Mga Kababayan ko, here’s a link of a website paying tribute to Francis M.
Anyway, I would like to dissect the song that paved way to the The Mouth’s rap success, “Mga Kababayan”. Below are its lyrics with my point-by-point analysis of the song. My analysis is written after each part in blue font.
Mga kababayan ko
Dapat lang malaman nyo
Bilib ako sa kulay ko
Ako ay pilipino
Kung may itim or may puti
Mayron naman kayumangi
Isipin mo na kaya mong
Abutin ang yung minimithi
“It’s a call to all its listeners to be proud (but not boastful) of being a Filipino. That although there are other races that we admire, which is not wrong, we should also be confident that whatever we aspire in life we’ll be able to achieve it by thinking you can achieve it (Law of Attraction which means what you think of all the time, will happen). But this doesn’t mean that we have to be suplado with other nationalities because they’re not Pinoys. Just be proud but still give respect to other people as there’s no one race that is better than the other.”
Dapat magsumikap para tayoy di maghirap
Ang trabaho mo pagbutihin mo
Dahil pag gusto mo ay kaya mo
Kung kaya mo ay kaya nya
At kaya nating dalawa
“Even though the government sucks, you still have the sole control over your financial status. No one will help you but yourself so blaming and cursing the government over and over again is not the way to financial success. Again, what you think about all the time happens as per Law of Attraction. So if you think negative thoughts all the time, negative events will continuously flood your life all the time. Be positive despite life’s hardships. Enjoy life to the best of your ability while working. It would be best if you enjoy and love your work so that life will become more fun just like Francis M had fun being in showbiz.”
Magaling ang atin
Yan ang laging iisipin
Pag asensyo mararating
Kung handa kang tiisin
Ang hirap at pagod sa problema
Wag kang malunod
Umaahon ka wag lumubog
Pagka’t ginhawa naman ang susunod
Iwasan mo ang ingit
Ang sa ibay ibig mong makamit
Dapat nga ikaw matuwa sa napala ng iyong kapatid
Ibig kung ipabatid
Na lahat tayo’y kabig bisig
“This is a call to patronize everything related to Filipino (songs, businesses, apparels, manpower, etc.). That success in any aspect is reached not by sitting and watching TV all day long. Success is a result of hard work and smart work on a daily basis. That no matter how hard the challenges you face on your journey towards success, simply persevere by learning from them and ironically enjoying them. Being envious of others in a negative way to point that you’re already causing hard to other people is not good. Use envy as your inspiration and motivation (not desperation) to become more successful without stepping down on anyone. Again, Law of Attraction, if you’re positive and being thankful that someone achieved something, you’ll also be able to achieve the same if you wish to do so. Stop crab mentality is a negative thing which would lead to negative results.”
Respetohin natin ang ating ina
Ilaw siya ng tahanan
Bigyang galang ang ama
At ang payo ang susudan
At sa magkakapatid
Kailang ay magmahalan
Dapat lng ay pag usapan ang hindi nauuwaan
“This is a call to give respect to our parents as they are the reason for us living. Be thankful for having them and that despite their imperfectness (which all of us have our own imperfections one way or another), we’ll still love them unconditionally just like they love us unconditionally as well. Although (this part is PG13), I don’t entirely agree in following all the advice of your father as when a person comes to age (matured), he is already entitled to decide on his own. Giving an advice is not giving a command. An advice is just that, an advice – it can be followed or not. Point is, if the advice is in-line with your beliefs, principles or views and there’s nothing wrong with it, and after weighing other options (other advices) and it seem to be the most logical, then by all means follow the advice of your father. The same is also true with our relationship to our siblings that despite our differences we should all respect one another as after all at the end of the day, it’s still our family who cares for us deeply.”
Wag takasan ang pag kukulang
Kasalan ay panagutan
Mag malinis ay iwasan
Nakakainis marumi naman
Ang mag kaaway ipag bati
Gumitna ka ang wag kumampi
“This simply means to pay your debts. hehehehehe… Kiddin’ aside, this is remind us that in every action there’s an equal consequence. Regardless if it’s a positive consequence of negative consequence, we have to be man enough to be liable. That’s why it would be better to think deep before doing something. That’s why the Lord designed the brain to be on top of our anatomy because it should be the first thing to use. That the reason why there are two eyes, ears, nostrils and only one mouth is because we have to observe first and analyze before saying or doing something because whatever happens after that is your liability. So be thankful if the consequence is positive and be humble when the consequence is negative. This is also Francis’ way of saying no to fighting.”
Lahat tayoy magkakapatid
Anong mang mali ay ituwid
Magdasal sa diyos maykapal
Maging banal at wag hangal
Itong tula ay alay ko
Sa inyo at sa buong mundo
“This means that regardless of our differences (race, upbringing, views, etc.) we should always give respect to everyone. As the bible said, don’t do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you. That if ever we commit mistakes, let’s humble down and be apologetic and learn from it so that it may not happen again. It’s okay to commit mistakes. It’s normal. What’s not okay is despite the mistakes, you still afford to be proud of it and boast about it instead of being humble and learning from it. All of us have our own faith when it comes to God. I have a pretty unconventional belief about Him as well. But regardless, we should all pray (aka talk) to Him however we know to do on a regular basis as after all, He is the one who gave us the opportunity to live life. That’s why simply living is already a gift to be thanked about. That’s why there’s no reason not to enjoy every single moment of our life together with our loved ones just like Francis did to his family, relatives, friends and fans. This rap analysis is for Francis and to every Juan in the world.”
