Sitsiritsit

Sitsiritsit, also known as Sitsiritsit Alibangbang, is a Filipino folk song. This humorous song describes a flirtatious woman threatening a storeowner that the ants are going to get him if he is not going to extend credit, as well as unusual situations of exchanging a child for a doll or bagoong. It is said to have originated during the country's Spanish colonization, as its lyrics suggest the ordinary life during that time. The melody of the song is about the same as Fly Fly the Butterfly."

Lyrics

Sitsiritsit, alibangbang
Salaginto,salagubang.
Ang babae sa lansangan
Kung gumiri'y parang tandang.

Santo Niño sa Pandacan
Puto seco sa tindahan
Kung ayaw kang magpautang
Uubusin ka ng langgam.

Mama, mama namamangka
Pasakayin yaring bata
Pagdating sa Maynila
Ipagpalit sa manika

Ale, aleng namamayong,
Pasukubin yaring sanggol
Pagdating sa Malabon,
Ipagpalit ng Bagoong.
Ipagpalit ng Bagoong.

English Translation

Cicada, Butterfly
Jeweled beetle, beetle
A woman on the street,
Sways her hips like a rooster.

Child Jesus of Pandacan,
Rice cakes on the store.
If you are not giving credits,
The ants will eat all your goodies.

Mister, Mister, rowing a boat,
Please take this naughty child for a ride.
Once you reach Manila,
Trade the child for a doll.

Miss, Miss, holding an umbrella,
Please take this baby.
Once you reach Malabon,
Trade the baby for shrimp paste

  • In the children's program Batibot, there are two alien puppets named Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang who love discovering new things, places, and people around them.[1]
  • In the 1920s, a jazzy version performed with a raspy voice by Vicente Ocampo was popularized on the Manila bodabil circuit.[2]

References

  1. Batibot Muppets' Home Page Archived 2007-11-05 at the Wayback Machine Philippine Children's Television Foundation, Inc. Home Page (accessed November 17, 2007)
  2. Luningning B. Ira (December 1998), "Two Tickets to Vod-A-Vil", 1898:The Shaping of Philippine History, 16, Manila: Asia Pacific Communications Network, Inc., II, p. 22
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