Inay

Music and lyrics by: Arnel Aquino, SJ

Arrangement: Paulo K Tirol Soloist: Harry Velasco

Listen:

Sa mahinahong paalam ng araw
Sa pag-ihip ng hanging kahapunan
Balabal ko'y init ng 'yong pag-ibig
Sa dapit-hapong kay lamig

Mga bituin kay agang magsigising
Umaandap, mapaglaro man din
Iyong ngiti hatid nila sa akin
Sa diwa ko't panalangin

Puso ko'y pahimlayin Inay
Upang yaring hamog
Ng gabing tiwasay
Ay madama ko bilang damping
Halik ng 'yong Anak
Ay! Irog kong inay

Sa palad niyo itago aking palad
Aking bakas sa inyong bakas ilapat
At iuwi sa tahanan kong dapat
Sa piling ng inyong Anak

Puso ko'y pahimlayin Inay
Upang yaring hamog
Ng gabing tiwasay
Ay madama ko bilang damping
Halik ng 'yong anak
Ay! Irog ko, O Ina kong mahal
Ay! Irog kong Inay

We have addressed our Blessed Mother by several names, a few of which sound terribly foreign to us. But how often have we addressed her by her name Inay?

Through the years, Filipino composers in different local languages have written kundimans and folk songs speaking of our mothers as inay or nanay. The address itself evokes an intimacy that remains very native to us Filipinos. It evokes a certain comfort in poverty, a certain peace in times of calamity. It evokes an image of Inay waiting for us to come home after a long day, in order to calm the quickening in our hearts so that in peace, she can lead us to her Son.

(Arnel Aquino, SJ)

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