Charmed Life

Gretheline Genciana Ramos-Bolandrina

"Filipino Baby"

"She's my Filipino baby
She's my treasure and my pet
Her teeth are bright and pearly
And her hair is black as jet
Oh, her lips are sweet as honey
And her heart is true I know
She's my darlin' little Filipino Baby"

Not my usual opening, I know. I have several "in the works" Charmed Life article ideas I've been tinkering with, here and there, and in the whole year I've been contributing to Carousel Pinoy and Planet Philippines, I've played around with so many choices. I'm grateful to Tito Terry for giving me the free reign on what to express my thoughts on. Though I've missed a couple of deadlines, I am constantly jotting down ideas in my planner and also taking mental notes. I was all set to do "words" but couldn't really sit down and get motivated enough. It will have to wait. As serendipity would have it, working 3-11 PM at SunBridge a week ago, I took care of this cheerful subacute patient. She has rheumatoid arthritis but "Young at heart" is how she describes herself. She's fascinated by my name, to quote "how charming, I've never met anyone by that name." You have a beautiful smile, she enthusiastically quips and then she inquired if I had German heritage. No, I responded "Filipino." This then brought us to her, at 10:30 PM singing me this song which I found wonderful and just had to share it with you. Did a bit of research, as my cheerful patient did say, "it was by a country singer, I used to play the guitar and my sister and I would sing it till the cows came home, honey, that was way long before you were born!" Said it with a bit of Southern twang. She certainly made my evening :) Hoping you find a way to listen to it and let the happy feeling glow big enough to share with others.

ERNEST TUBB's GOLDEN FAVORITES Adapted from a song written by Charles K. Harris during the Spanish-American War.
Artist: Ernest Tubb Tabs/Chords
Song: Filipino Baby
Writers: Billy Cox and Clarke Van Ness

[C] When the warships left Ma-[C7] nil-a
Sailing [F] proudly o'er the sea,
All the [C] sailor's hearts were [D] filled with fond re-[G7] gret
Looking [C] backward to this is-[C7] land
Where they [F] spent such happy hours
Making [G7] love to every pretty girl they [C] met.

When up stepped a little sailor with his bright eyes all aglow
Sayin, "Take a look at my gal's photograph"
Then the sailors gathered round him just look upon her face
And he said, "I love my Filipino Baby."

CHORUS
[C] She's my Filipino [C7] baby
She's my [F] treasure and my pet
Her [C] teeth are bright and pearly
And her [D] hair is black as [G7] jet
Oh, her [C] lips are sweet as [C7] honey
And her [F] heart is true I know
She's my [G7] darlin' little Filipino [C] Baby.

In a little rustic cottage in the far off Philippines
Dwells a pretty little maiden all alone
She is thinking of her true love, though he's far across the sea
And her heart beats true for him and him alone.

Then one day he whispered, "Darlin' I've come back from Caroline
I've come back to claim the only girl I love
Then that night there was a wedding while the ship's crew gathered 'round
And he wed his little Filipino Baby.

CHORUS

Feel free to e-mail me reactions, comments and or suggestions for ideas to ponder. Contact me at Gretheline@aol.com or through Carousel Productions.