Kapatad

by

Happy Siblings Day! Did you know that in several Philippine languages, the word for “sibling” is related to the word for “cut off, break off, sever”? This implies these languages’ shared view of siblings as “being of the same cut”. KAPATAD • (kuh-puh-TUHD)siblingRoot Word: patad “(to be) cut off, severed”Tagálog (Filipino): kapatíd (root: patíd “cut … Read more

Bie

by

In Kapampángan, the words for “life” and “give” are pronounced exactly the same! However, they are not related and come from different origins! BIÉ • (byeh)lifeTagálog (Filipino): búhay BIÉ • (byeh)(to) giveTagálog (Filipino): bigáy Etymology and Sound ChangesThe words for “life” and “give” in Kapampángan are pronounced exactly the same (bié); however, they are not … Read more

Levi Celerio

by

Remembering the life and works of National Artist Levi Celerio (National Artist for Music) on his 21st death anniversary (April 2, 2002). Levi Celerio was a prolific lyricist and composer, most known for his ability to create music using only a leaf. He was born and raised in Tondo, Manila, and received a scholarship from … Read more

Pangalap

by

PANGALAP [pa.nga.lap.] : ritual harvest (n.) from root word KALAP [ká.lap.] : seek out for medicinal plants (v.) This is my second year visiting mga mananambal (folk healers) in Cantabon, Siquijor for the Friday pangalap, which they do on the 6 Fridays leading up to Holy Week. A treasure to witness, learn from & joyfully … Read more

Himughat

by

HIMUGHAT [hi.mug.hat.] : cure-all, elixir, remedy, panacea, nostrum (n.) With the introduction of Westernized, modernized forms of life, we are easily disconnected from natural environments. Many folks outside of land-and-sea-based ways of life might believe that ancestral traditions are almost gone & need to be ‘preserved’ (like artifacts in museum boxes). Or worst, irrelevant. But … Read more