"Para Sa Tao" (English: "For The People") is a Philippine world music song by HUMANFOLK from their eponymous first album; composed by guitarist Johnny Alegre in 2009, and which became the group's carrier hit single. The song was arranged by keyboardist-vocalist Abby Clutario. A music video directed by Daphne Oliveros was produced for the song (with an alternate, expanded version), and for which a radio edit was created. Both the full and radio edit versions of the song were included in the eponymous "Humanfolk" album, released in May 2011 by MCA Music ( Universal Music Group).

On November 27, 2012, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) conferred the Awit Award to HUMANFOLK for "Para Sa Tao" as Best World Music Recording. {Creativity Awards as recording artist, musical composer and record producer}. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Composition

The song is delivered in ⁵
₄ quintuple time, utilizing the natural phrasing and rhythm of the lyrics. The words unfold as a children's song introducing the Abakada, the indigenized Tagalog letters of the Philippines. The verses consist of the native alphabet sung repeatedly, and gradually developed as a canon, a contrapuntal musical technique that employs overlapped imitations of a musical phrase. In the contrasting bridge, the lyrics hint at a folktale of seafarers in the north (i.e. "layag sa hilaga") setting sail for the mysterious south (i.e. "timog, mahiwaga").

The title, "Para Sa Tao", is a pun on the final cadence of the Baybayin (O/U-Pa-Ra-Sa-Ta-O/U-Wa-Ya), the Pre-Hispanic Tagalog script from which the Abakada is derived. The present-day Modern Filipino Alphabet (Filipino: "Makabagong alpabetong Filipino"), in turn, is the contemporary adaptation of the classical Abakada.

Musicians

Abby Clutario, vocals, keyboards & Chapman Stick
Johnny Alegre, acoustic guitar & backing vocals
Cynthia Alexander, bass & backing vocals
Malek Lopez, electronics
Abe Lagrimas, Jr., drums (session)
Uly Avante, woodblocks, shaker & pandeiro (session)

Production

Words and Music by Johnny Alegre
Arranged by Abby Clutario
Produced by Johnny Alegre
Recorded by Hazel Pascua at Sound Creation Studio
Post-production, mixing and mastering by Boyet Aquino
Limited License issued by PH Affinity Productions to MCA Music for Distribution
OSR Released on Compact Disk by MCA Music. Executive Producer: Ricky Ilacad

Incidental music for "The Complete Para Sa Tao Video" ("Ethnic-HF1")
performed by Susie Ibarra, drums & kulintang ♦ Roberto Rodriguez, cajon ♦
Cynthia Alexander, agung ♦ Johnny Alegre, tambourine ♦ Malek Lopez, electronics

References

External links

• HUMANFOLK: "Para Sa Tao" (Music Video)
• HUMANFOLK: The Complete "Para Sa Tao" Video
• ("Para Sa Tao", as theme) Books for Babuyan
• ("Para Sa Tao", as theme) Filip + Inna