Monday, July 30, 2012

Common Filipino Phrases


Graphics is not mine. Credits goes to the link provided:

Kamusta po kayo, tuloy po kayo, and salamat po are just some of the usual phrases that you will often hear and encounter when visiting the Philippines. The phrases have loose translations in the English language yet its context can be approximated to the said translation.  Like kamusta po kayo or simply kamusta, the context of the phrase inquires on how you are doing or ‘how are you?’ while the po added in kamusta is a Filipino value of showing respect.  Po is often used in formal conversations and it is usually added in most phrases.  But without it, the phrase can stand alone. So, if you will use kamusta po kayo, with or without po, in a conversation, it could be like:  “Hello, I’m John.  Kamusta (po) kayo?”      

For better understanding, the common Filipino phrases will be presented in an order that shows the Filipino phrase, English translation or context of its meaning, how the phrase is used in a sentence and how it will be pronounced in syllabication. Also, the po will be in a parenthesis to show that its usage is on your own discretion.     

Filipino phrase: Tuloy (po) kayo or simply tuloy                
English translation/context:  ‘Please, come in’ or ‘Come in’        
Usage in sentence:   “Hi John, tuloy po kayo,” said the host and you can answer, “Salamat.  Tuloy na po ako (Thank you.  I’ll come in).”
Pronunciation: Tu-loy po ka-yo

Filipino phrase: Maraming salamat (po) or salamat      
English translation/context:  Salamat po is ‘Thank you’ while Maraming salamat po is ‘Thank you very much.         
Usage in sentence:   Salamat Peter,” or “Maraming salamat Peter,” you said and your host can answer, “Walang anuman (You are welcome).”
Pronunciation: Ma-ra-ming sa-la-mat po

Filipino phrase: Walang anuman or Wala pong anuman
English translation/context:  You are welcome or it can also be loosely translated as ‘Don’t mention it.’
Usage in sentence:   The phrase is usually a response to salamat and when it is used in a sentence, it will be:   Salamat Peter,” or “Maraming salamat Peter,” you said and your host can answer, “Walang anuman or wala pong anuman (You are welcome).”
Pronunciation: Wa-lang pong a-nu-man

When asking and answering questions, some of common phrases are: 

Filipino phrase: opo, oho, or Oo              
English translation/context:  The three phrases yield the same meaning or context wherein it simply says ‘yes’.  However, the opo and oho are usually used in formal or polite conversations while oo is used for informal conversations.           
Usage in sentence:   “Joe, are you leaving?” your host asked and you can answer, “Oo.”
Pronunciation: O-o

Filipino phrase: Hindi po, hindi ho, or hindi         
English translation/context:  No
Usage in sentence:   “Mark, are you leaving?” your host asked and you can answer, “Hindi po.”
Pronunciation: Hin-di po

The phrases used for greetings are:


Filipino phrase: Magandang umaga po
English translation/context:  Good morning  
Usage in sentence:   Magandang umaga Mark,” your host greeted and you can answer, “Magandang umaga din po.” Please note that the word din was added as it was to connote the word ‘also’ or ‘same to you’.
Pronunciation: Ma-gan-dang u-ma-ga 

Filipino phrase: Magandang tanghali po
English translation/context:  Good noon  
Usage in sentence:   Magandang tanghali Joseph,” your host greeted and you can answer, “Magandang tanghali din po.”
Pronunciation: Ma-gan-dang tang-ha-li

Filipino phrase: Magandang hapon po
English translation/context:  Good afternoon  
Usage in sentence:   Magandang hapon Dennis,” your host greeted and you can answer, “Magandang hapon din po.”
Pronunciation: Ma-gan-dang ha-pon

Filipino phrase: Magandang gabi po
English translation/context:  Good evening  
Usage in sentence:   Magandang gabi Joseph,” your host greeted and you can answer, “Magandang gabi din po.”
Pronunciation: Ma-gan-dang ga-bi 

    

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Filipino Idiomatic Expressions


Graphics is not mine. Credits go to the link provided.

How many times you’ve told someone ‘keep your head above water’ or ‘I’ll drop you a line’?  Many times, right?  But it doesn’t mean you literally wanted the other person to keep his head above water or that you’ll drop someone a line.  Figurative language, like idioms, has a funny way of conveying a message yet the person who received it still understands what it means.  However, idioms are best understood by people who are born, raised or exposed to the same culture, while those who live in another country also has a set of idioms that are unique like the Filipino idioms.   So, when visiting the Philippines, get acquainted with some popular Filipino idioms as it will help you better understand the language and consequently break communication barriers. 

In this chapter, you be presented with some popular idioms, the approximation of its meaning, how it will be used in a sentence and how it will be pronounced in syllabication.     

Filipino idiom: balat-kalabaw
English translation/context:  Literally, balat means skin and kalabaw is a water buffalo that is thick-skinned. Out of this literal translation, Filipinos has been able to refer insensitivities or dense as being thick-skinned thus being balat-kalaw.   To simply put it, the idiom means as being insensitive or dense.
Usage in sentence:   “Si Pedro ay balat-kalabaw,” Marty said which means ‘Pedro is being insensitive’.   
Pronunciation: ba-lat - ka-la-baw

Filipino idiom: balat-sibuyas
English translation/context:  You already know the meaning of balat so that leaves you with sibuyas which means an onion, and out of this, you’ll have onion skin in literal translation.  Onion skin on this context is referred to the sensitivity of a person wherein the ‘sensitivity’ was likened to the thinness of the onion skin.   
Usage in sentence:   “Si Maria ay balat-sibuyas.  She was easily affected by what Pedro said,” Marvin relayed which means that Maria is sensitive because she was easily affected by what Pedro said.  
Pronunciation: ba-lat – si-bu-yas

Filipino idiom: bantay-salakay
English translation/context:  Literal translation of bantay is to keep watch while salakay is to attack.  The idiom refers to the trait of a person that connotes negativity wherein he will pretend or will show his good side but will grab the opportunity once no one is looking; in short, the person is an opportunist.
Usage in sentence:   “Norberto took advantage of Jessica’s situation.  He offered her marriage after knowing that Jessica’s family was in big a financial problem. Norberto was bantay-salakay.”   
Pronunciation: ban-tay sa-la-kay

Filipino idiom: basag-ulo
English translation/context:  Literal translation of basag is break while ulo is a head.  Just like bantay-salakay, the idiom refers to the trait of a person that connotes negativity wherein the person is the type who is always looking for trouble and even instigating troubles. 
Usage in sentence:   “Oswald is a basag-ulo. He is always looking for a fight. 
Pronunciation: ba-sag u-lo
Other idioms are segregated or grouped according to what it connotes of refer like characters or traits, situations and many more.  

Sunday, July 22, 2012

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Home is where the heart is

Photo by Heizel L.M. taken in Lawigan, San Joaquin, Iloilo 
If the phrase 'home is where the heart is' true, then I must be a confused and homeless wanderer bouncing from a place I called home for more than 20 years and a new place of barely five months.

I have two homes now, the one where I spent my more than 20 years with parents, now long gone, and a new place where locals even speak different vernaculars; the AE pronunciation as an alternative to L is confusing, alienating me and making me more alone. But staying and clinging on the memories I spent and enjoyed in the old home is still painful; it is just barely a year when nanay (mother) left.  Death ended her humanly suffering but it started mine. 


So, Armor, my anchor and my love, whisked me away to this new place.  Hundreds of miles and sea separate the two places, leaving behind the teka, dini, dire, dyan, ayan, etc of the tagalog.  While my new home is filled with tongue twister AE in almost every word, a bird-like singsong vernacular that I could not even decipher.  Late afternoons until the wee hours of nights is filled with the sounds of crickets, frogs and the occasional humming of planes going to and from Kalibo. While my old home is filled with vibrant spirits partying, until sunrise kissed their tired but happy faces.  The two places are of two different characters--the new place is so laid back that my rebellious spirit is constantly nagging me while I am missing the rush hour and the vibrant colors of Manila.  I constantly miss my friends too. 


But I am here now with the lone person I am sharing my life, and it is where he wanted us to be.  Even though my heart aches with the memories of coffee breaks with mother, talking and laughing for many long hours, and the memories I still have to create and live in this new house is tearing me apart.  Where should my heart live if I am torn between the memories of the past and the happiness that I still have to live?  



Saturday, July 21, 2012

Four Years, Too Short for A Long Time

It has been four years since I last visited and posted something worth writing and reading on this blog.  I can't even say that what I posted here the last time is worth reading at all. The immaturity, the fiery impulsiveness and plain and simple rebelliousness are all recorded, documented and became part of who I am today.  I even forgot that I have this blog...perhaps trying not to remember it works better.

I diverted my attention, went to many places and many things happened in my life in those four years.  Four years, seems so short of a time yet with so many pain and happiness all intertwined, all weaved in my life, four years was long.  I can even wish for my life to stand still in 2009 when both my parents are still alive and everything seem to being doing well.  

Yet, I can't stop time.  It ticks...and fade.  By the second, every minute and hours.  Hours turn to days, months and a year passed with me, living each day just like before.  There was no big change until I met the man whom I gave and still gives my love and attention up to this day.  I was in bliss. Smiling for nothing and laughing at everything.  But just as life is not all happiness and as time is ticking away, as time is life and life is tied with the time I have, the people who gave me life turned their back away from life.  Turned their back away from me.     

In 2010, my father bid his goodbye, leaving behind all the foolishness that only human beings can do.  Leaving his family broken, hurt yet angry from all the foolishness of this world.  Yet, my mother came in next.  Just a year and a month after my father bid his goodbye.  My mother, who was my only anchor, the only person who is keeping me sane, the person who keeps pushing me to fly and dream also bid her goodbye. She made me fly all the way to Zamboanga just to return to her faded and worn out body. 

No words can describe how I felt that day, July 27.  I was far away.  She was no longer with me.  She was drained of life.  

July 27, 2011 was the longest pain in my life and the shortest for the one who gave me life. Now that it is barely a week before that fateful day, it will be again my longest, and tears will again lull me to sleep.