Harana

Harana is a Filipino word meaning 'to serenade'. However, in this sense, it is not about the form of a piece, but the act of serenading.

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Harana is an old tradition of courtship in the pre-colonial and colonial days of the Philippines. 

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From way before the Spanish came to conquer the island nation, the Philippines had been passing down oral traditions and romantic epics through song. And as the conquistadors occupied the nation, they brought in Western music and other customs that bled into the traditional Filipino life. Through the years, Filipinos would continue to celebrate life-cycles, occupational, and social events with a blend of Asian and Western-style in music and dance. Life-cycle songs include lullabies, songs of love, nuptial songs, songs of death, and songs of burial. 

 

Harana (Spanish ‘jarana’) is an umbrella term for the form of courtship during the Spanish colonial days. The music is rooted in the Mexican-Spanish tradition and is based on the rhythmic pattern of the habanera. It died down around the 1950s - The time when the digital age began, as well as the troubles and the beginnings of revolutions and wars. But in the old days, the way to court a woman was through song. 

 

Men were rarely turned down as it was an act of bravery to sing of one’s intentions and affections under her window, hoping she would open the shutters and accept his declaration. But it was not only the lady that the courter had to face but her parents as well, as the parents were the ones who would decide whether to accept him inside their home or not. If they were accepted, the haranista or haranistas (professional musicians who were hired for the specific occasion), would once again delve into song. 

 

There are 3 main steps that are to be taken in a harana courtship. The first is the panawagan or the introduction. The haranista would select a set of songs for the first step, songs that introduce himself to her and politely asking her to open her window. Some songs are Dungawin Mo Hirang (Open the Window, Beloved), Natutulog Ka Na Ba, Sinta? (Are You Asleep, My Love?) and Kay Lungkot Nitong Hating Gabi (How Sad This Midnight Is) and many more. The woman would wait after the second song to open the window. Sometimes, she may not respond and if the haranista was persistent, the singing would go on until the break of dawn.

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The panawag is deemed successful if she opens the window and the haranista is invited inside the house. Under the watchful eyes of her parents, he would start the pagtatapat (the proposal). This is where the man declares his admiration for the woman and her beauty and virtues. Some of the songs are Ibig Kong Magtapat Sa Iyo Paraluman (I wish to propose to you, my muse), Lihim ng Pagibig (My Secret Love), etc.

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Panagutan (Response) is when the lady being serenaded to, replies back to the courter in song. If she is unsure, she may sing Ang Tangi Kong Pagibig (My Only True Love), where the first line goes “Ang tangi kong pagibig ay minsang lamanga” (True love for me is rare). If she accepts, she will sing the song Maala-ala Mo Kaya with the lyrics, “O kay sarap mabuhay, lalo na’t may lambingan” (Oh how sweet it is to live, more so in the presence of love and affection).

 

With each reply, the haranista would have a reply in turn. If rejected, he would sing either Ako’y Isa Na Ngayong Sawi (I Am Now Brokenheart) or  Pusong Wasak (Shredded Heart). If accepted, he would simply join the woman in singing Maala-ala Mo Kaya as it is a song originally made for a duet. The singing would go late into the night, an enjoyment one would feel is similar to the setting of a karaoke where everyone and anyone would sing songs and various ballades.

 

The courting ends with a song of farewell (Pamaalam) as the haranista ends the night. Songs like Winawakasan Ko (I Hereby End It) and Bakit Di Kita Maiwan (Why Do I Find It Hard To Leave You) are some examples as the haranista leaves into the night. Unlike other harana songs that are in 4/4, Pamaalam songs are sometimes in ¾ and ten to sound more folk like.

 

Despite the stereotype of all Filipinos being able to sing, some are unable to do so and instead, hire professional musicians called haranistas to sing for them. Haranistas can sing, compose, and serenade their own songs, sometimes doing it on the spot. With their beautiful voices, they also sing in community festivals and events like parties and weddings. 

 

While there are surviving harana songs, a majority of those songs are lost in time as they were passed down by family and oral traditions. Because of that, harana began to die out, with the age of technology and urban businesses speeding up the process. With the harana songs being hereditary, they are forgotten as they die with the last generation of haranistas.

 

But that isn’t the end of harana. It is not that harana was lost, but it has evolved into something more than courting. The central idea is still there - love. But now it isn’t only about romantic love, but platonic and familial love as well.

 

The term harana in itself has been left behind in the past along with the romanticization of rural 20th century Philippines. But the serenading, the practice of singing praises and love to people special to you - that has never been lost. It has adapted to match with the modern world while keeping its cultural aspect and heritage.

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