| My grandmother Manuela Ergino grew up in a small town called San Fabian in the Philippines. Throughout her whole childhood and for the rest of her life she never left her village Binday. In the early 1900s there were only a few things that can keep someone occupied. Back in those times the only thing that my grandmother did was work in the field, spend time with her brothers and sisters, swim in the river, or play with other kids within the village in fields. Technology such as radios and televisions were not available for everyday use. My grandmother’s education only exceeded until the end of sixth grade in elementary school. Since she grew up in those days, her initiation to becoming an adult is when she got married to my grandfather Anastacio Ergino and had children of her own. She got married at the age thirteen because of an arranged marriage and left her family to raise and have her own. At age seventeen she had her first child. This was her initiation to adulthood. Having her first child, a son named Jenaro and raising him was the start of becoming an adult. She raised him with my grandfather and also had seven more children. In total her and my grandfather had eight children, four boys and four girls. She became an adult because the times of playing and fun were no longer allowed. She had mouths to feed and had no time for other things except for her family. Adulthood in those times was having children and raising them.
Her song for initiation is Dahil Sa Iyo meaning Because of you. The song is a romance song that men use to sing as a serenade to the women in the village. My grandfather did not sing this song to her until after they were married because they were at such a young age. Dahil Sa Iyo is also a song of marriage. The first part of the song explains that in my whole life, in sickness and in health, my loving heart will feel heavenly and my love will be everlasting. The part of the song explains that because of you I can live. Because of you until death due us part, you must know that there is no other love. The song is a song that my grandfather sang to my grandmother. It is not a song about having children, however, in a sense it is somewhat related to her children. It was because of her children, my grandmother lived a happy life. She may not have had other things to entertain her, but she had her children to keep her company. “Dahil Sa Iyo” was more of a song of love for her husband and her children.
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