Tatsulok

"Tatsulok"
Song
Language	Filipino
English title	"Pyramid (Paraphrased from 'Triangle')"
Composer	Rom Dongeto
Lyricist	Rom Dongeto

"Tatsulok" (lit. 'Triangle'; paraphrased as Pyramid) is a Filipino folk song originally composed by Rom Dongeto in 1989 and performed in 1991 by his trio folk-rock band Buklod, which includes Noel Cabangon and Rene Boncocan.^[1] The song explains to a young man that there's an ongoing war and that the war is just the effect of a bigger problem. It tells the young man to take action and topple a pyramid upside-down to end a never-ending war between the rich and the poor.

The song was popularized in 2007 by the band Bamboo when they released their version of the song as a single from their third album We Stand Alone Together.^[2] Since the release of Bamboo's Tatsulok, the song has become the anthem of young Filipino activists.^[3]

History

"Tatsulok" was originally sung in 1991 by a trio folk-rock band, Buklod, who writes and performs songs about environment, politics, and human rights. The song was written in 1989 by Rom Dongeto, during the so-called "Total War Policy" of Philippine Government, under the late President Corazon Aquino with New People's Army (abbreviated as NPA), the armed wing of the communist revolutionary organization, the Communist Party of the Philippines. ^[4] The NPA is referenced in the song as the color "Red" (Filipino: "pula") due to association to Communism and the Philippine Government is referenced as the color "Yellow" (Filipino: "dilaw"), being the color that Aquino is known for.^[5]

The song explains that the armed conflict between the NPA and the Philippine Government under Aquino Administration is just the effect of a bigger problem. To fully understand, before Aquino came into office, Philippines was on a nine year Martial Law under late President Ferdinand Marcos. And NPA was one of the groups that helped toppled Marcos, vacating the seat which Aquino later took when she was inaugurated on February 25, 1986.^[6] So the war of the NPA with the previous Marcos administration of Philippine Government simply continued under Aquino administration, thus the "never-ending war".^[7]

Renewed popularity

In 2007, a now-defunct Filipino rock band, Bamboo released their third album, We Stand Alone Together, with their version of "Tatsulok" as the carrier single. The song topped the Philippine Music charts breathing new life to the song.^[8]

In 2018, Buklod re-released the song on their new album which marked the band's three decades since formation in 1987.^[9]

In 2020, Filipino folk-pop band, Ben&Ben, performed a ballad rendition of the song on their BBTV episode on August 12, 2020.^[10]

References

1. Remollino, Alexander Martin (11 March 2007). "Rom Dongeto and the Revival of a Protest Song". Bulatlat. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
2. "Tatsulok". SunStar Manila. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
3. Arceo-Dumlao, Tina (8 September 2017). "'Tatsulok' the song of protesting millennials". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
4. "Human Rights Meeting Provokes Criticism of 'Total War' Policy". Union of Catholic Asian News. 17 May 1990. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
5. Merueñas, Mark (25 July 2009). "'Yellow-ribbon fever' for Cory spreads to the Web". GMA Network. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
6. Sison, Jose Maria (26 February 2006). "It was a convergence of various forces". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
7. Asian Journal USA. "Max Soliven recalls Ninoy Aquino: Unbroken". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
8. The Philippine Star (21 December 2008). "For Bamboo, Tomorrow Becomes Yesterday". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
9. Tarra Quismundo (19 November 2018). "'Call of the times' Buklod reunites, releases new album". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
10. "Ben&Ben sings rock version of 'Pagtingin,' plays 'Otso Otso,' 'Tatsulok' with a twist". GMA News Online. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.