The Philippines Today

Gatas Damulag (Carabao’s Milk)Tagálog: gátas ng kalabáw A well-loved Kapampángan beverage that has a richer and creamier taste than your everyday cow’s milk. This is used in many famous Kapampángan desserts such as tibuk-tibuk, plantanillas, pastillas, and many more. Rice that is soaked (ambula in Kapampángan) in carabao’s milk is also a well-known Kapampángan delicacy … Read more

Damulag Every May 14-15 in the Bulacan town of Pulilan which borders Pampanga, there is a special event that honors these hardworking farm friends who are considered the unofficial national animal of the Philippines! DAMÚLAG • (duh-MOO-luhg)carabao, water buffaloTagálog (Filipino): kalabáw Kneeling Carabao FestivalPulilan, BulacanThis is a two-day festival that honors the hardworking carabao or … Read more

Pamilia It’s International Day of Families! Today we honor the very first bond that we form the minute we come to this world and the relationship that stays through generations. PAMÍLIA / PAMÍLYA • (puh-MEE-lyuh)familyCommon Spelling & Tagálog (Filipino): pamílya EtymologyFrom Spanish familia (“family”) Derived WordsKAPAMÍLIA • (kuh-puh-MEE-lyuh)fellow family memberTagálog (Filipino): kapamílya MIPAMÍLIA • (mi-puh-MEE-lyuh)family, … Read more

Aili The 1st Sunday of May is World Laughter Day! This day aims to raise awareness of laughter and its many healing benefits. As they always say, laughter is the best medicine! AILÎ • (uhy-LEE’)laughter, smile (in some contexts)Root: ilîTagálog (Filipino): táwa (laughter), ngitî (smile) Derived Word:MÁKAKAILÎ / MÁKAPAKAILÎamusing, laughter-inducingTagálog (Filipino): nakákatawa Verb Conjugationmailî, máilî, … Read more