"Mga Awiting Batibot": Memorable Songs from an Iconic Album

Mga Awiting Batibot (Tagalog: Songs from Batibot) comprises two cassette tapes is a soundtrack collection that was released in the 1990s.

The remaining two tapes are titled Mga Kuwento ni Kuya Bodjie (Tagalog: Stories of Big Brother Bodjie) and Mga Awitin ni Pong at Kiko (Tagalog: Song of Pong and Kiko)

The soundtrack collection includes songs that were performed in the television educational show Batibot.

Photo Credit: Krazykyle - The Filipino Picker / Facebook

Photo Credit: Krazykyle - The Filipino Picker

The program remains popular mainly among Batang 80s and 90s (Eighties and Nineties Kids), who are now grown-ups.

Probably many of them have told their long-cherished Batibot memories to their own children. 

Many of the puppets and human cast members in Batibot performed the musical numbers in the said album.

The puppet characters are Pong Pagong (Pong the Turtle), Kiko Matsing (Kiko the Monkey), Irma Daldal, Ningning and Gingging.

The human cast members are Kuya Bodjie, Ate Sienna, Kuya Mario, and of course the Batibot Kids

The following is a track listing of Mga Awiting Batibot:

1.    Kung Gusto Mong Sumaya (Tagalog: If You Want to Be Happy)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna and the Batibot Kids

2.    ABKD sa Awit at Senyas (Tagalog: ABKD in Song ang Signs)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna, Pong Pagong and the Batibot Kids

3.    Umihip Tulad Ng Hangin (Tagalog: Blow Like the Wind)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna and the Batibot Kids

4.    Bangkang Papel (Tagalog: Paper Boat)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

5.    Batibot Theme

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

6.    Kaarawan (Tagalog: Birthday)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

7.    Magbigayan (Tagalog: Give-and-Take)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

8.    Paggising Sa Umaga (Tagalog: Upon Waking Up in the Morning)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

 

9.    Si Puti (Tagalog: White [the White Cow])

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

 

10.    Batibot Closing Theme

Instrumental

11. Batibot Theme

Instrumental

12.    GulayYayYayYay (Tagalog: Vegetables Yay Yay Yay)

Performed by:    Irma Daldal, Ningning, and Gingging

13.    IsdaDaDa (Tagalog: Fish Da Da)

Performed by:    Irma Daldal, Ningning, and Gingging

14.    Binti Ko (Tagalog: My Leg)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie

 

15.    Mamang Kartero (Tagalog: Mister Mailman)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie

16.    Maligo Tayo (Tagalog: Let's Take a Bath)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie and the Batibot Kids

 

17.    Tweet Tweet

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and Gingging

 

18.    Tugmaan (Tagalog: Rhyming)

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and Pong Pagong

 

19.    Pagmamano (Tagalog: Kissing the Hands [of Elders])

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and the Batibot Kids

 

20.    Magandang Araw (Tagalog: Good Day)

Performed by:    Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing, Ate Sienna, Kuya Bodjie and Kuya Mario

21.    Tayo'y Kumandirit (Tagalog: Let's Hop)

Performed by:    Pong Pagong Batibot Kids

22.    Ehersisyong Sabay-Sabay (Tagalog: Exercising Simultaneously)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie, Batibot Kids

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

From left to right: Kuya Mario, Ate Sienna, Kiko Matsing, Pong Pagong, and Kuya Bodjie
(Photo Credit: Wazzup Pilipinas)

Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing are Muppet-style characters apparently inspired by "The Monkey and the Turtle", a Filipino fable which was annotated to English by Jose Rizal in 1889.

Ningning and Gingging in the 2010s Batibot
(Photo Credit: Batibot TV / YouTube)
 

According to a 2012 article in the Philippine Star, Ningning and Gingging are sisters based from Ernie and Bert of Sesame Street.

Irma Daldal is a loquacious actress and TV field reporter.

Although Ate Sienna (Sienna Olaso) and Kuya Mario (Junix Inocian) are still remembered by audiences, the iconic status of Kuya Bodjie (Luisito Pascua) was established by his storytelling segment in almost every episode.

As you read this post, you might still hear in your mind Kuya Bodjie's signature voice.

This unique voice brings to the stories to life, so the lesson gets ingrained in the listener's mind in a vivifying manner.

Kuya Bodjie in 2018
(Photo Credit: Cebu Daily News)

Produced by the Philippine Children's Television Foundation, Batibot was broadcast by several networks from 1985 to 2003.

After a seven-year hiatus, Batibot was briefly revived from 2010 to 2013.

Enteng in the Movies Since the 1980s

The fifth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year is called Enteng.

As of now, the weather disturbance is gaining strength. 

The strong winds and heavy rainfall Enteng brings is a reminder that multitudes of Filipinos are named Enteng.

It also happened that Enteng is a popular diminutive of the male given name Vicente.

Enteng is also the name of a handful of eponymous characters in Filipino movies, the most famous of which are topbilled by Vic Sotto as Enteng Kabisote.

Movies in the Enteng Kabisote series were perennially selected as entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival during the 2000s and 2010s.

The following list covers other movies with lead characters named Enteng.

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

Released on April 18, 1980, Enteng-Anting (Tagalog: Enteng-Amulet) features Nino Muhlach in the title role. Muhlach is the Child Wonder of Philippine Movies at that time.

The movie is a production of the family-owned D'Wonder Films. It is based on a series in the Movie Special Komiks.

 

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

Enteng the Dragon appears to be a parody of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon.

It was released on July 14, 1988, or eleven days shy of the sixtieth birthday of lead star Dolphy.

This offering by RVQ Productions was also shown in theaters during the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar.

 

 

Starring Eddie Garcia, Enteng Manok: Tari ng Quiapo is a dramatization of the life of Vicente Sangel.

Sangel was a cock-fight aficionado known for defending the downtrodden against wicked entities in Quiapo, a district of the city of Manila.

The movie was released by Magdalena Films on September 30, 1993.

(ADDITIONAL NOTE: Tari is the Tagalog cockfighting term for a bladed spur that is attached to a rooster's leg.)

 

 

Enteng and the Shaolin Kid is a 1995 martial arts starring Vic Sotto and Jacky Shik.

Released on December 7 of that year, the venture was co-produced by Moviearts Inc. and Vic Sotto's own M-Zet Films.

 

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

A year later, Vic Sotto partnered with fellow comedian Janno Gibbs to star with him in Enteng en Mokong: Kaming mga Mababaw ang Kaligayahan (Tagalog: Enteng and Mokong: We Who Have Shallow Happiness).

Released on December 10, 1997, the movie was Regal Entertainment's pre-Christmas (and pre-Metro Manila Film Festival) offering that year.

 

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

Enteng Kabisote: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko ... The Legend is the movie that jumpstarted the successful streak of Vic Sotto's Enteng Kabisote movies in the MMFF in the 2000s and 2010s.

For a brief background, Vicente 'Enteng' Kabisote is the name of Vic Sotto's character in the fantasy comedy TV sitcom Okay Ka, Fairy Ko. 

The sitcom inspired entries in the 1991 and 1992 editions of the MMFF.

Overall, Enteng Kabisote: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko ... The Legend is third movie installment based on the fantasy comedy TV sitcom Okay Ka, Fairy Ko.

This 2004 MMFF entry grossed 101.6 million in the box office.

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

 Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko ... The Legend Continues grossed 108.37 million pesos in the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival.

 

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko ... The Legend Goes On and On and On grossed 128 million pesos in the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival.

This fantasy comedy movie even won the Best Picture award, its sole accolade in the festival.   

  

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko ... The Beginning of the Legend grossed 108.37 million pesos in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Characters such as Jose Rizal, Karimarimar and Arianey No Money had special participatory roles in this fourth installment of the original Enteng Kabisote films.

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

From 2008 to 2009, Vic Sotto took a break from the MMFF. He came back in the 2010 MMFF with an action comedy and fantasy crossover titled Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (Tagalog: Amulet and Enteng Kabisote).

Also starring Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr., Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote marks the actor-politician's movie comeback since his 2010 re-election as senator.

 

 

Photo Credit: Video 48

For the 2011 MMFF, Vic Sotto's Enteng Kabisote was paired with Ai-Ai delas Alas' Ina Montecillo of the Ang Tanging Ina film series to come up with Enteng ng Ina Mo (Tagalog: Enteng of Your Mother).

Aside from earning almost 238 million pesos in its MMFF run, Enteng ng Ina Mo won Second Best Picture and a few other awards.

 

Photo Credit: IMDb

 Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako (Tagalog: Amulet, Enteng Kabisote, and Me) is one of the eight official entries for the 2012 MMFF. Judy Ann Santos joins the lead cast as Ako, a fairy disguised as an environmental activist.

According to Revilla, Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako is the first movie to have a shoot at the "Kapurpurawan" (white) rock formations in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Photo Credit: OctoArts Films / M-Zet Films / APT Entertainment

Although submitted for consideration for the 2016 MMFF, Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers was not included as an official entry. This superhero fantasy and comedy film was released instead theaters on November 30 of that year, apparently to capitalize on the holiday break (Bonifacio Day).

More entries will be added to this list as more information gets uncovered.

Movies That Mark 30th Year in August 2024

At least a dozen Filipino movies were released in theaters in August 1994. At present, some of these movies can be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television.

Megamol
Silya Elektrika: Kasagutan Ba?
Massacre Files
Manolo en Michelle: Hapi Together 
Swindler's List: Ingat Ka Baka Naibenta Ka Na
Cuadro De Jack
Sana'y Laging Magkapiling
Tigre ng Mindanao
Muntik Na Kitang Minahal
Pangako ng Kahapon
Baby Paterno: Dugong Pulis
Nag-Iisang Bituin

Details of each mentioned title follow.

Movies That Mark 30th Year in July 2024

At least nine Filipino movies were released in theaters in July 1994. At present, some of these movies can be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television.

Bala at Lipistik
Alyas Totoy: Kamay na Bakal ng WPD
The Maggie De La Riva Story: God … Why Me?
Abrakadabra
Mayor Cesar Climaco
Maglulupa Man Ako
The Fatima Buen Story
Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko

Da Young Asyong Aksaya

Details of each mentioned title follow.

Movies That Mark 30th Year in June 2024

At least 13 Filipino movies were released in theaters in June 1994. The relatively higher number of releases compared with other months is attributed to the yearly Manila Film Festival. At present, any of these movies can be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television.

Nagkataon, Nagkatagpo

O-Ha! Ako Pa?

Bakit Pa Kita Minahal

Darna! Ang Pagbabalik

Chick Boy

Eat All You Can

The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us!

Maalaala Mo Kaya … The Movie

Ober Da Bakod: Da Movie 

Zacarias

Loretta

Walang Matigas na Tinapay sa Mainit na Kape

Laglag Barya Gang

Details of each mentioned title follow.

Movies That Mark 30th Year in May 2024

At least seven Filipino movies were released in theaters in May 1994. Many of these movies can now be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television.

Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko
Maestro Toribio: Sentensyador
Nandito Ako
Wating
Pintsik Haik!
Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling
Macario Durano

Details of each mentioned title follow.

Notes on Pio de Castro III's "Soltero"

The title of Soltero (Tagalog: Bachelor), a 1984 film directed by Pio de Castro III for the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, sounds like solitaire, the card game. 

Although cards have nothing to do with this movie, the titular character Crispin Rodriguez (exquisitely portrayed by the late Jay Ilagan) appears to play numerous games. 

In each game where happiness is at stake, he uses a card that represents a unique aspect of his singlehood. 

Photo Credit: YouTube / Star Cinema

The opening line, penned by screenwriter Bienvenido Noriega Jr., explicitly delineates this quest for happiness: 

"Para sa lahat ng mga nagsisikap lumigaya, bagaman nag-iisa. At sa mga may katambal na, ngunit nagsasarili pa rin."

("For those who seek happiness despite being alone. And for those who may have found it, but still wish to be alone.)"