The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Pinak February 2 is World Wetlands Day! Two significant wetlands are located in Pampanga: Candaba Swamp which is one of the most famous and largest natural wetlands in the Philippines and an important bird sanctuary and catchment basin of Central Luzon, and the Sasmuan Coastal Wetlands which was newly designated as a Ramsar site last … Read more
It’s National Hot Chocolate Day! Kapampángans’ own traditional hot chocolate is a popular Christmastime beverage prepared by mixing pure cacao with a traditional whisk called a batirul or muliníliu! BATIRUL • (buh-ti-ROOL)(1) heirloom tool (vessel and/or whisk) used for making traditional hot chocolate(2) hot chocolate made with the said toolThe whisk is also called a … Read more
Kapampangan Words of Chinese Origins Achi – older sister (from Hokkien a-chi)Koya – older brother (from Hokkien ko-ia)Ingkung – grandfather (from Hokkien in -kong)Cha – tea (from Cantonese tsa)Mochi – kapampangan glutinous rice delicacy (from Hokkien moa-chi)Sakobi – sago, tapioca pearls (from Hokkien sia-ko-bi)Sang – scallion, green onion (from Hokkien tsan)Suam – sauteed fish or … Read more
Kapalaran Did you know that the Kapampángan & Tagálog word for “fortune” comes from their root word for “palm of the hand”? KAPALARAN • (kuh-puh-LAH-ruhn)fortune, fateTagálog (Filipino): kapaláran Root WordPÁLAD • (PAH-luhd)palm of handTagálog (Filipino): pálad Derived WordMAPÁLAD • (muh-PAH-luhd)fortunate, luckyTagálog (Filipino): mapálad MANIMÁLAD • (muh-ni-MAH-luhd)to tell one’s fortune by reading their palms SÁPALARAN • … Read more
While the Kapampángan word “kalam” means “grace, blessing”, there is a similar word in Tagálog that means quite the opposite! KÁLAM • (KAH-luhm)grace, blessing, giftRoot: álamTagálog (Filipino): biyáyà False FriendsTagálog (Filipino)KALÁM “hunger pains in the stomach” KapampánganKÁLAM “grace, blessing, gift” Derived WordMÁLAM • (MAH-luhm)gracious, generousTagálog (Filipino): mapagbiyáyà Verb Conjugationmagkálam, mágkálam, mégkálam – to bestow blessings … Read more