Usahay's Original Composer's Bitter-Sweet Justice

Usahay is one of the greatest masterpieces ever composed among the Visayan Songs. It was popularized by famous artists like Pilita Corrales, Aegis, Jake Zyrus, Dulce, Susan Fuentes, Vina Morales, and many others. Politicians would also use the song to serenade the Visayan-speaking public. It added as an etheric ornament to the beauty of former first lady Imelda Marcos when she sang it. Nevertheless, the song transcends through decades without the original owner credited for it during his walking years on this world.

Police Colonel Greg Labja

The original composer of the immortal Visayan song Usahay was Greg Labja. Greg Labja, or Gregorio Responso Labja was a band leader of the Harvadian Colleges in the 1950s. He wrote the song out of inspiration for the beautiful majorette named Noemi Ortega from Davao Central Insitute. It was one of the 5 songs he wrote for her. She did not disappoint Greg and married him and moved to Pantukan, Davao del Norte(now in Compostela Valley Province).

Greg Labja became a chief of Police in Pantukan then transferred to Tagum City where he serve as Regional Director for Administration in Camp Catitipan. Being a Police Colonel and a musician, Greg Labja organized a music band to solicit funds for additional musical instruments. As narrated by her daughter, one instance, they performed at a birthday party of a prominent person in Tagum where the song Usahay was one of those being played. Their performance was taped without Greg's consent. Another prominent person also came to borrow the musical score. Suddenly, the song made its way to a recording studio.

When the song hit the airwaves, Greg Labja opted not to file a case as he knows he would go up against prominent opponents. Up until his death in April 18, 1991 he did not have the luxury to be acknowledge as the composer of the immortal serenade.

Instead, Nitoy Gonzales, from Tudela, Camotes Islands was credited as the composer of the song with Suarez Publishing as the publisher. The first commercial version of the song was sung by Leni Alano in 1962. You can listen it below.

Play the player to hear it exclusively on this blog.

Usahay by Leni Alano 1962:

It was when Greg Labja's daughter, Jenny Labja, talked to Garry Granada one of FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) trustees to inform Atty. Thursday Alciso FILSCAP counsel that her late father was the original composer of the song. She showed the original manuscript and even the second version of the song. Nonoy Tan, FILSCAP chairman said FILSCAP could not make a decision so it was brought to court to make the decision on the rightful owner of the song.

Finally in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the song Usahay was originally composed by Greg Labja. Suarez Publishing and the heirs of Greg Labja made an amicable settlement and the profits are now given to the latter. After almost 20 years from Colonel Greg Labja’s passing, he got his fair due.

This is the original composition (originally with saxophone intro)

USAHAY (Original Lyrics)
Gregorio Responso Labja

Usahay, nagadamgo ako
nga ikaw ug ako nagkahigugmaay
Ug nganong gidamgo ko ikaw
Gidamgo sa kanunay sa akong kamingaw

Usahay, ning kasing-kasing ko
Nagbasol nga nabuhi ning kalibutan
Kay imong gitiaw-tiawan
ang gugma kong gihalad, kanimo da

Usahay, nagabasol ako
Nakita ko ikaw sa mga damgo ko
Ug unya ning talikod ka na
Nga unta gugma man ang gibati ko

Usahay, nagadamgo ako
Nga ikaw ug ako nagkahigugmaay
Ug nganong gidamgo ko ikaw
Gidamgo sa kanunay sa akong kamingaw

Usahay ning kasing-kasing ko
Nagbasol nga nabuhi ning kalibutan
Kay imong gitiaw-tiawan
Ang gugma kong gihalad kanimo, da

Ang gugma kong matuod kanimo da
Kanunay gyud ang gugma, dili usahay

Credits to MindaNews for the transcription from the Labja family's recording of the original piece

Hopefully, we can hear the original masterpiece from the Labja's family


Credits to:
MindaNews
The Freeman