UNDERSTANDING FOLK SPEECHES

A traditional oral literature of the Filipino people has

long existed even before the arrival of the colonizers. This

covers the ancient folk literature of the Philippines various

ethnic groups that have changed since the Philippines

became a single ethno-political unit.

Being oral in tradition makes our folk literature

changeable. As part of a living folklore, different versions

continue to exist and change through time and they appear In print today.

The pre-colonial poetry forms played a central part of

Filipino community life as they are means for local history,

politics, and culture to be passed from generation to

generation. They are poetic and contain rhyme, rhythm,

and rhetorical figures to suggest different interpretation to

words or to stir up emotive reactions.Riddles and proverbs are the simplest forms of or
al literature. Short poems called tanaga evolved from them.
Riddles

Tagalog:

Taong buhay inaanay.

(Termites feast on man, while man is still alive.)

A person with chicken fox

Answer:

Tagalog:

Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay dahon.

(Roll in the morning, leaf in the afternoon.)

Mat

Answer:

Tagalog:

lisa ang pasukan, tatlo ang labasan.

(It has one entrance, but has three exits.)

Answer: Dress

Nagtago si Pedro, labas ang ulo.

(Pedro hides but you can still see his head.)

Tagalog:

Answer: Nail

Hindi pari, hindi hari, nagdadamit ng sari-sari.

(Not a priest, not a king but wears different kinds

of clothes.)

Tagalog:

Answer: Clothesline

Tagalog: Bugtong-pala-bug tong, kadenang umuugong.

roaring

(Riddle me, riddle me, here comes a

chain.)

Answer: Train

Baboy sa lasang, ang tunok puro lansang.

(A wild pig in the forest is covered with spikes.)

Visayan:

Answer: Jackfruit

Visayan: Tigmo, tigmo agokoy, ugma ra kita magasoy

(Riddles made in the night will be answered in

the morning light.)

Answer: A dream

Kabayo ni Adan, dili moka-on ug dili kabay-an.

(The horse of Adam does not eat unless someone

rides on it.)

Visayan:

Answer: Coconut grater

Nanganac yay birhen, Imbasyo yay lampin

(A virgin gave birth and threw away the diaper.)

Zambal:
Answer: Banana bud

Proverbs and Sayings

demonyo sa taong dain

Nag cacawat an

guibo.

(The devil plays with an idle man.)

Bicol:

Kon ano ang sinapsap

Amo man ang inagsap.

(What the shavings are, so is the block from

which they came.)

Hiligaynon:

Y magattam ta ziga-c, ta pangurianan

Lubbe-cy pagayaya-c.

(One who waits patiently will be well

rewarded.)

Ibanag:

Ti adda a bagasmo,
Isu iti apoyem.

(Cook only as much rice as you have.)

llocano:

Ang pusil indi mag lupok kung array bala.

(A gun will not fire if it is not loaded.)

Palawan:

Limus ca bara cang limusan.

(Give and you shall receive.)

Pampango:

Pangasinan:

Say bilay binayes,

Kasanlilikna, naerep.

(Life is just borrowed; it will be taken back

anytime.)

Tausug:

Bang ama'

In anak niya mayan tundukan.

(If the father is spotted, the son will be

speckled.)

kabang,

Tagalog:

Natutuwa kang pasalop

Kung singili'y napopoot

(Full of good cheer while borrowing a

measure of rice; full of wrath when asked to

pay back.)