"Mga Awiting Batibot": Memorable Songs from an Iconic Album

Mga Awiting Batibot (Tagalog: Songs from Batibot) comprises two cassette tapes is a soundtrack collection that was released in the 1990s.

The remaining two tapes are titled Mga Kuwento ni Kuya Bodjie (Tagalog: Stories of Big Brother Bodjie) and Mga Awitin ni Pong at Kiko (Tagalog: Song of Pong and Kiko)

The soundtrack collection includes songs that were performed in the television educational show Batibot.

Photo Credit: Krazykyle - The Filipino Picker / Facebook

Photo Credit: Krazykyle - The Filipino Picker

The program remains popular mainly among Batang 80s and 90s (Eighties and Nineties Kids), who are now grown-ups.

Probably many of them have told their long-cherished Batibot memories to their own children. 

Many of the puppets and human cast members in Batibot performed the musical numbers in the said album.

The puppet characters are Pong Pagong (Pong the Turtle), Kiko Matsing (Kiko the Monkey), Irma Daldal, Ningning and Gingging.

The human cast members are Kuya Bodjie, Ate Sienna, Kuya Mario, and of course the Batibot Kids

The following is a track listing of Mga Awiting Batibot:

1.    Kung Gusto Mong Sumaya (Tagalog: If You Want to Be Happy)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna and the Batibot Kids

2.    Abakada sa Awit at Senyas (Tagalog: Alphabet in Song and Gestures)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna, Pong Pagong and the Batibot Kids

3.    Umihip Tulad Ng Hangin (Tagalog: Blow Like the Wind)

Performed by:    Ate Sienna and the Batibot Kids

4.    Bangkang Papel (Tagalog: Paper Boat)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

5.    Batibot Theme

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

6.    Kaarawan (Tagalog: Birthday)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

7.    Magbigayan (Tagalog: Give-and-Take)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

8.    Paggising Sa Umaga (Tagalog: Upon Waking Up in the Morning)

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

 

9.    Si Puti (Tagalog: White [the White Cow])

Performed by:    The Batibot Kids

 

10.    Batibot Closing Theme

Instrumental

11. Batibot Theme

Instrumental

12.    GulayYayYayYay (Tagalog: Vegetables Yay Yay Yay)

Performed by:    Irma Daldal, Ningning, and Gingging

13.    IsdaDaDa (Tagalog: Fish Da Da)

Performed by:    Irma Daldal, Ningning, and Gingging

14.    Binti Ko (Tagalog: My Leg)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie

 

15.    Mamang Kartero (Tagalog: Mister Mailman)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie

16.    Maligo Tayo (Tagalog: Let's Take a Bath)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie and the Batibot Kids

 

17.    Tweet Tweet

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and Gingging

 

18.    Tugmaan (Tagalog: Rhyming)

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and Pong Pagong

 

19.    Pagmamano (Tagalog: Kissing the Hands [of Elders])

Performed by:    Kuya Mario and the Batibot Kids

 

20.    Magandang Araw (Tagalog: Good Day)

Performed by:    Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing, Ate Sienna, Kuya Bodjie and Kuya Mario

21.    Tayo'y Kumandirit (Tagalog: Let's Hop)

Performed by:    Pong Pagong Batibot Kids

22.    Ehersisyong Sabay-Sabay (Tagalog: Exercising Simultaneously)

Performed by:    Kuya Bodjie, Batibot Kids

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

From left to right: Kuya Mario, Ate Sienna, Kiko Matsing, Pong Pagong, and Kuya Bodjie
(Photo Credit: Wazzup Pilipinas)

Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing are Muppet-style characters apparently inspired by "The Monkey and the Turtle", a Filipino fable which was annotated to English by Jose Rizal in 1889.

Ningning and Gingging in the 2010s Batibot
(Photo Credit: Batibot TV / YouTube)
 

According to a 2012 article in the Philippine Star, Ningning and Gingging are sisters based from Ernie and Bert of Sesame Street.

Irma Daldal is a loquacious actress and TV field reporter.

Although Ate Sienna (Sienna Olaso) and Kuya Mario (Junix Inocian) are still remembered by audiences, the iconic status of Kuya Bodjie (Luisito Pascua) was established by his storytelling segment in almost every episode.

As you read this post, you might still hear in your mind Kuya Bodjie's signature voice.

This unique voice brings to the stories to life, so the lesson gets ingrained in the listener's mind in a vivifying manner.

Kuya Bodjie in 2018
(Photo Credit: Cebu Daily News)

Produced by the Philippine Children's Television Foundation, Batibot was broadcast by several networks from 1985 to 2003.

After a seven-year hiatus, Batibot was briefly revived from 2010 to 2013.