"Hail to BIBAK"

Composed by Augustus Ulat Saboy, L. Lomeng, and G. Donaal

Arranged by Anatalia M. Saboy, EdD

Background: β€œThe 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 – 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.” [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 –

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!