Ploning: The Song

Ploning
The Original Folk Song:

Ploning...
Nga labing maleban
Ang gegma mo, Ploning
Nga ing kandaduan
Lisensya ko, Ploning
Kung sarang tugutan
Mapamasyar ako
Sa marayeng lugar.

Ploning ...
Pobre akong masyado
Ara ako sasalan
Nga mga requerdo
Ara ako bulawan
Ara ako dinero
Solamente, Ploning
Demdemen mo ako.

Ploning...
Pagsarig kanaken
Tedek sa akeng leba
Ang akeng bisara
Tigbas mo sa bato
Kemkemen sa panyo
Indi engued ag kupas
Maski ara ren ang lawas.

Ploning
The Literal Tagalog translation:

Ploning...
Na ubod ng bait
Pag-ibig mo, Ploning
Na nakakandado
Paalam ko, Ploning
Kung iyong papayagan
Mamamasyal ako
Sa malayong bayan.

Ploning...
Mahirap ako masyado
Walang maiiwan
Na mga ala-ala
Wala akong ginto
Wala akong pera
Pakiusap, Ploning
Isipin mo ako.

Ploning...
Magtiwala ka sa akin
Tapat sa loob ko
Ang mga sinasabi ko
Itaga mo sa bato
Balutin ng panyo
Hinding-hindi kukupas
Kahit wala na ang katawan ko.

PLONING
The Tagalog translation for the movie:

Ploning...
Labis kitang mahal
Pag-ibig mo, Ploning
Sana'y akin lamang
Paalam ko, Ploning
Nawa ay payagan
Mamamasyal ako
Mangingibang bayan.


Ploning...
Sa aking paglayo
Walang maiiwang
Ala-ala sa iyo.
Wala akong ginto,
Hirap ang tulad ko
Nakikiusap, Ploning
Hintayin mo ako.

Ploning...
Ako'y sumusumpa
Sa puso nagmumula
Sana'y magtiwala...
Itaga sa bato
Balutin ng panyo
Kailanma'y di kukupas
Kahit hanggang wakas.

***

I came across “Ploning” the song on Ploning producer Guia Gonzales’ blog, and the lyrics... Just seared my heart.

I am a closet hopeless romantic, and for me to come across such... Poignancy... As this, I finally understood why the song became the inspiration for the movie.

Listening to the song had made me realize a few things:

• Love is universal and follows a similar pattern, across the generations, across milieus, across environments.
• There is nothing more poignant, or painful, than seeing lovers torn apart by “Fate.”
• Downloading a song from Multiply adds to the pain, even on a 1.3 MBPS connection.

I could say that love follows a similar pattern, because the Ploning song reminded me of my dorm’s caretaker’s love story with her own husband. She was young, headstrong, and full of dreams. She wanted to find her future in Manila, but she left her teenage love at home, in Mindoro. It was the 80s, I presume, and in the context of no cellphones, just telegrams and letters to assure young, passionate lovers of the faithfulness of the other, I could say that it was much like this song.

One wants to go away to find fortune, the other can’t do anything but to stay, home, waiting, pining, hands tied...

Nakakandado ang pag-ibig.

So poignant and precious, isn’t it? And when you listen to the song, which is much like a siren’s dirge with a tinge of hope, and you have loads of estrogen and caffeine coursing through your system...

You can’t help but cry.

Cry for lovers who can’t see each other. For the desperation of young love torn apart by distance.

Gosh, should I bring a sack of tissue paper for the Ploning premiere?!

In my opinion, this song holds the promise of what kind of emotions you should expect in watching the movie. Crying.. I like crying. :) Methinks I will bring me that sack of tissue paper for the screening. :p