Manang Biday


Manang Biday is a traditional Ilocano folksong in Northern Luzon particularly in the province of Ilocos. This song implies the courtship of a young maiden named Manang Biday. Serenading a love interest is a custom of the Filipinos. Until today, it is still practiced by the Ilocano. It is also a courtship dance.

Lyrics

Original Lyrics

Original Ilocano Lyrics
Manang Biday, ilukatmo man

Ta bintana ikalumbabam

Ta kitaem ‘toy kinayawan

Ay, matayakon no dinak kaasian
Siasinnoka nga aglabaslabas

Ditoy hardinko pagay-ayamak

Ammom ngarud a balasangak

Sabong ni lirio, di pay nagukrad
Denggem, ading, ta bilinenka

Ta inkanto ‘diay sadi daya

Agalakanto’t bunga’t mangga

Ken lansones pay, adu a kita
No nababa, dimo gaw-aten

No nangato, dika sukdalen

No naregreg, dika piduten

Ngem labaslabasamto met laeng
Daytoy paniok no maregregko

Ti makapidut isublinanto

Ta nagmarka iti naganko

Nabordaan pay ti sinanpuso
Alaem dayta kutsilio

Ta abriem ‘toy barukongko

Tapno maipapasmo ti guram

Kaniak ken sentimiento

English translation

Dear Biday, please open

Open your window

So you can see the one who adores you

Oh, I will die if you will not care
Who are you who keeps passing by?

In my garden where I play

You know I'm a lady

My flowers has not bloomed
Listen my dear so I can tell you

Just go south

Get a mango fruit

Even lanzones and other kinds.
If it's low, do not grab it

If it's high, don't reach for it

If it fell, don't pick it

But pass by it
My handkerchief if I drop it

Whoever finds it will return it

My name is written in it

Also embroidered is a heart
Get that knife

To open my chest

To pass your anger

to me and sadness

In popular culture

On July 4, 1954, Filipina actress Gloria Romero played the role of Biday in the movie Dalagang Ilokana with Filipino actor Ric Rodrigo. The movie was produced by Sampaguita Pictures and the folksong Manang Biday was used as a theme song sung by Gloria Romero herself.
Manang Biday was a title of a Filipino Comedy film directed by Tony Cayado and was released by Lea Productions 17 April 1966 starring Amalia Fuentes and Luis Gonzales.