The song Pitong Gatang humorously speaks of neighbourhood tales, those spun and told among tambays or buddies while having rounds of beer or hard liquor.
The song is dear to my heart because the neighbourhood where I grew up was nicknamed Pitong Gatang by the grown up men. It was a small enclave which sat around my Aunt's property, and also called Blue Water because of its proximity to the Pasig River.
Those where the days when there was no drug (shabu) problem, no home invasion, tricycles were unknown, when jeepney plying the Punta-Quiapo route cost 20 centavos and jeepneys were only 8-seaters, and when the first heinous crime - the RCA robbery and axe murder- took place (in 1963).
The crime was later made into a movie by the movie outfit, Dalisay Pictures.
Cousin Gil loves to sing this song in his gigs and at home parties, and happily annoys his female sisters and cousins as he reverts to this song over and over. And my late uncle, Tio Peping, used to sing it during drinking sprees.
Pitong Gatang evokes the simpleness of Filipino life back then, its simple woes and camaraderie among magkakapitbahay (neighbours).
PITONG GATANG
by Fred Panopio
Dito sa Pitong Gatang, sa tabi ng Umbuyan
May mga kasaysayan akong nalalaman
Ito ay hindi tsismis, napag-uusapan lang
Yo de le hi ho, walang labis , walang kulang
May isang munting tindahan sa bukana ng Umbuyan
At sa kanto ng kalye Pitong Gatang
Dito ay nag-uumpukan ang ilang pilyong istambay
Na walang hanapbuhay kundi ganyan
Ito ay hindi tsismis, napag-uusapan lang
Yo de le hi ho, walang labis , walang kulang
Ngunit bakit mayroong tao na katulad kong usyoso
At sa buhay ng kapwa'y usisero
Kung pikon ang iyong ugali at hindi pasensiyoso
Malamang oras-oras basag-ulo
Ito ay hindi tsismis, napag-uusapan lang
Yo de le hi ho, walang labis , walang kulang
(2x)
Yodelehihoo...
Imposible ang maglihim, kung ikaw ay mayroong secret
Sa Pitong Gatang lahat naririnig
At kung ibig mong mabuhay nang tahimik na tahimik
Mag-patay-patayan ka bawat saglit
Ito ay hindi tsismis, napag-uusapan lang
Yo de le hi ho, walang labis , walang kulang
Itong aking inaawit, ang tamaa'y huwag magalit
Ito naman ay bunga lang n'yaring isip
Ang Pitong Gatang kailanman ay di ko maiwawaglit
Tagarito ang aking iniibig
Yodelehihoo...
Yodelehi, yodelehi, oh ho yodelehihi
Oh ho yodelehihi
Watch Fred Panopio video here.
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