This document discusses Philippine folk songs. It explains that folk songs reflect Philippine traditions and culture, incorporating Spanish influences from the country's colonization. Folk songs are orally transmitted and passed down through generations. They are usually composed anonymously and changed over time. The songs mark different stages of life and are inspired by work, love, and other everyday themes. Philippine folk songs have distinguishing musical characteristics and can be classified into categories like narrative, lullaby, children's songs, and work songs. Examples of popular folk songs from different regions are also provided.

1. Folk Songs
MUSIC 7
Prepared by: Eddie San Z. Peñalosa

2. Folk music reflects Philippine traditions. It is popular
among the lowlands of Luzon. The people from this region
easily embraced and adapted the culture of the Spaniards
who colonized the country, that’s why their folk song show
distinct Spanish elements.

3. A Folk Song is a narrative song that uses traditional
melodies. It is a song of the common people passed on from
generation to generation. It is orally transmitted and
handled down through performance rather than notation.

4. A folk song is composed by individuals who remain
anonymous, or at any rate, are not remembered at all. It
does not belong to any composer or performer and often
learned by ear. In the process of being passed on, it was
changed either deliberately, as when singers give their own
renditions or otherwise due to one’s faulty memory or poor
sense of pitch or rhythm.

5. The folk songs reflect people’s everyday activities. They
mark every stage in the life of a Filipino, from the moment
he is born to the time he dies and get buried.
Philippine folk songs are also inspired by Western
influences. These song are sung, spoken or chanted.

6. Philippine folk songs have their own distinguishing
characteristics such as the following:
1. Their melody is easy to remember.
2. They are syllabically set in stanza text.
3. They use strophic form (only one melody in all stanzas).
4. They use minor and major scales.
5. They use triple and duple meter.
6. They are usually accompanied by a guitar.

7. Philippine folk songs can be classified as narrative, lullaby,
children’s songs, serenade or work song.

8. NARRATIVE – this is a song that tells a story. An example of a
narrative folk song is “Paruparong Bukid.”
LULLABY – it is sung to send a baby to sleep. “Tulog na” is an
example of a lullaby.
CHILDREN’S SONG – these refer to songs that adults sing or teach
to children, songs that children sing among themselves and song
which children composed on their own. “Ako ay may lobo” is
common example of children’s song.

9. SERENADE – it is a song consisting of several movements
with no fixed form. It is usually played outside a woman’s
house by a beau or an admirer at night to develop their
romantic relationship. One of its most famous example is “O
Ilaw.”
WORK SONG – this is a song that inspires people at work.
One particular example of a work song is “Magtanim ay ‘di
biro.”

10. Some of the other popular folk songs are listed below.
TAGALOG
Bahay Kubo – children’s song
Leron Leron Sinta – children’s song
Sitsiritsit – children’s song
Lulay – love song
Inday sa Balitaw – comical song
Ang Pagtatanim - work song
Maligayang Pagdating – welcome song

11. ILOCANO
Pamulinawen – courtship song
Manang Biday – courtship song
O Naraniag na Bulan – courtship song
PAMPANGO
Ati Cu Pung Singsing – narrative
O Caca, O Caca – love song
BICOLANO
Sarung Banggi – narrative
Si Nanay, Si Tatay – song about family