Tara byahe tayo!

I was browsing through the channels one night and came upon an “VTR” that I have come to love since I first saw it. It was the “Tara Byahe Tayo” commercial, which has the following lyrics [in bold are places I’ve been to or things I’ve done]:

Ikaw ba’y nalulungkot, naiinip, nababagot?
Ikaw ba’y napapagod, araw gabi’y puro kayod?
Buhay mo ba’y walang saysay, walang sigla, walang kulay?
Bawa’t araw ba’y pareho, parang walang pagbabago?

Tara na, biyahe tayo, kasama ang pamilya
Barkada at buong grupo, para mag-enjoy nang todo.
Halika, biyahe tayo, nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino.

Napasyal ka na ba sa Intramuros at Luneta
Palawan, Vigan, at Batanes; Subic, Baguio, at Rice Terraces?
Namasdan mo na ba ang mga vinta ng Zamboanga
Bulkang Taal, Bulkang Mayon; Beach ng Boracay at La Union?

Tara na, biyahe tayo, mula Basco hanggang Jolo
Nang makilala ng husto ang ating kapwa Pilipino.
Halika, biyahe tayo, nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino.

From city to city, even thousand and a hundred plus islas
Sa mahal kong Pilipinas, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao ating puntahan.
Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!

Nasubukan mo na bang mag-rapids* sa Pagsanjan
Mag-diving* sa Anilao, mag-surfing sa Siargao?
Natikman mo na ba ang sisig ng Pampanga
Duriang Davao, bangus Dagupan, Bicol express at lechong Balayan?

Tara na, biyahe tayo, nang makatulong kahit pano
Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan.
Halika, biyahe tayo, nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino.

Nakisaya ka na ba sa pahiyas at maskara
Moriones at ati-atihan, sinulog at kadayawan?
Namiesta ka na ba sa penafrancia sa Naga
Umakyat sa antipolo, nagsayaw sa Obando?

Tara na, biyahe tayo, upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan, kaunlaran, kapayapaan.
Halika, biyahe tayo, nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino.

(*I have done these, but not in in the places specified)

(If you haven’t seen this, I suggest you take the time to watch it.)

I don’t know why, but every time I catch this VTR, I can’t help but shed a tear. He! He! To watch these artists sing [for free] to “promote” our country is such a wonderful treat. Also, the lyrics are spot on: Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan. But more importantly, I can’t help but marvel at how beautiful the Philippines is! As in! As I watch the videos and pictures of beaches, mountains, and the people of the Philippines being shown, naiiyak talaga ako sa ganda ng Pilipinas. Honestly!

Ever since we were small, my parents have been taking us around the Philippines for us to appreciate the 7,107 islands we have. We’ve been to so many places in the Philippines and I guess this is where my love of travel and the Philippines started.  [My father has always told us, when we were pressing him to get his own passport, “Papuntahin nyo na ako kahit saan sa Pilipinas, ok lang sa akin. Pero di ako lalabas ng Pilipinas.”] I believe that if you’ve been to more countries than to places in the Philippines, YOU ARE MISSING A L-O-T!

I might sound like a broken record because in all my posts on my travel around the Philippines, I’ve always screamed “Super ganda talaga ng Pilipinas!” or “Super enjoy!” But it’s so true! The Philippines is such a wonderful place! There are so many wonderful places to visit, so many things to experience, so many adventures awaiting! SUPER GANDA talaga!

In the lyrics, I put in bold the things I’ve done or the places I’ve visited for two reasons: first, to know how much I’ve traveled the Philippines, and second, to know what else I need to do or what place to visit [sort of a “to-visit” and “to-do” checklist]. I mean, I was disappointed to realize I haven’t attended a single festival yet [ay, save for the Giant Lantern Festival and Panagbenga]! I’ve been to Lucena, Bacolod, Marinduque, Aklan, Cebu, and Davao but haven’t even gotten to attend Pahiyas, Maskara, Moriones, Ati-atihan, Sinulog, and Kadayawan festival, respectively! Not even one! BUMMER! I better start now! Also, I just know I have to go to Batanes and Caramoan before I die! So much to do, so many places to go to!!

I guess I just want to encourage you all to visit these places because the Philippines is such a beautiful and great country! As in! And will never get tired of saying that! So if you’re thinking of buying a new laptop or playstation 3, or buying a new set of mags for your car,  save your money instead and go to Aklan or Davao to enjoy dancing with the performers of Ati-Atihan or Kadayawan!

Halika, biyahe tayo, nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino

[festival pictures courtesy of wikipilipinas, edited]