San Jose Manggagawa

20-21 of November was the 79th Alumni Homecoming of San Jose Seminary. A part of the celebration was the launching of the album entitled San Jose Traditional Songs. This was recorded by Tinig San Jose. So why am I including this?

One song in the album is "San Jose Manggagawa." If our memories do not fail us, this is the ending song we always tried to sing every end of our Wednesday Devotion to St. Joseph. Although we have not memorized the whole song, we express our sincerest gratitude to Fr. Timoteo M. Ofrasio, SJ and the great Eduardo P. Hontiveros, SJ, the two priest-Jesuits who composed the song back in 1960's.

The song showed our deep devotion to St. Joseph, our father and patron. It also kindles in us our Josephite spirit.



SAN JOSE MANGGAGAWA
Timoteo M. Ofrasio, SJ
Eduardo P. Hontiveros, SJ

San Jose! San Jose!
Pintakasing dakila ng manggagawa
Sa simbaha'y lagi kang nagbabantay.
Amang butihi't gabay sa lupa
Ni Hesukristong dinarakila.
Kami'y dumudulog
Sa 'yong pamamagitan
Sa Diyos ating Amang mapagmahal.
Na sana'y pagpalain
At pagyamanin
aming seminaryong dinarakila.

Mga manggagawa tangi sa'yo
Tiwalang tunghay ang noo sa iyo.
Sa gawa'y tulungan at nang umunlad
ang buhay na aba
At sa 'yo'y matulad.
Sa tulo ng pawis
At banat na laman,
Sa gitna ng hirap at kasiphayuan,
Kami'y magsisikap magbangong dangal
Sintang pintakasi kami'y tulungan.
O San Jose! O San Jose!