Sariling Bait

According to John in the book of Revelation, a time will come when peoples from all tribes, nations, tongues, etc. will gather together in one humongous worship service and offer to God song after song of worship that speak of their collective mind, will, and emotion.

I wonder, after observing many worship events led by Filipinos for Filipinos, what language will be most commonly used. English most probably. Ironic isn't it? Even this blog post is in English. On the other hand, English is my fourth language.

Nang una akong maging conscious, Ilonggo ang salita ko. Kasi, Ilongga ang nanay ko. Nagising ang aking awareness sa M'lang, Cotabato. Tapos, lumipat kami sa Toril, Davao City, tapos sa Mati, Davao Oriental. Cebuano naman ang salita ng mga kaibigan ko. Ang tatay ko galing sa Lanuza, Surigao Del Sur, at ang salita nila ay Surigaonon, which is a wholly different language altogether. Anyway, natuto ako ng Tagalog sa elementary. Lalo na nang lumipat kami sa Parañaque. Nang mag-grade 5 ako, lumipat naman kami sa Dagupan City. Pangasinense ang salita doon. That's my fifth language. Add to the mix is a little Ilocano, Albay Bicolano, and college Spanish. Let's not include Hebrew and Greek. Limot ko na itong dalawang huli.

I own these languages because I have come to love the people who speak them. God has allowed me to serve Him among these people groups. I can be at home in any one of these languages. I can worship in any of these languages, maybe after a little practice. Pero, there are so few worship sung or chanted or read in these languages except English. Bakit kaya ganun? When I participate in inter-church or inter-denominational worship services, bakit kaya halos lahat ng kanta sa English? Bakit puro na lang galing sa Hillsong or kay Don Moen or some other hip foreign group/band ang kinakanta natin? Wala ba tayong sariling bait? Hindi ako bothered dati, pero as the years go by, kakaunti yata ang nadadagdag na bagong kanta na ang titik ay sa salita natin. Darating kaya tayo sa langit na kapag nandoon na tayo, ang worship songs natin ay hiram pa rin? Hindi kaya nakakahiya yon? Sing to the LORD a new song! Does it have to be always in English?

We are a singing people. Music is in our soul as a nation. Bakit kaya kakaunti ang ginagawa nating awit na papuri at pagsamba sa sarili nating salita?