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July 6, 2008 
I was at a bus when I heard an OPM translation of Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” which went something like, “Para di ka na mabasa ng ulan / ulan / ulan / hindi, hindi / di mabasa ng ulan / ulan / ulan / hindi, hindi…” Needless to say, I was pissed. Last I checked, I began this whole schtick of translating lyrics: fine, I’m delusional and selfish. For two, my philosophy of translating lyrics is to capture the essence: to stick to the original as much as possible.
Which means I would have rather have had it that whats-her-face sang “Payong / payong / yeh, yeh, yeh / sa ilalim ng payong / payong payong / yeh, yeh, yeh…”
Peeved as I was, I still wanted to translate lyrics of a popular song… like, “Always Be My Baby.” Not the Mariah Carey version, but the David Cook “American Idol” version… here goes:
* * *
IKAW PA RIN ANG IIBIGIN
Translation of “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey/David Cook
Minsan sa ‘ting buhay
Naging tayong dalawa
Akala ko’y habambuhay
Pag-ibig natin sa isa’t isa
Gusto mo nang lumaya
Handa ‘kong magparaya
Dahil sa aking puso
Ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko
Bahagi ka ng buhay ko
Ikaw pa rin ang nasa puso ko, oh
Kahit ako ma’y iyong lisanin
Alam kong ikaw pa rin ang iibigin
Narito ako
Hihintayin ang pagbabalik mo, oh
Pilit mo man akong kalimutin
Alam mong ako pa rin iyong iibigin
Di kita iiyakan
Di kita pipilitin
Kung gusto mo na ‘kong iwan
Dapat ko lang tanggapin
Ngunit panahon lang
Aking hihintayin
Dahil balang araw
Babalik ka sa aking piling
Bahagi ka ng buhay ko
Ikaw pa rin ang nasa puso ko, oh
Kahit ako ma’y iyong lisanin
Alam kong ikaw pa rin ang iibigin
Narito ako
Hihintayin ang pagbabalik mo, oh
Pilit mo man akong kalimutin
Alam mong ako pa rin iyong iibigin
Balang araw babalik ka rin
Lalamig ang gabi na hindi mo ako kasama
Balang araw babalik ka rin
Konting panahon lang, ‘king mahal, maniwala ka…
Bahagi ka ng buhay ko
Ikaw pa rin ang nasa puso ko, oh
Kahit ako ma’y iyong lisanin
Alam kong ikaw pa rin ang iibigin
Narito ako
Hihintayin ang pagbabalik mo, oh
Pilit mo man akong kalimutin
Alam mong ako pa rin iyong iibigin
* * *
Renz Verano, I have your next big hit.
could you send me a private e-mail coz i don’t know who you are, although i would really appreciate talking over a cup of (cold) coffee when i return to Baguio. 
