“Anak” by Mr. Freddie Aguilar

Song Analysis

Anak by Freddie Aguilar (1977)Freddie Aguilar left family and school unfinished at the age of 18. His father, who had wanted him to be a lawyer, was disappointed. Freddie travelled to far-away places carrying with him, solely, his guitar. With no one to guide and discipline him, he got into gambling. Realizing and regretting his mistakes five years later, Freddie composed Anak, a remorse song expressing apology to his parents. He went back home and asked for forgiveness from his parents who welcomed him with open arms. After his father read the lyrics of Anak, the two became closer to each other. The homecoming proved timely as soon after, his father would pass away.[1] According to Felipe de Leon, Jr., an authority in Philippine Music, the song was composed in a Western style but has aspects of pasyon, a form that many Filipinos can identify with.

"Anak" became a finalist in the first MetroPop Song Festival. It went on to become very popular in the Philippines and eventually abroad. The song generated a hundred cover versions, was released in 56 countries and in 26 different foreign languages, and it has sold 30 million copies.Billboard reported that the song was the number two world hit of the 1980s. As of 2006 it was unsurpassed as the all-time highest-selling record of Philippine music.

"Anak" (Filipino for child or more accurately my son or my daughter) is a Tagalog song written by Filipino folk-singer Freddie Aguilar. It was a finalist for the inaugural 1977 Metropop Song Festival held in Manila. It became an international hit, and was translated into 26 languages. The lyrics speak of Filipino family values

Let’s Listen

Freddie AguilarAnak

Nung isilang ka sa mundong ito Laking tuwa ng magulang mo 

At ang kamay nila Ang iyong ilaw 

At ang nanay at tatay mo'y Di malaman ang gagawin 

Minamasdan Pati pagtulog mo 

At sa gabi'y napupuyat ang iyong nanay Sa pagtimpla ng gatas mo 

At sa umaga nama'y kalong ka ng iyong Amang tuwang-tuwa sa yo' 

Ngayon nga ay malaki ka na Nais mo'y maging Malaya 

Di man sila payag Walang magagawa 

Ikaw nga ay biglang nagbago Nagging matigas ang iyong ulo 

At ang payo nila'y Sinuway mo 

Di mo man lang inisip na ang kanilang ginagawa'y para sa yo Pagka't ang nais mo'y masunod 

Ang layaw mo dimo sila pinapansin 

Nagdaan pa ang mga araw At ang landas mo'y maligaw 

Ikaw ay nalulong Sa masama bisyo 

At ang una mong nilapitan Ang iyong inang lumuluha At ang tanong nila ANAK 

Ba't ka nagkaganyan? 

At ang iyong mata'y biglang lumuha Ng di mo napapasin 

Pagsisisi at sa isip mo't nalaman Mong ika'y nagkamali

Analysis

Based on the song by Freddie Aguilar, the child was not fully dependent to God as to the reason why the child lost his/her way for we did not become what God willed us to be.

Christian Morality

Based on Morality and Spirituality, the actions of the child has affected the lives of those around him mainly his or her friends and family. By diverting from the right path, the parents and friends are worried about the child. While the child only decided based on what he or she wants not concerning himself or herself with emotional factors such as the feelings of his or her loved ones

Morality and Spirituality

Based on morality and ethics, The standards of right and wrong actions in this song are defiled by the child because he or she chose to follow his or her physical and or mental needs; thus compromising the bases of what is moral. But upon later events, in the ethics side of the song; the parents successfully made an impact to the child to become a good person.

Morality and Ethics

As a person of God, every person wants to be happy, it is natural for human beings to pursue happiness throughout their lives. In the song, the parents wished for a happy life with their child, and the child wished to be free to do what he or she wants in life; which is also a form of happiness.

Desire of Man for Happiness

The parents failed in moulding the child’s character to that of a person for God. In the song, the parent failed in guiding or educating their child in the life of God; thus the cause of the child to divert from the right path.

Character Formation

Virtues

The person whose faith in God is strong in the parents for they believe that in due time, under the guiding light of the lord, their child will walk down a path of goodness and faith

Faith

Hope resides on the parents for when their words cannot shake their child’s firm disposition. They instead turn to God for influence on their child.

Hope

The child’s belief in God is slim, thus reflects the child’s love for God. Because there is no love for God, he or she is diverted from the right path because there is no such guidance.

Love

Moral Norms

There is no ideals in the setting of the song “Anak” by Mr. Freddie Aguilar. It is because the set rules and principles of the parents were not met by their child. The parents judge their child’s character based on how well their child follows their rules and principles.

Theories of Morality

The one who sinned in the song is the child; for because he or she did not respect his or her parents and mostly he or she ignored the teachings of the church. Because of seeking freedom which the child abused, and done things that despite his or her parents’ continuous appeal of change, the child still defied his or her parents.

Sin

The child did not respect his or her parents; thus violating the fourth commandment which is “honor your mother and your father”. By not listening to the appeals of his or her parents for change and continuously doing things which causes grief to his or her parents.

4th Commandment

Thank you for listening to our presentation

The End

Lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/anak_lyrics_fredd

ie_aguilar.htmlSong information:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anak_(song)

Sources: