Filipina Soul

Filipina Soul is inundated with requests for bugtong (Filipino riddles), sawikain (Filipino idioms) and salawikain (Filipino proverbs). And we’re more than glad to help students with their homework. After all, that’s what blogs sometimes are - student resource material.

As much as we can, we try to explain them or give translation and answers. We definitely love it when you add more to the list!

Here’s what we got for salawikain (Filipino proverbs):

1. Maikakaila ang kayamanan, ngunit hindi ang kahirapan. (One can deny wealth, but never poverty).

2. Ang naglalakad ng marahan, matinik man ay mababaw. Ang naglalakad ng matulin, kung matinik malalim. (The one who walks slow, gets a shallow prick. The one who walks fast, gets a deep cut/prick.)

3. Sisiw nang umalis, nang bumalik ay inahin. (A tiny chick when one left home, a chicken when one returned).

4. Kaya nga ang sugat, mababaw man ay may pilat. (A wound, however shallow, leaves a scar.)

5. Ang hiram na damit, kundi maluwag ay masikip. (A borrowed dress never fits. It’s either too loose or too tight.)

These proverbs are easy enough to explain, right? Well, not the one below!

Pag hindi ka nagpautang, kakainin ka ng langgam. (If you don’t lend to someone, you’ll get eaten by ants.)

HUH?!