Allen Pineda Lindo (apl.de.ap aka "The Alligator" of The Black Eyed Peas) having been born and raised in Pampanga, Philippines (up until he was 14 years old) is fully aware of the stark realities permeating his homeland. Nevertheless, he's still fiercely proud of how his people do the best they can with the cards they've been dealt with. In the 2003 Black Eyed Peas track, "The APL Song" (Pineda/Williams, 2m:54s, Elephunk, A&M/Interscope Records), Mr. Pineda unleashed, "Everyone helpin' each other whenever they can We makin' it happen, from nothin' to somethin,' That's how we be survivin' back in my homeland..."
Despite the nation's many beautiful places and people, poverty directly and indirectly caused by cultural, socio-economic, and political forces limit the opportunities of many to reach their full potentials. The Filipino Diaspora continues. Mama Filipina, we'll always come back home. We'll always come back home.. ~ M.S.
"Mama Filipina" by: Apl.de.ap (video above posted by youtube user, tmudirector) Album: U Can Dream (Jeepney Music Inc.) Director: Michael B. Chait Produced by Elevate Films and TMU Pictures LLC for Jeepney Music Inc. and the Elevate Film Festival.
mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america
listen everybody i got somethin to say about the place where i came from back in the days how we used to run around outside in the rain and we didn't have much but we had everything
i'm reminiscing how we used to be fresh fruits, blue sand but no equality where the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor but if you look inside there's so much more
now it's a simple life can't forget what it's like weather so warm you can even swim in the night but we still want to taste that american life, life american life
mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america
i remember how we used to be growing up in the land of poverty now you gotta leave home to feed the family gotta make it in the land of opportunity
politician corrupting the economy how they plan to buy the lies of the currencies and they fail to see the sight and the real beleif of my philippine island, beaches with white sands hot springs made from volcanoes erupting how people make life from nothing to something filipina mama raising me right for she still wanna taste that american life
mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america
i just wanna show you that i missed ya i just gotta show you that i missed ya miss ya, miss ya i just wanna show you that i missed ya i just gotta show you that i missed ya miss ya, miss ya and i never gonna let you goooo..
mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america mama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to americamama, mama filipina i never meant to give you up i had to move to america
Information below from Xylophone Films, which produced the above videos by the Black Eyed Peas "Bebot" RELEASED: August 2006 WINNER: -2007 California Preservation Foundation Presidents Award OFFICIAL SELECTION: -2006 San Diego Asian Film Festival -2006 Chicago Filipino Film Festival -2007 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
Written & directed by PATRICIO GINELSA
Produced by JOSE NUNEZ
Co-Producers A.J. CALOMAY CHRISTINA DeHAVEN PATRICIA SALUMBIDES
Executive Producers APL.DE.AP PATRICIO GINELSA
Associate Producer NINA BAUTISTA
Director of Photography JASON K. INOUYE
Editor A.J. CALOMAY
Production Designer KASRA FARAHANI
Consultant DILLON DELVO
The creators behind LUMPIA and THE APL SONG music video team up once again with the Black Eyed Peas to visualize their current Filipino-themed song, BEBOT, off the multi-platinum album "Monkey Business". Prepare for the biggest party yet as BEBOT has been translated into TWO separate music videos entitled GENERATION ONE and GENERATION TWO.
I posted this "rough" translation (with footnotes) of the song in the Black Eyed Peas online forum back in 2005. At that time, there was not a single available on the internet, and BEP fans all over the world through the following translation gained a better understanding and appreciation of this track.
BEP'S "BEBOT" LYRICS by Marck Salamatin (IN TAGALOG & ENGLISH)
"Bebot" by the Black Eyed Peas, Track 12 on "Monkey Business" (2005, Interscope/A&M) (transcribed and translated by: Marck Salamatin, Winnipeg, Canada; June 7, 2005; Revised July 15, 2005)
The Original Lyrics:
[Will] Ha! Ho! Ha!
[Apl]
bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ay... pilipino (4x)
Verse 1:
Hoy pare pakinggan niyo ako Ito na ang tunay na Filipino Galing sa Barrio "Sapang Bato" Nagpunta ng L.A. para magtrabaho Para makatulong sa Nanay Dahil sa hirap ng buhay Pero masaya pa rin ang kulay Pag kumain nagkakamay Iyung kanin at "Chicken Adobo" Iyung balut binebenta sa kanto Tagay mo na nga ang baso Pare ko inuman na tayo
[Will]
Filipino (4x)
[Apl]
bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ay... pilipino (4x)
Verse 2:
Masdan mo ang magagandang dalaga Nakakagigil ang beauty mo talaga Lambing di nakakasawa Ikaw lang ang gustong makasama Iyung bahay o kubo Pag-ibig mo ay totoo [Will: Ha!] Puso ko'y laging kumikibo [Will: Ho!] Wala kang katulad sa mundo Pinay ka sigaw na sige [Will: Ha!] Kung maganda ka sigaw na, sige [Will: Ho!] Kung buhay mo ay mahalaga, sige [Will: Ha!] Salamat sa iyong suporta [Will: Ho!]
Filipino (8x) bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ang aking bebot bebot bebot be (3x) ikaw ay... pilipino (4x)
Pinay ka sigaw na sige [Will: Ha!] Kung maganda ka sigaw na, sige [Will: Ho!] Kung buhay mo ay mahalaga, sige [Will: Ha!] Salamat sa iyong suporta [Will: Ho!]
"Bebot" by the Black Eyed Peas, Track 12 on "Monkey Business" (2005, Interscope/A&M) (transcribed and translated by: Marck Salamatin; Winnipeg, Canada; June 7, 2005; Revised June 19, 2005)
Background info:
There's an old Filipino saying which roughly translates, "One who doesn't look back and remember her roots, she'll never get to where she wants to be." Life in the Philippines, just like in any third-world country, is never easy. "Bebot' is an informal term used to refer to a Filipino lady, or in this song - all Filipinos. Apl.de.Ap proudly ryhmes in his native language, over hard hiphop beats, about the resilience and unity of his people everywhere.
The English Lyrics:
[Will] Ha! Ho! Ha!
[Apl]
bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are... Filipino (4x)
Verse 1:
Hey man, you've got to hear what I/we have to say I/We am/are a/the true Filipino/s Straight from the humble small-town of *"Sapang Bato" Went to abroad/L.A. to try and make a living I/We did it to help out my/our mom/family I/We had to do it in order to survive a difficult life Despite of how hard it was, my/our colorful life was still blessed When I/we eat **rice and *** "chicken adobo," we still use our **** hands With ^^"balut", let's buy it from the street corner, Fill up the glasses, man Let's drink up to this song!
* According to a good friend of mine, Emily Javier, from Toronto, Canada, "Sapang Bato," which means "Stone River," was one of the poorest small-towns from the province of Pampanga, where Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) was originally from.
** Rice is the staple for many Asians, not just Filipinos. Almost half the people in the world - most of them in Asia, but including millions in Africa and South America - eat rice at least once a day. About 3 billion people depend on rice for their survival.
*** Chicken Adobo is a delicious spicy chicken dish, primarily cooked in vinegar and soy sauce.
**** In the Philippines, it is not uncommon for Filipinos to use their hands when eating (handwashing is done beforehand, of course!), especially for those who cannot yet affford to purchase dining utensils. There is a first-class restaurant now in the country, called "Kamayan" ("Kamay" refers hands) where the customers are # - allowed to eat their food with their hands.
# - Allowed, not required, as corrected by Bernadette Angeli P. Ybañez, aka "bapy71782" of Manila, Philippines.
^^ Soft-boiled eggs containing partially developed duck embryo, featured on the show, "Fear Factor" (NBC). Many Filipinos enjoy eating "balut," but because it is an acquired taste, those who have not tried it, avoid it.
[Will]
Filipino (4x)
bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) you are... Filipino (4x)
Verse 2:
Take a closer at the beautiful Filipina/Filipino people I can never get enough of your grace I can never get enough of your gentle-nature I would really like to be with you Like a house or the ^ "kubo" Your passion is really true [Will: Ha!] My/Our heart/s is/are always beating because of you. [Will: Ho!]
^ A "kubo" or a "bahay-kubo" is a type of a simple Filipino dwelling place, which can be see in rural areas; It is usually made up of wood, dried palm leaves, bamboo, and other materials.
Filipino (8x) bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are my bebot bebot bebot be (3x) You are... Filipino (4x)
Come on, if you're Filipino, shout for me! [Will: Ha!] If you possess the Filipino's beauty, shout for me! [Will: Ho!] If your life matters to you, shout for me! [Will: Ha!] Thank you for all you've done for me! [Will: Ho!]
