Sa Ugoy ng Duyan facts for kids

"Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" is a very famous Filipino lullaby. Its name means "The Sway of the Baby Hammock" in Tagalog. Lucio San Pedro wrote the music, and Levi Celerio wrote the words. Both of them were later named National Artists of the Philippines. This song is their most well-known work together. Many people in the Philippines know this song as well as they know the national anthem. Many Filipino singers have performed and recorded it.

How the Song Was Made

Lucio San Pedro created the music for "Ugoy ng Duyan." He got the idea from a melody his mother, Soledad Diestro, used to hum. She would hum it when putting him and his siblings to sleep as children.

San Pedro first thought of the song in 1943. This was during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. He wanted to enter it in a competition. But he could not find anyone to write the lyrics, so he did not submit it.

In 1947, San Pedro went to study at Juilliard School of Music in New York City. In 1948, he was sailing back to the Philippines on a ship called the SS Gordon. During a stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, he met Levi Celerio. Celerio then wrote the lyrics for San Pedro's music during the rest of their trip. The song was finished by the time they arrived in Manila. Both San Pedro and Celerio became National Artists of the Philippines. They both passed away in 2002, just two days apart.

What the Lyrics Mean

The song's words are like someone is speaking directly to you. It has two parts, called stanzas, with four lines each.

In the first part, the singer wishes that their childhood memories of their mother would never disappear. They also want to hear their mother's loving song again.

In the second part, the singer talks about how peaceful their sleep was. They felt like stars were watching over them. When their mother sang, their life felt like heaven. The singer then shares why they miss this so much: they are going through a hard time now. This is why they long for their mother's lullaby. In the very last line, the singer wishes they could sleep in their old cradle again.

Famous Performances

"Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" was first meant to be an artsong. Early singers like Aurelio Estanislao and Evelyn Mandac performed it.

Since then, many famous singers and groups have sung and recorded it. These include Pilita Corrales (who often sings Celerio's works) with Jackie Lou Blanco, Kuh Ledesma, Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, and Regine Velasquez.

The song was also part of the soundtrack for the 2001 Filipino movie Abakada... Ina. The band Jeremiah performed it for the film. Christian Bautista also sang it in 2009. This was during the funeral of former president Corazon Aquino. In 2017, Pilita Corrales and Jackie Lou Blanco, along with Corrales' son Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, sang the song at a concert.