"Bahay Kubo" is a

Tagalog-language Tagalog ( ,According to the ''OED'' anMerriam-Webster Online Dictionary ; ''Baybayin'': ) is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by the ethnic Tagalog people, who make up a quarter of the population of the Philippines, and as ...

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...

from the lowlands of

Luzon, Philippines Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...

. In 1964, it was included in a collection of Filipino folk songs compiled by Emilia S. Cavan. The song is about a

bahay kubo The ''báhay kúbo'', ''kubo'', or ''payág'' (in the Visayan languages), is a type of stilt house indigenous to the Philippines. It is the traditional basic design of houses among almost all lowlander and coastal cultures throughout the Phi ...

( in English), a house made of bamboo with a roof of nipa leaves, surrounded by different kind of vegetables, and is frequently sung by Filipino school children, the song being as familiar as the "

Alphabet Song "The ABC Song" is the best-known song used to recite the English alphabet in alphabetical order. It is commonly used to teach the alphabet to children in English-speaking countries. "The ABC Song" was first copyrighted in 1835 by Boston music ...

" and "

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is an English lullaby. The lyrics are from an early-19th-century English poem written by Jane Taylor, "The Star". The poem, which is in couplet form, was first published in 1806 in '' Rhymes for the Nursery'', a c ...

" from

the West West is a cardinal direction or compass point. West or The West may also refer to: Geography and locations Global context * The Western world * Western culture and Western civilization in general * The Western Bloc, countries allied with NAT ...

. Its composition is sometimes erroneously attributed to composer Felipe Padilla de Leon.

In popular culture

Film

On 5 August 1968, ''Bahay Kubo, Kahit Munti'' was produced by

Sampaguita Pictures Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City. History Sampaguita Pictures was e ...

starring

Rosemarie Sonora Rosa María "Rosemarie" Sonora (born April 14, 1948) is a Filipino former actress. Early life Sonora was born to an American mother of French and Jewish extraction and a Filipino father of mixed Spanish and Chinese Filipino descent. Her sister, ...

, Blanca Gomez and

Ike Lozada Enrique Tagle Lozada (July 5, 1943 – March 8, 1995), also known as Kuya Ike or Iking, was a Filipino actor, comedian, and television host. Early life Lozada was born on July 7, 1943, in Iloilo City. He was 2nd of brood of 4, he is the son of ...

and was directed by Jose De Villa. The title was based from the lyrics of the folk song. The movie was written by

German Moreno German Molina Moreno (; October 4, 1933 – January 8, 2016), also known as Kuya Germs ( or ) and dubbed as "The Master Showman", was a Filipino television host, presenter, actor, comedian, talent manager, producer, writer, and director. Early ...

Music

It was interpreted in 1966 by

Sylvia La Torre Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star. Early life La Torre was born on June 4, 1933, to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes. Career Singing La Tor ...

in her album ''Katuwaan''. The folk song was also included in the album ''Bahaghari'' of composer

Ryan Cayabyab Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab (born May 4, 1954), known professionally as Ryan Cayabyab (), is a Filipino musician, composer and conductor of Original Pilipino Music (OPM). He was the Executive and Artistic Director for several years fo ...

which was sung by

Lea Salonga Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, ( ; born February 22, 1971) is a Filipino singer and actress. Known primarily for her work in theatre, she has starred in musicals on Broadway and in the West End. Her accolades include a Tony Award and a L ...

that also includes other Filipino traditional folk songs. It was also performed by the

University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers The University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers (UPMS), also known as the Philippine Madrigal Singers or simply Madz, is one of the major choral groups based in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Its current conductor, musical direct ...

during the 116th anniversary of the

First Philippine Republic The Philippine Republic (), now officially remembered as the First Philippine Republic and also referred to by historians as the Malolos Republic, was a state established in Malolos, Bulacan, during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish ...

. On February 26 and 27, 2024, Lea Salonga and

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

performed the song during the choirs world tour in the Philippines, at the

SM Mall of Asia Arena The SM Mall of Asia Arena, also known as the Mall of Asia Arena or the MoA Arena, is an indoor arena within the SM Mall of Asia complex, in Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. It has a seating capacity of 15,000 for sporting events and ...

Television

During ''Bulagaan'' on ''

Eat Bulaga ''Eat !'' (; stylized as ''Eat... Bulaga!'') is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by Radio Philippines Network, ABS-CBN, GMA Network and TV5. Originally hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Chiqui Hollmann and Richie ...

'' in August 25, 2012, hosts

Joey de Leon Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon and also known as Henyo Master, is a Filipino comedian, actor, television host and songwriter. He is one of the members of the comedy trio, collectively ...

and

Wally Bayola Walter James "Wally" Bayola (born May 3, 1972) (), is a Filipino comedian and actor. He is best known for portraying Lola Nidora and other characters in the '' Kalyeserye'' portion of the noontime television variety show ''Eat Bulaga!''. He appe ...

sings a second version of the song features the other vegetables in the lyrics as their knock-knock joke. It was later re-used as in the closing theme of Oh No, It' B.O. (Biro Only!) with lyrics "pag na-B.O." In ''

Work It Out Wombats! ''Work It Out Wombats!'' is an Children's television series, children's Animated series, animated television series that premiered on February 6, 2023, on PBS Kids. The series is produced by WGBH-TV, GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios. The series is ...

'', Jun Jun is seen singing a few lines of the song in one episode.

References

{{authority control Year of song unknown Nursery rhymes Philippine folk songs Songs with unknown songwriters Songs in Tagalog