Last Sunday, during the weekly variety show ASAP, song competition Himig Handog named the song Titibo-tibo (boyish) as this year’s winning piece.
The song, composed by Libertine Amistoso is about a boyish girl who starts acting more girly after meeting and eventually falling in love with a guy.
While a lot of people like the song for the quirky love story and fun beat, some are offended by its lyrics.
Tibo is a Filipino slang word that means lesbian. To be titibo-tibo can either mean to act boyish or be a lesbian, depending on how it is used.
The song, based on Amistoso’s own experiences, doesn’t delve much into the character’s sexuality but lyrics include lines that translate to:
“When we were in high school, I was friends with bi-curious women who also liked women. Instead of carrying a makeup kit, I carried a guitar and always wore long-sleeved t-shirts and faded pants.”
And: “But when I met you, I suddenly changed. I learned how to rebond (straighten) my hair and shave my eyebrows at least once a month. I don’t know what you have that made me suddenly soften, who would have thought that it’s a guy that would nab a stray tiger like me.”
Some were not happy that the song won.
RETWEET THIS IF YOURE LGBT OR straight ally AND YOU THINK TITIBO-TIBO DONT DESERVE TO WIN #HimigHandog2017onASAP
— ً (@AaronCarloocan) November 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/fkindeadbro/status/934925401968668673
People started criticizing the song before Sunday, as it started to gain popularity on the radio. Twitter user @perksofjustine dedicated a thread explaining her thoughts. Here are some of her main points.
https://twitter.com/perksofjustine/status/932947111124942848
https://twitter.com/perksofjustine/status/932947727893143552
https://twitter.com/perksofjustine/status/932948458498953217
https://twitter.com/perksofjustine/status/932949846771744776
@patriciasuyat also started a thread and said: “Being homosexual isn’t a choice.”
https://twitter.com/patriciasuyat/status/932262405077286912
@celinapacana put it succinctly in one tweet and called the song “problematic.”
https://twitter.com/celinapacana/status/932550318121828352
But others came to the song’s defense. Twitter user @guru_guerrero raised that this could be a depiction of gender fluidity.
I don't really like "Titibo-tibo" because…reasons. (Maybe because I'm old?) But I find the story & tune infectiously cute. To those who believe in "free love" & "gender fluidity", why are you offended? https://t.co/sjasGISXct
— Gilmartin Guerrero (@guru_guerrero) November 27, 2017
While @KeikoSoundsLike reminded people that the song was based on a specific person’s experiences and should be analyzed as such.
https://twitter.com/KeikoSoundsLike/status/934684300447903744
In an interview with ABS-CBN Starmusic, Amistoso, the composer, said she wrote the song because not a lot of songs have been written about boyish girls.
“Right now, there aren’t any songs for the boyish, most are for gay [men]. So there, I thought of writing a song like this since I have experiences that relate to that. I included all my experiences from when I was younger,” she said in Filipino.
This year’s Himig Handog judges included singers KZ, Dingdong Avanzado, Ebe Dancel, Ogie Alcasid, and host Bianca Gonzalez-Intal.
Here’s the song’s music video:
What do you think? Is this a problematic depiction of those who identify as gay? Or is it just a the composer’s way of sharing her story? Let us know in the comments below.
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