Sasampalin Kita's Theme Song
“Watch It, You! (Sasampalin Kita and Elli)” — written for Elli
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Shout the orange parts back!
Out west on Novelty Hill, in the Pipsqueak Pumpkin Patch,
Grew a pumpkin with a mama's name — and the sass to match!
The Harvest Party came and went, but she held on to her vine —
"Not yet!" said Sah-sahm-pah-leen Kee-tah. "I'll go when it's my time!"
Sah-sahm-pah-leen Kee-tah! (WATCH IT, YOU!)
It's a mama's finger-wag — and a great big hug, too!
Who went and chose her? (EL-LEE!) Who took her home? (EL-LEE!)
(SNAP! SNAP!) Now she's home and sassin' with El-lee!
When the frost crept in at midnight, the Cowboy tucked blankets on the vines,
And she shrugged it off, firm and glossy — "Frost? Hmph! I'm doin' fine!"
By the tape she oughta weigh near three — she puffed up proud and round,
But the scale said (ONE POUND, ELEVEN OUNCES!) — a pint-size boss in town!
Sah-sahm-pah-leen Kee-tah! (WATCH IT, YOU!)
It's a mama's finger-wag — and a great big hug, too!
Who went and chose her? (EL-LEE!) Who took her home? (EL-LEE!)
(SNAP! SNAP!) Now she's home and sassin' with El-lee!
Then El-lee came a-visitin', and the goats were the talk of the day —
(KAM-BING!) Same word for "goat" in Tagalog and Indonesian — cousins all the way!
A friend of Maple Valley's makers met a pumpkin full of sass —
(THAT ONE!) El-lee chose Sah-sahm-pah-leen Kee-tah — now that's a pick with class!
El-lee, you're a world-class architect — you dream up rooms where folks can stay,
So when you took her home, you built the horses a winter wall of hay!
Now the Ward Family Rescue horses (NEIGH! NEIGH!) won't go hungry when the cold winds blow,
And it all grew from the west side of Novelty Hill — that's how a good deed grows!
Sah-sahm-pah-leen Kee-tah! (WATCH IT, YOU!)
It's a mama's finger-wag — and a great big hug, too!
Who built the wall of hay? (EL-LEE!) Who fed the horses? (EL-LEE!)
(SNAP! SNAP!) Now the whole barn's singin' for El-lee!
She told that vine, "Not yet!" — but El-lee, she's yours now, all yours to keep,
And you saved the Cowboy and his wife a spot where the apple cider's sweet... salamat — SELAMAT!
for this one.
for this one.
The Sass of West Novelty Hill
Sasampalin Kita grew on the west side of Novelty Hill, and she held on to her vine long after the Harvest Party was over. Her name is the most famous thing a Filipino mom ever says: "Sasampalin kita!" is Tagalog for "I'm going to slap you!", the warning every Filipino kid hears for being pasaway (naughty). Everybody knows it almost never happens. It really means "Behave, anak!", and it comes with a hug. When the October frosts came, the keeper tucked blankets over the vines, and she came through firm and glossy. She was found on October 17. On October 18 she had her one and only weigh-in: 1 lb 11 oz on the scale, 17 inches around and 15 inches over the top, round and ripe orange. That same day Elli came to visit, and chose her.
Things I Want Elli to Know
From Sasampalin Kita, in her own words.
- My name sounds like a warning, but every Filipino kid knows it really means "Behave, ha!" And it always comes with a hug.
- When the frost came, the keeper tucked blankets over my vine. Frost? Hmph! I stayed firm and glossy and I was fine!
- You came to see the goats, and you picked me. Kambing means goat in Tagalog and in Indonesian too, so we are practically cousins. Salamat, Elli!
From the registry • Final reading October 18, 2026
17 in around · 15 in over the top
Sasampalin Kita’s Patch Family
Sasampalin Kita went home with Elli. Here are three more from the Patch she grew up in.
