Bahay Kubo (song)

"Bahay Kubo" is a Tagalog-language folk song from the lowlands of Luzon, Philippines.^[1] In 1964, it was included in a collection of Filipino folk songs compiled by Emilia S. Cavan.^[2]

Bahay Kubo
Language	Tagalog

The song is about a bahay kubo (lit. 'field house' in English), a house made of bamboo with a roof of nipa leaves, surrounded by different kind of vegetables,^[3] and is frequently sung by Filipino school children, the song being as familiar as the "Alphabet Song" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" from the West.^[4] Its composition is sometimes erroneously attributed to composer Felipe Padilla de Leon.^[5][6]

Listed plants

Common name	Species name
Jicama	Pachyrhizus erosus
Eggplant	Solanum melongena
Winged bean	Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Peanut	Arachis hypogaea
String bean	Phaseolus vulgaris
Hyacinth bean	Lablab purpureus
Madagascar bean	Phaseolus lunatus
Wax gourd	Benincasa hispida
Sponge gourd	Luffa acutangula
Birdhouse gourd	Lagenaria siceraria
White radish	Raphanus sativus
Brown mustard	Brassica juncea
Onion	Allium cepa
Tomato	Solanum lycopersicum
Garlic	Allium sativum
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Sesame	Sesamum indicum

In popular culture

Film

On 5 August 1968, Bahay Kubo, Kahit Munti was produced by Sampaguita Pictures starring Rosemarie Sonora, Blanca Gomez and Ike Lozada and was directed by Jose De Villa.^[7][8] The title was based from the lyrics of the folk song. The movie was written by German Moreno.^[9]

Music

It was interpreted in 1966 by Sylvia La Torre in her album Katuwaan.^[10] The folk song was also included in the album Bahaghari of composer Ryan Cayabyab which was sung by Lea Salonga that also includes other Filipino traditional folk songs.^[11] It was also performed by the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers during the 116th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.^[12] On February 26 and 27, 2024, Lea Salonga and The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed the song during the choirs world tour in the Philippines, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.^[13][14]

Television

During Bulagaan on Eat Bulaga in August 25, 2012, hosts Joey de Leon and Wally Bayola 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!, Jun Jun is seen singing a few lines of the song in one episode.^[15]