Video
Lyrics & translation
Pagkatapos kong magalmusal ng pandesal ‘tsaka tapsilog
After finishing my pandesal and tapsilog
Ay lalabas ako ng bahay upang magmaneho ng taxi ko
I leave home and get ready to drive my taxi
At itong pagbiyahe ko upang kumita ng salapi
The purpose of this trip is to make money, naturally
At baka sakaling makabili ng bahay na malaki
And maybe if I get lucky I can buy a big house[1]Sarcastic, obviously.
Unang passenger isang mukhang mayaman na lasing
My first passenger is a drunk man who looks rich
Di siya magalang napakayabang at amoy alak na
He was rude, arrogant and smelled like wine
Kasing-gasing[2]This word is very interesting. I heard the “g” clearly but was very unsure about it. It’s obviously there though, the previous word is kasing, so the difference is extremely clear; native speaker also confirms she hears “gasing”. I entertained a lot of possibilities here: 1. that he might have meant “gassing” as in “filling up my taxi was hard (due to lack of funds)”; 2. that he might have actually meant kasing, but it makes no sense. You can’t have kasing ng, you need a word in between. I asked a few natives who all did not know. After doing some more online research, I noticed kasing-kasing in a Cebuano dictionary, meaning “heart”. I originally had the “kasing” on the line above, but decided that this is the most likely answer. However, I’m very much up to discuss it in the comments or via email if you think I’m wrong. ng mga gipit, kulang binayad wala man lang tip!
He looks rich but acts broke…he didn’t pay for his whole trip; no tip!
Kakabadtrip, pwede ba sa susunod sumakay ka na lang ng jeep
Shitty experience, next time take a jeep instead![3]Cheapest transportation in Metro Manila, full name *jeepney*. Costs around ₱6 per ride, while a taxi to go the same distance will be ₱100.
Ikalawang pasahero binibining estranhero
Second passenger: a foreign-looking woman
Sa suot niyang miniskirt gumaling ang aking pagkabolero
Her miniskirt excited my inner playboy[4]Or perhaps “awoke” or even “spurred on”. Literally, “The miniskirt she was wearing made my playboyness come out.”
Nagpahatid siya sa Monumento, binayad niya ay limang daan
She sent me to Monumento, and paid a ₱500 note[5]This would be a very high fare, even during high congestion.
“Keep the change!”
Sabi ko, “napakasuwerte ko naman?”
I said, “I can’t believe my luck!”
Manananghalian na muna ako, pahinga di na muna ko babiyahe
I ate dinner and took a rest, no need to work so hard the rest of the day![6]This is more implied than stated outright.
Nang may napansin ako sa limang daan na binayad ng babae
Then I noticed something about the ₱500 she passed me…
Kaya pala “keep the change”! Peke pala ‘yung limang daan!
Oh, that’s why she said “keep the change”! This ₱500 is fake!
Pag nakita-kita ulit ika’y aking kakantahan
If I see you again, I’ll sing you those last lines![7]Literally, “I’ll sing you my song,” but in context, he means he’ll accuse her of giving him fake money, essentially.
[CHORUS]
‘Andito na ang inyong gwapong-gwapong taxi driver!
Your very handsome taxi driver has arrived!
Handa kayong ipagmaneho? “Hello, ma’am? Hi, sir?”
Are you all ready to go?[8]This is more natural, but it’s literally “Are you ready for me to drive for you?” “Hello, ma’am? Hi, sir?”
Liko dito, liko here, liko-liko there
Turn left, turn right, turn twice[9]Literally “Turn here, turn here, take a (short) detour there.” Another possibility I considered is: “A shortcut here, a shortcut there; a winding detour there!” but I felt that “turn twice”, even if not literally the meaning, fits the reduplication better.
Pwede ring dirediretso, basta ‘wag lang sa pader!
Of course, I can even go straight there, just not into a wall!
‘Andito na ang inyong gwapong-gwapong taxi driver!
Your very handsome taxi driver has arrived!
Handa kayong ipagmaneho? “Hello, ma’am? Hi, sir?”
Are you all ready to go? “Hello, ma’am? Hi, sir?”
Bababa ba? Teka, gilid-gilid lang ako
You’re getting off now? OK wait, I’ll pull over.
Bago niyo ako layasan iabot niyong bayad niyo!
Before you run off, hand over your fare!
Isang lola ang naisakay ko na kung makatingin ay makamandag[10]Interesting grammar. Literally “When she was able to see me, [her gaze] was venomous.”
A grandma gets on who gives me the evil eye
Sa kamadali niyang magbayad naiwan niya ang kanyang bag
She pays in a hurry and leaves behind her bag
What? Ano ang laman ng bag, dali-daling binulatlat
What’s inside this bag? I quickly look through it…
‘Kala ko pera yung pala tiyanak so, tinapon ko sa tapat
Meh, not money, just a goblin,[11]Costume, based on video context. so I threw it out the window
Ng kambingan at tindahan ng gamot saka bulaklak
Next, a kambingan,[12]Restaurant specializing in the dish kalderetang kambing. then a drugstore, then a florist
Nang sa taxi ko ay may biglang kumatok, napakalampag
Back in my taxi, there’s a sudden knock-knock-knock
Isang mamang malaki katawan na semipanot ang gupit
A big dude with a balding head[13]Due to old age implied. stands outside
May kasama siya na dalawang seksing bebot, ang lupit
He had two sexy ladies with him, what an outrage!
Ngunit bakit sa aking sakay? Di ako mapalagay
Why my taxi? I’m feeling uncomfortable
Ako’y tinutukan ng baril, ang sabi nya? “Holdup to, taas kamay!”
He shoves a gun in my face and says, “This is a holdup, hands up!”
‘Naku,[14]Shortened form of hay, naku! Translation is entirely context-dependent and depends even on tone of voice. patay! Holdupper pala itong naisakay ko na semipanot
Damn, I’m gonna die! My balding passenger is a thief!
Paano na yan? Wala pa kong kita kalalabas ko pa lang. Eh di lagot
How could this happen? I’ve no money, I just got on the road. I’m a goner![15]Eh di lagot is like the more common phrase Eh di wow. I thought this may have been posed as a question (“Eh, di lagot?” meaning perhaps “Maybe it’s a good thing [I don’t have anything to give them]?”), but a native speaker corrected me. It’s more like “Eh hindi, lagot na ako“.
Mabuti nalang ay may biglang dumaang mobile patrol
Fortunately, I suddenly see a police car on the road
Silang tatlo ngayon ay nasukol at sa kulungan sila nagmaktol
The three of them are handcuffed and get sent to jail
Pinagtanggol ako ni Lord at sila’y kalaboso na
The Lord protected me, they’re now in prison
Oy, panot, one time lang sa bumbunan, pakutos muna?
Hey, baldy, can I slap your head[16]Bumbunan is almost always used for babies, so it’s particularly emasculating here in a way the English translation doesn’t really match. just once?
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo iniikot ko
From Batanes to Jolo[17]This is a joke and would not be possible. Both are small islands, one at the very north of the Philippines, the other at the very south. is my range
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao ay nililibot ko
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, I visit each one by one
Minsan para bang gusto ko nang tumawid ng ibang bansa
Sometimes when I feel like it, I drive my taxi in foreign countries
Kapag may nanghuli ng taxi ko, sa kanya ko ibabangga
If someone runs without paying, I’ll just run him over!
Simula!
Start!
Marikina, Katipunan, San Juan, UP, Kalayaan
Pagliko ko, sa
When I turn…
Litex, Kanan, Commonwealth, Novaliches, Bayan
Montalban, Angono, Cogeo, San Mateo, Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta
Valenzuela, Tondo, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Malanday, Malinta
Diliman, Quezon at (and) Timog!
Cubao, Makati at buong EDSA
Cubao, Makati and all of EDSA[18]Most important road in Metro Manila.
Bicutan, Taguig, Alabang, Pasig, Pasay at (and) Mall of Asia
Welcome Rotonda, diretso sa Recto
Welcome Rotonda, straight to Recto
Sa dating hotel kung saan puwede pumuwesto
At the site of the former hotel where I can park for free
Simbahan ng Quiapo, Baclaran, Batasan
Quiapo Church, Baclaran, Batasan
Payatas, Sandigan[19]Short for Sandiganbayan, a major court in the Philippines tasked with trying all cases of corruption; the Quezon City neighborhood around it is unofficially called Sandigan. at (and) Ever Gotesco
Boni, Magallanes, Sucat, Parañaque, España, Luneta, Laloma, Malate
Sa 7-11 kumakaway sakin na magisang nakatayo na lalaki
At 7-11, a man standing on his own calls out to me.
Isasakay ko na ‘to. Last na ‘to, isa na lang
I’ll take this guy. One last passenger, just one.
Saan kayo,[20]In formal speech, it’s okay to use a plural pronoun for a single person, however usually we’d expect po as well. This might be a joke, therefore, given the previous line. boss?
Where to, boss?
“Sa heaven tayo!”
“We’re going to heaven!”
‘Wag muna, saka na lang!
Not yet! Maybe next time!
[REPEAT CHORUS]
TL Notes
| ↑1 | Sarcastic, obviously. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | This word is very interesting. I heard the “g” clearly but was very unsure about it. It’s obviously there though, the previous word is kasing, so the difference is extremely clear; native speaker also confirms she hears “gasing”. I entertained a lot of possibilities here: 1. that he might have meant “gassing” as in “filling up my taxi was hard (due to lack of funds)”; 2. that he might have actually meant kasing, but it makes no sense. You can’t have kasing ng, you need a word in between. I asked a few natives who all did not know. After doing some more online research, I noticed kasing-kasing in a Cebuano dictionary, meaning “heart”. I originally had the “kasing” on the line above, but decided that this is the most likely answer. However, I’m very much up to discuss it in the comments or via email if you think I’m wrong. |
| ↑3 | Cheapest transportation in Metro Manila, full name *jeepney*. Costs around ₱6 per ride, while a taxi to go the same distance will be ₱100. |
| ↑4 | Or perhaps “awoke” or even “spurred on”. Literally, “The miniskirt she was wearing made my playboyness come out.” |
| ↑5 | This would be a very high fare, even during high congestion. |
| ↑6 | This is more implied than stated outright. |
| ↑7 | Literally, “I’ll sing you my song,” but in context, he means he’ll accuse her of giving him fake money, essentially. |
| ↑8 | This is more natural, but it’s literally “Are you ready for me to drive for you?” |
| ↑9 | Literally “Turn here, turn here, take a (short) detour there.” Another possibility I considered is: “A shortcut here, a shortcut there; a winding detour there!” but I felt that “turn twice”, even if not literally the meaning, fits the reduplication better. |
| ↑10 | Interesting grammar. Literally “When she was able to see me, [her gaze] was venomous.” |
| ↑11 | Costume, based on video context. |
| ↑12 | Restaurant specializing in the dish kalderetang kambing. |
| ↑13 | Due to old age implied. |
| ↑14 | Shortened form of hay, naku! Translation is entirely context-dependent and depends even on tone of voice. |
| ↑15 | Eh di lagot is like the more common phrase Eh di wow. I thought this may have been posed as a question (“Eh, di lagot?” meaning perhaps “Maybe it’s a good thing [I don’t have anything to give them]?”), but a native speaker corrected me. It’s more like “Eh hindi, lagot na ako“. |
| ↑16 | Bumbunan is almost always used for babies, so it’s particularly emasculating here in a way the English translation doesn’t really match. |
| ↑17 | This is a joke and would not be possible. Both are small islands, one at the very north of the Philippines, the other at the very south. |
| ↑18 | Most important road in Metro Manila. |
| ↑19 | Short for Sandiganbayan, a major court in the Philippines tasked with trying all cases of corruption; the Quezon City neighborhood around it is unofficially called Sandigan. |
| ↑20 | In formal speech, it’s okay to use a plural pronoun for a single person, however usually we’d expect po as well. This might be a joke, therefore, given the previous line. |