Nelson Dino, original teext and translation
Higung Dagang
Daing ha daplak Bongao, tulak liyayag,
Pa kapuan Sandakan, usaha tagak
Ha lansa miyagad, dagat bilu siyabulak
Layag tagna sintak, simung agak-agak.
Silak suga timapil, ha alun limahil
Waktu simibug mandil, paluang in biyangkil
Laud bahaya iyuntas, liyukisan labay bansil
Subuh na iyabutan, alta magad himasil.
Pamapa subangan, sutla in hinangan
Ha parian Sandakan jinis niya diyagang
Ha kakayaan Bongao pa mussa, gusi kalang
In luwan darahan, tugub suysuy bilang
Duwal waktu in makaiyan.
Uh, kaw higung dagang, ha hangin simampang-
Parsugpatan wayi bugtu, umantas dagat larang
Ha Bongao pa Sandakan suysuy kamaasan
Ha sulatan salasila yaun saun kiyakissa.
Labay huakag-hanung, asal masi matunung
Ha saka dagang bilang, dapat di masulak laung
Ha Bongao pa Sandakan, tulak sampang liyangan,
Tumalik duun angan, tubuan sin dagangan.
Tempest Trade
From Bongao’s shores, we set our sails,
To Sandakan’s distant isles, our trading trails
In wooden vessels, on the azure sea,
We journeyed forth, adventurous and free.
The sun kissed the waves in a rhythmic dance.
As we navigated, we took our chance.
Through perilous waters, we charted our way
Trading treasures at the break of day.
Spices from the east and textiles made of silk
In Sandakan’s markets, we traded our ilk.
From Bongao’s bounty to pearls and rare shells,
our cargo held stories that only time can tell.
Oh, the whispers of trade in the ocean’s breeze—a
timeless connection across the seas.
From Bongao to Sandakan, a tale of old,
In the annals of history, our story’s told.
Through tempests and calm, we’d always persist. In
this ancient trade, we could not resist.
From Bongao to Sandakan, our journeys would
show the beauty of trading, where dreams could
grow.
Bud Bongao Barakatan
Ha puntuk bud sussi aku timindug,
Sulad panugpat hipu alamat sin lupa punud,
Lumawag kasambuhan tawag sin kamaasan,
Magdayaw siratulrahim, sugpat pa katan.
Titib in labayan ha tikanganku,
Ulangig makusug bati liyabayan waktu,
Halaum hagas hangin, kulanas dahun,
Hikmah sin adat hanunut himablun.
Ha babaan langit wayi jangkaan,
Aku naglawag kusug miyaksud sin liuran,
Iban panghulmat, simulad pa puntuk sussi
Balikan in parsugpatan, magtibuuk magkasi.
Hangin dupuy malanu, napas hiyangbus,
Parasahan niyanam hiyabulan sin alam,
Isa-isa hi baran, matarrang in jawaban,
Adat pasambuhun, luha igan kahinyul.
Kamulliya sin puntuk Bongao, sahaya mahinaat,
Dunya biyukisan, batuk in kasabbulan,
Hiyablunan kissa, nagsulabit mattan,
Ha tiranan sussi rahmat kiyasambanan.
Bihaun nakauna, bannang adat mari biyutuk,
Sulad magpasambuh, sussi in sapa gutuk,
Ha Bud Bongao barakatan ini aku natibuuk,
Sugpatan atay ginhawa, amu miyaksud.
In tiyap tikangku, magparayaw butuk,
Ha antara sin nyawa iban langit angut,
Ha puntuk bud sussi, rahmat naabut,
Pali adat piyauli, tampat sussi in labut.
Sacred Bongao Peak
On the sacred mountain’s lofty crest, I stand,
A journey steeped in mystic ties to land,
A healing quest, my spirit’s ancient call,
To mend the bonds that link us, one and all.
The path is steep, and with every step I take,
I feel the echoes of the past awake.
In whispers of the wind and rustling leaves,
The wisdom of our culture softly weaves.
Beneath the canopy of an endless sky,
I seek the strength our ancestors imply.
With reverence, I climb this sacred peak.
To mend the ties and gain unity, we seek.
The air is pure, and with every breath I breathe,
I sense the power of nature’s gentle sheath.
In solitude, I find the answers clear.
To heal our culture, wipe away the tears.
The Bongao peak’s glory in the morning light,
Reveals a world where ancient meets the right.
A weave of stories, interlaced,
In this sacred space, I find my grace.
I tie my culture’s threads, both past and now,
A healing journey, an ancient sacred vow,
On this majestic mountain, I am made whole.
Reconnecting the heart and soul, a healing goal.
With every step I take, I mend the ties,
Between my spirit and the ancient skies,
On the sacred Bongao Peak, I find my grace,
Healing culture’s wounds in this sacred space.
Beyang
Ha kawman higad dagat, namilu-milu
Awun Beyang magsuruy, atay maamu
Magsasab marayaw, tawag bi na kamu
Magdagang daya laud, kaku iban kaniyu.
Sin parat suga pais niya diyapuan,
Uyum mamanis bayhu sahaya puan,
Mimindit ambung ista luunan,
Gimigiik buhangin ha tiranan bulawan.
Mata sumuysuy kissa sin laud, malaum-laum,
Sin pagtulak tungud pa alun, limaya talun,
Sambil ha daplakan ista giyulung,
Ha kissa sin laud, siya nangayu tulung.
Daing ha lumahan pilak pa ullang asibi,
Makuyag aku, kitaniyu siya nagbakti,
Kawman kimalang ha tikang niya nagbukti,
Pagkita sin pipindit hi Beyang taukasi.
Pagka suga timugum, hinang salassay,
Tikang ha paratan, mahapun muwi pa bay,
Hi Beyang aturun, dungdungan silay,
In kissa niya iban ista, tuyu kita’ salay.
Jari ha kawman ini laud magkalang,
Limbay hi Beyang limangsa, masang
Imanyan ambung sin laud iban ginlupaan,
Sin lima malasahun, ha padlima kubalan.
A Bajau Lady
In a village by the sea so blue,
A Bajau lady, her heart so true,
She roams with grace, a fishmonger’s call,
Selling treasures from the ocean, for me and you.
Her skin kissed by the sun’s warm embrace,
A smile that lights up her weathered face,
With woven baskets of fish in hand,
She treads the sands of the golden strand.
Her eyes tell stories of the deep, deep sea.
Of adventures, of waves wild and free,
With every fish she lays on the shore,
A tale of the ocean, she does implore.
From mackerel silver to shrimp so small,
Her offerings delight one and all,
The village hums with her lively stride,
As the Bajau lady’s wares are eyed.
With the setting sun, her work is done,
Homeward bound, under the evening sun,
The Bajau lady, a sight to behold,
In her stories and fish, her spirit unfolds.
So, in this village where the ocean sings,
A Bajau lady with her gossamer wings,
She weaves a basket of sea and land,
In the palm of her weathered, loving hand.