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 called balitaw.
For a sampling of one or more of these genres, click on
the links below.
|
![]() |
Ako Anak ni Tatay (I am my father's son) Ako anak ni Tatay,
Ako anak ni Tatay,
Ako anak ni Tatay,
|
Glossary anak child; son or
daughter
|
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Ilo nga Bata (A little orphan) Ako ang ilo nga bata,
|
Glossary ilo orphan |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Tong, tong, tong, tong, pakitong-kitong,
|
Glossary alimango crab |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Si Pelimon, si Pelimon
|
Glossary pasol to catch fish; to fish by
hook-and-line |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Ako kini si Angi (My name is Angi) Ako kini si Angi,
Bisan nako'g unsaon,
|
Glossary kini this |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Sa lungsod sa Buenavista
Mitubag ang tunga-tunga,
|
Glossary lungsod town |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Matud Nila (They tell me) Matud nila ako dili angay
Gugmang putli mao da'y pasalig,
Dili malubad kining pagbati
Ingna ko nga dili ka motuo
|
Glossary matud nila they say; they tell me |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Adyos Nanay
ug Tatay (Goodbye, Mother and Father) Adyos
Nanay, adyos Tatay,
Makabana gani'g maayo,
|
Glossary adyos goodbye; farewell |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Dandansoy inom tuba, Laloy;
Ang tuba sa baybay, patente moangay;
|
Glossary inom to drink |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
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 "dance of the people".
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.)
Click on a link below to select it.
Inday, Pamutos Na (balitaw)
Pahaloka ko, Inday (balitaw)
Balitaw sa Paghangyo sa Gugma (balitaw)
Balitaw sa Paghangyo nga Mangasawa (balitaw)
Inday, pamutos na
Undo, ayaw'g awaya
Unsaon ninyo pagbawi?
Ay, ay, pagkakapoy
|
Glossary Inday an endearing term for a young
woman
|
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Pahaloka ko, Inday (Let me kiss you, Inday) Pahaloka ko 'Day.
Sige na lagi 'Day.
Kanindot unta sa gugma ta
Ay! Pahaloka ko 'Day.
Sige na lagi 'Day.
|
Glossary halok to kiss
|
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Balitaw
sa Paghangyo sa Gugma (Balitaw of Courtship) 'Day, ang pagsubang sa adlaw sa kabuntagon,
'Dong, kining akong kaanyag,
'Day, tinuod wala kay kalabutan,
'Dong, ngano nga ako'y imong panilngan,
'Day, dili man utang ang giingon ko kanimo,
'Dong, aron mo gayud hisayran,
|
Glossary 'Day, Inday endearing term for a young woman |
Back to Top
Back to Regional Cultures Page
Balitaw sa Paghangyo nga Mangasawa (Balitaw of Marriage Proposal) Kon ikaw, 'Dong, mangasawa,
Matuod ikaw mao ang bulak
|
Glossary kon if |