“Tara na, byahe tayo!” (Come, let’s travel)
Ayyayay… I first saw this from Ruth’s Transposable Element … and I just have to share it to the rest of Filipina Soul readers!
But I must warn you – you will be so proud of being a Filipino that you’ll cry and maybe book a flight home today. 
This is in Tagalog… but even if you don’t understand a word, just watching it will make you fall in love with the Philippines.
This is exactly why I love being a Filipino, and love writing about my beloved country.
Byahe Tayo
Written by: Rene Nieva
Sang by: Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Rico Puno, Joey Ayala, Apo Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, April Boy Regino, Jessa Zaragoza, Paolo Santos, Nina and Rico Blanco of Rivermaya, John Lesaca, and Jong Cuenco
Ikaw ba’y nalulungkot (are you sad?)
Naiinip, nababagot? (Are you restless, irritated?)
Ikaw ba’y napapagod (Are you tired)
Araw gabi’y puro kayod? ( working day and night?)
Buhay mo ba’y walang saysay (Your life lost its meaning)
Walang sigla, walang kulay? (Lost its fun, lost its color)
Bawa’t araw ba’y pareho (Everyday’s just the same)
Parang walang pagbabago? (And nothing seems to change)
Tara na, biyahe tayo (So, let’s go, let’s go back home)
Kasama ang pamilya (Bring your family)
Barkada at buong grupo (Friends and the whole group)
Para mag-enjoy nang todo. (It’ll be totally fun)
Halika, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang ating makita (That we’ll see)
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas (The beauty of the Philippines)
Ang galing ng Pilipino. (The greatness of the Filipinos)
Napasyal ka na ba (Have you been to -
Sa Intramuros at Luneta (Intramuros and Luneta)
Palawan, Vigan at Batanes (Palawan, Vigan, Batanes)
Subic, Baguio at Rice Terraces? (Subic, Baguio and Rice Terraces)
Namasdan mo na ba (Have you seen -
Ang mga vinta ng Zamboanga (the vinta of Zamboanga)
Bulkang Taal, Bulkang Mayon (Taal Volcano, Mayon Volcano)
Beach ng Boracay at La Union? (Boracay and La Union Beaches?)
Tara na, biyahe tayo (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Mula Basco hanggang Jolo (From Basco to Jolo)
Nang makilala ng husto (So that we’ll get to really know )
Ang ating kapwa-Pilipino. (our fellow Filipinos)
Halika, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang ating makita (That we’ll see)
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas (The beauty of the Philippines)
Ang galing ng Pilipino. (The greatness of the Filipinos)
From city to city,
Seven thousand and a hundred plus islas
Sa mahal kong Pilipinas (My beloved Philippines)
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao ating puntahan. (From Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao)
Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan! (Let’s not be strangers in our own land)
Nasubukan mo na bang (Have you tried
Mag-rapids sa Pagsanjan (the white water rapids at Pagsanjan)
Mag-diving sa Anilao (to dive at Anilao)
Mag-surfing sa Siargao? (or surf in Siargao?)
Natikman mo na ba (Have you tasted -
Ang sisig ng Pampanga (the sisig of Pampanga)
Duriang Davao, Bangus Dagupan (Davao durian and the milk fish of Dagupan)
Bicol Express at Lechong Balayan? (Bicol Express and Lechon Balayan?)
Tara na, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang makatulong kahit pano (So we can help a little bit)
Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan (to improve the way of living)
Ng ating mga kababayan. (for our fellowmen)
Halika, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang ating makita (That we’ll see)
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas (The beauty of the Philippines)
Ang galing ng Pilipino. (The greatness of the Filipinos)
Nakisaya ka na ba (Have you joined in -
Sa Pahiyas at Masskara (the Pahiyas and Maskara festivals?)
Moriones at Ati-Atihan (The moriones and Ati-atihan)
Sinulog at Kadayawan? (Sinulog and Kadayawan)
Namiesta ka na ba (Have you gone to the fiestas at
Sa Peñafrancia sa Napa (Penafrancia in Napa)
Umakyat sa Antipolo (or climbed the Antipolo church)
Nagsayaw sa Obando? (or danced at Obando)
Tara na, biyahe tayo (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Upang ating matamo (that we’ll achieve)
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan (Joy, friendship)
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan. (prosperity and peace)
Halika, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang ating makita (That we’ll see)
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas (The beauty of the Philippines)
Ang galing ng Pilipino. (The greatness of the Filipinos)
Tara na, biyahe tayo (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Upang ating matamo (that we’ll achieve)
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan (Joy, friendship)
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan. (prosperity and peace)
Halika, biyahe tayo, (So let’s go, let’s travel)
Nang ating makita (That we’ll see)
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas (The beauty of the Philippines)
Ang galing ng Pilipino. (The greatness of the Filipinos)
Halika, biyahe tayo… (so come on, let’s travel home)…
WOW Philippines…
Lyrics courtesy of Lakbay Pilipinas.
26 Comments
I often stop my channel surfing whenever I see this video on TV. It’s a beautiful song, cheerful yet nostalgic at the same time. I think it is one of the best song collaborations ever made in the Philippines.
This should encourage fellow Filipinos — whether based back home or elsewhere — to travel around the Philippines. Sabi nga nila, wag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan. Sadly, a lot of our fellow Pinoys have yet to see a lot of what our own country has to offer. Rather than aim for a trip to (say) HK, it would be better if people travel to the provinces.
There is so much beautiful things to discover in the Philippines!
Nice video !
I never tire of watching this video. It a 5-minute showcase of the best of the Philippines… musical talent, sights, food, warmth and hospitality, and much more. Tara na!
I like this song, my father who is an OFW showed the video to me when he went home for a vacation. The song was great… made me real proud to be a Pinay
Ever since this video was emailed to me this past September, I have been playing this song on repeat. The song is very simple, but the lyrics is very powerful. Although I was born and raised the states, this video reminds me that I am American, but always Filipino.
[...] 7. And when you really miss the Philippines , pay it a visit. You will find welcoming arms and lots of new relatives at the airport waiting for you. And travel again to the most beautiful spots on earth. [...]
I found all the comments about the Biyahe Tayo! song very gratifying and “nakakalaki ng puso” as we Filipinos would say. I never expected the words that I wrote and the song made of them to have the impact it has had on Filipinos the world over. It was a labor of love all the way, from the lyrics to the music to the artists who participated in the video for free in an unprecedented show of unity and love of country. We produced the video in October 2003 and yet it lives and continues to impact on people to this day. Thanks for all the kind words which have made it all worthwhile.– Rene Nieva
Rene,
It’s our honor to play this video, and also to hear from you! you have a fan club now
more power to you and make more Pinoy-pride songs.
Thanks, Grace. Yes, will write more Pinoy-pride songs. I have one I wrote for Filipino athletes in particular entitled “Kapatid Ipakita Mo”. But it is also addressed to all Filipinos in general, whether here or abroad. It is yet to be put to music. The first of the three parts of the poem goes:
Huwag kang matakot
Sa iyong anino
Huwag kang masindak
Kahit na kanino
Sa liksi at husay
Sa lakas at tibay
Ay walang kapantay
Ang Pinoy at Pinay
Kapatid ipakita mo
Sa bansa at buong mundo
Ang tapang at galing
Nating mga Pilipino
Again, thanks for the words of encouragement.
Rene Nieva
Rene, thanks! this is a moving poem. if you have it recorded, give us a heads up, ok. i’m sure it will be a classic too.
dis is really a nice song… it really shows dat u should be proud to be a filipino….. tanxs rene it was a nice song and da artists sung it well… I was really thrilled to hear this music…
Great song that I have to turn on repeat. Thanks Rene you made us proud to be a filipino.
What an awesome song! Makes me want to visit the Philippines. From NZ
hi rene,
wooow! ang gandaaa at ang galeeengg talaga! habang pinapanood ko to at duty free..kinikilabutan ako and almost crying coz i feel so proud of my country..and now you made it be aired to be seen and listen by every filipino worldwide.not only pinoy but also foreigners where they could find paradise,and how beautiful our country and fellowmen..great job! more power and God Bless!
NAKAKAINSPIRE…IT WILL MAKE YOU PROUD AS A FILIPINO..
hi guys.
I think you will also enjoy the song TAYO TAYO RIN. It is the official theme of the United Nations-MDG. It has an English version as well.
The music was composed by Rico Blanco (who also did Biyahe Tayo).
Most of the artists from Biyahe Tayo collaborated once again for this UN song.
correction lang po sa credit sa taas. hindi lang po si Rene Nieva and sumulat ng kanta.
Biyahe Tayo was co-written by Rico Blanco, Mike Villegas and Rene Nieva.
yun lang po.
ang galing talaga ng Pinoy!
hey josef – thanks for the heads up i didn’t know there are more song writers. that’s great!
dj – i’ll check out this other song. it should be inspiring!
[...] Sharon Cuneta, Gary V, Martin Niviera, and Lea Salonga are just some of the big names singing together in this music vid by the composer who brought us the popular expat song “Tara Na, Byahe Tayo!” [...]
Isang ‘mistah’ ko ang nagbigay sa akin ng music videong “Tara na, Biyahe Tayo” noong nakaraang taon. Ang komentaryo ko nang una, masyadong mahaba, mawawalan ng gana ang sino mang manonood. Nang pinanood kong muli, namangha ako at umiyak. Ngayon, kapag ‘homesick’ ako, paulit-ulit ko itong pinanonood at pinakikinggan. At palagi pa rin akong umiiyak. Masyadong makabagbag damdamin at makahulugan ang kanta para sa akin.
I love that video too. I actually embedded that video on my travel site.
[...] Velasquez has done a series of ads for the Philippine Department of Tourism. Based on the Biyahe Tayo! campaign, Regine’s clips focus on different aspects of tourism in the [...]
one of the best compositions that brings out the best of the Philippines and the Filipinos. Keep it up Mr. Nieva. Too bad but its really more expensive travelling in our own turf than going abroad
This song is great !
the lyrics are SUPERRR LONG !
we will be singing this in our project in
araling panlipunan ! good luck to our group!!!
wehehe ! by the way…im in group 4!
wer can i get this video aside from you tube?