Lifestyle

Today, February 22, is International Mother Language Day! The Kapampángan word “amanu” refers to words or language itself and is often used in common speech with its derived word ‘ámanuan’ which means “what is being talked about”. AMÁNU • (uh-MAH-noo)word, language Tagálog (Filipino): salitâ (word), wíkà (language) Derived Word:ÁMANUAN • (AH-muh-nwuhn)what was being said/referred to/talked … Read more

Abu Today, February 22, Filipino Catholics observe Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Churchgoers attend special church services where ash is placed on their foreheads in the shape of the cross with the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.” ABU • (uh-BU)ashTagalog (Filipino): abó Derived … Read more

Kanuan Filipino Catholics are now allowed to receive ash crosses on their foreheads again on Ash Wednesday. For the past few years, this practice was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and churchgoers were sprinkled with dry ash on top of their heads instead. KANUAN • (kuh-NWUHN)foreheadTagálog (Filipino): noó (no-‘OH) You may want to read: … Read more

Tibuk Tibuk The Queen of Kapampángan Desserts, the tibuk-tíbuk is named after heartbeats as it pulses like a heart to indicate that it is ready! The tibuk-tíbuk is a Kapampángan pudding dessert made from carabao milk. It is named due to its bubbling behavior like a beating heart that tells you when it is done … Read more

Buri An interesting semantic development in Kapampángan is how the word for “to neglect” (paburén / paburian) originated from the root word for “to like, want” (buri)! This developed from the sense of “paburian” as “to let something have what it wants”, hence becoming “to leave something be”. BURÎ • (boo-REE’)(to) like, want (object-focused verb)Tagálog … Read more