Justino Romea

Justino 'Tining' R. Romea (Napo, Loon, September 26, 1924 – 1985) was a Filipino composer, playwright, director, musical arranger, poet, and journalist. He composed the Bohol Hymn — later translated to “Awit sa Bohol” which became the official hymn of the Province of Bohol, Philippines. He also composed “Dalaga sa Baybayon” (“Maiden of the Shore”) — one of the many theme songs he wrote for his stage plays — and the beloved love song “Ako Kang Paabuton” (literally translated as “I’ll Be Waiting for You” a.k.a. “Buhi sa Kanunay”) which he dedicated to his wife Jesusa Dalugdug Romea with whom he has eight children. J. Ning Romea composed the University of Bohol Hymn (UB Hymn) commissioned by the Tirol family. His Bohol Chronicle Sunday columns marked by deep, sensitive — at times good-humored — observation of Filipino culture, were a mainstay for many years.

Biography
Born in 1924 to Bernardo Vidal Romea, a composer and playwright, and Francisca Posas Relampagos, in Napo, Loon, Bohol, and later settled in Maribojoc with his wife Jesusa Dalugdug (also from Napo) and family when they were able to acquire a property closer to his work as a teacher and Supply Officer at the Bohol School of Arts and Trades (BSAT) — later called CVSCAFT, presently the Bohol Island State University — until his retirement.

Romea was commissioned to compose the Bohol Provincial Hymn. It was first performed publicly by an all-female choir of the College of Holy Spirit of Tagbilaran City on March 1, 1970 at the first unfurling of the Bohol Flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1970 East Visayas Athletic Association in Tagbilaran City.

On September 24, 1970, the Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 215 adopting it as the official hymn of the province of Bohol. As the hymn's original version was in English, the Provincial Board, a few years after decided to translate the hymn into Boholano. A contest was launched where the entry of Maxelende Ganade was the winner. The Boholano version adopted by the Provincial Board in Resolution No. 151 dated September 13, 1974 follows the singing of the Philippine National Anthem at every public occasion and ceremony ever since.

Romea also composed many other love song, theme songs, and school anthems like University of Bohol or UB Hymn, BSAT Hymn, Saint Joseph Institute of Technology in Butuan, and he is best remembered for the love song "Ako Kang Paabuton," (also known as “Buhi sa Kanunay”) and the song "Dalaga sa Baybayon". He also composed many of the theme songs and music for the annual 'dramas” or stage plays in his native Napo for which he served as writer, director and musical composer.

Manong Tining was also a “revered” columnist of Bohol Chronicle. After his death, his columns were reprinted. His weekly columns were in the frontpage of the Bohol Chronicle defying editing rules and newspaper protocol. He was an adviser to a previous mayor of Maribojoc.

Romea’s Father
Romea's father Bernardo "Leon" Vidal Romea was a rondalla trainer, scriptwriter, director and musical Arranger for the "Drama" in Napo, Loon, Bohol.

Bernardo or "Pantaleon" or "Leon", as he was more popularly known, was born on March 12, 1895, in Barangay Napo to spouses Marcelo (Oyong Eloy) and Maria (Oyang Iyay) Vidal, a second wife. His grandparents were Domingo Romea and Cecilia Ordubanes of Barangay Taytay.

After completing his elementary education and the first year of high school, the latter at Bohol High School, he qualified for a teaching post, a feat in those days. On June 16, 1910, at age 15, he was appointed a temporary teacher in Loon. A few years later, he passed the teachers' examinations and went on to become principal for 19 years.

Romea's command of the English language was grammatically flawless. He bought American books and subscribed to local English magazines (e.g. Free Press, Graphics, etc.) hoping that his children would love or develop the habit of reading. They indeed became bookworms and their communication skills improved. His passion for music was such that he composed songs, organized rondallas wherever he was assigned to his teaching career and promoted and participated in competitions. This went on even after his retirement years. He could skillfully play any of the string instruments in the rondalla but was at his best with the bandurria.

The older Romea was keen in distinguishing the slightest musical discord especially during rehearsals. While teaching Rondalla musicians, he would raise his hand for a pause just to correct a wrong note or tune a dissonant instrument. Romea was also called a "dramaturgo" having written and directed stage plays or "drama" which always served as the culminating feature of Napo’s May 25 fiesta celebrations. He is acknowledged as the founder and first playwright, director and composer–musical arranger of Napo's annual community stage plays. It is believed that Napo holds the record of staging the longest-running annual plays in Bohol, if not the whole country.

Compositions (Partial)
Ako kang Paabuton

Music and lyrics by Justino Relampagos Romea

AKO KANG PAABUTON

Buhi sa kanunay, ug dili hikalimtan

Ang gugmang gibati ko

Giampingan n’ing dughan Bisag giyam-iran Bisan pa’g gitamay Molambo og molipang kay Ang gugmang matuod di mamatay.

Chorus: Tuho-i intaw’n ako,

Salig sa gisaad ko.

Gugma kining way pagkalaya

Bisan ibanlas sa luha.

Kon ang kasing-kasing ko

Sa palad sakiton,

Didto sa kalangitan

Ako kang paabuton.

Bohol Hymn

This is the land I love,

The land God gave to me,

Caressed by the sun,

Bathed by the sea,

And kissed by the cool breeze

Night and day.

Here’s where the early heroes lived,

Here’s where they wrought peace and here they bled,

Here rise the marvelous cone-shaped hills,

Here’s sweet Kinampay grows.

Blessed with white sandy beaches,

Rivers that water valleys,

Seas teem with fish and cows graze

on the plains,

In ev’ry home love reigns,

God, keep my homeland always free,

Let her forever be,

I pledge my strength, my heart, and soul,

To my dear home, Bohol.

Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT) Hymn

I ask you to join me sing this song

of prayer for SJIT

Born out of the midst of the beautiful dream,

Nursed by the love of its founder.

Here I set my eyes to find my place

in the sun,

here I lift up to the skies my ambition

to serve God and man.

So, dear Lord in Heaven,

Bless my dear SJIT

May it live forever, let us sing, and let us pray.

BOHOL SCHOOL OF ARTS ABD TRADES (BSAT) HYMN

Let us sing and let us praise the BSAT

It's the school that trains brain and hand.

Where the clanging of the anvils,

the buzzing of the saw

And the roar of the planer

are the songs we love to hear.

Where the joys and hopes are waiting.

Blend in song as we turn the mill.

We are wood and metal workers,

We sew, we cook, we draw and hammer.

All these jobs will make our country

Strong and free  ( repeat )

It's the school that trains brain and hand.

Where the clanging of the anvils,

the buzzing of the saw

And the roar of the planer

are the songs we love to hear.

Where the joys and hopes are waiting.

Blend in song as we turn the mill

We are wood and metal workers,

We sew, we cook, we draw and hammer.

All these jobs will make our country

Strong and free  ( repeat )

Honors

 * Singer Bayang Barrios published a popular interpretation of Romea’s song "Ako Kang Paabuton” a. k. a. “Buhi sa Kanunay.”
 * The Governor’s Award
 * Honored by the University of Bohol