Ay Ding | Manobo Songs

Ay Ding, a "lullaby for the dead," is sung only during a wake and when a baylan is present, for it attracts the evil sprits who come looking for a corpse to eat. If there is no baylan to keep the evil spirits away, and there is no dead person for the spirits to pray upon, they, attracted by the song, will not leave until they have caused someones death. The song as it was recorded by Abraham (Pfeiffer 1965) takes 1 min 42 sec to sing. Unlike other ritual songs, which are strictly chanted, Ay Ding ding has a more melodic and regular beat, giving it a songlike character. "Dingding" is an untranslatable word used to evoke pathos in a refrain.

This ritual song is also a narrative. The hunting dogs mentioned in this song are named Pulangi and Mulita, which are also the names of two main rivers in the Midsayap area. Mt Makaranding, a few kilometers away from Libungan, Cotabato, is believed tobe the giant pig referred to in this song.

Ay Dingding

Nakahi rin sa kanakan ta bai pangapug

Ka pa sugawingki't ginawa ta

Si Dingding ay Dingding

Na kahi rin an sa raha ta sakali abpangapug

kabpakaka-an

Apa tabilaw-bilawn atay

Si Dingding ay Dingding

Na ara das narinag nu na way ka ba

madpandidsul dut asunu

Si Pulangi na andu-an si Mulita

Si Dingding Dingding

Na wa ka ra makantantal

Nabpaminag kan kanakan nag gabu-an si Mulita

Si Dingding Dingding

Na way nu ba pilakaan na kay ka mapahangku

Dut saringsinga't susu nu

Si Dingding Dingding

Namidwalang das kanakan na

Midbagkas din akpali din na mibaba

rin an kas babuy ka

Babuy na makaranding

Si Dingding Dingding

Na way ka ba maduli-an

Na nak-uma ra dut taliwara dut lama

Na indadsang nu an ka babuy

na takin migkahi kaan

Ta bay pangapug ka an su ini ra buan

Andaw nkabpakakita ta

Si Dingding Dingding

Naara das narinag din na way amba mabpangapug

Na wa ka pa makapus na kahian sa kanakan

Ta bay tuliri ki pa dut taliwara dut saag

Si Dingding Dingding

Na way ka ba madtutulid

Na midiraha an sa kanakan na wa ka

Ma matao-tao

Ta barusigsig na langasa

Na nabitaw-an ka napas din

Si Dingding.

The man said, "Woman, preparethe betel chew, for we shall wed ourselves."

Dingding ay Dingding.
Answered the woman,"I will not the betel chew prepare
Until I can eat fresh pork liver." Dingding ay Dingding.
Upon hearing her demand he called his dogs,
Pulangi and also Mulita.
Dingding Dingding.

Not yet having travelled a great distance,
The young man heard the barking of his dog Mulita.
Dingding Dingding.
He gave chase and saw his prey
On top of Mt Agkir-Agkir.
Dingding Dingding.

There he speared it but he was also struck And wounded in his breast.
Dingding Dingding.
This then he did:
He bound up his wound and carried the pig,
The pig that was gigantic.Dingding Dingding.

Then he returned home; And when he arrived in the middle of the girl's yard,
He dropped the pig, then said he, "Woman, prepare the betel nut to chew
For today may be our last to see each other."
Dingding Dingding.

Hearing his request, she began to prepare the betel chew
But before it was ready she heard the young man say,
"Woman, spread a mat in the middle of the floor."
Dingding Dingding.

And so she spread the mat; And the woman and young man
Lay down, But she could not staunch the flowing blood,
So the breath departed from him. Dingding.