The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Lamesa It was International Table Top Day yesterday! How do you say “table” in your language? LAMÉSA • (luh-MEH-suh)tableTagálog (Filipino): mésa, lamésa EtymologyFrom Spanish la mesa “the table” Example Sentence (Lyrics of Atin Cu Pung Singsing)Píkurus kóng gamat, bábó ning lamésa. [Kap]Pinagkrús kong mgá kamáy, sa ibábaw ng mésa. [Tag]I crossed my hands, on top … Read more
Apag It’s International TableTop Day, so here’s the trailer of Kapampángan film Apag (“dining table”; international title: Feast) which won Best Actress & Best Original Song in the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival last April which happened to also be Filipino Food Month! APAG • (uh-PUHG) dining table, (to) lay out on the table … Read more
Kesu It was National Cheese Day yesterday! How do you say “cheese” in your language? Did you know that Filipinos have their own version of the Dutch Edam cheese which is a local favorite Christmas food? KÉSU • (KEH-soo)cheeseTagálog (Filipino): késo EtymologyFrom Spanish queso “cheese” You may want to read: Queseo Queseo de Bola
Sampernandu Pampanga’s capital celebrates its city fiesta today! Happy Fiesta Fernandinos! SAMPERNÁNDU • (suhm-pehr-NAHN-doo)informal/colloquial pronunciation & spelling of SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga’s capital, and 2nd largest city. Known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines and Home of the Giant Lanterns.
The Kapampángan Santacruzan: SABAT SANTACRÚZAN The Kapampangan version of the Santacruzan is different in that the procession is halted several times by costumed actors who challenge the Reina Elena in a poetic joust and engage her troop in a swordfight derived from the theater form called moro-moro, hence the name “Sabat Santacruzan” with the word … Read more