Ang Banga ni Neneng:

Isang Awiting-Bayang Pantag-ulan ni Rio Alma

I.

Ang bukid ay basa

Tag-ulan na noon,
Nang itong si Neneng
Sumalok sa balon.

Dala-dala’y banga,
Sumalok sa balon
Ang mutyang si Neneng
Kahit dapithapon.

Binatang si Tura
Kahit dapithapon
Sakay ng kalabaw
At pasipol-sipol.

Ang bukid ay basa;

At pasipol-sipol,
Lumapit kay Neneng
Ang binatang pastol.

Ang mutyang may banga

At binatang pastol
Inabot ng dilim
At tag-ulan noon.

II.

Ano ang nangyari?

Ina’y nag-usisa.
Ang sagot ni Neneng,
Nabasag ang banga.

Saya mo’y marumi!

Ina’y napamangha.
Ang sagot ni Neneng,
Ako po’y nadapa.

Bakit ka ginabi?
Ina’y napaluha.
Ang sagot ni Neneng,
Natakot sa daga.

Tag-ulan pa noon
 At bukid ay basa
Nang itong si Neneng
Makasal kay Tura.

ANALYSIS:
The first part of the poem introduces Neneng, the girl who fetches water from the well late in the
afternoon, and Tura, the boy riding a carabao, whistling and then comes near Neneng. Though it wasn’t
portrayed clearly in the poem, the line “At pasipol-pasipol” signals the uncovering of the meaning of the
poem. Sometimes, as depicted in our culture, a boy who finds a girl attractive sends out his interest
through whistling. In the last stanza, Neneng and Tura were out together late at night.

The second part of the poem describes Neneng coming home in dirty clothing. Her mother asked about
what happened, and Neneng responds, “Nabasag ang banga”. I think the “banga” symbolizes Neneng’s
virginity which she now lost to Tura. Neneng explained the reason for the dirty clothing, “Ako po’y
nadapa”, which means that Neneng have stumbled and fallen into a lustful temptation. In Filipino
culture, a girl who loses her virginity before marriage is deemed as dirty, shameful or unworthy, which
might be a symbolism for the dirty clothing. The last stanza describes Neneng being married to Tura,
which presents the idea that Tura got her pregnant out of wedlock. And now they must be married
because the boy is liable for the pregnancy of Neneng