The ingratitude of Cebuanos to this extraordinary artist who was forced by economic circumstance to seek livelihood in Manila, to me is simply incomprehensible. Yoyoy is one of the national heroes of Cebu.
from Wiki in 2018:
Roman Tesorio Villame (November 18, 1932 – May 18, 2007), better known as Yoyoy 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 Manila on May 18, 2007.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Notable works
3 Death
4 Personal life
5 Discography
6 Television
7 Filmography
8 References
9 External links
Early life
Villame was the youngest of ten children of a fisherman father and fishseller mother. He started composing songs for the Boy Scouts in his elementary days. Dropping out after his second year in high school, Villame enlisted to become a soldier-trainee of the Philippine Army. Being unhappy in his post in Pampanga, he asked for a discharge after the surrender of rebel leader Luis Taruc. He became 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 only to lose, reportedly due to his strong Visayan accent.[1]
In 1965, Villame went back to Bohol to become a bus driver, where he formed a rondalla band with some fellow drivers; he sang and played the mandolin. His 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 Villame 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.[2]
Villame 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.[3]
Notable works
Villame blended Filipino folk melodies, popular tunes and nursery rhymes for his music and then added witty, comedic 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.[citation needed]
His most popular song was "Butse Kik", a song written from made-up Chinese-sounding words which Villame 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; it borrowed from the tune of Dee Dee Sharp's "Baby Cakes", a 1962 hit. 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 in the song.[1] The song was actually released by Villame earlier in his career originally under the title "Vietcong Palagdas" with the Embees and the MB Rondalla Band through Kinampay Records.[4]
Villame wrote "Philippine Geography", which lists 77 major islands, provinces, cities, municipalities, and towns in the Philippines from north to south. He also established a love team with "Barok Labs Dabiana" and celebrated his fisherman father with "Piyesta ng Mga Isda". His song "Take It, Take It" ("Pasko ng Fiasco") took potshots at the Manila Film Festival scam in the 1990s. He 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 Award for "Piyesta ng mga Isda" at 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'.[citation needed]
Villame began making film 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, he played a Visayan troubadour in the critically acclaimed film, Babae sa Breakwater ("Woman of the Breakwater"). In doing over 50 films, 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 film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, while his songs landed in the soundtrack for the film Pepot Artista.[1]
He moved to Las Piñas City, where he became a city councilor for ten years. He then ran for vice-mayor in 1995 but lost.[5]
Death
Villame died of cardiac arrest on May 18, 2007.
Personal life
Villame lived with his wife Tessie and their six children.
Discography
Kinabuhing Bol-Anon 1971 Kinampay Records
with the Embees and the MB Liner Rondalla
"Magellan"
"Alimukoy"
"Manoy"
"Cora"
"Pagkatam-is"
"Dagohoy"
"Mag-exercise Ta"
"Pastilan Anak"
"Birth Control"
"Biotlogy"
"Vietcong Palagdas"
"Palagdas March"
I Shall Return 1972 Kinampay Records
"I Shall Return"
"Columbus"
"Tiny Bubbles"
"Ang Perlas"
"Tsuper ng Jeepney"
"Pailub Lang Pinangga"
"Kinabuhing Bol-Anon"
"Kinhason"
"Gobiyerno sa Kadagatan"
"Malipayon ang Takna"
"Crabs Administration"
"Wa Na Gyud"
The Third Of Yoyoy (Ay Loleng) 1972 Kinampay Records
"Painitan"
"Kumbera"
"Ay Loleng"
"Batasan Nga Bag-O"
"Ampong Sugarol"
"Ani-a Si Rosita"
"Vietnam Rose"
"Caingit Rock"
"Sa Idad Pa Ako'g Sixteen"
"Mga Bu-otan"
"Paregla sa Mga Batan-on"
"Basta"
When Christmas Comes 1973 Kinampay Records
"When December Comes"
"Pinaskohan Ni Lolo Ug Lola"
"Kuliling Ding Dong"
"Pasko Na Pod"
"Pobreng Manaygunay"
"Maayong Pasko"
"Misterios Ni Herodes"
"Mga Pastores Kong Kauban"
"Away Im A Manger"
"Tala Na Mag-Ambahon"
"Pinaskohan Sa Akong Trato"
"Viva! Viva!"
Yoyoy 1977 Plaka Pilipino Records
"Mag-exercise Tayo"
"Philippine Geography"
"Nasaan Ka Darling?"
"Mentras Lariang"
"Bukonut Woman"
"Bungalow"
"Tarzan at Barok"
"Exercise Boogie"
"Welcome Balikbayan"
"Oh! My Sweet"
"Kanser"
Yoyoy Is Barok 1978 Plaka Pilipino Records
"Granada"
"Kaming Mga Waiter"
"Trapik"
"I'll Never Love Again"
"Awit Na Kanta"
"Bombero"
"Pangako ng Boy Scout"
"Sabi Barok Lab Ko Dabiana"
"Biyenan"
"Bus Driver Boogie"
"Playboy"
"Diklamasyon"
Gi-Indyan 1978 Plaka Pilipino Records
Pagkamingaw
Ikaw
Hikalimti Na Lang
Kilum-Kilum
Pasyensya Mga Batig Nawong
Gi-indyan
Lorena
Gugmang Dinalian
Mag-flower Dance Kita
Hain Na
Bayle Sa Tibuok Kalibutan
Leonora
Tigmo 1980 Plaka Pilipino Records
Tigmo
Ambot Lucila
Dalawidaw
Gue Kha Guid
Butse Kik
Ngano
Gaksa Ako
Duso-Duso Butong
Dinhi Ning Yuta Daghang Yawa
Kan-on Pa
Harana ni Yoyoy 1981 Sunshine Records
Harana
Pagbu-otan Baya Day
Dalagang Banikahon
Bisan
Ikaw Ang Bulak
Hangtud Kanus-a
Pasalyo-Anay Lang Ta
Pinangga Ko
Salig Na Pinangga
Gugmang Matinumanon
Best of Yoyoy 1982 Vicor/Sunshine Records
Da, Da, Da (Tsismis)
Mag-exercise Tayo
Tarzan at Barok
Granada
Si Felimon
Butse Kik
Hayop Na Combo
Magellan
Philippine Geography
Nasaan Ka Darling?
Nasalisihan
Bungalow
Sion..,'Tion
Tang-go
The Best of Yoyoy Part 2 1982 Vicor/Sunshine Records
The Teacher And The Pupils
The Bible
Trapik
Exercise Boogie
Mr. Robot-Bot
Diklamasyon
ABC and the Music
Happy Birthday
Kaming Mga Waiter
Buhay At Pag-ibig ni Barok
Wise (Lies)
Gusot Na Rin
Mac-Arthur and Dagohoy 1991 Sunshine Records
Djing-Djing
Ay Loling
Alimukoy Waltz
Hala Charing
Kondansoy
Cora
I Shall Return
Painitan
Lusay Waltz
Dagohoy
Pastilan Anak
Kinilao
Kudeta ni Bonifacio 1988 Sunshine Records
Kudeta Ni Bonifacio
Huwag 'Yan
Eklipse
Hey
My Country, Philippines
I'm Sorry
Alam Mo
Sikat Na Pangit
Lucila
T.N.T - U.S.A
Balikbayan
Ako'y Babalik
Tirana, My Dear 1988 Sunshine Records
Kudeta Ni Bonifacio (Visaya)
Ayaw Na (Huwag 'Yan)
Eklipse (Visaya)
Kahayag Sa Kangitngit
Islahano
(Visaya)
I Know (Visaya)
Lu-oy
My Country, Philippines
Tirana (Visayan Folk Song)
Barsi
Hey (Visaya)
Television
T.O.D.A.S (IBC 13)
Alabang Girls (TV5)
Toink: Hulog Ng Langit (GMA 7)
Doon Po Sa Amin (RPN 9)
Eat Bulaga (RPN 9, ABS-CBN, GMA 7)
Milyonaryong Mini (with Max Surban) (ABS-CBN Regional)
Bubble Gang (GMA 7) - guest/himself
Maynila(GMA 7)
Idol Ko Si Kap (GMA 7)
Magpakailanman (GMA 7) - His role played by comedian Jimmy Santos
Hokus Pokus (GMA 7) - His last TV role
Tunay Na Buhay (GMA 7) - Posthumously Featured
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)
Dabiana and Barok (1980)
Ang Sisiw Ay Osang Agila (1979)
Anino sa Villa Lagrimas (1976)
Pepe and Pilar (1975)
Enter Garote (1974)
Batul of Mactan (1974)
Biktima (1974)
Isprakenhayt (1973)
Abogado de Campanilla (1973)
Prinsipe Abante (1973)
"Sinbad" The Tailor (1973)
Telebong, Telebong, Telebong (1973)
Cariñosa (1973)
Los Compadres (1973)
Eh, Kasi Bisaya (1972)
Isla Limasawa (1972)