ABXES A TAÑIS
Eustacia C. Horlina (Itbayat)
Oral Literature in Itbayat, Philippines
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Abxes a tañis Ta tinavaran du Viyu Tinavaran du Va’sung Si ina m’.
Description
There were two persons related to each other who were both males. One day. they went to cut lumber. They stumbled upon a tree with a hole inside. In it was a female person. As they were still cutting it, the woman cautioned, “Act with care because you might hurt me.” The tree having been felled down they saw a very beautiful woman who was inside the tree. “My wife, my wife!” said one of them. “No, she is my wife because l felled it down!” said the other one. “Yes. but this tree is my reserve and therefore, she’s, my wife.” “No, because you could not have got her if l had not felled it.” At last, the one who felled down the tree married her. A child having been born to the woman, she always left him behind with the mother of the husband. The child did not cry because the moment he started to cry; the child's grandmother sang the following. When the mother of the child came to take him, she asked, “Has he cried yet? “No,” replied the grandmother of the child. Inasmuch as the grandmother of the child constantly reported that the baby did not cry under her care, the mother thought to herself, “What could be the trick of your grandmother in making you not cry?” The mother spied on her. When the baby started to cry, she sang to him the following. Upon hearing that, the woman had hurt-feelings. She said to her child the next song [Makaverber ka sumusu]. And when the arms were already wood, she gave the baby to his father. “If he cries hard, you take off one of my branches. But never take my tips.” The woman became a Natu-tree. Every time the child cried, they went to take off its branches, and when its branches, together with its leaves, had gone, they got its tips. The tree died.
Translation
Stop crying Because they cut at Viyu And at Va’song Your mother was.
MAKAVERBER KA SUMUSU
Eustacia C. Horlina (Itbayat)
Ichbayat Folktales
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Makaverber ka sumusu Ta kayuh dana u ayi chu. Makaverber ka sumusu Ta kayuh dana u paa ku. Makaverber ka sumusu Ta kayuh dana u lima ku.
Translation
Hurry up feeding on my breasts For my feet are now wood. Hurry up sucking milk For my thighs are now wood. Hurry up feeding on my breasts For my arms are now wood.
IPAKARILAW
Nicacia Gordo (Itbayat)
Itbayat Folk Songs (1972)
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Ipakaraliw sivug am Ipakarilaw sivug Ta mavatang dana am
Description
This is a song for dividing all the gold and money that the parents have kept. The children, recipients of divided gold, are supposed to prepare food [dinner] for their parents on that day of dividing. It is said that they sing this song all throughout the night.
Translation
You really love You really love Because he/she is old now.
LAGEELAGET
Marcelina Castro (Itbayat)
Itbayat Folk Songs (1972)
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Lageelaget ni apu Ta pasirungan An matimuy
Description
This is a lullaby. An old woman free from heavy work in the field due to her old age usually stays at home and takes care of her grandchild. When the baby cries, the old woman takes him up on her lap near to her. She pinches her soft skinny part of her knee and moves it back and forth as singing the song below. The baby looks at it and forgets crying.
Translation
Apu moves her skin at her knee Because it is a shelter When it is rainy.
URAYEN
Gregoria Balanoba (Itbayat)
Itbayat Folk Songs (1972)
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Urayen dana sih Urayen pa man siiya
Description
It is sung when you are lonesome and sad which you could not resist or do anything for. For instance, when your sweetheart leaves you, just utter it to yourself with resignation.
Translation
Mind it not now; Mind it not even more.
VUYIT AKU A TADU
Eustacia C. Horlina (Itbayat)
Itbayat Folk Songs (1972)
Dr. Yukihiro Yamada
Vuyit aku a tadu Mivaliw aku a vuyit a tadu Ta di da yaken a chinahakey A ipangulit su kanen ku’a lukay
Description
There was, it is said, a child who wanted to eat white yam. He asked his father to remove its skin but he refused to do it for the child. And the father sent him to his mother. The same happened. She then sent the boy into his elder sibling. His sibling did not do it for him. Finally, the child sang the following. He then became a dove and flew away after he finished singing that.
Translation
I am a dove which cries tado I transform into a dove Because they did not want To remove the skin of my food, white yam
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