Bik-Lish

I was looking for the English equivalent of “iba” (Kamias) when I was asked to sing “Bahay Kubo”. I finished the song but without “iba” in it. Too bad!

But anyway, I was able to get it’s scientific name (but not from the song): Averrhoa bilimbi.

Going back to Bahay Kubo, It was only lately that I learned Bikolanos also have version of that folksong. The title is: “An Harong Mi”. The lyrics goes:

An harong mi
Sadit sana
Pero malinigon
Sagkod sa kusina.

Magkakan man kami
Pirming sa lamesa
An sira mi
Gulay sana.

The Tagalog equivalent, however, is not a literal translation. But the tune and the spirit is just the same. It runs:

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 puno ng linga.

In English, the translation is almost literal and it goes:

My nipa hut, though very small
The plants are diverse
Turnips and eggplant,
Winged beans and peanuts,
String beans, edible pots, lima beans,
White melon, gourd, white pumpkin and squash,
and still there are more, radish, mustard,
Onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger,
All around are lush sesame plants.

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