MANILA – Sponge Cola vocalist Yael Yuzon ended up translating his band’s hit song, “Jeepney,” to English on the spot in an event held at a mall early this week.

“Technically, I’m not allowed to speak in Filipino,” he said right before their performance at SM Mega Fashion Hall last Tuesday.

While Yuzon was able to pull it off, several netizens cried foul over SM’s alleged policy on Filipino songs.

This prompted SM to release an official statement, where it stressed that it is “a proud supporter of the Filipino talent.”

“We would like to clarify the information being circulated online regarding performances that happen in our malls,” the statement read. “We would like to reiterate that we promote all international and local entertainment acts in all our mall event areas nationwide. Moreover, we have been a proud supporter of the Filipino talent as we promote many celebrity and movie mall tours as week-long celebrations of Independence Day and Linggo ng Wika.”

“We are now looking into this matter carefully and will reach out to the concerned party. We apologize for any inconvenience this incident may have caused at this time.”

Here’s a look at the original lyrics of “Jeepney” and the song’s on-the-spot English translation.

ORIGINAL LYRICS IN FILIPINO

Bumaba ako sa jeepney
Kung saan tayo'y dating magkatabi
Magkahalik ang pisngi nating dalawa, nating dalawa

Panyo mo sa aking bulsa
Ang kahapon ay naroon pa rin
Tawa nati’y humahalay sa init nating dalawa

Subalit ngayo’y wala na (wala na)
Ikaw ay lumayo na, lumayo na

Naaalala ko ang mga gabing nakahiga sa ilalim ng kalawakan
Naaalala ko ang mga gabing magkatabi sa ulan

Kulay ng iyong ngiti at tikwas ng iyong buhok
O ang lambot ng iyong labi, ng iyong labi

Kahit anino mo sa malayo ay nais masulyapan agad
Upang mapawi ang lamig

YUZON’S ON THE SPOT ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I disembarked from a jeepney
Where two of us were once side by side
We were cheek to cheek, we were cheek to cheek, yeah
That's how it was

Your hanky in my pocket
Oh yesterday remains and permeates
Our laughter gives way to the heat we have inside

However right now, there’s no more (there’s no more)
You have gone away, away

I remember all of the nights
Lying down underneath the space
I remember all the nights
Side by side in the rain

Oh the color of your smile and the curls of your hair
Oh the softness of your lips, yeah, oh the softness of your lips

Your shadow from afar, it’s all I ever want to see
To stop me from feeling what it is to be cold inside