Photo from PABLO's IG

KUMUNOY

What is KUMUNOY in English? According to Google Translate, it is quicksand in English, and based on the Merriam-Webster dictionary,  it is a deep mass of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects readily sink. Many say that when you get trapped in quicksand, the more you struggle, the more you sink quickly, which could be said about life. It is easy to sink into depression when life gets tough without realizing that there's always an end to all the suffering, and it's fascinating how Pablo can write songs that perfectly tell our life's stories and give us hope.

Sa daming iniisip ay hindi mapaliwanag ang bigat ng aking nadarama

At sa aking paglaban para bang lalo akong unti-unting hinihila pababa

Animo'y isang bomba, puso kong nangangamba at anumang oras ay puputok na

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, kaya pa ba-ba-ba-ba? (Yeah)

When life throws us all kinds of trials, our minds become occupied with so many thoughts, most of which are negative. As soon as we feel like we're sinking deeper into a void of nothingness, desperation will soon kick in. This is when it gets dangerous for many people. That feeling of being alone in your struggles, like no one is listening, it's paralyzing. The fear of not knowing when it will all end will feel like death before it even comes.

Pagod na sa paglakad ang aking mga paa

'Di ko naman alam kung sa'n papunta

Ako'y nawawala na, gusto ko nang mawala na

Nang lahat ng ito'y matapos na

Ginawa ko naman ang lahat pero 'di pa rin sapat

Ako'y hirap na hirap nang huminga

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba

Ano pa ba-ba-ba-ba?

As we get thrown problem after problem, we start to feel lost and exhausted, like there's no point in living. At the same time, we wish we could somehow disappear and go somewhere our problems don't exist. Due to this, some people succumb to depression, a psychological break from reality, or just ending it all.

'Di ko maintindihan, tinik sa'king lalamunan

Pa'no nga ba maibsan bigat ng aking nararamdaman?

Gusto ko nang sumuko, 'di na kaya ng puso

Nagdidilim na'ng paligid ko

Wala 'kong magawa, nahulog na sa isang

Often the emotional pain becomes physical, manifesting as illness or anything that we can feel physically. Is it our body telling us that we've been harboring such anguish for too long, or is it our minds trying to divert the pain our hearts feel? Whatever the reason is, it affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically. This situation makes things worse. Everything turns dark, wherever we go we see hopelessness, and giving up is not that far away. 

Kumunoy, ito'ng pakiramdam ng nasa kumunoy

Lalo lang lumalala, pilitin ko mang lumangoy

'Di pa 'ko nakakita pero 'lam kong ito'y kumunoy

Kumunoy, kumu— kumu— kumunoy

Nawawala na ang liyab at init ng aking apoy

'Di ko na alam kung pa'no ko pa nga itutuloy

'Di pa 'ko nakakita pero 'lam kong ito'y kumunoy

Kumunoy, kumu— kumu— kumunoy

I literally feel like being trapped in quicksand. The more we try to fight and be strong, the more life tries to pull us down. It's like a never-ending cycle that will keep hunting us as long as we're breathing. It is natural to lose that spark we have in our hearts, to lose that will to fight because of uncertainty and pain. Despite all our efforts to stay positive, we're just humans. We all get hurt, feel the pain, and lose our will to fight, but Pablo once again reminds us that no matter how many wounds we acquire through the course of our lives, all we have to do is keep going. We just have to keep walking despite the thorns and spikes in our way. It will hurt, but no matter what happens, we will reach the end.

'Di na bago sa'kin ang pakiramdam ng nasa baba

Mabigat ang dala dahil ang puso'y bato na

At habang buhay kong papasanin

Kahit ga'no pa kalalim buntong-hininga, patuloy kong ibubuga

Buga, buga, sige, subok kong ubra

Kahit may boses pa na magsabing "'La kang kwenta"

Alam kong may pag-asa, liwanag ma'y wala pa

Paulit-ulit man ang pasakit, ako'ng gagawa ng himala

Patuloy akong lalangoy sa dagat ko ng luha

Gano'n-gano'n lang, ano ba'ng inaakala niyo?

Kahit na yurak-yurakan pa'ng pangalan ko

'Di na mababasag aking pagkatao

Matagal ko na ring iniisip 'to

Sabihin niyo nga sa'kin kung ano'ng mali ang ginawa ko

Sawang-sawa na 'to, kayo na'ng panalo

Lubayan niyo na 'ko, lubayan niyo na 'ko (Lubayan niyo na 'ko)

Strong people learn to ride the lightning. They ride it out all covered in scars and blood with smiles on their faces because for them, that's how it should be done. We ought to learn a thing or two from these types of people. They are not in denial or delusional. They are not hoping for a better life, they're working for it. It's not easy to see the light when we're surrounded by darkness, but all we have to do is keep going and we will see. Strong people are not strong because they don't feel pain, they do. It's not because they can ignore the hardships, they can't. They choose to be strong for the people they care about and themselves. We can all do the same.

Oh-ooh-woah, kinakailangan ko ng tulong mo, oh

Pasensya na't nakalimutan ko

Na lagi lang kayong nariyan sa aking tabi

Pamilya, kaibigan na nagmamahal, nagsisilbing

Ilaw sa tuwing magulo kong mundo'y nagdidilim

Salamat, oh, aking Ama, ako'y makakaahon rin (Oh)

But that doesn't mean we can't ask for help. It's okay to admit that we're drowning. We might feel like no one would care, but we're wrong. Someone out there cares for us even if we don't know it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but strength. It would take a lot to admit that one needs help, let alone to ask for it. Yet what matters the most is knowing that we are not alone. Whether it's family, friends, relatives, religion, or just people who know us, they care. In life, we must learn to see what matters the most, the people who truly care for us and treasure them.

Kumunoy is a song of life written by an empathetic, naturally kind man who knows what it feels like to go through life like everybody else. He blessed us with a song that will make us feel that somebody understands what we're going through. He wanted to remind us that we don't have to drown in sorrow and pain because there is hope. So just keep walking through the darkness and eventually, you will find the light.