Yoyoy Villame
Encyclopedia
Yoyoy Villame born Roman Tesorio Villame, was a Filipino
singer, composer
, lyricist
, and comedian
. Villame was a native of Calape, Bohol
and was the father of singer Hannah Villame. He died of cardiac arrest
at the Las Piñas Medical Center in Metro Manila
on May 18, 2007.
. Being unhappy in his post in Pampanga, he asked for a discharge after the surrender of rebel leader Luis Taruc
. Roman Tesorio would become a passenger jeepney driver plying the Baclaran-Pasay Taft-Santa Cruz-Dimasalang route. During the ten years of driving jeeps, he would compete in amateur nights held at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo
but only to lose because of his strong Visayan accent.
In 1965, Roman Tesorio went back to Bohol to become a bus driver of the MB (Meneses-Butalid) Liner fleet, where he had a bus numbered 13 that plied the Tagbilaran-Ubay-Talibon route. At the bus company, Roman Tesorio formed with some fellow drivers the MBs Combo, a rondalla
band where he sang and played the mandolin. Roman Tesorio was soon invited to parties and eventually as an entertainer in fiestas, baptism, weddings, funerals and special events.
The owner of the bus company took notice of Roman Tesorio ’s efforts and set up a music studio named Kinampay Records, after a local dish, just for him. Villame's first recording was in 1972 and entitled Magellan, a parody of historicism of Ferdinand Magellan
's failed conquest of the Philippines. This became the top-selling record in the Visayas-Mindanao region. Comedian Chiquito
recognized his potential and brought Roman Tesorio to Manila to be signed to Vicor Records, which re-issued most of the Kinampay catalogue. Touring Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and other parts of Luzon helped Villame establish his name in the country.
Roman Tesorio was the first to brand his music as "novelty" to distinguish himself from his contemporaries, who tried hard to sound like Perry Como or Frank Sinatra. It was the beginning of a long list of albums and recordings of his politically inspired songs in Cebuano
, Tagalog
and English
.
His most popular song was Butsekik, a song written from made-up Chinese
-sounding words which Roman Tesorio allegedly came up with by writing down the names of Chinese stores while waiting for a mechanic to fix his broken-down jeepney in Manila's Chinatown
. The song would then be covered by a host of artists, Aiza Seguerra
and The CompanY
to name a few. The Chinese community in Cebu
felt slighted by the song but dropped plans to bring Villame to court because not a single Chinese word was included the song
.
Roman Tesorio wrote Philippine Geography, which lists 77 major islands, provinces, cities, municipalities, and towns in the Philippines from north to south. Roman Tesorio also established a love team with "Barok Labs Dabiana" and celebrated his fisherman father with "Piyesta ng Mga Isda". Hilarity was the common, as seen from his songs about cavemen ("Tarzan at Barok") or geography ("My Country, My Philippines"). His song "Take It, Take It (Pasko ng Fiasco)" took potshots at the Manila Film Festival scam in the 1990s.
Roman Tesorio made more than 25 albums and won several sales awards, among them a double platinum for his album "Tirana My Dear" and a platinum for "McArthur and Dagohoy" in 1991. He also won Best Novelty for "Piyesta ng mga Isda" in the 1993 Awit Awards. His long list of hits and his entertaining style of music earned him the title of "King of Philippine Novelty Songs".
Roman Tesorio began making movies in the early 1970s with the help of Chiquito, his first on-screen appearance was in "Isla Limasawa," where "Magellan" was used as theme song. In 2004, Roman Tesorio played a Visayan
troubadour
in the critically acclaimed movie, Babae sa Breakwater (Woman of the Breakwater). In doing over 50 movies, Villame is most noted for his role in the 1974 suspense thriller Biktima. His song "My Country, My Philippines" was played in the opening scene of the movie "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," while his songs also landed in the soundtrack for the movie "Pepot Artista".
Roman Tesorio would move to Las Piñas City
, where he became a city councilor for ten years. He then ran for vice-mayor in 1995 but lost.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
singer, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. Villame was a native of Calape, Bohol
Calape, Bohol
Calape is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 27,921 people in 5,588 households.The first settlers of Calape were said to be migrants from Cebu and other municipalities in Bohol....
and was the father of singer Hannah Villame. He died of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
at the Las Piñas Medical Center in Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
on May 18, 2007.
Early life
Roman Tesorio, youngest among ten children of a fisherman father and fishseller mother, Roman Tesorio started composing songs for the Boy Scouts in his elementary days. Dropping out after his second year in high school, Roman Tesorio enlisted to become a soldier-trainee of the Philippine ArmyPhilippine Army
The Philippine Army is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Tagalog is Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas. On July 23, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Maj. Gen...
. Being unhappy in his post in Pampanga, he asked for a discharge after the surrender of rebel leader Luis Taruc
Luis Taruc
Luis Taruc was a Filipino political figure and communist insurgent. He was the leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group between 1942 and 1954. His involvement with the movement came after his initiation to the problems of agrarian Filipinos when he was a student in the early 1930s...
. Roman Tesorio would become a passenger jeepney driver plying the Baclaran-Pasay Taft-Santa Cruz-Dimasalang route. During the ten years of driving jeeps, he would compete in amateur nights held at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo
Quiapo
Quiapo may refer to:*Quiapo, Chile a location in Arauco Province*Quiapo, Manila in the Philippines...
but only to lose because of his strong Visayan accent.
In 1965, Roman Tesorio went back to Bohol to become a bus driver of the MB (Meneses-Butalid) Liner fleet, where he had a bus numbered 13 that plied the Tagbilaran-Ubay-Talibon route. At the bus company, Roman Tesorio formed with some fellow drivers the MBs Combo, a rondalla
Rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in Catalunya, Aragon, Murcia, and Valencia...
band where he sang and played the mandolin. Roman Tesorio was soon invited to parties and eventually as an entertainer in fiestas, baptism, weddings, funerals and special events.
The owner of the bus company took notice of Roman Tesorio ’s efforts and set up a music studio named Kinampay Records, after a local dish, just for him. Villame's first recording was in 1972 and entitled Magellan, a parody of historicism of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
's failed conquest of the Philippines. This became the top-selling record in the Visayas-Mindanao region. Comedian Chiquito
Chiquito
Augusto Valdez Pangan, Sr. , better known as Chiquito, was a popular Filipino actor appearing mainly in comedy films.-Biography:...
recognized his potential and brought Roman Tesorio to Manila to be signed to Vicor Records, which re-issued most of the Kinampay catalogue. Touring Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and other parts of Luzon helped Villame establish his name in the country.
Roman Tesorio was the first to brand his music as "novelty" to distinguish himself from his contemporaries, who tried hard to sound like Perry Como or Frank Sinatra. It was the beginning of a long list of albums and recordings of his politically inspired songs in Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
, Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
and English
Philippine English
Philippine English is the variety of English used in the Philippines by the media and the vast majority of educated Filipinos. English is taught in schools as one of the two official languages of the country, the other being Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog.English is used in education,...
.
Notable works
Roman Tesorio blended Filipino folk melodies, popular tunes and nursery rhymes for his music and then added witty lyrics that mixed Tagalog, Cebuano and English in a form of grammar that he concocted. He became a national figure in 1977 with his near anthemic “Mag-exercise Tayo,” which has been adopted by government agencies and public schools as the official music for their Monday morning exercise after the flag ceremony.His most popular song was Butsekik, a song written from made-up Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
-sounding words which Roman Tesorio allegedly came up with by writing down the names of Chinese stores while waiting for a mechanic to fix his broken-down jeepney in Manila's Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
. The song would then be covered by a host of artists, Aiza Seguerra
Aiza Seguerra
Cariza Yamson Seguerra better known as Aiza Seguerra is a Filipino actress, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She traces her roots from Calauag, Quezon....
and The CompanY
The Company
The Company is a 2003 film about the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. It was released on December 26, 2003 in the United States and around the world in the first half of 2004. The movie was directed by Robert Altman and stars Neve Campbell, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film...
to name a few. The Chinese community in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
felt slighted by the song but dropped plans to bring Villame to court because not a single Chinese word was included the song
.
Roman Tesorio wrote Philippine Geography, which lists 77 major islands, provinces, cities, municipalities, and towns in the Philippines from north to south. Roman Tesorio also established a love team with "Barok Labs Dabiana" and celebrated his fisherman father with "Piyesta ng Mga Isda". Hilarity was the common, as seen from his songs about cavemen ("Tarzan at Barok") or geography ("My Country, My Philippines"). His song "Take It, Take It (Pasko ng Fiasco)" took potshots at the Manila Film Festival scam in the 1990s.
Roman Tesorio made more than 25 albums and won several sales awards, among them a double platinum for his album "Tirana My Dear" and a platinum for "McArthur and Dagohoy" in 1991. He also won Best Novelty for "Piyesta ng mga Isda" in the 1993 Awit Awards. His long list of hits and his entertaining style of music earned him the title of "King of Philippine Novelty Songs".
Roman Tesorio began making movies in the early 1970s with the help of Chiquito, his first on-screen appearance was in "Isla Limasawa," where "Magellan" was used as theme song. In 2004, Roman Tesorio played a Visayan
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
in the critically acclaimed movie, Babae sa Breakwater (Woman of the Breakwater). In doing over 50 movies, Villame is most noted for his role in the 1974 suspense thriller Biktima. His song "My Country, My Philippines" was played in the opening scene of the movie "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," while his songs also landed in the soundtrack for the movie "Pepot Artista".
Roman Tesorio would move to Las Piñas City
Las Piñas City
The City of Las Piñas is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines...
, where he became a city councilor for ten years. He then ran for vice-mayor in 1995 but lost.
Death
Roman Tesorio died of cardiac arrest some five hours after being rushed to the Las Piñas Medical Center complaining of chest pains on May 18, 2007. He is survived by his wife Tessie and six children, one of whom is singer Hannah Villame.Song Title List
- ABC and the Music
- ABC Rock
- Adlaw Gabi-I
- Ako'y Babalik
- Alimukoy
- Ano Ba 'Yan
- Aral Sa Pasko
- Awit Na Kanta
- Ay! Ay! Boholana
- Ay Loling
- Ay Ay Ay I Love You
- Ayaw Na (uses the music of Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
's Man Smart, Woman Smarter) - Balikbayan
- Ballroom Dancing
- Baranggay Tinapay
- Barok Goes to Hong Kong
- Barsi
- Bayang Mahal
- Bayle-sa Tibuok Kalibutan
- Bolare (uses the music of Domenico ModugnoDomenico ModugnoDomenico Modugno was an Italian singer, songwriter, actor, and later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu "...
's VolareVolare (song)"Nel blu dipinto di blu" , popularly known as "Volare" , is Domenico Modugno's signature song....
) - Bombero
- Bombero Rock
- Boy Scout Na Ko
- Brunei Beauty
- Bukonut Woman
- Bulkan Pinatubo
- Bungalow
- Bus Driver Boogie
- Buti Pa Magtanan
- Butse KikButse KikButse Kik is one of Yoyoy Villame's novelty songs widely regarded as one of his hits in the Philippines, and became a radio staple.The song consists of nonsense-lyrics that sound somewhat like Chinese...
- Cha Cha Han
- Cora
- Crush Ko Sya
- Da Da Da (Tsismis)
- Da Da Da (Tsismis) - Tagalog version
- Dagohoy
- Dagohoy ug Lapu-lapu Rock (w/ Max SurbanMax SurbanMaximo Surban, better known as Max is a Cebuano singer. He has been given the moniker King of Visayan Song. Like his fellow Visayan, the Bol-anon singer Yoyoy Villame, Max Surban has also become famous for his singing of so-called novelty songs which usually have humorous lyrics and may or may...
) - Diklamasyon (Magellan vs. Lapu-Lapu)
- Dinhi Ning Yuta
- Duha
- Duso-Duso Butong-Butong
- Edad 16
- Eklipse
- Eleven Indians
- Estorias Filipinas
- Estoryang Kataw-anan (w/ Max SurbanMax SurbanMaximo Surban, better known as Max is a Cebuano singer. He has been given the moniker King of Visayan Song. Like his fellow Visayan, the Bol-anon singer Yoyoy Villame, Max Surban has also become famous for his singing of so-called novelty songs which usually have humorous lyrics and may or may...
) - Exercise Boogie
- Flower Dance
- Garbo Sa Kabisayaan
- Gi-indiyan
- Granada (parody of Agustin Lara's Granada)
- Gugmang Dinalian
- Gusot Na Rin
- Hain Ka Na
- Hala Charing
- Halad Tawo
- Hangtud Kanus-A
- Happy Birthday
- Happy Happy Songs
- Hayop na Combo
- Hernando's Hideaway
- Hey! (uses the tune of Julio IglesiasJulio IglesiasJulio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
's Hey) - Hikalimti Na Lang
- Huwag Yan (uses the music of Harry Belafonte's Man Smart, Woman Smarter)
- Huweteng
- I Have Two Hands
- I Know
- I Shall Return
- I'll Never Love Again
- I'm Sorry
- Ikaw
- Ikaw Ang Bulok
- Inabanga Bohol
- Intriga
- Ipinanganak Sa Kuweba
- Islahanon
- Kahayang sa Ngitngit
- Kahit Sira
- Kaming Mga Bol-anon
- Kaming Mga Waiter
- Kan-on Pa
- Karoling-Karoling
- Kay Gikagid (Body Language)
- Kilum Kilum
- Kinilaw
- Komedi Histori
- Kondansoy (Inum Tuba Laloy)
- Kudeta ni Bonifacio
- Kuratong Baleleng
- Las Piñas
- Leonora
- Likas Yaman
- Lilibee
- Limahung
- Live-In
- Lorena
- Lucila
- Lu-oy
- Lu-oy Tawon
- Lusay
- Mag-exercise Tayo
- Mag-Flower Dance Kita
- Magellan - Yoyoy Villame
- Magellan Ug Lapu-lapu
- Magkasinabot
- Magkusad Na Ta Pe
- Magsugal Ta (w/ Max SurbanMax SurbanMaximo Surban, better known as Max is a Cebuano singer. He has been given the moniker King of Visayan Song. Like his fellow Visayan, the Bol-anon singer Yoyoy Villame, Max Surban has also become famous for his singing of so-called novelty songs which usually have humorous lyrics and may or may...
) - Manangguite
- Mangingilad
- Manok Ni San Tilmo
- Mentras Lariang
- Meri Krismas
- Metro Manila Rock
- Mr. Robotbot
- My Country, Philippines
- Naala-ala Mo Ba Giliw
- Nasaan Ka Darling
- Nasalisihan
- Naunsa Ka
- Ngano
- Noong Ako'y Bata
- Oh! My Sweet
- Oh, Palad Ko
- Pagkalalim Diay
- Pagkamingaw
- Pagtugtog Ng Kombo (uses the tune of Glenn Miller's In the Mood)
- Painitan (from the song of Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot BikiniItsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is a novelty song telling the story of a shy girl wearing a revealing polka dot bikini at the beach, who in the first verse is too afraid to leave the locker where she has changed into her bikini; in the second, she has made it to the beach but sits...
) - Pangako Ng Isang Boy Scout
- Pasensiya Mga Batig Nawong
- Paskong Masaya
- Pastilan Anak
- Pepita Bungangera
- Philippine Geography
- Pinangga Ako
- Piyesta Ng Mga Isda
- Piyesta sa Bohol
- Poor Boy
- Puppy Love
- Rapido Rock
- Repetim-Repetim
- Ring-Ting-A-Ling Dingdong
- Round Bohol Rock
- Rudolph D'Red Nose Ranger
- Sabi Barok Lab Ko Dabiana
- Sabit Sabit Sa Christmas Tree
- Sana Kung Maari Pa
- Selosa
- Sikat na Pangit
- Sion Tion
- Sugilanon sa Unang Mga Bol-anon
- Take-It Take-It
- Tarzan At Barok
- Tatay Ko
- Tekya
- Terrorist Story
- The Bible
- The Teacher and Pupils
- Threat Bomb (uses the tune of Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
' Sex Bomb) - Tili-Ling Tili-Ling
- Trapik
- Tsuper Ng Jeepney
- Tunay Na Diwa Ng Pasko
- Tunay Na Pag-ibig
- Tweedle Tweedle Dam
- Umuwi Sa Husband (uses the tune of Rafael Hernández MarínRafael Hernández MarínRafael Hernández , was one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music during the 20th century.-Early years:...
's Capullito de Aleli) - Unang Panonood Ng Sine
- Unsa Pay Akong Mahimo
- Visayang Tigas
- Welcome
- Wilma
- Wise (Lies)
- Yuta Sa Saad
Filmography
- Babae sa Breakwater (2004)
- Pepot Artista (2004)
- Sis (2001)
- Milyonaryong mini (1996)
- Tunay na magkaibigan, walang iwanan... peksman (1994)
- Once Upon A Time In Manila (1994)
- Ober Da Bakod (The Movie) (1994)
- Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag kang gamol (1991)
- Wooly Booly 2: Ang titser kong alien (1990)
- Bikining itim (1990)
- Teacher's Enemy No. 1 (1990)
- Tootsie Wootsie (1990)
- Wooly Booly: Ang classmate kong alien (1989)
- Barok Goes to Hong Kong (1984) .... Barok
- Dabiana and Barok
- Batul of Mactan (1974)
- Biktima (1974)
- Eh, kasi bisaya (1972)
- Isla Limasawa (1972)
LP ALBUMS
- Tigmo
- Gi-indiyan
- Tirana, My Dear
- Kinabuhing Bol-anon
- Mac-Arthur And Dagohoy
- YOYOY (1977)
- Yoyoy is Barok (1978)
- Kudeta ni Bonifacio
- Balikbayang Santa-Claus
- From Saudi With Love
- When Christmas Comes