The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Matuling How do you say “black” in your language? MATULING • (muh-too-LING) black; dark-colored Tagálog (Filipino): itím, maitím (blackish, dark-colored) Root Word TULING • (too-LING) blackness; darkness in color Tagálog (Filipino): itím, kaitimán Verb Conjugation túling, tútuling, tínuling – to blacken or get darker in color (Actor Focus) manuling, mánuling, ménuling – to turn black … Read more
Historic Churches of Manila (Outside Intramuros)Art: Diego Torres The Walled City of Intramuros was a famous go-to location for the Visita Iglesia in the years before World War 2. Sadly, most of the famed Seven Major Churches were destroyed during the war. Luckily the tradition of Visita Iglesia in Intramuros has been revived starting in … Read more
Sarsuela/Zarzuela It’s World Theater Day! Did you know that a theater form sparked the golden age of Kapampángan literature? SARSUÉLA / ZARZUÉLA • (suhr-SWEH-luh)a musical theater genre with alternating sung and spoken text. A prominent literary form in Kapampángan that spurred the golden age of Kapampángan literatureTagálog (Filipino): sarsuwéla EtymologySpanish zarzuela “Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that … Read more
The Philippines and Tajikistan The Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Tajikistan celebrate 31 years of formal diplomatic relations today, March 27! The two countries established diplomatic relations on March 27, 1992. Common Ground Filipinos may travel to Tajikistan visa-free for 30 days. On January 1, 2022, Tajikistan introduced a unilateral visa-free regime … Read more
Ubi It’s Purple Day! How do you say “purple” in your language? Here’s a staple Filipino dessert that’s purple-colored! ÚBI • (OO-bi)purple yam (Dioscorea alata)Tagálog (Filipino): úbe Filipino purple yam jam dessert:ALÉ ÚBI (Kapampángan) /ÚBE HALAYÁ (Tagálog/Filipino)a sweet conserve of crushed ubi and milk, coconut milk, and sugar, cooked to an almost dry consistency Derived … Read more