Music and myths of mermaids

We grew up with legends and myths about creatures, divine beings and gods, including those where water plays an important role.

The mysteries and myths of the ocean became interesting topics during an episode of the annual Boses ng Marino Online Karaoke Challenge as part of the 26^e National Seafarers Day (JNS).

One of these mythical creatures from various legends and traditions are mermaids or mermaids known to be half human and half fish.

Some legends describe mermaids as foxes who seduce sailors to their death with their songs and drag them into their underwater marine palaces. The siren voices of sirens are so supernatural that many believe they can drive men to madness.

Their donations brought bad luck, and if they were offended, the beings caused floods or other disasters. Seeing one on a trip was a harbinger of shipwreck.

In the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”, mermaids have been known to congregate in Whitecap Bay for hundreds of years, sowing terror in the hearts of sailors and pirates. Through songs, they attract their prey before dragging them to the depths of the Bay to devour them. Mermaids must defend themselves against Blackbeard and his crew as they attempt to capture a living mermaid to harvest the Mermaid’s Tear demanded by the Fountain of Youth ritual.

“The Little Mermaid” is the main character in the 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It is the story of a mermaid named Ariel, who dreams of becoming human and falls in love with a human prince named Eric. In the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” popularized by Disney animation, the sea witch Ursula uses the song to seduce Ariel by swapping her voice for the chance to temporarily become human.

In the Philippines, Dyesebel is the mermaid comic book character of Mars Ravelo who took a trip to trace its origins. She was denied by the sea when she discovered she was the daughter of a newt (also the prince of the sea) and a human. She then begins her adventure and explores the human world.

Sightings of mermaids are normally downplayed with arguments that they are fat, slow-moving sea cows called dugongs or manatees.

Music plays a special role in the lives of Filipino sailors, whether at sea or on land.

The sea cannot stop sailors from mastering the art of vocal mimicry by infectiously singing songs like the infamous “My Way”. It’s an understatement to say that karaoke is a central part of pop culture for Filipinos, including sailors, whether on board or between contracts.

Karaoke is the cut compound of Japanese kara (empty) and okesutora (orchestra) which is interactive entertainment in which an amateur singer sings along with recorded music (or a music video) using a microphone.

Karaoke is indeed a favorite pastime of Filipino sailors as one of the coping mechanisms on board international and domestic shipping vessels to combat stress and boredom.

Away from his family and working aboard vessels sailing nonstop for weeks or months, the Filipino sailor is physically, mentally and emotionally stressed.

Constantly exposed to fluctuating temperatures caused by variable climate changes, hot and cold extremes, as ships cross ocean borders there are high chances of them falling ill, injured or dying.

Ahead of COVID 19 closures, Pinoy sailors and maritime students converge along Kalaw to show off their singing prowess through a weekly show hosted by volunteers.

Due to the pandemic, the Boses ng Marino took place again this year as an online jam instead of the traditional NSD competition in Kalaw, under two categories, students and professional sailors.

NSD organizers had to forgo the usual environmental sunset concert dubbed Harana by the Bay of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) symphony group that honors the oceans and seas to keep our Filipino sailors safe. during their trip.

Harana was an exclusively nocturnal practice that gained popularity in the early Spanish period and was widely performed in many parts of the Philippines with a specific romantic style of music.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 828 on July 9, 1996 declaring August 18 as NSD in order to duly recognize the vital role of Filipino seafarers in the development of the Philippines as a maritime nation.

The Stella Maris Philippines was responsible for coordinating with the public and private sectors the activities related to the celebration of the said event.

Later, Proclamation No. 1094 was issued in 1997 by President Ramos, who moved the NSD to every last Sunday in September each year.

The 26th of this year^e The NSD took place on September 26, 2021. The NSD Sunday Masses across the country were offered to Filipino sailors.

(Lawyer Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers division of the law firm Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan. [email protected], or call 09175025808 or 09088665786).

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