sariling wika

I have a friend who's currently teaching our boss how to speak Filipino and little did we know that teaching English would actually seem a whole lot easier. Actually, if you focus on the fundamentals of balarila (grammar) - i.e. pangngalan, pandiwa, panghalip, etc. - it isn't really that hard. BUT, the moment you get asked questions like "What does the word "naman" mean and why do i hear people insert it in a statement even if the statement already makes perfect sense without that word?" then you're in big trouble.

I admit, our language is a hodgepodge of various languages and we have certain words that you can't really explain how they would fit in a properly syntaxed statement but how much do we really know our own language?

I got this email from a friend which includes a list of Filipino words with definitions. This is probably the best compilation I have ever read:

*** Disclaimer: if you're studying Filipino, trust me, this is not
(and should not be used as) a reference material ***

Abuloy — bayad sa nahigop na kape at nanguyang biskwit sa nilamayang sakla.
Akala – alam na alam daw.
Aginaldo – inaasahan na makukuha sa araw ng Pasko na mas okay sana kung pera na lang.
Bakasyon – sandaling pahinga sa trabahong hingal lang ang pahinga.
Bakit – tanong na laging mahirap masagot.
Bakya – tsinelas na may takong.
Baga – lutuan ng mga hindi makabili ng microwave.
Bagoong – masarap na ulam ng mga walang maiulam.
Baldado – hindi mamamatay-matay na mukhang hindi na mabubuhay.
Bale – suweldong inutang.
Kaaway – ikli ng 'kaibigan na Inayawan.'
Kababata – dating gelpren na may ibang boypren.
Kabag – utot na naipon sa tiyan.
Kabayo – hayop na sinasakyan Ng kalesa.
Kalbo – gupit ng buhok na korteng itlog.
Dalaginding – dalagang hindi pa nagsusuot ng bra.
Dilim – liwanag na maitim.
E — ireng paseksi.
Gahasa – romansang walang ligawan.
Ginang – asawa ni ginoo na mukha nang tsimay.
Ginoo – inaasawa ni ginang na may inaasawang iba.
Gipit – kalagayan ng tao na suki na ng sanglaan.
Ha – sagot ng nagbibingi-bingihan.
Halakhak — tawang bukang-buka ang ngala-ngala.
Handaan – magdamagan na Palakihan ng tiyan.
Handog – bigay na laging may kapalit.
Hipo – haplos na may malisya.
Hudas – tapat na manloloko.
Ibon – hayop na lumalangoy sa Hangin.
Imposible -- pagtaas ng unano.
Insulto – walang hiyang biro.
Isda – hayop na hindi Nalulunod.
Ita – negrong Pinoy.
La – ikli ng 'lalalalala' sa kinakantang hindi maalala.
Lalawigan -- syudad ng kahirapan.
Langaw – kulisap na bangung-bango sa amoy ng basura.
Ma – tawag sa gelpren na mukhang nanay na.
Malusog – hitsura ng tumatabang balat.
Mama – tawag sa sosyal na ina.
Mano – kaugaliang Pinoy na nakapupudpod ng noo.
Mantika – katas ng piniritong taba.
Maybahay — asawang utusan sa bahay.
Nakaw – pagkuha ng walang pasabing 'akin na lang ito.'
Naku – ikli ng 'ina ko, ina na ako.'
Nitso – bahay ng mga patay.
Nobya – gelpren na laking probinsya.
Ngalngal – iyak ng walang ipen.
Ngisi – tawang tulo-laway.
Ngiti – tawang labas ipen.
Paa – bahagi ng katawan na amoy lupa.
Paaralan – dito itinuturo kung ano, alin o sino ang mapipiling bobo.
Panata – dasal na nakatataba ng tuhod.
Regla – masungit na panahon ng pagkababae.
Sabon – mabangong bagay na ipinapahid sa mabahong katawan.
Sakristan – utusan ng pari.
Sampal – haplos na nakatitigas ng mukha.
Ta – ikli ng 'tita' o lalaking may bra.
Tamad – taong hindi napapagod sa pahinga.

for more… 

ONLI IN DA PILIPINS

* Nakasulat sa pader:
"MARUNONG KA BANG TUMAHOL? ASO LANG ANG UMIIHI DITO!"

* along a highway in Pampanga:
"WE MAKE MODERN ANTIQUE FURNITURE"

* in a Baguio grocery:
"FRESH FROZEN CHICKEN SOLD HERE"

* in Cubao:
"NONE ID NOTHING ENTRY"

* on a parking lot:
"TAXI AND OUTSIDE CAR NOT ALLOWED"

* along Luneta Boulevard:
"BAWAL TUMAE SA BULEVARD"

* on Jeepney and Bus signs:
"BEFORE PAY, TELL WHERE GET THE ON BEFORE GET THE OFF"

* on a Flower shop in Rizal Avenue:
"WE SELL ARTIFICIAL FRESH FLOWERS"

* on a delivery truck:
"NOT FOR HERE"

* on window of a restaurant in Baguio:
"WANTED: BOY WAITRESS"

* A grafitti inside the cubicle of a ladies' C.R. in a university:
"PLEASE DON'T SIT LIKE A FROG, SIT LIKE A QUEEN."

* At a men's comfort room, above a urinal:
"HAWAK MO ANG KINABUKASAN NG BAYAN"

* at a construction site in Mandaluyong:
"BAWAL OMEHI DITO. ANG MAHOLI BOG-BOG"

* somewhere along San Andres:
"NO URINATING, ON THE OVER WALLS"

* vacant lot near makati ave.:
"DON'T PARKING"

* at an eatery in Cebu :
"WE HAB SOPDRINK IN CAN AND IN BATOL!

[and this is the best of them all!! ]
* on a building somewhere in the Philippines …
"NOTARY PUBLIC TUMATANGGAP DIN NG LABADA KUNG LINGGO"