"Hail to BIBAK"
Composed by Augustus Ulat Saboy, L. Lomeng, and G. Donaal
Arranged by Anatalia M. Saboy, EdD
Background: βThe melody is an old ethnic aire popularized in the 1950s by the Kalinga-Apayao Students Association (KASA). BIBAK is an acronym for Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga β the five sub-provinces that constituted the defunct Mountain Province. BIBAK is an organization of college students from the aforementioned places. The song was first sung during the installation of the BIBAK officers headed by the late Jose Limmayog, Sr.β [Source: Anatalia M. Saboy, ed. Indigenous Ethnic Songs of the Cordillera (Manila: NCCA, 1997), pp.222-223.
Hail to B-I-B-A-K,
Land of virginal beauty,
Pride of the mountain country,
Fountain of democracy!
Mountain Country
Mountain Country
Eternal fount of democracy!
BIBAK dear, we love thy name
Citadel of lasting fame
Bontoc, Benguet, Ifugao,
Kalinga and Apayao.
Bontoc, Ifugao
Bontoc, Ifugao
Benguet, Kalinga and Apayao.
Mountain Province dear to me β
O sweet land of Liberty.
Though the storms may bar my way,
I shall live and die for thee!
Live and die for thee
Live and die for thee
O sweet land of liberty!