THE OLD SHIP By Maximo “Max” Surban

Before I give my analysis of the song “Ang Barkong Karaan ” , let me first give you a brief history of the one who made it. “Ang Barkong Karaan” was composed by Maximo Surban and is now popularly called as Max Surban. He is a Cebuano singer and is known as the King of the Visaian Song.

I think the song is funny and it has several Spanish words such as estribor,hepe de viaje and more. But I know that behind the humorous lyrics of this song, it has hidden serious meaning. The song was about the old ship voyaging across the sea. “May barko, May barko Barkong de pasahero Sigeg ka aberiya Kay karaan kaayo”

The problem and the literary theory used:

The word “Aberiya ” means problem in the ship itself- like smashing or messing up. Because of its oldness, it always encounters troubles in the middle of the sea. The boat sank due to its lack quality too and the irresponsible watchman or coast guard who fell asleep and did not do his job in watching the way ahead, the drunk cook who did not do his job to prepare food, the ticket collector who is just flirting to the young lady and the equipment of the ship are not reliable i.e, “bote” or the small boat for the passengers did not worked out.

Putting it in the context of the Philippine political system, I can say that this song has something to say about our governmental scheme in which we suffer poverty! poverty in the Philippines caused by laziness to work harder and more hours, poverty in the Philippines caused by lack of quality consciousness, abuse by those rich ones by mismanagement of government due to lack of sincere interest for the benefit of ALL ,by social injustice created by mankind / industry / money world / investors / – by accidents / disasters / war / political unsteadiness, lack of passion, dedication and Conscience on doing bad deed and above all, lack of fear in God. When you fear God, you fear to do evil. Here the Sociological theory of criticism comes in because I found it present in the song’s voice. I think the author or the composer of the song is telling us that in our society, the lack of quality in all aspect is rampant. For example, the ship was too old enough to be used in voyaging but they still use it for the sake of money without thinking the consequences behind and all those stuffs. The problem with most Filipinos are being contented in a thing which we find as not good to have or to do as long as we use it for our own selfish wants.

Implication of the song and the Solution:

Like the popular saying, “There is no Conflict that has no solution.” In every conflict, there should always be a solution. Same as the ‘”Ang Barkong Karaan”, though the old poor ship sank and the problems of both people who are responsible of that ship encountered hardships and tragedy in that incident, they still found to leave the ship and moved on. In the last stanza of the song, “Nagdungan kami’g lukso. Lakip mga pasahero, ang bote nangabungkag kay gabok diay kayo, ang mando sa Kapitan”Hala, manglangoy, mangangoy kitang tanan””, implies that we should not hold on to the things which offers us nothing but instead seek for new beginning, swim in the middle of problems and seek a shore where you can grow and success. The song also implies that “Unity” must be done, “Nagdungan kami’g lukso. Lakip mga pasahero,…….” Instead of pushing our fellow citizen, why not help them to make our country e better one?