Dalawidaw is a song in Ilonggo, the Hiligaynon language. It was penned in the early 20th century by Augurio Abeto, a congressman from the Philippine province of Iloilo.
ORIGINAL LYRICS IN ILONGGO
Dalawidaw ikaw kon mag-ambahanon,
Yuhum mong balanihon may binalaybay
Duhang larawan mo sa dalamgohanon
Diwata sa bukid kag kataw sa baybay.
Diwata sa talon, bulak nga ilahas
Sa kapalaran nga daw gapasimpalad,
Alibangbang lamang labing makahas,
Makigsuyop sang kayuyom sinang sipad.
Yadtong kagab-ihon nga punong himaya
Sa isang payag kita nagsumpa-anay
Didto ta pinang-gas ang dili malaya,
Putling handumanan sang gugmang panganay.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
You are a dalawidaw* when you sing,
Your magnetic smile is poetry
In the dream you have two images
A forest fairy and a sea nymph.
. . .
That beautiful night, a glorious one
In a small hut we pledged our love
And it was there we planted a living seed,
A pure remembrance of our first love.
*dalawidaw – a bird
Music composed by Maestro Restituto P. Ratilla.
Lyrics by by Congressman Augurio Abeto (a noted Ilonggo essayist during the Golden Age of Hiligaynon literature, 1920-1940).
He composed it in our place Brgy Biao as of now…when he was in love with the beautiful lady living nearby the river and a lot of birds called dalawidaw there during that time. Brgy Biao is a safe place at that time.
possible misspelling: dalidaw
Sept. 18, 2020
= Composed by Gregorio Abeto from Mandurriao (NOT Augurio!)
= He also composed Dandansoy after he was rejected from marrying the then 18 year old (later) Candelaria Hervas (Tía Candi) who immigrated to Canada and died there about 10 years ago surrounded by her children.
FTT
Must there be another existing version? The audio itself sounds closer to what I remember from what I learned of this song growing up in Iloilo. But the lyrics printed here aren’t.
= This is the real thing from Tay Goring Abeto.
Note: Bato Balani is the stone with magnetic property ( 2nd line)