cebuano music

Cebuano Music

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 (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)

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.

Glossary

anak child; son or daughter
puti fair-complexioned; white
diyutay a little bit
panahon time; weather
kagabhion night; evening
makita to be seen
dayon immediately; soon
buotan well-behaved; well-bred
pamuklay tilling the field; plowing
pahulay rest
guapo handsome; good-looking
piyesta fiesta; merrymaking
duna, aduna to have
korbata necktie

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.

Glossary

ilo orphan
bata child; young boy or girl
Nanay an endearing term for mother
pinalangga loved; doted on; cared for
ugaling however; but
biniyaan abandoned; cast off
niini here; in this place or situation
kalibutan the world; the earth

Pakitong-kitong

Tong, tong, tong, tong, pakitong-kitong,
Alimango sa suba gibantog dili makuha;
Ako ra'y makakuha,
Ako ra'y makasuwa.

Tong, tong, tong, tong, pakitong-kitong
Crab of the river that none has caught yet;
Only I can get,
Only I can eat.

Glossary

alimango crab
suba river; stream
gibantog famous; known; reputed to be
dili no; not; negative
kuha to get
suwa to eat (viand)

Si Pelimon

Si Pelimon, si Pelimon
Namasol sa kadagatan;
Nakakuha, nakakuha
Ug isdang tambasakan;
Gibaligya, gibaligya
Sa merkadong guba;
Ang halin pulos kura, ang halin pulos kura
Igo 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.

Glossary

pasol to catch fish; to fish by hook-and-line
kadagatan the open sea
kuha to get; to catch
isda fish
isdang tambasakan mudskipper
baligya, ibaligya to sell
merkado market
guba broken down; run-down; rickety
halin revenue; income from sale
pulos entirely; wholly
kura fake money; money circulated during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
igo enough; sufficient
tuba a popular drink fermented from the sap of the coconut tree
ipanuba to spend one's money on tuba

Ako kini si Angi (My name is Angi)

Ako kini si Angi,
Ang opisyo ko'y panahi;
Adlaw ug gabii
Kanunay ako nagtahi.

My name is Angi
And I sew for a living;
Day and night I sew
And sew without rest.

Bisan nako'g unsaon,
Wala'y kuwartang matigum,
Kay ang akong pagpanahi
Igo ra's panginabuhi.

No matter how I try
I can't have any savings;
For what I get from sewing
Is just enough to survive.

Glossary

kini this
opisyo occupation; job
tahi to sew
panahi the act of sewing
adlaw day
gabii night
kanunay always; ever; all the time; ceaselessly
bisan however; no matter how
nako me; my; mine
unsaon to try to do; to try to achieve
wala nothing; none
kuwarta money
tigum to save; to accumulate
kay because; on account of
igo enough; sufficient
panginabuhi means of livelihood; means of survival

Sa Lungsod sa Buenavista

Sa lungsod sa Buenavista
May tulo ka mga daga;
Naminyo ang kamanghuran,
Naghilak ang kamagwangan.

In the town of Buenavista
There lived three sisters;
When the youngest got married,
The eldest was in tears.

Mitubag ang tunga-tunga,
"Ay, Manang, ayaw pagsaba,
Kay dili abutan ug bulan
Maminyo kita nga tanan."

The middle sister said,
"Please, Manang, do not cry;
Before this month is over,
We shall, ourselves, all be wed."

Glossary

lungsod town
may there is; there are; there exist
tulo three
daga, dalaga maiden; an unmarried woman
naminyo got married; wed
kamanghuran the youngest child
naghilak cried; shed tears
kamagwangan, kamaguwangan the eldest child
tubag answer; reply
tunga-tunga the middle child (cf. eldest, youngest)
Manang endearing word for an older sister
ayaw no; not; negative
saba to speak up; to make a fuss; to be noisy
kay because; on account of
dili no; not; negative
abutan to come by; to come about
kita we; us
tanan all; everyone

Matud Nila (They tell me)

Matud nila ako dili angay
Nga magmanggad sa imong gugma;
Matud nila ikaw dili malipay,
Kay wa ako'y bahandi nga kanimo igasa.

They tell me that I shouldn't
Wish 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 lamang
Sa 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 caresses
Would all be in vain.

Dili malubad kining pagbati
Bisan sa unsa nga katarungan;
Kay unsa pa'y bili ning kinabuhi
Kon sa gugma mo hinikawan.

My love for you will not fade
For whatever reason there might be;
Life would be worthless
If I am denied your love.

Ingna ko nga dili ka motuo
Sa mga pagtamay kong naangkon;
Ingna ko nga dili mo kawangon
Ang damgo ug pagsalig sa gugma mo.

Tell me you don't fall for
The scorn and derision heaped upon me;
Tell me you will not deny
My yearning for and faith in your love.

Glossary

matud nila they say; they tell me
dili no; not; negative
angay deserving; fit; worthy
magmanggad to wish for; to desire; to covet
ikaw you (singular)
malipay to be happy
kay because; on account of
wa, wala nothing; none
bahandi wealth; treasure
kanimo to you; your
igasa to offer as gift
gugma love
putli pure; unmitigated
pasalig pledge; promise
labaw surpassing; more than
bulawan gold
kaanugon gone to waste; "What a pity!"
lamang only
parayeg endearment; caress
malubad to fade; to wane
pagbati emotion; feeling
bisan regardless; nevertheless
unsa what; whatever
katarungan reason; cause
bili worth; value
kinabuhi life
hikawan, kawangon to deny; to refuse to grant
ingna, ingon to tell someone something; to tell
motuo to believe; to fall for
pagtamay ridicule; scorn; derision
maangkon to own; to have; to befall on
damgo dream; ambition; a yearning for
pagsalig faith; trust

Adyos Nanay ug Tatay (Goodbye, Mother and Father)

Adyos Nanay, adyos Tatay,
Tapos na ang inyong pagbantay;
Manaug ako sa hinayhinay
Kay mangita ug laing Nanay.

Goodbye, Mother; goodbye, Father,
Your responsibilities are over;
I will leave you both here
To 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.

Glossary

adyos goodbye; farewell
Nanay endearing term for mother
Tatay endearing term for father
tapos ended; concluded; done
bantay to look after; to care for; to tend to
manaug to go away; to descend
hinayhinay slowly; cautiously
mangita to look for; to seek
lain another
bana husband
makabana to beget a husband
maayo good
usab too; also
abobhoan jealous
adlaw day
gabii night
hibokbokan to be clobbered; to be beaten

Dandansoy

Dandansoy 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.

Glossary

inom to drink
Laloy drinking buddy; an endearing term for a friend
dili no; not; negative
pait bitter
aslom sour
baybay seashore
patente patent
angay, moangay worthy; fit; deserving of
talaksan glass; mug; stein
dyutay small
puno full; filled to capacity
laway saliva

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

Inday, pamutos na
Sa imong mga bestida;
Kinsa'y imong padad-on?
Si Undo imong pamanhon.

Inday, go pack
All your clothes;
Who'll carry them for you?
Call Undo, your bridegroom.

Undo, ayaw'g awaya
Si Inday imong asawa;
Imo ganing awayon,
Ako man siyang bawion.

Undo, don't quarrel
With 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, pagkakapoy
Niining 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 is
To make balanghoy;
We wrap it with fine ginit
And press it with wood.
We then sift the flour
And form it into small cakes;
We wrap it in big leaves
And we eat it by the seashore.

Glossary

Inday an endearing term for a young woman
putos a package; a bundle
pamutos to pack
na already
imo your (singular)
bestida dress; piece of clothing
kinsa who
padad-on, padalhon allow or ask to carry
undo an endearing term for a young man
bana husband
pamanhon bridegroom
ayaw "Don't!"
away to quarrel; to fight
asawa wife
bawi to take back (something previously given)
unsaon how
ninyo you (plural)
kasal wedding; marriage
pari priest
boyboy to express disappointment; to regret
baboy pig; pork
baboy inasal roasted pig; a dish of roast pig
asal to roast whole
kapoy tired; exhausted
balanghoy a popular native cake made from cassava
mamalanghoy one who bakes balanghoy
puston to wrap
pino fine
ginit the clothlike sheath of young coconut fronds
lugpitan to press; to crush
dako big
kahoy wood
ayag to sift
puto cake; pie
dahon leaf, especially the leaf of the banana tree
baybay seashore
kaon to eat

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 ta
Kon pahalok pa ikaw kanako.
Iasa ko man kanang imong halok
Nga dili man ako mahimuot? Ay!

How sweet our love will be
If you will but let me kiss you.
What good are your kisses
When 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.

Glossary

halok to kiss
pahaloka to allow to kiss
'Day, Inday an endearing term for a young woman
lang, lamang only
uban others
ikaw you (singular)
gusto to like; to fancy
ngano why
anaa there is; there are
sige na lagi "Let's do it!"
dili no; not; negative
kay because
wa, wala nothing; none; negative
irog to move
unsa what
ngadto there; yonder
dyutay little; small; few
ngari here
kanindot "How sweet!"; "How pretty!"
unta "I wish!"
gugma love
kon if
kanako me
asa where
mahimuot to be pleased; to enjoy

Balitaw sa Paghangyo sa Gugma (Balitaw of Courtship)

'Day, ang pagsubang sa adlaw sa kabuntagon,
Ang kangitngit nga tanan mihayag,
Sa imong kaambong
Ang 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 see
Is 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 mo
Kay 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 woman
pagsubang sa adlaw sunrise
buntag morning
kabuntagon (poetic) the break of dawn
ngitngit dark
kangitngit (poetic) the darkness
tanan all
hayag bright
mihayag lit up; became bright
kaambong, kaanyag loveliness; beauty
kasingkasing heart
nabihag won over; attracted; captivated
'Dong, Dodong endearing term for a young man
kaugalingon one's own; one's self
pananglit if; whenever
unsa what
labut, kalabutan concern; involvement
dangaton outcome; fate
tinuod true; real
wala none; nothing; non-existent
sugo command; order
sugo-a to give an order to someone
kaibog the state of being attracted
gikan from
panilnga, paningil to ask for one's due
ngano why
utang debt; obligation
pasanginlan to blame; to accuse of wrongdoing
kana that
imo ra'ng gusto "Blame nobody but yourself!"
dili not; no
ingon to speak
panimpalad taking a chance
kalooy mercy; pity
kaluy-an to show pity; to have mercy
usahay sometimes
mahikatulog to fall asleep
aron mo hisayran so you may know
timaan mark; sign; symbol
timan-i remember; "Mark my words!"
malimot to forget
dangatan outcome; fate
mapa-abut that which is expected

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 kahoy
Nga 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 tree
If not through its trunk?

Matuod ikaw mao ang bulak
Sa usa ka maambong nga kahoy;
Dili ko maagi ang puno-an
Kon dili hagdanan sa imong kalo-oy.

It is true that you are the flower
On a tall and beautiful tree;
But the trunk will be impassable for me,
Unless you lend me your mercy for a ladder.

Glossary

kon if
ikaw you (singular)
'Dong, Dodong an endearing term for a young man
asawa wife
mangasawa to take as wife; to marry
Tatay an endearing term for father
Nanay an endearing term for mother
sultihi to tell someone
kay because; on account of
kinsa who
mosaka to climb
kahoy tree
puno-an the trunk of a tree
dili not; negative
mo-agi to pass
matuod true; real
ikaw you (singular)
bulak flower
usa one
maambong beautiful; lovely
hagdanan ladder; stairway
kalooy mercy; pity