"Magkaisa" | |
---|---|
Song by Virna Lisa | |
from the album Magkaisa - A Tribute to the Filipino People | |
Released | 1986 |
Recorded | March 1, 1986 |
Studio | Tasha Recording Studio |
Length | 5:27 |
Label | Ivory Records |
Songwriter(s) | Tito Sotto |
"Magkaisa" (Tagalog for "unite") is a 1986 Filipino pop song performed by Virna Lisa (Virna Lisa Loberiza) and composed by Tito Sotto,[1][2] which is notable for being one of three iconic songs associated with the People Power Revolution of 1986 - the other two being "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo"[3] and the traditional kundiman anthem "Bayan Ko".[4]
Sotto wrote the song over the course of three days, with the assistance of arranger Homer Flores and record producer Ernie Dela Peña. The back-up singers singing alongside Virna Lisa were Babsie Molina, Bambi Bonus and Vic Sotto.[5]
Virna Lisa recorded the song at the Tasha Recording Studio in Libis on the evening of March 1, 1986.
The song was greatly popular with the masses[vague] in the days after the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos and his eventual departure to Hawaii on 25 February 1986.[6]
It was then a big hit when the song played on radio stations and the music video associated with it aired on major television stations in the country, a month after the Revolution.
Sarah Geronimo sang the song on August 5, 2009, during the funeral of Cory Aquino.[7] This version of the song is included on the album Paalam, Maraming Salamat Pres. Aquino: A Memorial Tribute Soundtrack by Star Music.
Regine Velasquez sang her version of the song during the Tatak EDSA 25 concert that commemorated the 25th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.[8]