“Anak” by Freddie Aguilar | West Point Band

“Anak is the Tagalog word for child. It’s probably one of the most popular songs of all time in our language. Growing up in the Philippines, my grandmother would sing it to me.”
This AAPI Heritage Month, band vocalist Staff Sgt. Francisco Aisporna performs Freddie Aguilar’s 1978 mega-hit “Anak,” which brought Filipino folk music to the world stage, both in the original Tagalog and in translation to 27 languages. The message of the song is universal, speaking to the everlasting bond between parents and their children, through the good times and the bad.
“When I moved to the U.S., I met Americans who knew the song, even if they didn’t know what it was called, because it’s so popular in Southeast Asia.”
Staff Sgt. Aisporna immigrated to America with his family at 11 years old and became a U.S. citizen upon enlisting in the Army in 2014. Since then, his Army service has taken him around the world and led him to join the West Point Band in 2020.
“I always wanted to pursue music, but I didn’t know how. I originally did supply for the Army - 92Y - but my commanders would find out I could sing and ask me to perform for talent shows or a change of command, so I was doing music throughout my Army career. I didn’t know there was such a thing as Army bands until I saw a flyer in the DFAC in Germany and, thankfully, my command supported me in auditioning for the USAREUR Band [now called the USAREUR-AF Band]. So, I took a leap of faith, and that’s how my band journey started.”
This video was filmed in West Point’s Thayer Award Room in front of the portrait of Senator Daniel Inouye, who was awarded the honor in 2001 for his life-long dedication to our nation’s ideals, despite initially being denied entry into the Armed Forces due to his Japanese-American heritage. Throughout his life, Senator Inouye was also hailed as a champion of our nation’s Filipino community and was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor in addition to his many American military awards, including a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor.
We are proud to celebrate the service of our Asian-American and Pacific Islander Soldiers during AAPI Heritage Month and all year long! Thank you for your service!
“Anak” by Freddie Aguilar
Staff Sgt. Francisco Aisporna, vocalist
Sgt. Maj. Brian Broelmann, guitar
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[@i-am-your-conscience]

"give me 10000 Filipinos, and I will conquer the world." - Gen. Douglas McArthur

[@celiu3557]

general McArthur:I didn't say that 😠

[@loneaxolotl]

​@@celiu3557He did.

[@kelvindello3037]

Spartan what is your profession? Awooh , awooh.!!!!

[@25thinfantrydivisionband]

Beautiful Song! Those with Filipino heritage make up a large percentage of the population in Hawaii and they know this song well!

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Beautiful voice, SSG. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant.

[@mariomovillon1613]

Mabuhay and Salute to the superb and heartfelt rendition of Freddie Aguilar's 1978 megahit. Because of its universal message that may well apply to all families and different cultures of the world, the song has been translated in more than 20 languages and were sung and became popular in over 2 dozen countries across the globe! Keep up the good work Staff Sgt. Aisporna!

[@kennethbrian806]

A beautiful rendition of Aguilar's classic, still sounding like a true Filipino.

[@ajs8226]

I heard Freddie Aguilar live once in San Fernando/ Elyu .... this version here I appreciate the same. Congratulations, very well done 👌

[@asiananthropologie]

Very beautifully executed! Such a powerful and beautiful song... it's no wonder, that this song was translated into 27 languages. Thank you for your service sir! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@seekingtruthnwisdom5552]

Thank you all for your service! From an American who was born in the Philippines!

[@imboglitz2400]

raise the philippine pride! nice voice & great guitar accompaniment. thanks west point band. mabuhay! ca,usa.

[@williamordway2872]

Thank you for your service to our Country! You are a fine young man with a beautiful voice!

[@ogzlocano9779]

Salute SSgt Aisporna, From Philippines.

[@yoli683]

This made my mom and aunties day! Inspired choice, beautiful singing and accompaniment!

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ The blues Song incredibil magnific mega geil ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@khkim8976]

두 분 다 대단하십니다. 감사합니다(Korean)

[@genahada]

nice song, nice guitar, nice singer, nice place.

[@sykoticpinoy187]

Wow! Talagang amazing! Such a beautiful voice!

[@TheenaMoran]

What a beautiful voice! I love you baby! I got preggy with your voice sir! Panagutan mo ko!😅❤❤❤

[@RichardAUy-kt6yt]

wow heavenly voice ..mabuhay ka

[@alexandergonzales8758]

The best rendition i heard from no less than a foreign tonque, i salute u sir for such an amazing rendition.

[@SamsungA-uy1nr]

Una meravigliosa canzone. Saluti da Italia

[@SAMIN-XYZ]

greatsong,goodjob I im "ANAK"

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤❤❤Traumhaft schön ist die Song Stimme zu hören mega geil Irene ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ Mein Herz spürt beruht mich fasziniert ist wunderschön zu hören mega geil Irene ❤️❤️❤️

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️So beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ Traumhaft schön ist die Song Stimme zu hören mega geil Irene ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@pavelkishinev7783]

Salamat Sergeant. Napakagaling!

[@marializaguzman5420]

What a beautiful rendition!! 😍😍😍

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤❤❤Traumhaft schön ist die Song Stimme zu hören super cool mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤

[@jocelynmatsuyama610]

i ❤️ ur voice ❤️🤗

[@meanbumboy3108]

wonderful voice and guitar rendition!

[@heinrichgerken4469]

👍👍👍💯 Greetings from Germany.

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Hallelujah

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️Magnific ist die Song Stimme zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ Magnific traurig aber wunderschön zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ The best of Irene Favorit ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️So beautiful ist die Song Stimme zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@willy_wombat]

Soo o beautifull ❤❤ So many memories ❤

[@rachmielhinter]

Amazing..... Love it ♥️♥️♥️

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ So beautiful mit viel Gefühl gesugen incredibil magnifica Irene Favorit ❤️❤️❤️

[@LumieSoucek]

MABUHAY

[@ireneschmidt9207]

💖💖💖 Traumhaft schön ist die Song Stimme zu hören super cool mega geil irene 💖💖💖💖💖

[@zhugbu]

Very nice rendition

[@edgarseville8976]

WOW ' AMAZING VOICE

[@s.t.santos5928]

Amazing!

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️Ich fühle das die traurig ich liebe die Song ist unfassbar schon zu hören mega geil Irene ❤❤❤

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️The best ❤️❤️

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ So beautiful wow incredibil magnifica traumhaft schön zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ireneschmidt9207]

💖💖🌼So Beautiful ist die Song Stimme zu hören super cool mega geil irene 💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ Ist eine Ehre das schreib deine Stimme hat mich berührt fasziniert unfassbar schon zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@playbook008]

Salamat yung kanta. Magunda boves mo.

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Ang. Ganda

[@javaalpha6762]

very very nice

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️ So beautiful wow incredibil magnifica ist wunderschön zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤❤

[@mikenguyen3192]

Amazing Bravo

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Grande

[@alfredmeier1617]

Oh... Its a nice one. 👍Thanks

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Astonishing

[@ireneschmidt9207]

❤️❤️❤️Ich kenne nicht die Sprache aber meine Herz spürt ist wunderschön zu hören mega geil Irene Favorit ❤❤❤❤

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Danke

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Nostalgic

[@kidobi80]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-sc2lt2sq9i]

❤❤❤

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Pretty

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Bonito

[@carlodivinagracia7432]

Humanity song

[@minyoung823]

Child When you were born in this world Your parents were full of joy And their hands were your light And your mother and father Didn't know what to do Watched over you even in your sleep And in the night, your mother stayed awake to prepare your milk And in the morning you were in the lap Of your father, who is so joyful because of you Now you are all grown up You desire to be independent Even if they dont agree, there was nothing they can do You suddenly changed Became stubborn/hardheaded And their advice, you disobeyed You did not even consider that what they were doing were for you Because you only want to cater to your vices You ignored them And the days had passed And your path took a wrong turn You are mired in a horrible vice And the first one you approached Is your crying mother And the question "Child, what happened to you?" And your eyes suddenly shed tears Without you noticing Regretful, and in your mind you realized That you were wrong Regretful, and in your mind you realized That you were wrong Regretful, and in your mind you realized That you were wrong

[@leosalang160]

I think this is the best english version so far. From the time the child is born the parents had so much joy , the mother had to be awake every time in the night just to prepare milk for the child and in the morning the child is on the lap of his father very happy caring the child. When grown up, a teenager wanted to be independent despite parents objections but can do nothing. And then the grown up child began to go astry and engaged in various vices. Feeling frustrated, he first approched her crying mother and tells him what happen to you. And the songs lyrics tells the son if only you heed his parents advises ,he will not go astray. Thats the message of the songs that happen in many families in many countries.

[@Riggy-Fan_77]

Bonne

[@isaacmichael5340]

👌 👏 😍 👍 ❤

[@khkim8976]

두 분 다 대단하십니다. 감사합니다(Korean)