A collaboration between Sponge Cola and Karylle featuring Frank Magalona, with the special participation of UP Tugma, accompanies 12 of the country’s most elite athletes on the #RoadToRio
“Sabay Tayo,” written by Yael Yuzon, Karylle, and Frank Magalona, is the official song of the Philippines at the 2016 Summer Olympics and this song was launched on August 2 at the “Pandesal Forum” of 77-year-old, pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. This song accompanies the 12 athletes representing the country at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It includes the special participation of UP Tugma from the University of the Philippines College of Music.
“Sabay Tayo” was commissioned by Sports5 through its outsourced agency, Melmac Sports. Karylle, the multi-faceted artist and poet, collaborates with the multi-awarded rock band, Sponge Cola, for the inspiring song. At the Pandesal Forum, Karylle said this song for the Philippine Olympic team rekindles memories of her great-grandfather actor Carlos Padilla, Sr., an Olympic boxer whocompeted in the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics in the Men’s Welterweight Event.
Frank Magalona, the actor/rapper son of the late Francis Magalona, also lends his lyrical prowess while UP Tugma deepens its patriotic elements with their authentic instrumentation. “Sabay Tayo” highlights the Filipinos’ fighting spirit and sense of bayanihan, in which one Filipino’s achievement of his dream fulfills the entire country’s aspirations.
Supporters of the “Sabay Tayo” song launch at the Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café included Chooks-to-Gochicken, Hobe noodles led by its owner & Anvil Business Club president Marcelo Co, San Miguel Corp., Zest-O juice & Kamuning Bakery Café. Kamuning Bakery Café admires Karylle, Yael Yuzon, Sponge Cola band and Frank Magalona, especially due to its long history since 1939 as a place where artists and celebrities buy breads, cakes, dine and drink coffee or chocolate drinks.
Hundreds of Filipino artists were part of the selection process for the project. Mel Macasaquit, head of Melmac Sports, admits that the collaboration between Sponge Cola, Karylle, and Frank Magalona exceeded expectations. “We’re doing this for the flag,” said Macasaquit, adding, “’Pag inisip mo ang lyrics ni Francis Magalona, I don’t think it can get any more patriotic than that. Napakalaking bagay na nakuha namin si Frank.”
“[Karylle] decided to bring in UP Tugma,” said Sponge Cola lead singer and guitarist, Yael Yuzon, who is also Karylle’s husband. “We wanted to use traditional instruments and really mic them to keep the experience as organic and legit as possible.” This is also the couple’s first musical collaboration.
The Philippines is looking to end a 20-year drought to bring home an Olympic medal. The official delegates on whom this challenge falls are: Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming), Jessie Lacuna (swimming), Ian Lariba (table tennis), Miguel Tabuena (golf), Marestella Sunang (track and field), Charly Suarez (boxing), Eric Cray (track and field), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Rogen Ladon (boxing), Nestor Colonia (weightlifting), Kirstie Alora (taekwando), and Mary Joy Tabal (track and field).
“Sabay Tayo” is also the official song of the Philippines Men’s National Basketball Team, Gilas Pilipinas. The song will be included in Sponge Cola’s album, “Sinag Tala,” and Karylle’s album, “A Different Playground.”
Listen to “Sabay Tayo” on Spotify: http://bit.ly/2aYE3fT
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttANPS485F4&w=854&h=480]
Watch the music video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ttANPS485F4
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36M_enJ5Z6Y&w=854&h=480]
See the making of the video: https://youtu.be/36M_enJ5Z6Y
Lyrics:
Sabay-sabay tayong lalaban
Binubuklod ng ‘sang puso
Wala tayong inuurungan
Tiwala lang, atin ‘to
Wo-oh-oh
Wo-oh-oh
Sabay-sabay, sabay tayo
Wo-oh-oh
Wo-oh-oh
Sabay-sabay, sabay tayo
‘Di lang isa
Kung ‘di lahat
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
Kung ‘di lahat
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
Baraha ay binabalasa
Kasama ka sa pag-asa
Ito ang ating tanging pinanghahawakan
Ginto sa langit na hindi mailarawan
Ay ating makakamit pag ang dilim ay mailawan
Ligpitin ng tahimik ang mga haharang sa daanan
Nakatikom ang bibig ‘yan ang estilo ng galawan
Magpakita ng galing na hindi kita sa ibabaw
Sisikat rin muli ang tatlong bituwin at araw
Sabay-sabay tayong lalaban
Nagliliyab sa ‘ting puso
Patak ng pawis at pagsubok
Iaalay sa ‘ting laro
Wo-oh-oh
Wo-oh-oh
Sabay-sabay, sabay tayo
Wo-oh-oh
Wo-oh-oh
Sabay-sabay, sabay tayo
‘Di lang isa
Kung ‘di lahat
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
Kung ‘di lahat
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
Paa sa lupa
Mata sa langit
Paalam na sa mga luha
Nangunguna
Na ang madasalin
Muling huhupa ang hirap sa pagpatak ng pawis
Sa pagkat walang tamis kung ‘di mag-aambag ng alat
Mag-aklas bumawi ang armas mo’y aklat at lapis
Huwag kang manghula, ang utak ay iyong patalasin
Para maipalago ang isa sa mga pangarap
Ng isinasapusong gilas ng silanganan
‘Di lang isa
Ahhhh…ahhhh
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
Ahhh…ahhh
Nakaangkas sa ‘yong likod
Mga pangarap nang lahat
‘Di lang isa
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————————————————————————-History & short profile of pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Cafe: Kamuning Bakery was founded in 1939 as Quezon City’s first bakery upon the invitation of pre-war newspaper tycoon Don Alejandro Roces who arranged for sale of government land at 50 centavos per square meter to founders Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier and her husband Lt. Marcelo Javier (he died fighting the Japanese invaders of World War II in the Battle of Manila). Roces was an ally of President Manuel L. Quezon and a co-founder of the new city.
Kamuning Bakery was acquired and revived in December 2013 by 13-time Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) awardee & 3-time Palanca award-winning writer, history buff and realty entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores. He restored and re-opened the old cafe on March 20, 2015. KBC today continues its artisanal and “pugon” or wood-fired brick oven baking.
Apart from all kinds of foods like all-day breakfast rice meals, diverse kinds of pasta dishes, fried chicken, sandwiches, salads, cakes, soup, home-made ice cream and others, the restored old cafe serves coffee with high-quality arabica beans from the mountains of Benguet province and also from Brazil. Other drinks served include chocolate, fresh fruit juices, high-quality tea brews, etc..
Artists, intellectuals & reform stalwarts as customers: Among its many colorful clients include Don Alejandro Roces, his son the newspaper publisher & activist Joaquin “Chino” Roces, press freedom stalwart U.P. Dean Armando Malay, the late President Cory C. Aquino, national artists like Nick Joaquin and Levi Celerio, writers, intellectuals, many showbiz celebrities, beauty queens, singers from classical musicians to rock stars, models, rebels to a public school student who used to walk here to buy pugon-baked breads and is now the Philippines’ first female Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The “Pandesal Forum”: The non-partisan, liberal, pro-people and informal Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe was started on September 15, 2015 by writer Wilson Lee Flores as convenor and moderator. It welcomes all speakers, not just limited to political leaders. It is inspired by the centuries-old tradition of the “tertulia”—the informal and learned salon discussions of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America; it is also inspired by ancient China’s “li lun” or intellectual discourses. The “Pandesal Forum” hopes to help elevate the quality of public discourse in the Philippines on current affairs, politics and other topics, also focusing on economic, gut or “pandesal” issues. It also advocates genuine reforms and new ideas.
Why Pandesal Forum? KBC owner Wilson Lee Flores said: “Kamuning Bakery Cafe is famous for its pugon-baked pandesal and Pan de Suelo breads. The pandesal is the historic and unique national bread of the Philippines, it is bread eaten by the masses, middle-class and by all. The pandesal is a basic necessity of the people, like rice. The humble pandesal bread represents the people’s simple wish for liberation from hunger. Hot freshly pugon-baked pandesal also represents happiness.”
For inquiries or suggestions for events, press conferences, parties or others, please call Kamuning Bakery Cafe Tels: 4161637, 9292216, 4126628; Office Tels: 4126685, 4112311, 4151692, 3326066… 09228901893 Mela Ubalde… or please contact Wilson Lee Flores 09178481818, 09188077777, 09228321888 or willsoonflourish@gmail.com or kamuningbakerycafe@gmail.com
