Nu Nunuk du Tukon
AS SUNG BY LAJI SINGERS MELECIO ALASCO, ROSITA ALAVADO
Nu nunuk du tukon, minuhung as kadisi na,
ichapungpung diya am yaken u ñilawngan na.
Kapaytalamaran ava su avang di idaúd,
ta miyan du inayebngan na, ta miyan du inayebngan na.
Nu itañis ko am nu didiwen ko
ta nu taaw aya u suminbang diyaken,
nu maliliyak a pahung as maheheyet a riyes
u minahey niya, u minahey niya diyaken.
The Nunuk on the Hill
The nunuk tree on the hill grew tender leaves and shoots,
then suddenly its crown was broken and I was caught beneath.
Now I can no longer watch the boat in the deep sea
for I stand on the side that is hidden, on the side that is hidden.
I weep in my sorrow
for the vast ocean has made me an orphan,
the pounding sea breakers, the strong currents,
they told me of my fate, they told me this.
U Anak Nu Munamun
AS SUNG BY LAJI SINGER FILOMENA HUBALDE
Anu kadawudawung ku du tukun di Valungut
Dawri a dinungasungay u anak nu munamun,
Ahapen ku na siya nu masen a sahakeb,
Dahuran ku na siya du mahungtub a duyuy,
Udiyan ku na niya a payrakurakuhen
A di chu’a pavulsayi su madahmet a chirin
Du kahawahawa ku niya u kaichay nu anak nu munamun.
The Child of the Munamun
Each time I look down from the hill at Valungut
I see the child of the munamun swimming in the waves,
I will gather her in my finest net
and place her in the deep coconut shell,
to take her home and care for her as she grows.
I will not utter a single harsh word
and take great care not to hurt the feelings
of the child of the munamun.
Laji is the traditional oral poetry of the Ivatan people of Batanes. These poems are new translations into English of the traditional poetry, as sung by the elder singers, who deserve full credit for being the original culture-bearers of this indigenous art form. Both of these lajis were sung in my presence as I recorded the singers and spoke with them about their craft. They generously granted me permission to share their lajis with the broader public. These were first published in Manoa Journal (December 2024). Please visit our ongoing community-based project on documenting and preserving laji at ivatanlaji.com.
Dorian Merina 