Kanlungan (Sanctuary/Haven) by Noel Cabangon - Lyrics and English Translation

This is my favorite song! It just sounds so beautiful. No arguments there, huh? :) Anyway, this song is a bit mysterious and uses many figures of speech, I guess. I had quite a difficult time translating it in English without messing up the song. I will be putting down some notes later. This song is full of implied meanings but when directly translated somewhat loses the value so I tried my hardest to come up with much more acceptable words. Euphemism really is useful at times, huh? :)

Original Lyrics Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon Maibabalik ba ang kahapon? Natatandaan mo pa ba Nang tayong dal'wa ay unang magkita? Panahon ng kamusmusan Sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman Doon tayong nagsimulang Mangarap at tumula Natatandaan mo pa ba Inukit kong puso sa punong mangga? At ang inalay kong gumamela Magkahawak-kamay sa dalampasigan Malayang tulad ng mga ibon Ang gunita ng ating kahapon Ang mga puno't halaman Ay kabiyak ng ating gunita Sa paglipas ng panahon Bakit kailangan ding lumisan? Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon Maibabalik ba ang kahapon? Natatandaan mo pa ba Nang tayong dal'wa ay unang magkita? Panahon ng kamusmusan Sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman Doon tayong nagsimulang Mangarap at tumula Natatandaan mo pa ba Inukit kong puso sa punong mangga At ang inalay kong gumamela Magkahawak-kamay sa dalampasigan Malayang tulad ng mga ibon Ang gunita ng ating kahapon Ngayon ikaw ay nagbalik At tulad ko rin ang iyong pananabik Makita ang dating kanlungan Tahanan ng ating tula at pangarap Ngayon ay naglaho na Saan hahanapin pa? Lumilipas ang panahon Kabiyak ng ating gunita Ang mga puno't halaman Bakit kailangang lumisan? Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon Maibabalik ba ang kahapon? Natatandaan mo pa ba Nang tayong dal'wa ay unang magkita? Panahon ng kamusmusan Sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman Doon tayong nagsimulang Mangarap at tumula Natatandaan mo pa ba Inukit kong puso sa punong mangga At ang inalay kong gumamela Magkahawak-kamay sa dalampasigan Malayang tulad ng mga ibon Ang gunita ng ating kahapon

English Translation From time to time, come chances(1) Can yesterday be brought back? Do you still remember When the two of us first met? The season of young innocence (2) Next to the flowers and plants That was where we started To dream and to recite verses (3) Do you still remember The heart that I carved on that mango tree trunk? And the hibiscus that I offered With our hands held together at the sea shore Free like the birds That was the remembrance of our yesterday The trees and plants Are the partners of our memories At the passage of time Why is there a need to depart? From time to time, come chances Can yesterday be brought back? Do you still remember When the two of us first met? The season of young innocence Next to the flowers and plants That was where we started To dream and to recite verses Do you still remember The heart that I carved on the mango tree trunk? And the hibiscus that I offered you With our hands held together at the sea shore Free like the birds That was the remembrance of our yesterday Now you have returned And same with mine is your yearning(4) To see the haven of our past Home of our verses and dreams Now it's gone Where should we look for it now? Transient is the time(5) Side by side with our memories(6) The trees and plants Why is there a need to depart? From time to time, come chances Can yesterday be brought back? Do you still remember When the two of us first met? The season of young innocence Next to the flowers and plants That was where we started To dream and recite verses Do you still remember The heart that I carved on the mango tree trunk? And the hibiscus that I offered you With our hands held together at the sea shore Free like the birds That was the remembrance of our yesterday

****Notes****

(1) I was trying to make the translation sound a bit formal since that's how the original lyrics were written. As you can see, this line can be rephrased. "Chances come from time to time." or "From time to time, there would be chances." or "Chances are seasonal." 

(2) The word used here was "kamusmusan" which pertains to the state of being a child or a kid. In other words, juvenile years. From my own understanding it could vary from ages 0-10. I used the term "young innocence" to describe that stage in life since that seemed to be the most fitting message from this line. 

(3) "Mangarap" means "to dream", while "tumula" in direct translation actually means "to recite poems". I used "to recite verses" here. They actually can mean the same but the one I used contains more depth when you think about it. (Or at least when I think about it. Teehee)

(4) "Pananabik" came from the root word "Sabik" which pertains to excitement. In this context however, it clearly means that "yearning" is the much better word to be used. The intensity of the word "yearning" is better used in this situation.

(5) This can also be rephrased. "Time surely passes by." or "Time is temporary." or "Time fades away."

(6) The word "Kabiyak" is used here. This means "spouse". Gender-specific terms would be wife or husband. It would sound odd if I were to use "spouse of our memories" so I used "side by side" which can also mean the same. I doubt you can use "spouse" in this context. But isn't that what spouses do - be with each other in their highs and lows? Ohoho.