MY LIFE has always been connected to music. Whatever I feel, my heart automatically finds a specific song to relate to how I feel. And when I hear them, it always leads me to remember my past, may it be about joyful or painful moments. Hence, I feel and realize that music tells much about our inner soul and that the lyrics of the songs led us to recall our deep feelings, especially in the past.
Well, I took the chance of asking several people through a Facebook personal message about the most meaningful original Pilipino music (OPM) that they can relate to about loving and letting go, and they have commonly mentioned these four songs. I hope as you read and sing in your heart, you can feel the emotional tune. Let us have a glimpse of maybe an experience you had that relates much to the song.
Paalam na. "Paalam na aking mahal, masakit isipin na kahit na nagmamahalan pa, puso at isipan ay magkaiba, maaaring di lang laan sa isa't isa."
This is a song of Rachel Alejandro about love that painfully decides to let go of one great love due to heartbreaking misunderstandings. In love, when two persons fight on a regular basis, it may lead to painful goodbyes.
Sometimes, great love needs to be let go of for one to live because if it stays, that person may not appreciate the beauty of love amid the continuous hurting. I guess some birds are not destined to be caged, so you need not imprison them, though it kills you of their departure. Remember that to live, one must breathe, so if the love suffocates, then one must let go to live.
Bakit nga ba mahal kita. "Bakit nga ba mahal kita, kahit 'di pinapansin ang damdamin ko, hindi mo man ako mahal, heto pa rin ako, nagmamahal nang tapat sa 'yo, bakit nga ba mahal kita?"
This is a song from Roselle Nava. It is about a person who loves someone who doesn't reciprocate the love and is instead madly in love with someone else. Still, the person remained loving despite the pain. It's like torturing one's self to wait for an impossible potential. Oh, why do we even stay in an unrequited love that indeed is an endless pain?
Paubaya. "At kung masaya ka sa piling niya, hindi ko na ipipilit pa, ang tanging hiling ko lang sa kanya, huwag kang paluhain at alagaan ka niya"
This is a song of Moira about a person loving somebody who opted to stay not because of love, but instead of a need. Hence, the one speaking decided to set the other person free hoping to finally give what the lover truly desires. I guess, some people still believe that holding on is a sign of great strength in a one-sided relationship, but truly there are instances when it takes greater strength to decide when to let go. Do yourself a favor. If you find yourself in a similar situation, have the courage to let go.
Kahit isang saglit. "Sana'y ika'y muling makita ko, damhin ang tibok ng puso mo, sana'y yakapin mong akong muli kahit sandali, kahit isang saglit mayakap ka."
It is a sad song by Vernie Vergara about losing someone very important in their lives. She felt alone and often asks herself, how is she going to continue living her life and fulfill the dreams they have built together when the other person is never going back. The song, full of emotions, pleads for another chance to see and touch the person once more. I guess the death of a loved one leaves a heartache nobody can heal because of the shared love that leaves a memory no one can steal.
Sana maulit muli. It is a very popular song by Gary Valenciano that captures the hearts of many Filipinos who have experienced falling in love and then committing a mistake, thereby leading to a separation full of regrets. Its lyrics are about pleading to be forgiven and still expecting love reconciliation. Yet, his or her love remained, and even though it seems to be hopeless, he or she continues to love but is in pain. Lovers, I believe, must remember that forgiveness and healing can be also difficult for the other person. Meanwhile, one may start to forgive themselves first and forgive the situation because unless he or she does not realize that all is over, they may not move on - trapped in their past.
These are all music that speaks much about people's soulful love experiences. Yes, some sad love songs remind us of our old wounds that never truly healed and are bleeding again. Some may love to hear it and remember the times they were hurt but were already able to recover. Songs may either remind us of our weaknesses or strengths. We may cry even up to now listening to the song but that is okay -- it just simply means that we are human, able to experience perverse cruelty in humankind. Hence, we should be delighted to have a vulnerable heart that experiences both pain and happiness, making us stronger than before.