An Iba, asin An Kantang “An Harong Mi”

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.

6 thoughts on “An Iba, asin An Kantang “An Harong Mi”

  1. ja carizo kulang an lyrics kan translation mo sa bikol kan kantang Bahay Kubo… ine an nabasa ko na lyrics kan Mga Kantang Bicol:

    An Harong Ko Nipa

    An harong ko nipa
    Minsan ngani sadit
    Manga maritas diyan nasasaray
    Singkamas asin talong
    Sigarilyas asin mani
    Sitaw, bataw patani

    Kundol, patola, upo kalabasa
    Sa kadakul-dakul pang labanos
    Mustasa, sibulyas, kamatis
    Bawang saka luya
    Sa palibot may langa.

  2. To: J.A. Carizo and Atty. Benjie

    Salamat po sa awiting inyong ibinahagi dahil dito natututo ang mga taong gustong matuto ng iba pang salita kagaya ng Bikol o dili kaya ang purong Tagalog na hindi na po ginagamit na madalas ng ma kabataan ngayon
    Kaaya-aya po ito.Sa katunayan lang po binabalikan ko ang ating sariling wika dahil nakita ko ang kahalagahan nito.

    Marami pong salamat.
    Milagros

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