The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Sulagpo Pampanga’s known for many things that fly, from having its own international airport and air base to its famous balloon festival of everything that flies! SULAGPÓ / SULÁPÓ • (su-luhg-PO, su-LAH-PO)flight; to flyTagálog (Filipino): lipád Derived word:SÚLAGPÁWAN / SÚLÁPÁWAN • (SOO-luhg-PAH-wuhn, SOO-LAH-PAH-wuhn)airport (literally “where one flies”; a rarely used neologism)Tagálog (Filipino): pálípáran Verb conjugation:súlagpó, … Read more
Kite flying is one of the activities that can be enjoyed during the hot air balloon festivals of Pampanga! How do you say “kite” in your language? BURARUL • (boo-ruh-ROOL)kiteTagálog (Filipino): saranggóla EtymologyFrom Spanish volador (“flying; flier”; also means “kite” in Bolivia and eastern Venezuela) You may want to read: Kapampangan words of Chinese origins … Read more
This week, the Kapampángan city of Mabalacat celebrates the Balacat Festival which honors the origin of the city’s name, the balacat tree. BALAKAT • (buh-LAH-kuht)a tree, Ziziphus talanae; the origin of Mabalacat City’s name Derived Kapampángan Place Name:MABALACAT • (muh-buh-LAH-kuht)a city in Pampanga province, Philippines whose name literally means “full of balacat trees” You may … Read more
Sambra When I was a kid, I thought this word was “sun bra” and always thought it was weird to call it a sun bra when you wear it during the cold season… This a reminder to dress warmly with a sámbra for this sweater weather! SAMBRA • (SAM-bruh)sweater, clothing for the coldTagálog (Filipino): panglamíg … Read more
Paum 37 years ago, Filipinos showed how a peaceful uprising could topple a dictatorship. Today we remember the legacy of the bloodless People Power Revolution that ousted Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. PÁUM • (PAH-oom)peaceTagálog (Filipino): kapayapáan PAYÁPÂ • (puh-YAH-pa’)peaceful, tranquilTagálog (Filipino): payápà Derived Word from PAYÁPÂKAPAYAPAN • (kuh-puh-yuh-PUHN)peaceTagálog (Filipino): kapayapáan Derived Words from … Read more