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The Little Prince By Antoine De Saint-Exupéry Is Now Available In Chabacano!

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While Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) written by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry in 1943 now has over 300 translations in different languages worldwide and is now considered the world’s most translated book (not counting religious works), there have been surprisingly only two translations of his book in the Philippines (Filipino and Bicol). El Diutay Principe is only the third edition featuring a Philippine language. The Little Prince is a classic French novella about a pilot who gets stranded in the desert after a plane crash and encounters a little fellow who asks him to draw a sheep for him. Through the course of their meeting, the pilot rediscovers the true meaning of life and what people should value the most. When I came across the book in 2013, I found that I could relate very well to the negative image given to “growing up” in the book. When the idea to translate the book into my mother tongue was presented to me, I didn’t think twice. I thought, ‘a lot of people my
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A Mañanita in Chabacano (Chabacano Mañanita Lyrics)

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Several years ago, my Mexican friend asked me on my birthday: te cantaron las mañanitas? I had very little knowledge about what a Mañanita was back then but now I know that we actually also have this tradition in the Philippines. In fact, there are recent videos in Youtube where they are serenading someone celebrating their birthday in different parts of the country. 

A few hours ago, I stumbled upon a video in Youtube where they are serenading the birthday celebrant in Chabacano. I remember encountering a similar video a few years ago but when I asked the owner for the lyrics, they couldn't provide them to me. This one is a different song but the audio quality is much better so I decided to transcribe it and provide the lyrics here.



Chabacano Mañanita Lyrics


Ahora taqui kame

para lleva y dale alegria

Con corazon sincero

este dia cumpleaño


Sigui kita ejemplo del Señor 

ya deja kanaton

Ansina ay vivi kita 

con harmonia aqui na mundo


Felices cumpleaño ya lang

Ojala tiene tu buen vida

Lleno de amor

Para con Dios

Ele nunca ay perde


Ama kita con unoy otro

Como ele ya dale su amor

Para kita tiene el paz

y el gracias del Señor


Kita como Cristiano

al llegar el cumpleaño

No hay rico, no hay pobre

Alegria entero mundo

Ama kita con Dios 

como ele ta ama kanaton

Y dale alabanza y recibi su bendicion


Felices cumpleaño ya lang

Ojala tiene tu buen vida

Lleno de amor

Para con Dios

Ele nunca ay perde


Ama kita con unoy otro

Como ele ya dale su amor

Para kita tiene el paz

y el gracias del Señor


Watching the different Mañanita videos online makes me feel sad because it is obviously a dying tradition. I mean how cool is it to wake up with a band serenading you! But perhaps this tradition was never popular to begin with because I don't think this was ever mentioned as part of our (borrowed) tradition in school.

Disclaimer: There may be errors in my transcription.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 1, 2023 at 10:28 PM

    So sad to know that this tradition among us chavacano is dying... I remember my grandparents during their birthdays this tradition is among those treat when celebrating their compleanyos I wish i could surprise my parents in their special day...

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