Learning Tagalog: Umaaraw, Umuulan by Rivermaya

Translating Rivermaya’s “Umaaraw, Umuulan” for Fil-Ams

By J.F.R. Perseveranda

For many of us who grew up in the Philippines or left at a young age, OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs hold a special place in our memory. Rivermaya’s “Umaaraw, Umuulan” is one of those classics that blends poetry, weather imagery, and Filipino everyday speech into something deeply relatable. But for Fil-Ams born in the U.S. — or for 1.5 generation immigrants like myself, who left the Philippines after 3rd grade — the Tagalog lyrics can feel slippery. Words and idioms carry more than their literal meanings.

This post is both a translation and a study guide: we’ll walk through the lyrics, break down vocabulary, highlight common phrases, and explain some of the shorthand contractions used in Tagalog songs.

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Umaaraw, Umuulan by Rivermaya (Official Lyric Video)

From the album Tuloy ang Ligaya (translation: The Fun Continues/The Joy Continues), the sixth studio album by Filipino rock band Rivermaya. It was released in October 15, 2001 under Viva Records.

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Stanza-by-Stanza Walkthrough

Stanza 1

Original Lyrics

Hindi mo maintindihan
Kung ba't ikaw ang napapagtripan
Ng halik ng kamalasan

Direct (Word-for-Word) Translation

• Hindi = not
• mo = you (second person, informal)
• maintindihan = understand
• Kung ba't = why (shortened form of “kung bakit”)
• ikaw = you
• ang = the one
• napapagtripan = being singled out/being messed with
• Ng = of/by
• halik = kiss
• ng kamalasan = of misfortune/bad luck

Smooth English Translation

You can’t understand
Why you’re the one being picked on
By the kiss of bad luck.

Cultural & Linguistic Notes

• “Kung ba't” is a colloquial contraction of “kung bakit,” common in songs and speech.
• “Napapagtripan” is Filipino slang meaning to be unfairly targeted or messed with, as if fate is just toying with you.
• “Halik ng kamalasan” (kiss of misfortune) uses poetic imagery—personifying bad luck as something intimate and unavoidable.

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Stanza 2

Original Lyrics

Ginapang mong marahan ang hagdanan
Para lamang makidlatan
Sa kaitaas-taasan ngunit

Direct (Word-for-Word) Translation

• Ginapang = crawled / climbed slowly (from gapang = to crawl)
• mong = you (possessive/connector particle)
• marahan = gently / slowly
• ang hagdanan = the staircase / stairs
• Para lamang = just to / only to
• makidlatan = to be struck by lightning
• Sa = at / in / to
• kaitaas-taasan = the very highest (superlative form of "taas" = height)
• ngunit = but / however

Smooth English Translation

You slowly crawled up the stairs
Only to be struck by lightning
At the very highest point—but...

Cultural & Linguistic Notes

• “Ginapang” evokes struggle or difficulty—moving step by step with effort, not just walking.
• “Makidlatan” is a vivid metaphor—literally being hit by lightning, but figuratively being met with sudden misfortune.
• “Kaitaas-taasan” uses the Filipino “ka-…-an” construction to show the superlative: “the very highest / loftiest place.”
• The stanza sets up irony: even after struggling upward, reaching the peak, misfortune still strikes.

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Stanza 3

Original Lyrics

’Di magpapasindak sa init o ulan
Ang buhay ay sadyang ganyan
Umaaraw, umuulan
Lahat ay mayroong hangganan

Direct (Word-for-Word) Translation

• ’Di → Not / Will not
• Magpapasindak → (From root sindak, meaning “to frighten” / “to intimidate”)
  magpa- + sindak = to let oneself be frightened / to allow to be intimidated
• Sa init o ulan → By heat or rain
• Ang buhay → Life
• Ay sadyang ganyan → Is really like that / That’s just how it is
• Umaaraw → It’s sunny / The sun is shining (root: araw = sun/day)
• Umuulan → It’s raining (root: ulan = rain)
• Lahat → Everything / Everyone
• Ay mayroong → Has / Possesses
• Hangganan → Limit / End

Smooth English Translation

I will not be intimidated by heat or rain.
Life is simply like that.
Sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy,
Everything has its end.

Cultural & Linguistic Notes

• “Magpapasindak” shows resilience: it means refusing to be daunted, especially by hardships. The prefix magpa- indicates allowing something to happen, so literally “will not allow oneself to be frightened.”
• Weather references (sun/rain) are metaphors for life’s ups and downs—joys and struggles.
• “Hangganan” reminds that everything, good or bad, is temporary.
• This stanza is often read as a life philosophy: don’t be shaken by adversity, because everything passes.

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Vocabulary (47 words you’ll actually meet in the song)

1. umaaraw – it’s sunny
2. umuulan – it’s raining
3. buhay – life
4. kaibigan – friend
5. maintindihan – to understand
6. napapagtripan – get picked on (colloq.)
7. halik – kiss
8. kamalasan – misfortune, bad luck
9. ginapang – crawled (slowly worked up)
10. marahan – gently/slowly
11. hagdanan – staircase/steps
12. kidlat / makidlatan – lightning / be struck by lightning
13. magpapasindak – be intimidated
14. iyak – crying/tears
15. mangyari / mangyayari – to happen / will happen
16. mapapala – benefit, gain
17. pigilan – to stop/prevent
18. pagbuhos – pouring (of rain)
19. ulan – rain
20. panahon – time/season
21. hari – king
22. madapa – to stumble/fall
23. ganyan – like that/that’s how it is
24. maawa – to pity
25. sarili – self
26. layunin / silbi – purpose / use
27. kalokohan – foolishness
28. bukas – tomorrow
29. araw – sun/day
30. sisikat – (sun) will rise
31. pasensya / tiyaga – patience / perseverance
32. maghintay – to wait
33. ulit / muli – again
34. lakas ng loob – courage
35. kapalaran / tadhana – fate
36. dahil – because
37. kung – if
38. huwag – don’t
39. lang – just/only
40. lagi – always
41. taas-noo – head held high
42. pag-ibig – love
43. loob – inner self, spirit
44. takot – fear
45. gulo – chaos/trouble
46. sigla – liveliness
47. tuloy – continue
48. sabay – together/at once

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Useful Phrases

• Umaaraw, umuulan – “It’s sunny, it’s raining”
• Parang buhay natin – “Like our life”
• Minsan masaya, minsan malungkot – “Sometimes happy, sometimes sad”
• Kapit lang – “Hold on” (encouragement)
• ’Wag kang bibitaw – “Don’t let go”
• Laging may bukas – “There’s always tomorrow”

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Contracted Words in Tagalog Songs

Tagalog lyrics often shorten words to fit rhythm:

• ’di = hindi (no/not)
• ’wag = huwag (don’t)
• ’pag = kapag (when/if)
• ’to = ito (this)
• ’yan = iyan (that)
• ’yong = iyong (your)
• ’ko = ako (me/I)
• ’sa = nasa (at/in)

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Conclusion

“Umaaraw, Umuulan” is more than a weather report in song form. It’s a metaphor for resilience, patience, and the rhythms of life that Filipinos everywhere understand. For Fil-Ams, learning the vocabulary and phrases unlocks not just the meaning of one song but a whole cultural way of expressing ups and downs. For 1.5 gen like me, it’s a bridge back to the childhood language we once spoke fluently but may have lost in translation. Music makes that reconnection possible.

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For More Reading

• Rappler – OPM and Filipino Music
• NY Times – Music Coverage
• CNN Philippines – Entertainment

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Tags & Labels

Labels: music, rivermaya, translation, opm, culture, language, learning, tagalog, lyrics, philippine, diaspora, identity, vocabulary, phrases, contracted, aug 19, usa, filipino, fil-am, immigrant

#Hashtags: #UmaarawUmuulan #Rivermaya #TagalogLyrics #FilAmIdentity #OPM

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By: J.F.R. Perseveranda

#PinoyBuilt #FilAmVoices #FilipinoAmericanStories