sometime in the late 70's and he won the grand price for this song. Ever since, the song became a favorite song of activists and NGOs especially those working for the urban poor and helping communities access their right to land and decent housing.

The lyrics of the song goes like this:

"Isang araw akoy nadalaw sa bahay tambakan. Labin-limang mag-anak ang doo'y nagsiksikan. Nagtitiis sa munting barong-barong na sira-sira. Habang doon sa isang mansion, halos walang nakatira."

"Sa init ng tabla't karton, sila doo'y nakakulong. Sa lilim ng yerong kalawang at sira-sirang gulong. Pinag tagpi-taping basurang pinatungan ng bato. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ang tawag sa ganito ay BAHAY?" 

"Sinulat ko ang nakita ng aking mga mata. Ang kanilang kalagayan ginawan ko ng kanta. Iginuhit at isinalarawan ang naramdaman at sinanguni ko sa mga taong marami ang alam."

"Isang bantog na senador ang unang nilapitan ko, at dalubhasang propesor sa malaking colegio. Ang pinagpala sa mundo, ang diaryo at ang pulpito, lahat sila'y nagkasundo na ang tawag sa ganito ay BAHAY . . . . "

". . . . Baka naman isang araw kayo doon ay maligaw, mahipo nyo at marinig, at maamoy at matanaw. Hindi ako nangungutya, kayo na rin ang magpasiya, sa palagay ninyo kaya sa mata ng Maylikha, ay BAHAY?"