Black Eyed Peas - Bebot (w/ English translation)

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!]

Filipino (repeated several times...until fade)

[Fergie]

lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-loooh-wooh
lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-loooh

[The translation is coming up]

"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!]


Filipino (repeated several times...until fade)

[Fergie]

lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-loooh-wooh
lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-lalala-loooh