Language Lesson

(I'm writing in purple. Black is from this blog. Red is that blog's translation.)
Tagalog, sometimes called Pilipino, is the national language of the Philippines. Apl of the Black Eyed Peas is Filipino. On the BEPs last album, the chorus of the Apl Song was in tagalog. On their new album, the song Bebot is completely in tagalog. (Short sentences make it easy to learn.) The BEPs were popular in the Philippines long before Elephunk and the addition of Fergie. Their videos are produced by a Filipino production company. Generally, Filipinos have much love for this group and vice versa. The group shows their love of their Filipino following by constantly finding a way to use Filipino and Philippines in a rhyme, which I imagine to be a daunting task. Since I speak tagalog like a 5 year old at best and can barely understand rapping in English, I got all of the rest of this from another blog.

*Note: “bebot” (be´-bot) is a street slang word for “babe” or “girl” or “female” - taken from the Tagalog word “babae” (ba´-ba´-e).Likewise, the street slang word for a “guy” or “male” is “kelot” (ke´-lot) - taken from the Tagalog word “lalake” (la´-la´-ke).

“Sapang Bato” is a small village in Pampangga where Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) originated from.

“balut” is boiled duck egg (embryo). Contestants on Fear Factor were challenged to eat this in one episode, but it's a delicacy in the Philippines!

“chicken adobo” is a Filipino dish derived from Spanish cuisine where the chicken is cooked with garlic, vinegar and other spices. This is my favorite! And the only Filipino dish I know how to make.

Some of the young Filipino American crowd have mistaken the translation of the word bebot to include “ho and bitches.” Well, ‘bebot’ has no derogatory implications whatsoever; Filipinos do not demean their females. The only demeaning word for females is even a Spanish word, but none in Tagalog. This is interesting, as some people may argue that the Filipino culture is considered matriarchal.

BEBOT sung by apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas English translation

Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay :You are:
Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino!
:Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino!:

Hoy pare, pakinggan n’yo ako:Hey man, all of you listen to me:
Heto na ang tunay na Pilipino:Here comes the real Filipino: i didn't think "heto" started with an 'h'
Galing sa baryo - Sapang Bato:Came from the barrio - Sapang Bato:
Pumunta ng L.A. - nagtrabaho:Went to L.A. and labored:
Para makatulong sa Nanay:In order to help my mother:
Dahil sa hirap ng buhay:Because life is so hard:
Pero masaya pa rin ang kulay:But the disposition’s still bright: i thought kulay meant color
Pag kumain - nagkakamay:When eating - we use our hands:
‘yung kanin - *chicken adobo:What we eat - chicken adobo:
‘yung balut - binibenta sa kanto:The *balut - being sold at the corner:
Tagay mo na nga ang baso:Share the glass already:
Pare ko, inuman na tayo:My friend, let’s start drinking:
Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino!
:Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino!:

Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay :You are:
Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino!
:Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino!:

Masdan mo ang magagandang dalaga:Observe all the beautiful girls: (dalaga is a Filipina maiden... young lady)
Nakakagigil ang beauty mo talaga:Your beauty really drives me crazy:
Lambing na hindi nakakasawa:The sweetness that is never tiresome:
Ikaw lang and gustong makasama:You’re the only one I want to be with:
‘yung bahay o kubo :The house or nipa hut:
Pag-ibig mo ay tutoo:Your love is for real:
Puso ko’y laging kumikibo:My heart always speaks:
Wala kang katulad sa mundo:There is no one else in the world like you:

Pinoy ka - sigaw na - sige:You’re Filipino - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung maganda ka - sigaw na - sige: If you’re beautiful - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung buhay mo’y mahalaga - sige:If your life is valuable - c’mmon: i think this might also mean "If you love your life..."
Salamat sa ‘yong suporta:Thank you for your support:

Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino!
:Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino!:
Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino! - Pilipino!
:Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino! - Filipino!:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay aking :You are my:
Bebot - bebot - bet (3x)
Ikaw ay :You are:

Pinoy ka - sigaw na - sige:You’re Filipino - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung maganda ka - sigaw na - sige:If you’re beautiful - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung buhay mo’y mahalaga - sige:If your life is valuable - c’mmon:
Salamat sa ‘yong suporta:Thank you for your support:
Pinoy ka - sigaw na - sige:You’re Filipino - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung maganda ka - sigaw na - sige:If you’re beautiful - shout it out - c’mmon:
Kung buhay mo’y mahalaga - sige:If your life is valuable - c’mmon:
Salamat sa ‘yong suporta:Thank you for your support:

(scratch mix)Filipino - Filipino - Filipino - Filipino . . .La la la la la la la . . . .la la lo . . . .La la la la la la la . . . .la la lo . . . .

Here endeth the lesson...