Sagada Song / Hymn Lyrics

I don't believe that all Philippine towns have their own town songs / hymns. But since Sagada is one particularly special town, it has its own town song. The song is composed by Dennis Faustino, an adopted Sagada son, and the Igorot lyrics were supplied by Rhoda Bondad. I used to hear this song during town gatherings, and during bonfires. It has that familiar tune, a soothing one, that I sometimes hum to myself during moments of nostalgia. The lyrics of the song are found below:

"Beyond those troubled hills of the north
Lies my hope all laden with pine
Amidst the soft and silken touch
Of morning mist I lay my pr'yer b'fore thy shrine

My pr'yers to Thee my love dressed in green,
My paradise unforeseen
My thanks to Thee who spawned my love
Sagada, Sagada will always be mine

With you, I believe
In a life I can live
With you, I can share
what I have, without care

Isnan ad-ad-dawi ay bilbilig
Isdi nan i-itaw tet-e-wa
Kaneg issan kan-ka-nanda
Ay Shangrila men luwaluwak ken sik-a

Maday-dayaw ay ili natalna
Umeyak ay m'id egyat na
Salamat isnan Dios ay na-napo
Sagada, Sagada ko-ak engana

Ken sik-a, mamati-ak
Isnan biag, matagu-ak
Ken sik-a, makibingay-ak
M'id bali na isnan ko-ak

Beyond those troubled hills of the North
lies my hope all laden with pine
Amidst the soft and silken touch
of morning mist I lay my pr'yer b'fore thy shrine

My thanks to Thee who spawned my love
Sagada, Sagada will always be mine"