Lolita Carbon, Heber Bartolome and Raymund Marasigan (Image: Facebook/Lolita Carbon, Heber Bartolome, Instagram/@raymsmercygun)
Heber Bartolome, the OPM legend known for his song “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy,” was given tributes by Lolita Carbon, Raymund Marasigan and their fellow musicians after he passed away yesterday, Nov. 15.
Bartolome died after suffering from a lingering prostate illness for more than a year, his brother Jesse confirmed yesterday.
Carbon of the band Asin honored Bartolome by showing a throwback video of herself singing his song “Karaniwang Tao” on her Facebook page today, Nov. 16.
“‘Karaniwang Tao’ mula sa hindi pangkaraniwang manunulat at musikero! Salamat Heber Bartolome!” she addressed Bartolome. “Nagpupugay sa iyong paglakbay! Hanggang sa susunod na entablado”
(“Karaniwang Tao” from a one-of-a-kind writer and musician. Thank you Heber Bartolome. Salute to you on your journey. Until the next stage.)
Pedicab’s Marasigan also thanked Bartolome, whom he called “Ka Heber,” on his Twitter page, also today.
salamat ka Heber
— Rayray Marasigan (@raymsmercygun) November 16, 2021
Rapper Gloc-9 likewise paid tribute to Bartolome by laying down the lyrics of “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy,” on his Facebook page today.
“Huwag kang mahihiya kung ang ilong mo ay pango! #heberbartolome,” he said.
Jugs Jugueta of the band Itchyworms, meanwhile, remembered watching Bartolome live when he was young, describing the experience as “magical,” on his Facebook page today.
“There was something special seeing a man with just an acoustic guitar and a [microphone], singing his songs for everyone to hear,” he recalled. “Napaka-intimate pa ng venue, tapos feeling ko, ako yung kinakausap niya habang kinakanta yung ‘tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi Kano,'” he recalled. (The venue was so intimate and I felt that he was talking to me while he sang “tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi Kano.”)
Bartolome formed the protest band Banyuhay with his brothers Jesse and Levi back when the Philippines was under the martial law regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Aside from the nationalist anthem “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy,” Bartolome is also known for the revolutionary songs “Dukha,” which tackled poverty, “Nena,” which pushed for women’s rights and “Payag Ka Ba?” which is popular among activists, among others.
Bartolome’s family has not yet released details on his burial as of this writing. /ra
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