Kapalaran

(Dateline: 03 November 2018, Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City)

Remembering Rico J. Puno, who passed away in the early morning of 30 October 2018 at the age of 65. Born in 1953, Enrico de Jesus Puno, or "Rico J." was one of the pioneers of Original Pilipino Music, started as a singer in folk houses and nightclubs in the early seventies, and began a recording music career after he got the attention of producers when he shared the stage impromptu with the Temptations. He started a pop trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in his versions of English language songs,  most popular of which was "The Way We Were" with lines such as "Namamasyal pa sa Luneta na walang pera."

O bakit kaya
May ligaya't lumbay
Sa pag-ibig
May bigo't tagumpay
'Di malaman, 'di maisip
Kung anong kapalaran
Sa akin ay naghihintay

Rico J.'s iconic hit "Kapalaran" is eloquent of the Filipinos' lamentation of Fate. Us Filipinos deride ourselves for our brand of fatalism, the "Bahala Na" attitude, as Filipiknow explains:

[T]he attitude can also promote a sense of helplessness and resignation of one’s fate at the local level, and a countrywide lack of empathy and collective action on the national level. This is also the reason why we tend to have amnesia over past wrongdoings committed by our leaders.

(Puno also engaged in local politics. When he died, he was setting up for his re-election bid in the City Council of Makati.)

Let's take some time to reflect. The month of November is also Filipino Values Month per Proclamation No. 479 series of 1994.


REFERENCE: Galang, Rosalinda, "Puno, Rico J. (Enrico De Jesus Puno)," CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Volume VI, Philippine Music (Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1994), pages 355 and 356.