THERE IS something weird in some Visayan songs. Some are quite naughty, but to most people seem unoffensive and amusing, or downright funny. Luzon doesn’t have their equivalents.
This article is not for puritans that are easily offended by sexual innuendos.
You can find the audio/sounds of these in Youtube.
Example 1:
The Ilonggo song – Ang Bilong-bilong
Ang bilong-bilong bilong-bilong bilong nagasuhot sa punu gapananum,
Ang mga regatta sa baybayon, nagkalawagak ilang patadyong.
Ang bilong-bilong bilong-bilong bilong
Kon magdagaya gid nagabarato.
Naghinilugyaw gid ang mga busog,
Nagkalagisi ilang de-largo.
II
Rikitsi-kitsi kitsi kitsi kitsi.
Ang bilong-bilong gid tama kanamit.
Rikitsi-kitsi kitsi kitsi kitsi.
Manamit sa adobo kag escabeche (2x)
III
(girl) Kon ako ang dalaga nga buot nga mamana, pilion kon ang lalaki nga indi sang babaye
(boy) Kon ako ang soltero nga buot mangasawa, pilion ko ang babaye nga indi sang lalaki.
Pilion ko ang lalaki nga indi… babaye
IV
Rikitsi-kitsi kitsi kitsi kitsi.
Ang bilong-bilong tama gid ka namit.
Rikitsi-kitsi kitsi kitsi kitsi.
Manamit sa adobo kag escabeche (2x)
Bilong-bilong
Bilong-bilong is a fish – Mene maculata, the moonfish
I’ve always wondered why not other fishes. Like ang tamban, tamban, tamban, tamban, tamban. Or ang bangrus, bangrus, bangrus, bangrus, bangrus. Or ang pantat, pantat, pantat, pantat, pantat.
There is a clue that already makes the song sound randy. It has a phrase, nagkalawagak ilang patadyong (their patadyongs fell off). And nagkalagisi ilang de-largo (their pants tore apart).
Furthermore, bilong-bilong is a benthic sea bottom fish. Ther song apparently places it in the shallows, where it can ‘suhot’ among women causing them drop their patadyongs. So as pointed out above, why not ang bangrus, bangrus, bangrus, bangrus, bangrus? These fish live in shallower waters. Or ang pantat, pantat, pantat, pantat, pantat? These fish live in fresh water
Then it occurred to me. Change the -ong in bilong-bilong to -at. Or -l- to -s-. And you’d die laughing.
This would not be the case for other fishes obviously.
There is also a word that’s repeated. It sounds like petse- petse. I thought so at first because it’s food, and the song is about edible fish. But on closer inspection, it’s close to or actually kitse- kitse. Tickle. What to tickle? Guess and you’d smile in amusement.
Furthermore, the second part of the song ends in – gusto ko ang lalaki nga indi sang babaye. Or so at first sight. But the phrase actually repeats with a small change. Sang is dropped. Thus, it becomes – gusto ko ang lalaki nga indi sang babaye. Gusto ko ang lalaki nga indi … babaye.
Haha. The woman wants a man who is not a ‘girl’. (To be continued)/PN
