Kapampangan Punk: The Istukas Over Disneyland

I never thought that even before the conception of RocKapampangan, one underground band from Angeles City had already churned out one Kapampangan punk rock song.

The moment someone told me (Elijay of the band Fine Time) that a certain group called The Istukas Over Disneyland has some Kapampangan stuff in their album, I made it a short-term mission to track the whereabouts of these guys. But they were underground, and it was hard finding them.


However, I underestimated their celebrity. Searching the net for the mysterious punk rock group, I have come across several sites that mention these guys! Not only that, I was able to find their Kapampangan song, Biye Keni Yatu [Life In This World], the lyrics of which would delight pubic teenagers who are beginning to spot and question the ills and ironies of society but are pressured to accept things as they are with blind faith.

The song is included in their likewise Kapampangan-titled album, O Guinu! (O, God!)


Mababa la ring marka
Tauli ka pa king eskuela
Meyari na ka masakit pang manakit obra
Obra nang obra
Karing maragul a korporasyun
Bang ditak a luhu king biye adanas mu

[Grades are low
And you're even late in school
You've graduated but couldn't find a job
Work and work
In huge corporations
To experience a little luxury in life]

King arapan ning telebisyun
Masanting ngan ing karelang bage
Ditak a sueldu keng ditak a saya
Pamandurak king biye da ring makabiye
Masanting yang pagumasdan
Makule

[In front of the television
Everything is beautiful
Little wage for a little joy
Exploiting the life of those who can buy
It's nice to observe
Colorful]

Kumabiye ka, mate ka
Makaniyan ing biye keni yatu
Saya ka, misakitan ka
Makaniyan ing biye keni yatu

[You'll live, you'll die
That's how life in this world is
You'll be happy, you'll get sick
That's how life in this world is]

Asbuk, makasara
Mata, makapiyak la
Magbulagbulagan tamu karing akakit tamu
Balugbug, maklak la
Ala ta'ng gagauan
Mate ka, kaburian ta'na 'gyang man ngeni

[Mouths, they're shut
Eyes, they're closed
We pretend to be blind with the things we see
Ears, they're deaf
We do nothing
To die is what we want even now]

Mangabiyayan ka
Kayabe da ring memalen
Pamanalakad king biye
Ingatan me
Detang king puestu
Ilang makapangyarihan
Kaburian da ring kaluguran
Yang malilyari

[You start to work
Together with the people
Take good care of
How you run your life
Those in public office
They have all the power
But what their friends desire
are what are executed]

Sermun king simbahan
Baual ing imoralidad
Bulung da ring pari
E na dapat pangalandakan
Paburen da kang tuki king
Utus ning pengari
Isara mu ne mu ing asbuk mu
E na makibat pa

[The sermon at church
Says immorality is prohibited
The whisper of the priests
Should not be flaunted about
They would just let you obey
What your parents say
Just shut your mouth close
No answering back]

Kumabiye ka, mate ka
Makaniyan ing biye keni yatu
Saya ka, misakitan ka
Makaniyan ing biye keni yatu

Asbuk, makasara
Mata, makapiyak la
Magbulagbulagan tamu karing akakit tamu
Balugbug, maklak la
Ala ta'ng gagauan
Mabiye ka, kaburian ta'na 'gyang man ngeni


If you want to listen to the song, follow this link and look for the Biye Keni Yatu song.