Kapampangan Ku, daya ampon kaladua

Pop culture is one great tool for spreading a certain message. The song Kapampangan Ku, by Arti Sta. Rita and Mon David (the other version involving vocals from Nanette Inventor, John Arcilla, and Michael De Mesa), is personally my favorite patriotic song.

The song never fails to impress people--Kapampangan or not---whom I share the music with. For non-Kapampangans, they become in awe of the marvelous vocals, especially the chorale part, and the innovative concept of injecting in pop culture something considered ethnic or old-fashioned. (You know, pop culture is dominated by only Tagalog and English stuff.)

But for Kapampangans, aside from the musical wonder of the piece, the message of the song brings out a certain emotion of pride in one's own roots. It gives hope, that the Kapampangan race is here to live and survive, if we all work together for its betterment and preservation.

Never heard of the song? Do watch this YouTube video which I uploaded. The lyrics are in the video, too. The footage is courtesy of the Holy Angel University Center for Kapampangan Studies. I placed the lyrics a la MYX, in K-orthography for beginning Kapampangan readers.


For more astounding Kapampangan songs, check out the other CDs of Arti Sta. Rita (click the link on the right) and the upcoming third album, Siwala.