Leleng

The following information is written and composed byForma L. Gonzales. Sung and rendered also by her during the Taboan 2012 celebration at MSU-Iligan in celebration of the National Arts Month February 20, 2012@ MSU-IIT Mini Theater. Ms Gonzales is a pure Sama Jama Mapun tribe who is concurrently finishing Ph.D Language Studies @ the College of Arts and Social Sciences, MSU-IIT. She is married to a Muslim convert by the name of Moh. Alsid (Marcelino) R. Gonzales.

Statement from Prof.Gonzales:

This song, Leleng, has no specific author. Not any Sama, Tausug or Jama Mapun and Sama Dilaut know who is its real composer and author. But it is believed  in the 70’s  when the Mindanao conflict was at its uprising of which   Sulu,  Tawi-Tawi, Basilan were in the forefront of the conflict, literary composition was one among the developments that sprung from the conflict.

 Among those who were recruited as members of the MNLF were the Sama, Tausug ,  Jama Mapun and Sama Dilaut. Along the course of departing for war in defense of BASULTA (BASILAN, SULU, TAWI-TAWI) and the 13 provinces in Mindanao THIS SONG LELENG EMERGED AS A GOODBYE/FAREWELL SONG DEDICATED TO THE LOVE ONES OF THE BANGSA MORO SOLDIERS WHO WERE LEFT IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

By the fact that the first stanza  mentions Sitangkay and Sibutu, LELENG SONG IS PERCEIVED TO HAVE BEEN COMPOSED BY A SAMA DILAUT OR A SAMA in Bahasa Sug for reason that Bahasa Sug in Tawi-Tawi is a lingua franca .Further, the title of the song is LELENG MEANS DARLING, SWEETHEART, LADY.

(This picture is from
http://travel.nuraina.com/sabah-sulusea/)

It is NOT BALELENG as sung by a Visayan composer which is popularized in all Philippine media which states as ORIGINAL. WRONG! IT IS NOT ORIGINALLY COMPOSED OR AUTHORED BY ANY VISAYAN SINGER. However, due to social integration and migration where many Visayans are working in Tawi-Taw and Sulu for socio-economic reason, they practically learned the context of the song and brought it to Visayan provinces. Hence, they patterned, imitated and CORRUPTED the song, Leleng into BALELENG which has a bad connotation that seemingly made as an ” expression of endless love”  by several or many non-muslims to any man especially the non-muslim men who are married to  ladies from Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. Again, it is Leleng and NOT Baleleng. We condemn this notion and misinterpretation! We hope beginning today the word Baleleng shall never be used to sing the original and sweet melodic tune of Leleng

The word ba next to the word Leleng is a NOUN MARKER to signify the  linguistic utterances of a Malayo-Polynesian language of which Bahasa Sug is among the languages that begins with a question word, PILA ( HOW). Again, the word ba is used as a device to sustain the rhythmic pattern to the tune of the song. It has to be noted also that the first stanza is a permanent stanza to begin the Leleng. The next stanzas can be sung and composed in any words/statements SUITED TO THE OCCASION.

 Hence, this is usually sung by a Sama , Tausug, Sama Dilaut and Jama Mapun during their search for livelihood especially going to the sea to entertain and comfort themselves from the excessive heat of the sun, strong blow of the wind , the violent waves and believed also as a technique to catch many fishes.

1.   Pila na  ba  Leleng layuh layuh Sitangkay ba Leleng iban Sibutuh Bang kaw ba Leleng bunnal matuyuh    Urul kaw ba Leleng pa malayuh	·         How far Leleng is the distance From Sitangkay, Leleng, to Sibutu For if you’re really  faithful Please follow me to this far
2.   Aku ini Leleng tumulak na Ikaw yan ba Leleng mabiin na Minsan ba Leleng biyah ini na Masi da kaw Leleng dih hilupa	·         I am now, Leleng, leaving So you’re now left Even if this is so I will never forget you
3.   Aku ba Leleng ha gitung laud Ikaw ba Leleng dih na ma atud Bang bakas kaw ba Leleng ma ilud Atas ku ba Leleng in mag guyud	·         I am now, Leleng in the middle of the ocean I may not see you anymore If only I could make you move I would really tow you
4.   Leleng, ikaw hadja ha laum simud Leleng, ikaw hadja ha laum atud Leleng, aku hapit na iyanud Leleng, masi na man kaw ha simud	·         Leleng, you’re always in my thoughts Leleng, you are always in my sight Leleng, as I  was about to be drifted Leleng, you were still in my thoughts
5.   In tuhan ba Leleng dih mag pasaad Bang in ummat ba leleng miyagad Ha aturan ba magbuhih jasad Samabahayang ba Leleng naagad	·         God, Leleng never forsake If a man follows His command To live and save  life      Prayer, Leleng was performed
6.   Magsukul ba Leleng ha  duwaa mu Amu yadtu Leleng in lutuh ku Bunnal da ba  Leleng in lasa mu Ikaw na ba Leleng in limbang ku	·         Thank you, Leleng for your prayer That was my provision Your love is true And now you shall always be my partner