Truly Filipino Music Going Global

Russian Choir: Russischer Knabenchor DUBNA

The song is in Filipino. Visayan or specifically Cebuano, to be exact. Although it was first introduced in 1973, it is still popular among Filipinos probably due to its infectious lively tempo.

I know that any Visayan or Filipino for that matter who speaks and understands the dialect, can't help being amused by the song's lyrics. I just wonder if the singers in other countries do know what they were singing about; specifically what the following stanzas mean. But I can see that they do enjoy singing the jolly melody! <chuckles>

"Ayay usab si Dodong
Nagtan-aw kang Inday
Nagtabisay ang laway"

(English Translation by Tom Marking)

Hey!, also the young man
He's looking at the young lady
His drool is falling

The song tells of a country lass (Visayan: inday) going to the village fair, performing a sing-and-dance number and in doing so, looked more like food to a certain young man (Visayan: dodong) than an attractive young woman dancing, since he was drooling (saliva dripping from his mouth, to be more detailed as we please) while watching her. <Laughs> 

Another version of the song.

San Francisco State University Chamber Singers

under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann. From www.youtube.com

And here is the complete lyrics and English translation of this beautiful song.

Cebuano Version

English Version (translated by Tom Marking)

ROSAS PANDAN Ania si Rosas Pandan Gikan pa intawon sa kabukiran Kaninyo makiguban-uban Sa gisaulog nga kalingawan Balitaw day akong puhunan Maoy kabilin sa akong ginikanan Awit nga labing karaan Nga garbo ning atong kabungturan Dika ding dika ding dika ding Ayay sa atong balitaw Manindot pa ug sayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Dika dong dika dong dika dong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Balitaw day akong puhunan Maoy kabilin sa akong ginikanan Awit nga labing karaan Nga garbo ning atong kabungturan Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway

ROSAS PANDAN Here is Rosas Pandan Just arrived from the mountains To be with all of you To celebrate the fiesta This song is my livelihood An inheritance from my parents A most ancient song The pride of our hill country Dika ding dika ding dika ding Hey!, our song Is still nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Dika dong dika dong dika dong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling This song is my livelihood An inheritance from my parents A most ancient song The pride of our hill country Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling

from the website: http://www.tomandcathymarking.com/cebuano/rosas_pandan.htm

This and other Filipino songs being sung by choirs/chorales in different parts of the world are an enduring legacy of our own groups of singers who have toured around the globe, promoting our own musical heritage and sharing/teaching them these songs that truly represents what and who we are as a nation.

A big toast to them!