South Border is the Philippines’ premier Pop and R&B band formed in the 90s… Read Full Bio ↴South Border is the Philippines’ premier Pop and R&B band formed in the 90s and gained even recognition in the music scene in the 2000s.

Having undergone several permutations in its long career, South Border has nevertheless retained its unique sound and musical sensibility and has even moved up along the current global trends in music. Hence, retaining the top spot in their particular musical genre. Much credit goes to musical director and lead creative genius Jay Durias, the staunchest unifying force that has kept the band and its music alive and thriving.

The band, whose name is a tribute to their roots in Davao down south, first came into national prominence in 1996 when they launched their first self-titled album. It included a Jimmy Antiporda song entitled “May Pag-Ibig Pa Kaya’ which they interpreted in the Metro Manila Pop Music Festival earlier that year. Another song, “Kahit Kailan” was awarded 1996 Song of the Year by various radio stations, thus giving them their first big hit.

The following year, the album reached gold, then platinum. South Border was all set for their first major concert at the Araneta Coliseum. As expected, thousands of their new found fans trooped to fill the massive dome to the brim. Before the end of 1997, the exceptional talents of South Border was recognized by their peers in the industry when they bagged the most number of trophies at the 10th AwitAwards including Best Performance by a New Duo or Group, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Produced Record of the Year for their hit song, “Kahit Kailan”. By the end of 1997, their debut album has gone triple platinum and South Border was a certified star band.

Not long after that, in the midst of a flourishing career, South Border found itself in the eye of a storm which called for a conspicuous change in their lineup. Luke Mejares replaced Brix Ferraris on lead vocals. But despite discouraging forecasts, South Border got back on their feet in no time. In a rush of creative adrenaline, the band doubled their efforts to finish their second album called Bump! It featured “Sa ‘Yo” a haunting ballad that spoke of a heart’s yearning for a loved one and “Reborn,” South Border’s first attempt at recording an instrumental piece reminiscent of their early jazz influences. In 1999, South Border once again caught the critical eye and bagged a total of 12 Katha Music awards including Record of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best R&B Song—all for “Sa ‘Yo”. The following year, the band released its first live recording which was well-received by their fans and drew rave reviews from critics. At the turn of the new millennium, the band once again made waves with the success of “Habang Atin ang Gabi” the theme song from La Vida Rosa a Rossana Roces-Diether Ocampo film. The lyrics were written by scriptwriter Armando Lao and the music was composed by Jay Durias, who considers this song to be one of his best compositions and arrangements to date.

The same song became the carrier single for their fourth album, The Way We Do released in 2001. In November of the same year, South Border staged their biggest major show at the 30,000-seater PSC Track and Field Oval. But in the final quarter of 2002, another surprise jolted South Border’s avid followers: the announcement that Luke was leaving the band to go solo. The search for his replacement was going to be another grueling task.

Having gone through another major change in their lead vocals lineup, the band scored a major win when they got not one but two astonishing vocal talents in Vince Alaras and Duncan Ramos. 26-year old Vince, was a member of La Salle’s Kundirana and was then known as “the boy who sounded like Brian McKnight". The younger Duncan on the other hand was a child prodigy — a singing and dancing wonder boy who often accompanied Gary Valenciano in his shows and tours allover the country.

The two new talents who danced as well as they sang, provided a fresh and youthful take on South Border which has since then came up with the current hits we all hear on the radio and even on television today. The biggest of which is perhaps “Rainbow” which first hit the airwaves in 2003 for the promotion of megastar Sharon Cuneta’s Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Crying Ladies. South Border’s music even dominated television with their song “Ikaw Nga” —the love theme from the phenomenal hit TV series Mulawin. In 2004, the band released their first album under their own independent label. Episode III was a gigantic commercial success that included hits “The Show” and “Brown Hand Smash” — two songs that gave the group an edgier, danceable R&B sound.

Buhos Ng Ulan
South Border Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

May isang halaman sa tabi ng daan
Unti-unting nalalanta
Sa natitigang na lupa
Sa init ng tag-araw 'di mapansin ang sigaw
Nitong munting halaman
Sa tag-tuyo'y madiligan
Tulad ng isang taong
Punit-punit ang damit

Walang matutulugan walang mauuwian
Lagalag sa lansangan humihingi ng limos
Tiyan niya'y kakalam-kalam
Pagkain niya'y galing sa basurahan

Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Kahit konting patak siya'y
Iyong diligan
Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Kahit konting patak man lang
Langit ay nakatitig
Wari'y di madinig
Halaman ay tuyong-tuyo
Tao ay sumasamo
Sa init ng tag-araw
Di mapapansin ang sigaw
Nitong munting halaman
Sa tag-tuyo'y madiligan

Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Kahit konting patak siya'y
Iyong diligan

Ulan ulan bumuhos ka ulan
Kahit konting patak man lang oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Buhos Ng Ulan" by South Border tells the story of a small plant slowly dying due to the intense heat of summer. The plant is unnoticed and has no one to care for it. It is like a person with torn clothes, homeless, wandering the streets seeking for help but never finding it. The lyrics describe how the plant's cry for help is unheard amidst the deafening noise of the city, and how it struggles to survive amidst the trash and pollution.

The chorus of the song urges the rain to pour down and bring back life to the withered plant. It emphasizes the need for even just a small amount of rain to give hope to the helpless, and for the sky to take notice of the plight of the plant. The song is a plea for nature's care and attention, for us to be mindful of the environment's needs as much as we attend to our own.

Line by Line Meaning

May isang halaman sa tabi ng daan
On the side of the road, there is a plant

Unti-unting nalalanta
Slowly withering away

Sa natitigang na lupa
On dry and barren soil

Sa init ng tag-araw 'di mapansin ang sigaw
Under the scorching summer sun, its cries cannot be heard

Nitong munting halaman
This small plant

Sa tag-tuyo'y madiligan
Needs to be watered during the dry season

Tulad ng isang taong punit-punit ang damit
Like a person with torn clothes

Walang matutulugan walang mauuwian
Has no place to sleep and nowhere to go

Lagalag sa lansangan humihingi ng limos
Wandering the streets begging for alms

Tiyan niya'y kakalam-kalam
Growling of hunger in his stomach

Pagkain niya'y galing sa basurahan
Eating from the garbage