Pre - Colonial Literature

To all my in Lit 1 (Literatures of the Philippines) students, the following is the continuation of the hand out in Pre - Spanish Literature. Happy reading. Another hand out will be posted soon, about epic and songs.

C. Bugtong (Riddles) - Riddles are expressions in rhymes using one or two images that refer to a particular thing or object that has to be guess. Riddles are used for entertainment, mental exercises and amusement. Riddles are use by Filipinos to pass away time and to show their wit . . . it is entertaining and fun. Filipino riddles deal largely with animals, plants and objects of local character. Filipino riddles have been passed from one generation to another and their origins have never been trace, a lot of new riddles have also been created by the younger generation.
Examples of Bugtong will be given by your Lit 1 teacher।

D. Salawikain and Sawikain - Don’t be confused with these two words - “sawikain” and “salawikain“. They sound almost the same but they have totally different meanings.
1. Sawikain are idiomatic expressions. They are composed of two or more words that have an entirely different meaning when joined together or hyphenated.
Some examples of SAWIKAIN:
1. Anak-pawis. The literal translation of “anak” is son; pawis” is sweat. The idiom really means “blue-collar worker” to signify sweat and hard work are exerted.
2. Balat sibuyas. It’s the Tagalog translation for “onion-skinned” which means a sensitive person.
3. Makapal ang bulsa. In English, it’s a person with a thick wallet, which means lots of money = wealth.
4. Magaan ang Kamay. In English it’s a light-handed person, which means one who is easily provoked to hit another person.
5. Di makabasag-pinggan. Literal translation is “someone who can’t break a plate” to mean a very careful person.

2. Salawikain are proverbs. Filipino Proverbs are called "Salawikain", like most proverbs around the world imparts a lesson. There are proverbs that express a general attitude towards life and the laws that govern life, there are also proverbs that express general truths and observations about life and human nature. Filipino proverbs are part of one's cultural heritage which should not be forgotten, proverbs are good sources of information about traditions, beliefs, and customs. They serve as guide to living, advice on social relations and encouragement in facing life's trials and realities. The main purpose of proverbs is to teach a lesson in life.
Here are some of the most enduring Filipino proverbs that best portray the characters of the Filipinos, philosophy and values. The proverbs are written in Tagalog along with their English translations or the meaning of the proverb.
·Ang kalusugan ay kayamanan. - Health is Wealth
·Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim. - Life is like a wheel, sometimes your up sometimes you're up sometimes you're down·

Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan. - A person who does not remember where he came from will never reach his destination.

·Ang karukhaan ay hindi hadlang sa pagtatagumpay. - Poverty is not a hindrance to success.

·Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay mahigit pa sa mabaho at malansang isda. - He who does not love his own mother tongue is worse than a rotten fish.

·Ang palay ay parisan, habang nagkakalaman ay alalong nagpugpugay. - Imitate the rice stalk, the more grains it bears, the lower it bows.

·Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw. - A quitter never wins, a winner never quits.

·Bihirang masilayan, agad nakakalimutan. -Seldom seen, soon forgotten. (Out of sight out of mind.)

·Walang tiyaga, walang nilaga - No pain, no gain

·Kahoy mang babad sa tubig, kapag nadarang sa apoy sapilitang magdirikit. ---Even a log soaked in water will burn if it is placed near a fire.

·Magsama-sama at malakas, magwatak-watak at babagsak. - United we stand, divided we fall.

·Masakit ang katotohanan. -The truth hurts.

·Ang sakit ng kalingkigan, sakit ng buong katawan. - The pain of the little finger is felt by the whole body.

·Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din. - Better late than never.

·Kapag and dagat ay tahimik, asahan mo at malalim. - Still water runs deep.

·Ang tulog na hipon , tinatangay ng agos. - A sleeping shrimp is carried away by the current.

·Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi biro, 'di tulad ng kanin, Iluluwa lung mapaso - Marriage is not a joke. It is not like food that you can spit out when it is too hot to chew.

·Walang palayok na walang kasukat na tungtong. - Every pot has a matching lid.

The Modern Salawikain

* Ang buhay ay parang bato, it’s hard.
* Better late than pregnant.
* Behind the clouds are the other clouds.
* It’s better to cheat than to repeat!
* Do unto others … then run!!!
* Kapag puno na ang salop, kumuha na ng ibang salop.
* Magbiro ka na sa lasing, magbiro ka na sa bagong gising, huwag lang sa lasing na bagong gising.
* When all else fails, follow instructions.
* Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, lumaki sa ibang bansa.
* To err is human, to errs is humans.
* Ang taong nagigipit … sa bumbay kumakapit
* Pag may usok … may nag-iihaw
* Ang taong naglalakad nang matulin … may utang.
* No guts, no glory… no ID, no entry.
* Birds of the same feather that prays together … stays together.
* Kapag may sinuksok at walang madukot, may nandukot.
* Walang matigas na tinapay sa gutom na tao.
* Ang taong di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan …. ay may stiff neck.
* Birds of the same feather make a good feather duster.
* Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga. Kapag may taga, may tahi.
* Huli man daw at magaling, undertime pa rin.
* Ang naglalakad ng matulin, late na sa appointment
* Matalino man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.
* Better late than later.
* Aanhin ang palasyo kung ang nakatira ay kuwago, mabuti pa ang bahay kubo, sa paligid puno ng linga.
* Kapag maikli ang kumot, tumangkad ka na!
* No man is an island because time is gold.
* Hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto … muta lang yan.
* Kapag ang puno mabunga … mataba ang lupa!
* When it rains … it floods.
* Pagkahaba haba man ng prusisyon … mauubusan din ng kandila.
* Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa vulcanizing shop.
* Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan … sapul.
* Try and try until you succeed… or else try another.
* Ako ang nagsaing … iba ang kumain. Diet ako eh.
* Huwag magbilang ng manok kung alaga mo ay itik.
* Kapag maiksi na ang kumot, bumili ka na ng bago.
* If you can’t beat them, shoot them. (Nalundasan)
* An apple a day is too expensive.
* An apple a day makes seven apples a week. (really expensive)
* Aanhin pa ang damo kung ang garden mo’y sementado
* Aanhin pa ang damo kung bato na ang uso.