TGIF Feature: Stirring song from 'Les Miserable' irks Philippines' Duterte

A scene from the music video 'Di Niyo Ba Naririnig.'

Celebrities from the Philippines' film, theater and music world took part in a rousing rendition  of “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig”, a Tagalog translation of Les Miserable musical number "Do You Hear The People Sing?"

The song was played during “Tinig ng Bayan: #SONAgkaisa online concert” which streamed July 27, the same time that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The stirring video apparently hit a raw nerve with Duterte, who responded in Tagalog a few days later, "There’s a song about a revolution that was put out by the government’s critics. ... let’s not prolong the process. If you want (to oust me), do it now."

The song, translated by Vincent de Jesus with additional lyrics by Rody Vera and Joel Saracho was first performed in 2017 during an event to mark the 45th anniversary of  Martial Law under the Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

This newest iteration of the song interspersed with the singers photos of the the more unsavory elements of Duterte's regime including the extrajudicial killings of drug offenders, the war against a free press and the closure of the country's biggest media corporation, ABS-CBN. Many of the participants in the video worked on shows that was aired on the network before the government closed the network last month.

Les Miserables is based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, which is set in France and follows the life of Jean Valjean, a man who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread.
The novel – considered one of the greatest of the 19th century – concludes against the background of the Paris Uprising of 1832.

The song "Do You Hear The People Sing?" is among the most recognizable from the hit musical. Its performed twice – during the story, as students prepare to launch a rebellion, and again to close the show. It has since been adapted as a protest song many times over, in different languages. 

Most recently, Hong Kong demonstrators sang the militant song during a takeover of a mall  during a protest.

Angel Locsin, Iza Calzado and Enchong Dee joined a rendition of “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig” in time for the SONA. Image: Facebook/@AngelLocsin, Instagram/@missizacalzado, @mr_enchongdee

Filipino actors Angel Locsin, Enchong Dee, Jodi Sta Maria, Iza Calzado, and Noel Cabangon are among those who took part in the music video. 

Other featured artists include Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, Celeste Legaspi, Monique Wilson, Ebe Dancel, Kean Cipriano, Mae Paner, and Jim Paredes.

Following is the translation into Tagalog with the additional lyrics specific to the situation in the Philippines: 

DI NIYO BA NARIRINIG? Tinig ng bayan na galit Himig ito ng Pilipinong Di muli palulupig Dudurugin ang dilim Ang araw ay mag-aalab At mga pusong nagtimpi Ay magliliyab Ikaw ba'y makikibaka At hindi maduduwag Na gisingin ang mga panatikong bingi’t bulag Kasinungalingan labanan hanggang mabuwag Di niyo ba naririnig? Tinig ng bayan na galit Himig ito ng Pilipinong Di muli palulupig Dudurugin ang dilim Ang araw ay mag-aalab At mga pusong nagtimpi Ay magliliyab Ikaw ba ay dadaing na lang Kimi’t magmumukmok Habang nagpapakasasa Ang mga trapong bulok Gisingin ang puso Galitin hanggang pumutok Di niyo ba naririnig? Tinig ng bayan na galit Himig ito ng Pilipinong Di muli palulupig Dudurugin ang dilim Ang araw ay mag-aalab At mga pusong nagtimpi Ay magliliyab! Magliliyab!

* DI NIYO BA NARIRINIG? (Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer) Filipino Translation by Vincent A. de Jesus Additional lyrics by Rody Vera and Joel Saracho Musical Arrangement by Vincent A. de Jesus Music Producer: Paulo Zarate of Studio Z Video Producer: Chuck Gutierrez of Voyage Studios Executive Producer: Noel Ferrer Creative Producer: Baby Ruth Villarama Cinematographer: Dexter dela Peña Photos by Raffy Lerma, Neil Daza & Chiara Zambrano