The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Tugak It was World Frog Day yesterday! How do you say “frog” in your language? Every October, the City of San Fernando in Pampanga holds a festival in honor of the most common and culturally significant amphibian to Kapampángans! TUGAK • (too-GUHK) frog Tagálog (Filipino): palakâ Kapampángan Frog Dance MAMADUAS TAMU! (“Let’s use the paduas … Read more
Batik It’s World Tattoo Day! Though early Kapampángans do not have a recorded tattoo culture unlike their fellow Philippine and Austronesian ethnic groups, the Kapampángan word for “expert”, batikan, survives to attest to a possible precolonial tattoo culture where early Kapampángan experts were tattooed with their achievements on their skin. This may have been lost … Read more
Lungkut The Friday of Sorrows marks the beginning of Holy Week events in the Philippines and concentrates on the emotional pain that the Passion of Jesus Christ caused to his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is venerated under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. LUNGKUT • (loong-KOOT)sadness, sorrowTagálog (Filipino): lungkót Derived WordMALUNGKUT • (muh-loong-KOOT)sad, … Read more
Paninap | Malalam March 2023 is a month of palindromes as it is full of days that can be read the same forward and backward! (3-20-23 to 3-29-23) Do you know of some palindromes in your language? Here are two common Kapampángan words that are palindromes! We’ve featured “panínap” before, so here’s the Kapampángan word … Read more
Fire in the 12 Major Languages of the Philippines How do you say “fire” in your language? March is Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines so let’s take a look back at this special post to celebrate hitting 6000+ followers this month and in observance of Fire Prevention Month! This time, we’re not just featuring … Read more