1. Cebuano Music<br />The wide repertoire of Visayan songs includes ballads, lullabies, harana (serenade), children's songs, working songs, drinking songs, nonsense songs, and a lively song-and-dance debate calledbalitaw.<br />For a sampling of one or more of these genres, click on the links below.Ako Anak ni Tatay (children's song)Ilo nga Bata (children's song)Pakitong-kitong (nonsense song)Si Pelimon (work song)Ako kini si Angi (work song)Sa Lungsod sa Buenavista (ballad)Matud Nila (love song)Adiyos Nanay ug Tatay (wedding song)Dandansoy (drinking song)Balitaw (debate song)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ako Anak ni Tatay (I am my father's son)Ako anak ni Tatay,Ako ra'y puti ug diyutay;Panahon sa kagabhion,Ako ra'y makita dayon. I'm my father's son,Fairer than anyone;When it's nighttime,I'm the easiest to see.Ako anak ni Tatay,Ako ra'y buotan ug diyutay;Panahon sa tingpamuklay,Ako ra'y makapahulay.I'm my father's son,Better behaved than anyone;When it's time to till the field,Only I may rest.Ako anak ni Tatay,Ako ra'y guapo ug diyutay;Panahon sa tingpamiesta,Ako ra'y duna'y korbata.I'm my father's son,Handsomer than anyone;When it's fiesta time,Only I have a tie to wear. Glossaryanak child; son or daughterputi fair-complexioned; whitediyutay a little bitpanahon time; weatherkagabhion night; eveningmakita to be seendayon immediately; soonbuotan well-behaved; well-bredpamuklay tilling the field; plowingpahulay restguapo handsome; good-lookingpiyesta fiesta; merrymakingduna, aduna to havekorbata necktie <br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ilo nga Bata (A little orphan)Ako ang ilo nga bata,Kang Nanay nga pinalangga;Ugaling kay biniyaan,Niining kalibutan.I am a little orphan,Mother had cared for me;But now I'm all alone,And the whole world has left me. Glossaryilo orphanbata child; young boy or girlNanay an endearing term for motherpinalangga loved; doted on; cared forugaling however; butbiniyaan abandoned; cast offniini here; in this place or situationkalibutan the world; the earth<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Pakitong-kitongTong, tong, tong, tong, pakitong-kitong,Alimango sa suba gibantog dili makuha;Ako ra'y makakuha,Ako ra'y makasuwa.Tong, tong, tong, tong, pakitong-kitongCrab of the river that none has caught yet;Only I can get,Only I can eat. Glossaryalimango crabsuba river; streamgibantog famous; known; reputed to bedili no; not; negativekuha to getsuwa to eat (viand)<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Si PelimonSi Pelimon, si PelimonNamasol sa kadagatan;Nakakuha, nakakuhaUg isdang tambasakan;Gibaligya, gibaligyaSa merkadong guba;Ang halin pulos kura, ang halin pulos kuraIgo lang gipanuba.Pelimon went to sea to catch some fish;What did he catch?A small mudskipper;He sold it at a rickety market;For it he was paid kura,Just enough to buy tuba. Glossarypasol to catch fish; to fish by hook-and-linekadagatan the open seakuha to get; to catchisda fishisdang tambasakan mudskipperbaligya, ibaligya to sellmerkado marketguba broken down; run-down; ricketyhalin revenue; income from salepulos entirely; whollykura fake money; money circulated during the Japanese occupation of the Philippinesigo enough; sufficienttuba a popular drink fermented from the sap of the coconut treeipanuba to spend one's money on tuba<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ako kini si Angi (My name is Angi)Ako kini si Angi,Ang opisyo ko'y panahi;Adlaw ug gabiiKanunay ako nagtahi.My name is AngiAnd I sew for a living;Day and night I sewAnd sew without rest.Bisan nako'g unsaon,Wala'y kuwartang matigum,Kay ang akong pagpanahiIgo ra's panginabuhi.No matter how I tryI can't have any savings;For what I get from sewingIs just enough to survive. Glossarykini thisopisyo occupation; jobtahi to sewpanahi the act of sewingadlaw daygabii nightkanunay always; ever; all the time; ceaselesslybisan however; no matter hownako me; my; mineunsaon to try to do; to try to achievewala nothing; nonekuwarta moneytigum to save; to accumulatekay because; on account ofigo enough; sufficientpanginabuhi means of livelihood; means of survival<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Sa Lungsod sa BuenavistaSa lungsod sa BuenavistaMay tulo ka mga daga;Naminyo ang kamanghuran,Naghilak ang kamagwangan.In the town of BuenavistaThere lived three sisters;When the youngest got married,The eldest was in tears.Mitubag ang tunga-tunga,quot;
Ay, Manang, ayaw pagsaba,Kay dili abutan ug bulanMaminyo kita nga tanan.quot;
The middle sister said,quot;
Please, Manang, do not cry;Before this month is over,We shall, ourselves, all be wed.quot;
Glossarylungsod townmay there is; there are; there existtulo threedaga, dalaga maiden; an unmarried womannaminyo got married; wedkamanghuran the youngest childnaghilak cried; shed tearskamagwangan, kamaguwangan the eldest childtubag answer; replytunga-tunga the middle child (cf. eldest, youngest)Manang endearing word for an older sisterayaw no; not; negativesaba to speak up; to make a fuss; to be noisykay because; on account ofdili no; not; negativeabutan to come by; to come aboutkita we; ustanan all; everyone<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Matud Nila (They tell me)Matud nila ako dili angayNga magmanggad sa imong gugma;Matud nila ikaw dili malipay,Kay wa ako'y bahandi nga kanimo igasa.They tell me that I shouldn'tWish for your love;They tell me that you can't be happy with me,As I have no treasure to give to you.Gugmang putli mao da'y pasalig,Mao'y bahanding labaw sa bulawan;Matud nila kaanugon lamangSa imong gugma ug parayeg.Pure love is all I pledge to you,A treasure more precious than gold;They tell me that your love and caressesWould all be in vain.Dili malubad kining pagbatiBisan sa unsa nga katarungan;Kay unsa pa'y bili ning kinabuhiKon sa gugma mo hinikawan.My love for you will not fadeFor whatever reason there might be;Life would be worthlessIf I am denied your love.Ingna ko nga dili ka motuoSa mga pagtamay kong naangkon;Ingna ko nga dili mo kawangonAng damgo ug pagsalig sa gugma mo.Tell me you don't fall forThe scorn and derision heaped upon me;Tell me you will not denyMy yearning for and faith in your love. Glossarymatud nila they say; they tell medili no; not; negativeangay deserving; fit; worthymagmanggad to wish for; to desire; to covetikaw you (singular)malipay to be happykay because; on account ofwa, wala nothing; nonebahandi wealth; treasurekanimo to you; yourigasa to offer as giftgugma loveputli pure; unmitigatedpasalig pledge; promiselabaw surpassing; more thanbulawan goldkaanugon gone to waste; quot;
What a pity!quot;
lamang onlyparayeg endearment; caressmalubad to fade; to wanepagbati emotion; feelingbisan regardless; neverthelessunsa what; whateverkatarungan reason; causebili worth; valuekinabuhi lifehikawan, kawangon to deny; to refuse to grantingna, ingon to tell someone something; to tellmotuo to believe; to fall forpagtamay ridicule; scorn; derisionmaangkon to own; to have; to befall ondamgo dream; ambition; a yearning forpagsalig faith; trust<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Adyos Nanay ug Tatay (Goodbye, Mother and Father)Adyos Nanay, adyos Tatay,Tapos na ang inyong pagbantay;Manaug ako sa hinayhinayKay mangita ug laing Nanay.Goodbye, Mother; goodbye, Father,Your responsibilities are over;I will leave you both hereTo seek a new mother.Makabana gani'g maayo,Maayo usab akong pagbantay;Makabana ug abobhoan,Adlaw gabii hibokbokan.If my husband turns out to be good,I will be well taken care of;But if he turns out to be a jealous one,Then day and night I'll be clobbered. Glossaryadyos goodbye; farewellNanay endearing term for motherTatay endearing term for fathertapos ended; concluded; donebantay to look after; to care for; to tend tomanaug to go away; to descendhinayhinay slowly; cautiouslymangita to look for; to seeklain anotherbana husbandmakabana to beget a husbandmaayo goodusab too; alsoabobhoan jealousadlaw daygabii nighthibokbokan to be clobbered; to be beaten<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />DandansoyDandansoy inom tuba, Laloy;Dili ako inom tuba pait aslom.Dandansoy, drink some tuba, Buddy;No, I won't drink at all, tuba is bitter-sour.Ang tuba sa baybay, patente moangay;Talaksan nga dyutay, puno ang malaway.Tuba sold on the shore ought to get a patent,For a little glass of it will make you drool. Glossaryinom to drinkLaloy drinking buddy; an endearing term for a frienddili no; not; negativepait bitteraslom sourbaybay seashorepatente patentangay, moangay worthy; fit; deserving oftalaksan glass; mug; steindyutay smallpuno full; filled to capacitylaway saliva<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />><<br /> <br />Balitaw is a song-and-dance debate between a man and a woman. More often sung than danced, it is a Visayan art form which existed in the region long before the Spaniards came. The early natives called the song oyayi and the dance baya-i. The Spaniards called the dance valse (waltz). The natives adapted the word valse to bal and added tawo (the Visayan word for 'people'). Thus was coined the term balitaw, meaning quot;
dance of the peoplequot;
.<br />Visayan debate songs, of which the balitaw is the best example, are usually sung at a festive gathering by a man-woman pair who must also be good dancers and actors. The examples that follow are jovial jousts on love and marriage. (Source: Folk Culture of the Central Visayas [Kalinangan Series 2], 1986; Instructional Materials Corporation, Philippines; 194pp.)<br />Click on a link below to select it. <br />Inday, Pamutos Na (balitaw)Pahaloka ko, Inday (balitaw)Balitaw sa Paghangyo sa Gugma (balitaw)Balitaw sa Paghangyo nga Mangasawa (balitaw)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Inday, Pamutos NaInday, pamutos naSa imong mga bestida;Kinsa'y imong padad-on?Si Undo imong pamanhon.Inday, go packAll your clothes;Who'll carry them for you?Call Undo, your bridegroom.Undo, ayaw'g awayaSi Inday imong asawa;Imo ganing awayon,Ako man siyang bawion.Undo, don't quarrelWith Inday, your wife;If you'll quarrel with her,I will come and take her back.Unsaon ninyo pagbawi?Kinasal kami sa pari;Unsaon ninyo pagboyboy?Inaslan kami ug baboy.Oh, how can you take her back?We were married by the priest;How can you show regret?We were feted with a roast pig.Ay, ay, pagkakapoyNiining mamalanghoy;Puston sa pinong ginit,Lugpitan sa dakong kahoy;Dayon ayag-ayagon,Dayon puto-putohon;Puston sa dakung dahon,Sa baybay kaon-kaonon.Oh, oh, how hard it isTo make balanghoy;We wrap it with fine ginitAnd press it with wood.We then sift the flourAnd form it into small cakes;We wrap it in big leavesAnd we eat it by the seashore. GlossaryInday an endearing term for a young womanputos a package; a bundlepamutos to packna alreadyimo your (singular)bestida dress; piece of clothingkinsa whopadad-on, padalhon allow or ask to carryundo an endearing term for a young manbana husbandpamanhon bridegroomayaw quot;
Don't!quot;
away to quarrel; to fightasawa wifebawi to take back (something previously given)unsaon howninyo you (plural)kasal wedding; marriagepari priestboyboy to express disappointment; to regretbaboy pig; porkbaboy inasal roasted pig; a dish of roast pigasal to roast wholekapoy tired; exhaustedbalanghoy a popular native cake made from cassavamamalanghoy one who bakes balanghoy puston to wrappino fineginit the clothlike sheath of young coconut frondslugpitan to press; to crushdako bigkahoy woodayag to siftputo cake; piedahon leaf, especially the leaf of the banana treebaybay seashorekaon to eat <br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Pahaloka ko, Inday (Let me kiss you, Inday)Pahaloka ko 'Day.Halok lang sa uban.Ikaw ma'y gusto ko.Nganong ako nga anaa ma'y uban?Let me kiss you, 'Day.Kiss somebody else.It's you I want.Why me when there are others?Sige na lagi 'Day.Dili ako kay wa ko'y gusto;Irog, irog.Unsa'y irog?Irog, irog ngadto'g dyutay.Irog, irog.Unsa'y irog?Irog, irog ngari'g dyutay.Please, let me, 'Day.No, I don't want to;Move over.Move where?Move over there a little.Move over.Move where?Move a little closer to me.Kanindot unta sa gugma taKon pahalok pa ikaw kanako.Iasa ko man kanang imong halokNga dili man ako mahimuot? Ay!How sweet our love will beIf you will but let me kiss you.What good are your kissesWhen they don't give me any pleasure? Ay!Ay! Pahaloka ko 'Day.Halok lang sa uban.Ikaw, ikaw ma'y gusto ko.Nganong ako nga anaa ma'y uban?Ay! Let me kiss you, 'Day.Kiss somebody else.It's you I want.Why me when there are others?Sige na lagi 'Day.Dili ako ka'y wa ko'y gusto;Irog, irog.Unsa'y irog?Irog, irog ngadto'g dyutay.Irog, irog.Unsa'y irog?Irog, irog ngari'g dyutay.Please, let me, 'Day.No, I don't want to;Move over.Move where?Move a little over there.Move over.Move where?Move a little closer to me. Glossaryhalok to kisspahaloka to allow to kiss'Day, Inday an endearing term for a young womanlang, lamang onlyuban othersikaw you (singular)gusto to like; to fancyngano whyanaa there is; there aresige na lagi quot;
Let's do it!quot;
dili no; not; negativekay becausewa, wala nothing; none; negativeirog to moveunsa whatngadto there; yonderdyutay little; small; fewngari herekanindot quot;
How sweet!quot;
; quot;
How pretty!quot;
unta quot;
I wish!quot;
gugma lovekon ifkanako measa wheremahimuot to be pleased; to enjoy <br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Balitaw sa Paghangyo sa Gugma (Balitaw of Courtship)'Day, ang pagsubang sa adlaw sa kabuntagon,Ang kangitngit nga tanan mihayag,Sa imong kaambongAng kasingkasing ko nabihag.'Day, when the sun rises in the morn,All the darkness around is lit up;With your womanly beauty and grace,My heart is captivated.'Dong, kining akong kaanyag,Ako ra kining kaugalingon;Ug pananglit ikaw nabihag,Unsay labut ko sa imong dangaton?'Dong, this loveliness in me that you seeIs mine alone to cherish;If you are captivated,What have I to do with your fate?'Day, tinuod wala kay kalabutan,Tinuod nga wala mo ako sugo-a;Kay ang kaibog ko kanimo gikan,Kanimo ko gayud usab panilnga.'Day, it's true you have nothing to do with my fate,Nor did you ask to be part of it;Yet you are the reason for my affliction,So from you I seek my due.'Dong, ngano nga ako'y imong panilngan,Unsa may utang ko kanimo?Ngano nga ako'y imong pasanginlan,Nga imo ra man kanang gusto?'Dong, why will you come to me?What do I owe you?Why will you blame me,When no one is to blame but yourself?'Day, dili man utang ang giingon ko kanimo,Ug dili sinugo lang ako sa akong kaibog;Panimpalad lang kini ug kaluy-an moKay usahay dili ako mahikatulog.'Day, I speak not of any debt,But my love makes me do what I do;I am taking a chance you will yield to me,For sometimes I cannot sleep.'Dong, aron mo gayud hisayran,Timan-i aron dili ka malimot:Bisan unsay imong dangatan,Para kanako wala kay mapa-abut.'Dong, so that you may well know,Mark this so you will not forget:Happen what may with you,From me you have nothing to expect. Glossary'Day, Inday endearing term for a young womanpagsubang sa adlaw sunrisebuntag morningkabuntagon (poetic) the break of dawnngitngit darkkangitngit (poetic) the darknesstanan allhayag brightmihayag lit up; became brightkaambong, kaanyag loveliness; beautykasingkasing heartnabihag won over; attracted; captivated'Dong, Dodong endearing term for a young mankaugalingon one's own; one's selfpananglit if; wheneverunsa whatlabut, kalabutan concern; involvementdangaton outcome; fatetinuod true; realwala none; nothing; non-existentsugo command; ordersugo-a to give an order to someonekaibog the state of being attractedgikan frompanilnga, paningil to ask for one's duengano whyutang debt; obligationpasanginlan to blame; to accuse of wrongdoingkana thatimo ra'ng gusto quot;
Blame nobody but yourself!quot;
dili not; noingon to speakpanimpalad taking a chancekalooy mercy; pitykaluy-an to show pity; to have mercyusahay sometimesmahikatulog to fall asleeparon mo hisayran so you may knowtimaan mark; sign; symboltiman-i remember; quot;
Mark my words!quot;
malimot to forgetdangatan outcome; fatemapa-abut that which is expected<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Balitaw sa Paghangyo nga Mangasawa (Balitaw of Marriage Proposal)Kon ikaw, 'Dong, mangasawa,Si Tatay ug si Nanay maoy sultihi;Kay kinsa ba'y mosaka sa kahoyNga sa puno-an dili mo-agi?'Dong, if you want to marry me,Then tell my father and mother;For who would ever climb a treeIf not through its trunk?Matuod ikaw mao ang bulakSa usa ka maambong nga kahoy;Dili ko maagi ang puno-anKon dili hagdanan sa imong kalo-oy.It is true that you are the flowerOn a tall and beautiful tree;But the trunk will be impassable for me,Unless you lend me your mercy for a ladder. Glossarykon ifikaw you (singular)'Dong, Dodong an endearing term for a young manasawa wifemangasawa to take as wife; to marryTatay an endearing term for fatherNanay an endearing term for mothersultihi to tell someonekay because; on account ofkinsa whomosaka to climbkahoy treepuno-an the trunk of a treedili not; negativemo-agi to passmatuod true; realikaw you (singular)bulak flowerusa onemaambong beautiful; lovelyhagdanan ladder; stairwaykalooy mercy; pity<br />Back to TopBack to Regional Cultures Page<br />