Kapampangan Words

[TW: blood, self-harm] The major figure of the Kapampángan Holy Week that has made Kapampángans famous for their extreme Lenten rituals is the magdarame, with the sight of blood and the sound of the palaspas or burílius hitting their backs a common scene on the streets everywhere. While flagellants consider this as part of their … Read more

Limbun Kapampángans hold several processions during the Holy Week, with the most well-known ones on Good Friday and Easter. While most people have gone back to the usual after Easter, the people of Betis hold another procession on Easter Monday honoring their district’s chief industry of woodcarving. Video: Limbun by Jonathan Pamintuan on YouTube LIMBUN … Read more

KABA • (kuh-BUH)food offerings or refreshments served in the punî shrine for the Pabásâ (chant reading) readers & visitors during Holy Week PAKAWÁSA • (puh-kuh-WAH-suh)food offerings or refreshments served in the punî shrine for the Pabásâ (chant reading) readers & visitors during Holy Week Etymologypa- “for” + kawása “ceasing”, from Old Javanese kawaśa “subdued, overpowered”, … Read more

MAL • (muhl)(1) expensive; (2) valuable, precious, dearTagálog (Filipino): mahal EtymologyFrom Sanskrit महार्घ (mahārgha) “expensive; precious, valuable”, via Malay mahal “expensive” Derived word:PÁKAMÁLAN • (PAH-kuh-MAH-luhn)to hold dear/precious; to cherishTagálog (Filipino): minámahal, tinatángì PAKAMAL • (puh-kuh-MUHL)valuing, cherishing, adoration, loveTagálog (Filipino): pagmamahál Verb Conjugation:kumamal, kákamal, kínamal – to become expensive (actor focus)mikamál, mikakamál, míkamal – to become … Read more

The Pabasa or the days-long chanting of the Pasiun that everyone will hear from afar throughout Holy Week is said to have its roots in pre-colonial customs of chanting epic poems during festivals that were eventually supplanted by the Biblical salvation story. This goes to show that precolonial Philippine literature was primarily transmitted through oral … Read more