Lyrics from "Mga Awiting Batibot," Part 2: "Umihip Tulad ng Hangin" and "Bangkang Papel "

 A few weeks ago, we posted an article about the television soundtrack Mga Awiting Batibot.

The following will be part of a series of companion articles, each individually focusing on particular tracks in the album.

The original Filipino lyrics, an English translation, and a few notes are provided in each article.

For this article, the focus is on the songs Umihip Tulad ng Hangin (Tagalog: Blow Like the Wind) and Bangkang Papel (Tagalog: Paper Boat)

Photo Credit: Krazykyle - The Filipino Picker / Facebook

Umihip Tulad ng Hangin (Tagalog: Blow Like the Wind) 

Umihip tulad ng hangin, mahinang ihip ng hangin

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Umihip tulad ng hangin

Umihip tulad ng hangin, malakas na ihip ng hangin

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Umihip tulad ng hangin

Hangin ay kaibigan, umihip nang marahan

Ngunit ang hangin kung minsan, malakas at maingay

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Malakas ang hangin, kaibigan

Umihip tulad ng hangin, mahinang ihip ng hangin

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Umihip tulad ng hangin

Umihip tulad ng hangin, malakas na ihip ng hangin

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Umihip tulad ng hangin

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Blow like the wind, slight blow of the wind

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Blow like the wind

Blow like the wind, strong blow of the wind

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Blow like the wind

The wind is a friend, blowing gently

But the wind is sometimes, strong and noisy

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

The wind is strong, my friend

Blow like the wind, slight blow of the wind

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Blow like the wind

Blow like the wind, strong blow of the wind

Uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu, uh huhuhu, huhuhuhu

Blow like the wind

Bangkang Papel (Tagalog: Paper Boat)

Pagkatapos ng ulan, paligid ay pagmasdan

At sa ating bakuran, may naipong tubig-ulan

Tubig-ulan, tubig-ulan, may naipong tubig-ulan

Kaya't kumuha ng papel, itupi-tupi ito

Ayan, bangkang papel

Makapaglalaro ako

Bangkang papel, bangkang papel, gumawa tayo ng bangkang papel

Halika na, halina, palutangin na natin

Sa ibabaw ng tubig, bangka ay pagalawin

May malaki, mas malaki ... at may pinakamalaki

Tabi! Lakasan ang ihip

Unahan-unahan tayo

Habulin mo ang bangka ko, habulin ko ang sa iyo

Bangkang papel, bangkang papel, kaytulin ng bangkang papel

Bangkang papel, bangkang papel, kaytulin ng bangkang papel

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

After the rains, observe the surroundings

In our backyard, there is accumulated rainwater

Rainwater, rainwater, there is accumulated rainwater

So get a piece paper, and fold it repeatedly

There, a paper boat

I can play

Paper boat, paper boat, let's make a paper boat

Come now, let's go, let it float

On the water, let the boat float

There is a big one, a bigger one ... and the biggest one

Make way! Blow stronger

We will race with one another

Chase my boat, I will chase yours

Paper boat, paper boat, the paper boat is so fast

Paper boat, paper boat, the paper boat is so fast

NOTES:

When there was still no social media, making toy boats out of folded paper was a favorite pastime for multitudes of children. 

Children nowadays seem to be too rely too much on electronic devices for recreation. The song Bangkang Papel is a reminder that enjoyment can be achieved by taking notice of the things around us and being resourceful.

Speaking of wind, the song Umihip Tulad ng Hangin prompted me to plan on making paper windmills when I visit the farmland in the province.

Lyrics from "Mga Awiting Batibot," Part 1: "Kung Gusto Mong Sumaya" and "Abakada sa Awit at Senyas"

A few weeks ago, we posted an article about the television soundtrack Mga Awiting Batibot.

The following will be part of a series of companion articles, each individually focusing on selected tracks

The original Filipino lyrics, an English translation, and a few notes are provided in each article.

For this article, the focus will be on the songs Kung Gusto Mong Sumaya (Tagalog: If You Want to Have Fun) and Abakada sa Awit at Senyas (Tagalog: Alphabet in Song and Gestures).

Photo Credit: Wazzup Pilipinas

Kung Gusto Mong Sumaya (Tagalog: If You Want to Have Fun)

Kung gusto mong sumaya, kung gusto mong sumigla

Igalaw mo (4x), igalaw ang iyong ulo

Kung gusto mong sumaya, kung gusto mong sumigla

Igalaw mo (4x), igalaw ang iyong paa

Kung gusto mong sumaya, kung gusto mong sumigla

Igalaw mo (4x),  igalaw mo ang mga kamay

Kung gusto mong sumaya, kung gusto mong sumigla

Igalaw mo (4x), igalaw buong katawan mo

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

If you want to have fun, if you want to be energetic

Move your (4x), move your head

If you want to have fun, if you want to be energetic

Move your (4x), move your feet

If you want to have fun, if you want to be energetic

Move your (4x), move your hands

If you want to have fun, if you want to be energetic

Move your (4x), move your whole body

Abakada sa Awit at Senyas (Tagalog: Alphabet in Song and Gestures).

Halina't pag-aralan, itong abakada

Bigkasin ninyo at isesenyas ko

A ... B ... K ... D ... E

Ituloy na natin, sa awit tapusin

Ang abakada, kaydali pala

G ... H ... I ... L ... M

Sa senyas pala ay kayang-kaya

Na makanta ang abakada

N ... NG ... O ... P ... R

Ituloy na natin, sa awit tapusin

Ang abakada, kaydali pala

S ... T ... U ... W ... Y

Kaysarap awitin, abakada natin

Kung may sumesenyas at may bumibigkas

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Come and let's study, this alphabet

Pronounce and I will gesure

A ... B ... K ... D ... E

Let's continue, end it with song

The alphabet, so easy indeed

G ... H ... I ... L ... M

With gestures by the way, you can really do 

To sing the alphabet

N ... NG ... O ... P ... R

Let's continue, end it with song

The alphabet, so easy indeed

S ... T ... U ... W ... Y

NOTES:

In 1939, the Abakada alphabet was adopted for the Tagalog-based Wikang Pambansa (now Filipino).

When enumerating each consonant in the "indigenized" Latin alphabet, it is always pronounced with an ⟨-a⟩ suffix. For instance, "ba", "ka", etc. This approach is also the foundation for the nomenclature of the Abakada alphabet.

In 1987, the Abakada alphabet has since been superseded by the adoption of the Filipino alphabet. The Filipino alphabet has additional eight letters and repositioned letter K.

"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.    Abakada sa Awit at Senyas (Tagalog: Alphabet in Song and Gestures)

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.

Alice Guo and References to Filipino Pop Culture

Alice Leal Guo is a name that suddenly emerged in public discourse in a manner that lightning flashes on the sky during a hot summer day. Guo is the businesswoman who was elected in 2022 as municipal mayor of the town of Bamban in Tarlac province.

Following a number of raids conducted by government forces in the town, a Philippine Senate Committee investigation linked Guo to illegal activities by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

In the probe, Guo's Filipino citizenship has been put in the spotlight and is now being scrutinized due to inconsistencies in her testimony and documents.

When it comes to popular culture, the ensuing controversy jogged the collective memory of many Filipinos. 

                                                    Video Credit: YouTube / Rappler

For this post, emphasis will be given to two movies and two television programs from the last five decades promptly. One of those programs focus on a song.

Fried "Tinapa" (Smoked Fish)

Tinapa is the Tagalog term for smoked fish. It can be fried before serving and eaten with boiled rice and chopped tomatoes. Aside from being added to sauteed mung beans, tinapa flakes are also used as toppings for pancit palabok. There are many types of tinapa, based on the type of fish subjected to the smoking process. Probably the most popular one is tinapang bangus (smoked milkfish).

I bet those who grew up in the 80s still remember the lyrics to Tinapang Bangus. It was a song which was popularized by Kiko Matsing (Kiko the Monkey) in the children's television program Batibot. Moreover, the popularity of the tinapa has found its way in profanities. Anak ng tinapa (literally translated as "child of the smoked fish") is a common swearing expression in Tagalog.

Shown below is fried tinapang galunggong (smoked round scad). As mentioned before, we ate those delicacies with boiled rice and chopped tomatoes. The frying process, however, got a bit out of control. The tails of one of the ill-fated fishes got removed! On the plus side, the bones also turned crispy enough to eat.