The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Alak It’s National Wine Day! The word for wine or any alcoholic drink in the Philippine languages comes from an Arabic word that means “perspiration” or “distillate”! ÁLAK • (AH-luhk)wine, liquor, alcoholic drinkTagálog (Filipino): álak EtymologyFrom Arabic عرق (ʿaraq) which literally means “perspiration” or “distillate”, via Malay arak “alcoholic drink”. The Arabic word is the … Read more
Koya Happy National Brothers Day! Let’s show our appreciation to our brothers and brotherly figures today. KÓYA • (KOH-yuh)older brotherTagálog (Filipino): kúya EtymologyFrom Hokkien 哥仔 (ko͘-iá) or 哥兄 (ko͘-hiaⁿ) (appellation for older brother)Partly related to Korean 형 (hyeong) [hanja: 兄] “older brother of a male” Usage Notes“Kóya” in Kapampángan means “older brother”. It can also … Read more
Cha/Tsa It’s International Tea Day! Tea is the world’s most consumed drink after water. However, it isn’t as popular of a drink in the Philippines as it is in its neighbors, though most people consume milk teas that have become very popular recently! CHÂ / TSÂ • (cha’)teaTagálog (Filipino): tsaá (chah-‘AH) EtymologyCantonese 茶 (caa⁴) /t͡sʰäː²¹/ … Read more
KAMBAL FESTIVAL (Twins Festival)Angeles City, PampangaOctober In celebration of the Twin Fiestas of Angeles City, the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, and the Feast of Our Lord of Mercy (Fiesta ning Apung Mamacalulu), the Angeles City Local Government organizes a festival and parade to recognize twins all over … Read more
Kambal It’s Gemini season! How do you say “twin” in your language? KAMBAL • (kuhm-BUHL)twinsTagálog (Filipino): kambál Derived WordKAKAMBAL • (kuh-kuhm-BUHL)co-twin, one of the twinsTagálog (Filipino): kakambál