Sa Maybahay Ang Aming Bati

This is a very popular Christmas song in the Philippines and the top favorite when Filipinos go carolling. In fact, this song whose original title is Namamasko is all about going to someone’s house to ask for aguinaldo — a Christmas gift usually taken to mean money.

Namamasko is from the Tagalog word Pasko meaning Christmas. It’s sort of like house-visiting wassailing.

TAGALOG SONG LYRICS

Sa maybahay ang aming bati
‘Merry Christmas’ na maluwalhati
Ang pag-ibig ‘pag siyang naghari
Araw-araw ay magiging Paskong lagi

Ang sanhi po
ng pagparito
Hihingi po
ng aginaldo
Kung sakaling
kami’y perhuwisyo
Pasensya na kayo’t
kami’y namamasko.
Pasko!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

We’re wishing you at your home
A splendid ‘Merry Christmas’
When love reigns
Christmas will be everyday!

The reason we’re here
is to ask for a Christmas gift
If it happens that we’re a bother
Please bear with us for
we’re just Christmassing.
Christmas!

Sa May Bahay Ang Aming Bati…samay may bahay may bahay may bahay may bahay may bahay may bahay