Yoyoy Villame

Catholic Man
Catholic Man
Birth name	Roman Tesorio Villame
Born	November 18, 1932; Calape, Bohol, Philippine Islands
Died	Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.; Las Piñas, Metro Manila,Philippines
Genres	Novelty music
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, comedian, actor, politician
Instruments	Vocals, Bandurria
Years active	1972–2004
Associated acts	Max Surban

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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.

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 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, He 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 landed in the soundtrack for the movie 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 some five hours after being rushed to the Las Piñas Medical Center complaining of chest pains on May 18, 2007.

Personal life

Villame lived with his wife Tessie and their six children, singer Hannah Villame, Apple, Olivia, Roman Jr., Ruel Villame, Lillian and John. His grandchildren are Rich Villame, Rue Shell Auxilian, Jm Villame, Jan Kevin and Emmanuel Santos established names for themselves in the rock music scene and described their melodic emo sound as reminiscent of their grandfather's.

LP & CD albums with tracks

NOTE: They are also available on CD, vinyl LP, reel-to-reel tape, cassette, 8TRACK tape and on digital format.

Kinabuhing Bol-Anon (1971) [Kinampay Records]

With the Embees and the MB Liner Rondalla

1. Magellan
2. Alimukoy
3. Manoy
4. Cora
5. Pagkatam-is
6. Dagohoy
7. Mag-exercise Ta
8. Pastilan Anak
9. Birth Control
10. Biotlogy
11. Vietcong Palagdas
12. Palagdas March

I Shall Return [Kinampay Records]

1. I Shall Return
2. Columbus
3. Tiny Bubbles
4. Ang Perlas
5. Tsuper Ng Jeepney
6. Pailub Lang Pinangga
7. Kinabuhing Bol-Anon
8. Kinhason
9. Gobiyerno Sa Kadagatan
10. Malipayon Ang Takna
11. Crabs Administraton
12. Wa Na Gyud

The Third Of Yoyoy (Ay Loleng) [Kinampay Records]

1. Painitan
2. Kumbera
3. Ay Loleng
4. Batasan Nga Bag-O
5. Ampong Sugarol
6. Ani-a Si Rosita
7. Vietnam Rose
8. Caingit Rock
9. Sa Idad Pa Ako'g Sixteen
10. Mga Bu-otan
11. Paregla Sa Mga Batan-on
12. Basta

When Christmas Comes (1973) [Kinampay Records)

1. When December Comes
2. Pinaskohan Ni Lolo Ug Lola
3. Kuliling Ding Dong
4. Pasko Na Pod
5. Pobreng Manaygunay
6. Maayong Pasko
7. Misterios Ni Herodes
8. Mga Pastores Kong Kauban
9. Away Im A Manger
10. Tala Na Mag-Ambahon
11. Pinaskohan Sa Akong Trato
12. Viva! Viva!

Yoyoy (1977) [Plaka Pilipino Records]

1. Mag-exercise Tayo
2. Philippine Geography
3. Nasaan Ka Darling?
4. Mentras Lariang
5. Bukonut Woman
6. Bungalow
7. Tarzan at Barok
8. Exercise Boogie
9. Welcome Balikbayan
10. Oh! My Sweet
11. Kanser

Yoyoy Is Barok (1978) [Plaka Pilipino Records]

1. Granada
2. Kaming Mga Waiter
3. Trapik
4. I'll Never Love Again
5. Awit Na Kanta
6. Bombero
7. Pangako Ng Boy Scout
8. Sabi Barok Lab Ko Dabiana
9. Biyenan
10. Bus Driver Boogie
11. Playboy
12. Diklamasyon

Gi-Indyan (1978) [Plaka Pilipino Records]

1. Pagkamingaw
2. Ikaw
3. Hikalimti Na Lang
4. Kilum-Kilum
5. Pasyensya Mga Batig Nawong
6. Gi-indyan
7. Lorena
8. Gugmang Dinalian
9. Mag-flower Dance Kita
10. Hain Na
11. Bayle Sa Tibuok Kalibutan
12. Leonora

Harana Ni Yoyoy (1981) [Sunshine Records]

1. Harana
2. Pagbu-otan Baya Day
3. Dalagang Banikahon
4. Bisan
5. Ikaw Ang Bulak
6. Hangtud Kanus-a
7. Pasalyo-Anay Lang Ta
8. Pinangga Ko
9. Salig Na Pinangga
10. Gugmang Matinumanon

Tigmo (1980) [Plaka Pilipino Records]

1. Tigmo
2. Ambot Lucila
3. Dalawidaw
4. Gue Kha Guid
5. Butse Kik
6. Ngano
7. Gaksa Ako
8. Duso-Duso Butong
9. Dinhi Ning Yuta Daghang Yawa
10. Kan-on Pa

Best of Yoyoy [Vicor/Sunshine Records]

1. Da, Da, Da (Tsismis)
2. Mag-exercise Tayo
3. Tarzan at Barok
4. Granada
5. Si Felimon
6. Butse Kik
7. Hayop Na Combo
8. Magellan
9. Philippine Geography
10. Nasaan Ka Darling?
11. Nasalisihan
12. Bungalow
13. Sion..,'Tion
14. Tang-go

The Best of Yoyoy Part 2 [Vicor/Sunshine Records]

1. The Teacher And The Pupils
2. The Bible
3. Trapik
4. Exercise Boogie
5. Mr. Robot-Bot
6. Diklamasyon
7. ABC and the Music
8. Happy Birthday
9. Kaming Mga Waiter
10. Buhay At Pag-ibig ni Barok
11. Wise (Lies)
12. Gusot Na Rin

Mac-Arthur and Dagohoy (1991) [Sunshine Records]

1. Djing-Djing
2. Ay Loling
3. Alimukoy Waltz
4. Hala Charing
5. Kondansoy
6. Cora
7. I Shall Return
8. Painitan
9. Lusay Waltz
10. Dagohoy
11. Pastilan Anak
12. Kinilao

Kudeta ni Bonifacio (1988) [Sunshine Records]

1. Kudeta Ni Bonifacio
2. Huwag 'Yan
3. Eklipse
4. Hey
5. My Country, Philippines
6. I'm Sorry
7. Alam Mo
8. Sikat Na Pangit
9. Lucila
10. T.N.T - U.S.A
11. Balikbayan
12. Ako'y Babalik

Tirana, My Dear (1988) [Sunshine Records]

1. Kudeta Ni Bonifacio (Visaya)
2. Ayaw Na (Huwag 'Yan)
3. Eklipse (Visaya)
4. Kahayag Sa Kangitngit
5. Islahanon
6. I'm Sorry (Visaya)
7. I Know (Visaya)
8. Lu-oy
9. My Country, Philippines
10.Tirana (Visayan Folk Song)
11.Barsi
12.Hey (Visaya)

Television

Doon Po Sa Amin (RPN 9)
Milyonaryong Mini (with Max Surban) (ABS-CBN Regional)

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
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)

References

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External links

Yoyoy Villame at the Internet Movie Database
Obituary

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