Feliciano, Cathlyn Bell 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Fernando, Chrizel Anne Ma. Angela D. Reyes

Inario, Mary Jean
Reyes, Russen Jay
Sanosa, Ivan Fredrick
HUMSS 12-1

“Biglang Liko”

A criticism based on approaches in Literary Theories/Lenses.

Historical-Biographical

In the early part of the year 2012, the song ‘Biglang Liko’ was popularized by an
artist whose name is Ron Henley. He was a former member of the known band Stick
Figgas and one of the top influencers in Hip Hop paradigm in the Philippines (Enriquez,
2018). It is noticeable in song that it has an upbeat music and suspicious lyrics that was
when first heard by the mass, it conveys vague meaning and depicts sexualization
through the execution of words. The song features a group of teenagers having the time
of their lives. In that year, most of the teenagers were considered carefree and would
choose to go with their peers and friends rather than spending time with their own families
and listening to what their parents say. It is seen in the video that those teenagers are
just having their own good time without restraints and restrictions that do not hinder them
from doing what they wanted. Later on the music video, it was shown that the main
character, Ron as the author himself, killed a woman and was followed by more victims.
It can be inferred that Ron is a ‘Maniac Killer’ defined as someone who kills women for
self-satisfaction. This is relatable to Ron’s true life for his biography shows that he is a
rehabilitated drug dependent before he started his music career. Ron made the song in
order to remind the teenagers to be aware on their surroundings and must not be as
carefree as shown in the music video. He wanted to teach his audience to value life for it
is a gift and we must take care of it.

Briones (2017) defined ‘Biglang Liko’ as a common term used to instruct a cab
driver whenever a guy with a girl are riding for the pair to go to a motel to prevent the girl
to feel embarrassment through direct speech. It is derived from the words biglaang lumiko
(sudden turning of a public/private utility vehicle) that means turning away from the
proposed destination suddenly to go to a place of fun. If we analyze the lyrics of the song,
Feliciano, Cathlyn Bell 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Fernando, Chrizel Anne Ma. Angela D. Reyes
Inario, Mary Jean
Reyes, Russen Jay
Sanosa, Ivan Fredrick
HUMSS 12-1

we can say that the real meaning behind it is about how a couple or two persons are
having sexual intercourse. ‘Biglang Liko’ is a popular term for sudden pleasure and the
term ‘Kalye Biglang Liko’ is also popularized by a group of people that literally means
motel (Soulfiest).

Social Marxism

Social economic status has a direct effect to the life of a vulnerable teenager. The
most common victims of teenage pregnancy and premarital sex are those in the lower
class of society.

In 2012, most stories of teenage mothers, from the article posted by United Nations
Population Fund (UNPF) formerly known as United Nations Fund for Population Activities
(UNFPA) Philippines, have a common denominator: ignorance due to lack of sexual
education. There are teenagers who are unaware of using contraceptives, some are
aware but didn’t bother to use for their reason is contraceptives are only for grown-ups,
while others couldn’t afford to buy even one for by that time, these contraceptives are not
available for free unlike now that almost everyone can access these in health centers and
other clinics.

According to the data of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy, among those who have a child before turning to 18 years old, only 38% will
be able to achieve a high school diploma when they reach 22 years old. This infers that
a major cause of lack of higher educational attainment is teenage pregnancy.

Teenage years is when the most of adolescents develop the skill of socializing,
having lots of friends whether they would be a good or bad influence, it is when the
problem starts (Vittana).

The chorus of ‘Biglang Liko’ repeatedly persuades someone to come with

him/them, stating directions as straight-ahead couple of times then a sudden turn is
proposed. In relation to real-life situations, a teenage girl could be persuaded by her
friends to somewhere else that might cause trouble. The ignorance of someone to
Feliciano, Cathlyn Bell 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Fernando, Chrizel Anne Ma. Angela D. Reyes
Inario, Mary Jean
Reyes, Russen Jay
Sanosa, Ivan Fredrick
HUMSS 12-1

whatever situation or trouble he/she might be in could be because of his/her lack of proper
education. In an article posted by Plan International, it is stated that it is five times more
likely for a girl with educational attainment to be pregnant than those who achieved higher
education. It is indicated that among the girls aged 15 to 10, 16 million give birth every
year in developing regions. Half of these pregnancies are unplanned and 3.9 million had
undergone unsafe abortions. Because of this conflict, displacement of disasters, 3 out of
5 maternal deaths occur. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are, therefore the
biggest cause of death among the mentioned age group of girls.

Despite the song’s upbeat and catchy rhythm, there lies the message of ‘Biglang
Liko’. A story of millions of girls globally every year, a warning to avoid being one of the
victims of a sinful crime, teenage pregnancy.

Moral-Philosophical Approach

When the song ‘Biglang Liko’ was released to the public last 14th of February year
2012, it earned criticisms for its vague lyrics but a lot of comments in the music video in
YouTube promotes its deeply hidden meaning and was considered beautifully written and
executed by the public. According to a blogspot by Ramedz named Dooodol, the song
‘Biglang Liko’ by Ron Henly ft. Pow Chavez has another meaning other than its literal
definition that was meant to be analyzed by its listeners. In the year 2012, Ramedz said
that there should be a moral or lesson everyone should learn from the teenagers. Even if
the song has the weird lyrics that depicted sexual meanings, experts found out that it has
another lesson Henley wanted to teach his audience. During 2012, teenagers are known
for being happy-go-lucky people and their known motto is that ‘You Only Live Once’
commonly known as YOLO. Due to the emergence of different groups of peers, teenagers
tend to listen mostly to what their friends say for they believed that they understand them
more than the groups in older range of age. Instead of listening to their parents’ advices,
they listen to their own peers that occasionally leads to bad things such as vices and
illegal wrongdoings. Due to the upbeat rhythm of ‘Biglang Liko’, it may be seen as a song
that promotes ‘carefreeness’ and being adventuristic of the current generation.
Feliciano, Cathlyn Bell 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Fernando, Chrizel Anne Ma. Angela D. Reyes
Inario, Mary Jean
Reyes, Russen Jay
Sanosa, Ivan Fredrick
HUMSS 12-1

‘Biglang Liko’ was considered as a song that teaches the listeners to the fact that
the teenagers nowadays have a dynamic change of directions in choosing the decision
in life. They may be in the straight and right path in some time but due to different variables
that affects them, they lead to different paths that leads to a not so good future. Some of
these variables are the environment they live in, their friends, vices, relationships with
peers and with other sex, wants, etc. It is also very prominent that in the latter part of the
song, the phrase ‘Derecho lang’ (go straight ahead) was mentioned repeatedly. This
helps the listeners to know that they should stay on their tracks and never let those bad
influences in life to hinder them from achieving their goals.

Based on 2011 Family Health Survey, the number of teenagers from 15 to 19 and
20 to 24 that were impregnated rose to a large amount. Based on the data of United
Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Philippines, in September 2012, the
delivered babies from teenage mothers rose from 39 to 54 for every 1000 babies who
were born. Another data from the Philippine government census last 2012, there are 18
400 teenage girls whose age are 15-19 have two children, 2 800 have three and almost
300 have four children already. This means that during the production and release of the
song ‘Biglang Liko’, a lot of teenagers are already victims of teenage pregnancy.

In relation to this, the government of the Philippines passed the Republic Act No
10354 or commonly known as Reproductive Health law that invites the citizens to use the
process of contraception, fertility control, sexual education and maternal care. Even if the
Catholic church was against the law ever since it was still only the RH Bill, it was passed
as a law in 2 years of process.