Ang Pipit

    According to the video, Ang Pipit (The Pipit) is a popular Filipino song about a bird that is known in Tagalog as a Pipit. It is also said that many Filipinos don't realize that is an English word too, so they force-translate the song's title as My Sparrow. 

    Levi Celerio (April 30,1910-April 2,2002) was a Filipino composer and lyricist who's earned a lot of achievements during his time. Celerio is probably famous for his unique ability in playing music with the use of a leaf. This gave him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only man who could play music with a leaf. According to the video, his citation read that his music "was a perfect embodiment of the heartfelt sentiments and valued traditions of the Filipino." One of his compositions is the song "Ang Pipit".

    "Ang Pipit" (The Pipit) is a song that has an inward significance. If we translated some of it's lyrics in English, one of the most intriguing lines is the part where the Pipit says "Oh cruel man. How pitiless your heart is. If I die, a Pipit bird will cry." The song tells us a story of a bird that got injured by a stone that has been thrown by a man. As said in the video, the song is a metaphorical representation of how our country (Philippines) gets abused and abandoned. From our history, we Filipinos are victims of invasion and abuse that's why we represent the Pipit bird in the song. The pitiless man represents those who took advantage of us, controlled us and abused us. And in my own opinion, the part where the Pipit says "If I die, a Pipit bird will cry", represents the next generation, that's why we have national heroes who fought and risked their own lives, for the sake of the our generation. Therefore, this song is truly a perfect embodiment of the heartfelt sentiments and valued tradition of the Filipinos and I admire Celerio for his composition of this meaningful song. That's why I look up to him and he inspires me. 

    As for the group that made the video, I also admire their creation. Their creativity amazed me. It is very smart of them to use instruments that are not commonly used and combine them to make a beautiful music, and a good singer that sings the song. Just like how Celerio smartly used a leaf to make music. All in all, I can really say that this video is packed with nationalism and we can really see the Filipino tradition that has the love for music.