4.

FOLK SPEECH

- Other literary forms which show traces of pre Spanish society and culture are proverbs, riddles and
short poems. They are the shortest forms of folk liter nature.

a. Proverbs

- is a natural gift among filipino to highlight their teachings on give advice or counsil, in talks or
conversation by quoting a proverb or saying. Proverb have didactive value

Proverbs, also called salawikain, use metaphors drawn from the surrounding nature and everyday
life. They embody general truths or observation om human nature, rules of conduct or moral.

Generally, in form, Philippine proverbs are brief prose statement. Moreover, they appear as
rhyming couplets from five to twelve syllables.

Example

1.five syllables

“Kung hindi ukol “If it is not destined for you it won’t have

Hindi bubukol” any beneficial effect”

2.Six Syllables

“Ang bibig na tikom “A mouth that is shut

Ligtas sa linggatong” is free from trouble

3.Seven Syllables

“Ubos – ubos biyaya “Consume blessings wastefully

Pagka- ubos tunganga” then later just stare at

empty chair”

b. Riddles(Bugtong)

- One of the interesting aspects of pre-colonial literature is the battle of its through riddles, the
most amusing form of folk speech. Riddles use one or more images as metaphor to refer to an object to
be guessed. They enrich the imagination and sharpen the senses.

Riddles are generally poetic in form and come in one, two, three or four lines.

Examples

In Riming Couplets
“Isda ko sa Mariveles “My fish in Mariveles

Nasa loob ang kaliskis has its scales inside”

(sili) (spall pepper)

In Monorhyming Puatrain

“May isa kang kaibigan “A friend of yours

Kasama mo sa higaan go to bed without

Bago ka pagnakawan you, but before

Ikaw muna’y kakantahan be steals from you,

(lamok) he first sings to you

(mosquito)

The themes of riddles are drawn from the surrounding flora and fauna, the human body,
divellings, tools and toys, clothing, food and and many other known sources.

c. Short Poems(or folk poetry)

- are generally quotrains consisting of 5-12 syllables per line and which are used to be enchanted. An
example is the Tagalog bulong”which is an invocation to environmental spirits or animals believed to
possess magic powers.

One tagalog bulong “is addressed to a duwends living in an earth mound and another to a mouse
being appealed to replace a fallen milktoath

Tabi, tabi po

Makikiraan po lamang

Daga daga

Eto ang ngiping kong luma

Palitan mo ang ngiping bago.

Another form of folk poetry is the “tanaga”of the tagalog. It consists of four lines, full of metaphors,
and the consistent us of seven syllables in every line.

D. Folk Songs

- are songs that have been handed down orally through generations. They embody the faith, joy, the
varied hopes and odds of life ;they reflect the varions aspects of life and activities of the people. They
are the spontaneous outbursts of the lyric feeling from the soul of the people.

There are songs which are classified into life cycle songs, work and activity songs, natural, religious
songs and miscellanous songs, such as songs about nature humorous songs, and the like.
 Songs of childhood consist of happy life of the child, of fun and laughter, of games and other
activities like climbing trees as in the song, “Leron Leron Sinta “.