Patawad dahil matagal na tayong di nagkita
di mo ko matagpuan pero sayo ang aking diwa
ang ating wika’y sinasalita ko kahit minsan lang
nabubuhay ka sa akin at hindi ko hinahalang
ang kabataan kong kasama ka aking mahal
kapag kapiling ka, sa akin ay banal
araw-araw ako’y nagsisikap para sa panahon
ng aking pagbalik, pero sa ngayon
ako’y hinaharap ng kahirapan sa lupa na
parehong dahilan sa iyong pagkasira
masalungat ang, ating kapalaran
sumusulong kahit di tiyak, ang kinabukasan
ako’y may tiwala sa lakas na iyong sinilang
dahil kapangyarihan natin ay hindi mabilang
matagal na tayong nagdudugo sa pagtatrabaho
ngayon na ang oras para magpakilala tayo

Hook:
Ako’y iyong likha
alam mo pa ba?
marami na sa ating
nawawala
kahit saan man
hinahanap ka
sayo hangang huling hinga
ang puso at tula

may sarili akong mga problema pero alam ko
ang nararanasan ko’y maliit sa niraranas mo
hinahanga ko ang iyong pagtiyaga
ito siguro ang nagpapabuhay sa kanila
mga bayaning naglubos ng dugo para sa masa
at mga kadugong may hanapbuhay sa ibang bansa
napaunawaan ko ang halagang hinandog sa amin
kahit siksikan sa tirahan at kaunti ang hangin
humihinga parin nakangiti at tumutuloy
sa aming mga gawain mainit pa ang apoy
sa aming damdamin, kahit ibang Fil-Am alam
na kailangan rin nilang bumalik at gumalang
kaya ako’y naghusay tumula sa Ingles
pinatulis ang dila at ginawa kong makinis
at nanatili sa husay ko sa Tagalog para lang
ma-ugnay ko ang lahat ng ating karanasan

Hook

Mga litrato na hawak ko, dito naalala
ang halaga ng lupa na sa aking pinamana
ang mutya ng bansa, nasa puso nila
nasa isa’t isang tao na iba ang halaga
hindi tungkol sa pera pero sa kalagayan
ng anak ama ina pati na rin ng bayan
may galang sa matanda, babae mga anak
ang unang tungkulin ay pagbigyan ng tamang sangkap
na sapat sa minamahal para wala nang hirap
iyon ang panahon, ng mga tao ko doon
pagtingin sa litrato, ito na lang ay alaala
kultura at kasaysayan nawawalawala
paghabol sa pera, ay nagpapuno sa lungson
mga pana’t sibat ng rebolusyonaryo’y pudpod
dahil nawala sila sa isip at pangungurakot
ang inabot ng makasalanan pero huwag matakot
(2x- lalaban parin tayo, itaas ang kamao
itaas ang kamao, itaas ang kamao)

Hook.


Likha Translation: Creation

Forgive me, it’s been a long time since we’ve met
you haven’t been able to find me but my spirit is yours
I still speak our language even for a little bit
you’re alive in me
and I’m not barricading off
the childhood I spent with you, my love
your presence to me is Godly
every day, I strive for the moment of my return
but for now
I’m faced with difficulties in the land
of the same cause that brought your destruction
our fate is persistent
struggling forward even if tomorrow is not promised
I believe in the strength that you birthed
because our capabilities can’t be quantified
we have bled from our labor for so long
now is the time for us to be known

Hook:
I’m your creation
do you still know me?
there’s so many of us
that are lost
everywhere I am
looking for you
yours until the last breath
is the heart and the poem

I have my own problems but I know
what I’m going through is little to what you’re going through
I admire your perseverance
it’s probably what’s given them life
the heroes who have spilled blood for the masses
and those akin who found life in other places
I acknowledge the wealth introduced to us
even when living in close quarters with barely air to breath
we're still taking those breaths with smiles on our faces
continuing our work
our inner fire remains hot
even Fil-Ams and those who left know
that they need to come back and pay respects
that’s why I practiced my poetry in English
sharpened my tongue and smoothed it out
and maintained my ability in Tagalog
just so I could share all of our history

Hook

These pictures that I hold remind me
of the value of the land I inherited
the gem of the country, is in their hearts
it’s in every single person who cares
not for the money but the welfare
of the child, father, mother and the people
with respect to the elders, women and children
the first obligation is to blend the right recipe
that sustains our loved ones away from suffering
that was how my people were back then
when I look at these pictures, they are now only memories
our culture and our history is missing
the desperate chase for the money flooded the city
the bows and arrows of our revolutionaries have become dull
because they’ve disappeared from our memory
and corruption is what the fallen have led to
but don’t be afraid
(2x- we will still fight, put your fist up
put your fist up, put your fist up)

Hook.