The drawings of Fran Alvarez evoke the joy of finding harmony in the counting song, “Kaisa-isa Niyan.” Sang in the Maguindanaon language, it teaches children simple rhythms that can be played on the kulintang ensemble. Give the Gift of Song! At the hour of bedtime, nothing enchants parents and children like the joy of a well-loved folk song. Over a quarter-decade since publishing Bahay Kubo to wide acclaim, Tahanan Books unveils three folk songs sure to enthrall new generations of Filipino families. Carefully selected by musicology expert Dr. Felicidad A. Prudente, each song features regional customs and traditions that showcase the diversity of our islands. Playful, humorous, at times wistful, these melodies hark back to a time when life was as simple as counting rusty coins, clanging a gong, and catching crabs for dinner. Evocatively illustrated by Kora Dandan Albano, Harry Monzon, and Fran Alvarez, these rich musical landscapes offer young and old a fresh portal into the ear and soul of Philippine culture.

1. Folk songs, Maguindanaon. 2. Counting-out rhymes.