Traditional Filipino folk songs reflect the lives and culture of the rural common folk. Many songs have connections to nature and express themes of love, family, and labor. Examples provided include "Magtanim ay Di Biro" about the hard work of farming, "Dandansoy" a Visayan love song, and "Bahay Kubo" describing the plants found near a nipa hut home. Famous folk and love songs like "O Ilaw", "Ang Pipit", "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan", and "Bayan Ko" demonstrate the Filipino people's talent for music and their deep aspirations for their country.

1. Bughaw, Mariechan M.
IV BSEd- English

2. Traditional Music in the Philippines
is like the traditional music of other
countries, reflects the life of common folk,
mainly living in rural areas rather than
urban ones. Like its counterparts in Asia, a
lot of traditional songs from the Philippines
have a strong connection with nature.
Filipinos love music. Singing is a form
of expression. Even the earlier Filipinos
love to sing their songs. Folk songs are
quite literally the songs of the people.

3. Folk Song in Luzon
Magtanim ay Di Biro
Magtanim ay di biro
Maghapong nakayuko
Di naman makatayo
Di naman makaupo
Bisig ko'y namamanhid
Baywang ko'y nangangawit.
Binti ko'y namimintig
Sa pagkababad sa tubig.

4. Kay-pagkasawing-palad
Ng inianak sa hirap,
Ang bisig kung di iunat,
Di kumita ng pilak. Sa umagang pagkagising
Lahat ay iisipin
Kung saan may patanim
May masarap na pagkain.
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag,
Tayo'y magsipag-unat-unat.
Magpanibago tayo ng lakas
Para sa araw ng bukas
(Braso ko'y namamanhid
Baywang ko'y nangangawit.
Binti ko'y namimintig
Sa pagkababad sa tubig.)

5. Visayan Folk Song
Dandansoy
Dandansoy, bayaan ta ikaw
pauli ako sa payag
ugaling kung ikaw hidlawon
ang payag imo lang lantawon.
Dandansoy, kung imo apason
bisan tubig di magbalon
ugaling kung ikaw uhawon
sa dalan magbubon-bubon.

6. Kumbento, diin ang cura?
munisipyo, diin justicia?
yari si dansoy makiha.
makiha sa pag-higugma
Ang panyo mo kag panyo ko
dal-a diri kay tambihon ko
ugaling kung magkasilo
bana ta ikaw, asawa mo ako.

7. Other famous Folk Songs

8. Leron, Leron, sinta
Buko ng papaya
Dala dala'y buslo
Sisidlan ng sintaPagdating sa dulo'y
Nabali ang sanga,
Kapos kapalaran
Humanap ng iba.
Halika na Neneng, tayo'y manampalok
Dalhin mo ang buslo, sisidlan ng hinog
Pagdating sa dulo'y uunda-undayog
Kumapit ka Neneng, baka ka mahulog.

9. Paru-Parong Bukid

10. Paruparong bukid na lilipad-lipad
Sa gitna ng daan papagapagaspas
Isang bara ang tapis
Isang dangkal ang manggas
Ang sayang de kola
Isang piyesa ang sayad
May payneta pa siya — uy!
May suklay pa man din — uy!
Nagwas de-ohetes ang palalabasin
Haharap sa altar at mananalamin
At saka lalakad nang pakendeng-kendeng.

11. Bahay Kubo

12. Bahay Kubo (Nipa Hut)
Bahay Kubo, kahit munti
Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari.
Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani
Sitaw, bataw, patani.
Kundol, patola, upo't kalabasa
At saka mayroon pang labanos,
mustasa,
sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya
sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga.

13. O Ilaw
A popular example of the traditional
Filipino love song genre "kundiman", this
song was made famous by Filipino singer
and actor Ruben Tagalog (1920-83). The
real title of the song is actually "Aking
Bituin" ("My Star"), its current title having
been derived from its first two words "o
ilaw" ("o light").

14. O, Ilaw
sa gabing madilim
Wangis mo'y
bituin sa langit
O, tanglaw
sa gabing tahimik
Larawan mo Neneng
nagbigay pasakit
Tindig at magbangon
sa pagkagupiling
Sa pagkakatulog
na lubhang mahimbing
Buksan ang bintana
at ako'y dungawin
Nang mapagtanto mo
ang tunay kong pagdaing

15. ANG PIPIT
"Ang Pipit" ("The Sparrow") relates the story
a sparrow who falls off the branch its perched on
after being stoned by a cruel man. It was co-
written by Lucio D. San Pedro (1913-2002) and
Levi Celerio (1910-2002). Named National Artist
for Music and Literature in 1997, Celerio had
composed over 4,000 songs and has even been
included in the Guinness Book of World Records
for his unusual talent of playing music from a
leaf.

17. SA UGOY NG DUYAN
Another collaboration from Lucio
San Pedro and Levi Celerio. "Sa Ugoy
ng Duyan" ("The Swing of the Cradle")
is a haunting and nostalgic lullaby
expressing the feelings of a child
finding tranquil security in the arms of
a loving mother.

18. BAYAN KO
Written in 1929 by Filipino poet Jose
Corazon de Jesus ("Huseng Batute" 1896-1932)
and later set to music by Constancio de Guzman
(1903-83), "Bayan Ko" ("My Country") was
meant as a patriotic song protesting the
American occupation of the Philippines. Since
then, it has practically been a second national
anthem for freedom-loving Filipinos, a theme
song for some of the most momentous events in
Philippine history. Its most famous rendition is
the one by Filipino folk singer Freddie Aguilar.

19. BAYAN KO
Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pagibig sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.
Ibong mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas.
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika makita kang sakdal laya

20. It can be said that a country is defined by
its folk songs. From this list of Filipino folk
songs, we can gather that the people of the
Philippines are a humble folk, full not only of
mirth but also of deep aspiration. They are
also an industrious people, with a love for the
simple things in life, as well as a great
yearning for peace and national freedom. And
of course, the Filipino people are a talented
lot, capable of crafting songs that reflect the
nature of their beloved country.