Itanong Mo Sa Bituin (Ask the Star)

from Kathá: Three Poems by José Corazón de Jesús

SATB div. a cappella
5:50 approx.

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Itanong Mo Sa Bituin (Ask the Star) is a setting of Filipino literary giant José Corazón de Jesús’ poem. The piece is lush and lyrical, as de Jesús likens the star to his sole confidant and witness to a love that’s deep but unrequited and unfulfilled from both ends.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Michael McGaghie and the Macalester College Concert Choir

Itanong Mo Sa Bituin (Ask the Star) is one out of three in a set of José Corazón de Jesús poetry settings. The others are Ang Tren (The Train) and Manggagawa (Laborer).

ITANONG MO SA BITUIN (Ask the Star)
By José Corazón de Jesús

Isang gabi’y manungaw ka. Sa bunton ng panganorin
ay tanawin ang ulila’t naglalamay na bituin;
Sa bitui’y itanong mo ang ngalan ng aking giliw­­­
at kung siya’y magtatapat, ngalan mo ang sasabihin.

Ang bitui’y kapatid mo. Kung siya ma’y nasa langit,
ikaw ay ditong nasa lupa’t bituin ka ng pag-ibig;
dahil diya’y itanong mo sa bituin mong kapatid
kundi ikaw ang dalagang minamahal ko nang labis.

Itanong mo sa bitui’t bituin ang nakakita
nang ako ay umagahin sa piling ng mga dusa;
minagdamag ang palad ko sa pagtawag ng Amada,
ngunit ikaw na tinawag, lumayo na’t nagtago pa.

~~~

Look out the window one evening. Among the clouds
You will find a star, orphaned and grieving.
Ask it the name of my beloved
An honest star would utter yours.

The star is your sister. And she lives in the heavens
while you are here, the star of love on earth.
Ask it then, ask your sister the star
If you weren’t the maiden I love more than anything. 

Ask the star. It was she who saw
How I lasted till morning in misery’s grip.
How the entire night the one who loves me beckoned
While the one I love fled and hid from my call.

Trans. Mikael de Lara Co