This is about the things that I’ve seen and learned this September, My wife was watching ABS-CBN news as I walked by I noticed a large group of young children were banging on pots and pans. I thought to myself; “Wow, It’s a little early for Christmas Caroling.” Then I watched for a minute and learned that it was a “Noise Barrage” in protest of the Government that knocked down their houses in Sitio San Rafael in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City, it seems they were Squatters or as they are now referred to “Informal Settlers.” How’s that for political correctness? It was further explained that the government had paid each family P 1,000.00 (or approx. $22.00) to aid in their move. And the people were angry. Gee, go figure that. But I learned that a noise barrage and Christmas caroling were one in the same thing
The next thing I noticed last month was, while I was shopping at the Royal store I went to the Adult Beverage section to lay claim to four bottles of Tanduay 12 year old Superior Rum. To my surprise it was “Out Of Stock”, a young lady working there asked if she could help, and I explained my problem. I saw her smile as she told me; “It came in yesterday and was in the storeroom.” And, if I would come back to the beverage section in 15 minutes it would be “IN STOCK.” She absolutely made my day, and left me trying to figure out how I could make her the employee of the new millennium. She’d restored my faith in all store employees, for awhile anyway.
Next that same day at Royal’s, I went to put my car in line at the grocery pick-up area as it was raining. I was next in line after waiting behind 3 cars and a guy in his car Bogart’s the line and tried to pull in front of me. Oh pray tell, not in this lifetime will that happen! So I blocked him and just sat there waiting for him to figure it out. He didn’t! The security guard came and informed him of the error of his ways and asked that he go to the back of the line, he refused. His wife was making a lot of noise and Mayang informed her that I was the most stubborn Kano she would ever meet and would never back down. The seven taxi drivers also informed her and her husband that the Kano and the five cars behind him were in line, and that they were wrong. The husband moved, but gave me a withering glance.
Earlier this month my niece and I were talking about her language, and she pointed out that Tagalog had no letter “C” in its aalphabet. Now I knew this from when our girls were in school. But it really bothered me about the confusion this must cause the little kids in school. So I asked Shay-Shay why was it; with no letter “C” were there all these provinces in her country named; Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin,Capiz, Catanduan, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, and Cotabato all spelled with the letter “C” when there is no “C” in the Filipino Alphabet? And then only one province in the Nation spelled with a “K” Kalinga? No answer was forth coming, and that subject was dropped.
My neighbor who has the house beside me moved in a couple of years ago, He had lived and worked in San Diego California for 40 years and came back to his home to retire. When I met him the first day, he started right in telling me how much he hated living in America, and he was so glad to be backing home here in the Philippines. So my dander was raised over some of his comments and I asked him; “It was so bad there, and yet you stayed for forty years, when did it dawn on you that you were wasting your life?” For reasons I’ll never understand, that offended him, and no friendship ensued. But a couple of weeks ago I noticed that he couldn’t get his car started, and I thought the neighborly thing to do was offer the use of my battery charger. He told me that he didn’t know how to use it and could I hook it up for him? Which I did, then I handed him the plug and explained that all that was needed now was a power source. He had no extension cord and his power had been cut off. Now he’s using my charger, my cord, and my electricity.
An hour later it was done and I suggested he try and start the car, he did, and the car started. I put all my stuff away, and noticed that he never said thank you. I hope he purchased a new battery.
And to finish up my month, I had a knock on my gate, someone wanted to pawn a Kodak Disposable Camera, not only that, but all the film had been used and there were no shots left on the roll. I could see the disappointment in his eyes as I declined his offer. I did suggest he try e-Bay. In the last 12 years since we moved to the mountain I can’t for the life of me remembering hanging that sign that said “Uncle Paul’s Pawn Shop” in front of my house. In the past we had taken in some items in pawn. But I noticed that I was collecting a lot of items and they were never reclaimed. I even had one person who left a TV with me, and never paid me back. But, a year later he told me, that I could buy it from him for a few thousand Pesos more. What I deal, selling me something that I already owned. I politely declined and told them that he could pay me anytime he wanted, plus interest and cart on it home. I never saw him again.
Monday 27th of September Typhoon Good Ol’ what’s it name, hit Manila and shared its wrath with me and my mountain retreat. We had torrential rain and typhoon force gusts of wind and five days of generator power.
Back in April I wrote (The Simple Life here on LiP) about my wife having the mango trees trimmed that bordered our fence. Note the picture of the felled mango and the direction it fell. Lord, Mayang is smart! Then there is my mango in my front yard, we were watching it and it was swaying like a Hula Dancer after 15 of those blue drinks with the fruit and umbrellas in it. So somehow she got people to come and trim it, in the pouring rain. I think she went too far with her trimming, but who am I to question genus.
So the above were just some of the things that made my month of September such a resoundingly funny month. By keep my eyes and ears open I will continue to find the humor that is all around us. Let me know what happened to you last month.
I enjoyed reliving your September. One thing that stands out for me is how often the subject of Philippine rudeness pops up in discussion and articles. Many of the rudeness incidents are exactly as you relayed them including ungratefulness and cutting in lines. I have witnessed it and have experienced it myself a few times and in my personal case it can be difficult in that I have a temper and have to bite my tongue for fear of saying something I will regret but you can’t imagine how often I’d like to kick the ____ out of people like this. I can’t even tell them they are an (A) because of the sesitiivity/slander/no insult rule. Really lets people off the hook for their bad behavior. So off to the gym I go to let out my stress. Hey I have to remember it’s not my country as I am only a guest. Poor me.
Paul;
So many people confuse rudeness for culture, they are not the same, and most rude people are lacking culture. Being rude is a lack of caring for the people around you. And who made up that sensitivity/slander/no insult rule anyway? More than not, it was invented by a rude person. It the situation is a matter of culture, than as a well behaved guest, I’ll, and I give in to that. But front the line or any other act of pure rudeness. Katy bar the door!
Paul, call it what you will. Culture, lack of education, isolation, too hot a climate it’s bs. No excuses. With the massive influence of the Church in the country wouldn’t you think this type of behavior would be frowned upon. I mean children give older people blessing when you meet them, are taught to say thank you and please and for the most part most adults are very accomodating and generous with what they have. That is why I don’t understand something so basic to common sense that doesn’t even need to be taught. Go figure
Paul;
The actions you listed like the blessings and respect and love of family. That is pure Filipino culture and is a great thing. I’ve found the rudeness to exist in only a very small percentage of the people here. The other 99.9% are polite, caring human beings, it’s like visiting foreigners, only the ugly ones get noticed.
To the Paul’s, I agree with you both on the topic of rudeness and that it is wrong. I aslo beleive that rudeness and culture and some times be mixed up. What we Americans see as rude is normal here and then what is normal for us may be rude to the Filipino, we you both agree. Now, there is one area that I feel the Filipino’s are very rude in, and it is not a part of culture, that is once they get behind the wheel of a car all the culture and politeness go out the door and it is every man, woman and child for them self. This is just my opion.
If I did not like it here than I would not stay. That along with a with other things I do not like, but will put up with it cause there is more good than bad here.
Great read Paul T and thanks for wrighting it.
BillB;
The driving part is not the fault of the driver, we would all drive like that in all parts of the world if we were allowed too. Without enforcement of the laws, the country is telling us than anarchy is the norm. On the Subic free-port, traffic laws are enforced by an unbribable police force and for some reason the laws are obeyed. But once they leave the gate the free for all, begins again (I’m also part of it, when in Rome…) You can chalk a lot of things up to culture, but rudeness is not one of them, We could find a group of people who have never had contact with the modern world and I’d wager that fronting the line is still not acceptable even with them.
I rode my motorcycle through Subic Freeport for the first time a few months back They stopped me coming and going to remind me to turn on my headlamp and obey the laws Nevermind that its always on. But it was nice to be able to ride without fear of people running lights, stop lights etc. And yes, all law abiding driving is gone once outside city limits.
Riding the toll road from Angeles to Subic is my favorite ride, road is near perfect and have the mountains on either side of you.
Don;
The toll road does have some spectacular views, I taught my wife and daughters to drive on Subic’s back roads and the housing areas.
Paul, I just rememberd something. Back a million years ago when I first started going to the Philippines and of those quite a few years under Marcos and Martial Law, the country seemed better educated, more english speaking and cultured. Of course there was less population. Corruption was not as apparent as it was in the hands of fewer people but the country on the right path into the 21st century. I know this is controversial subject. There are some countries where people don’t funtion well under democracy and I sincerely feel the Philippines is one of them. they need strong leadership and guidance which they aren’t getting now in my opinion and thus more rudeness and other social defficiencies have occured. Sorry if I offended any by this.
Paul;
I also was here during the Marco’s years, there were better roads better schools and people seemed to do well. But I would tend to disagree, the worst democracy has to be better than the best dictatorship. I also spent time in Spain under Franco, and that was a benevolent dictator, but freedom is what people are willing to fight for. But the beer was cheaper then!
Paul, whenever I pass through Olongapo on my way home to barrio Salaza in Palauig, Zambales, I see two signs on buildings that stick out above the rest. They are: “Aim high Olongapo” and “Isang bayan, isang diwa”. Weren’t these signs a legacy of the Marcos rule?
I think they were more from the Mayor Gordon rule. I don’t remeber them Untill the bases were gone, of course before that I was only looking for SM signs.
Big P;
The Gordon rule could be ending as they are running out of little Gordon’s to run for Mayor. They can’t get them off the compound in California.
Ricardo;
I think Big P is right, Those Gordonisms started to appear when the town was struggling after the base closure. But hoky as they sound Olongapo did pull it’s self up and now is a thriving city due to their own hard work and determination.
But we only got 4p/$
Big P;
But 65 centavos for a beer or 5 beers for a buck!
funny and interesting post Paul…..surprised to find out about the letter C not being part of the Tagalog alphabet and yet as you say some towns and cities in the Philippines start with C. I hope someone will explain why this is so. As for my September mate, well its not my favourite month is all i can say, the reason being that i had to leave my beloved family after 4 months and 2 weeks together to return to work in Australia. I have to work another yr to secure our future, unfortunately Im paying the price now for a mispent youth of boozing and partying like there was tomorrow, lol…so i need to work a bit more to top up the retirement funds.
I do not claim to be an expert, David, but here is my take on why those place names in the Philippines have the letter “c” in them despite the fact that, officially, the letter “c” does not exist in the Tagalog alphabet. The letter, “q”, also does not exist, yet, there is a Quezon City. The letter, “k” was suggested as a replacement for both letters, “c” and “q”; thus, the Spanish words “caballo” and “queso” are spelled, “kabayo” and “keso”, in Tagalog. (Btw, the double ll and the letter n with the curl above it are also no longer a part of the Tagalog alphabet). The Philippines does not have the equivalent of the Board of Geographical Names, the entity that approves the official name and spelling of a geographical location in the U.S. However, through popular usage and spelling, accomodations are being made to remain true to the Tagalog alphabet by spelling place names alternatively thus: Caloocan/Kalookan, Bulacan/Bulakan, etc, but people simply find it hard to accept that the correct spelling for Quezon City, according to the Tagalog phonetic alphabet, would be “Keson siti”, or Compostela Valley, “Kompostela Bali”.
If not by popular usage, my feeling is that it would take a special legislation to change the spelling of some place names to reflect the Tagalog alphabet, but I seriously doubt that you will see a change of spelling of “Quezon”, or those of other well-established place names, or places named after a foreign place or person. In my opinion, he factors to be considered for a spelling change to reflect the Tagalog alphabet are consistency, universal acceptance, and appropriateness, but that would be improbable to reconcile, if not impossible.
Ricardo;
Impossible is the operative word.
That’s it, Paul!
cheers Ricardo
Ricardo;
Thank you, as your comment answered a lot of questions I had also. Albeit I pointed it out using humor, I had still wondered the why of it!
You’re welcome, Paul. I had a short break from watching the Jets/Ravens game to eat dinner and came back to both LiP and the NFL (an eye on each) to see a lot of comments made in the past hour. I just want to make a quick comment about your Pinoy neighbor who lived in the States for 40 years, and doesn’t know how to jump start his car battery, let alone say thank you to you for your help. He must have lived a sheltered life in the U.S. You said he told you he hated the States, but he sure does not hate the U.S. pension or Social Security he’s receiving now, does he? 🙂
Ricardo;
I found out yesterday he’s selling out here and going back to that damnable San Diego. He paid P 500K for the land 2.5 years ago, and I guess because he lived there it’s worth P 850K now, I smiled and thought; “You’ll never see San Diego at his age if he’s waiting for someone to pay that much.” And yes, he never turned down the pensions!
Paul,
I’m sure your neighbor was more than happy to accept that pension or social security. It’s funny that his electricity was cut off. I think he will be in for a rude awakening going back to San Diego where it is very expensive to live on a pension/social security. I know your beloved Red Sox did not have a good September by not making the playoff’s. Paul, how much generally does a bottle of that 12 year Tanduay rum cost? Did you catch alot of the 2nd Typhoon this past weekend? Thanks alot for informing us with your usual humor about your September. Remember won’t be long till Christmas shopping begins lol. Take care
Papa Duck;
Tanduay 12 Y/O Superior is wildly expensive here P 280 each or Approx $6.51 per bottle, but I’m worth it! My soon to be former neighbor is moving into his son’s house in San Diego, what a lucky kid he is. I was at the mall last Saturday and all the Christmas stuff is up and the Christmas music is cranked up, but no kids beating on pots and pans yet!
Ric,
Thanks for the info about the letters “c” and “q”. Interesting how its used, but is not in the alphabet. Have a nice day.
Papa Duck;
I learned a lot also, about the language. A very interesting exchange between, Ricardo, Troca, Katrina, and JohnM. I left myself out of those comments as they were more knowledgeable on the subject than I.
The same with the driving and traffic in Davao, as I had nothing to add.
Paul,
I think i would have to agree with you on that.
David;
That was just a list of the provinces, cities and towns are too many to type in one article.
I remember having to leave here and sign on a new ship for a six month cruise after two months home, was never fun for me either. But it’s what we have to do for the love of family.
Remember work is nothing but another four letter word that ends in “K”. Your time will come and that first day back, when you know that you’re here to stay, will make it all worth while. Come back soon!
lol..your so right on that one Paul…I have always said that the word work should be classed an official expletive and only to be uttered in conjunction with other expletives such as f…ing work and the like , hahaha..yes i will be very happy to be back Paul, im very content with living in Davao and despite it growing in population over the last few yrs the area of Davao is so large that it still takes on the appearance of a very large country town to me. Now if it ever got to be like Manila i would leave asap, but i cant see that happening.
David;
Big cities are not my cup of tea either, having grown up in one. (Boston MA.)
David, Be careful what you don’t wish for. Davao is not really so big and I am even starting to see the charm of smaller provincial towns starting to lose their charm from growing population. Many are not equipped to handle it. I will be visiting Davao to see some friends in December. It will be interesting to see how it has changed traffic wise since my trip there last year.
Davao is quickly becoming much like Manila. I first moved to Davao in 2002. There are places that took a 10 minute drive to go to back then, they take an hour of driving now. Feyma and I love Davao, but we’re not sure how much longer we can live here.
Bob;
In July Olongapo City got its first traffic light, oh the confusion that caused. we had stop signs, but they never worked properly. I guess it’s time to move, we’re becoming too high tech.
Paul,
A traffic light in Olongapo? Yep time to move out! A gazillion years ago during the Martial Law time frame, I did a tour as an Armed Forces Police(Green Helmet) in Subic, and my partner while patroling Olongapo and the Barrio was a Philippine Constabulary Sgt. The only trafffic signals or signs back then were a 45 cal. being pointed at you for cutting off someone. Needless to say my partner carried an M-16 so we ALWAYS had the right of way 🙂 .
John D.
So you were the guy that cut my liberty short that night! (lol) The new traffic is a thing of wonderment, people will walk from far a way to marvel in its glory. It is understood that green means GO and red means STOP, it’s yellow that causes the problems, it seems to mean speed up. They need to have a traffic warden there with the light to make it work better.
Paul,
Guilty as charged :-). Last year while in the Manila area, I was amazed to see a traffic light. It was red and my nephew who was driving the van we were in actually stopped. I ask him why he stopped, he said to see if anyone else would also stop..wtf? over!! What most sailors & marines didn’t know was, we were there to intervene and try to ensure they didn’t get thrown in the olongapo or barrio jail. And if they did, we did our best to get them out and back on base before more trouble hit the sheet so to speak. Unless they were snot slinging drunk, or fighting, the majority of the time we just took them to another part of town and let them go, to get them out of the situation they were in. Ah for the good ole days :-).
John D.
I was on Shore Patrol in Naples with another 3rd class off the carrier, (I was on a tanker (AO-25) our job was to keep our shipmates out of the red light area up in the “Gut”. The bird-farmer shouts; “There goes one let get him.” I smiled and said; “I didn’t see anything.”
BTW I spent one evening in Station “B”, my buddy stopped by with P200.00 and we were off again. Those were the days my friend…
Wow that is huge coming from you Bob. It surprises me especially in light of the fact that one great thing about Davao was the great law and order of the city and especially the order part due to strong and intelligent mayors Duterte. Both of them have been hands on persons so I wonder if they are seriously discussing this topic now and is it too late. What to do? and what places would you consider moving to?
Hi Paul – Feyma and I have a few places in mind where we would consider moving, but we are not ready to make them public at this time. If we were to move it would be a number of years down the road, because we would want our kids to finish school here in Davao.
Bob;
There is pleanty of land left on the mountain here in Bataan! By then there might be DSL, oh who am I kidding!
Hi Paul – I could never move up to Luzon. I’d have to change my nickname after all! 😉
Sorry Bob;
I didn’t think of that! (lol)
Paul,
Bob could even buy your next door neighbors land for P850,000. What a bargain Bob! But LuzonBob just doesn’t sound right. The only place you belong is in Mindanao.
Papa Duck;
That land is a real bargain, I’d love to meet the guy that would pay that much for that land. Wow; maybe I could sell all that unclaimed pawn stuff I have?
Paul T,
I remember those Shore Patrol days when we were in Naples Harbor on LPD-13 in 1980-81. The “Gut” brings back some good memories lol. You could really get lost in those back alleys especially after too many peronis my friend.
Papa Duck;
I would always start at the Blue Bird Club then Boston Blackies, up to the Gut to the New Yorker club, and later to The Nato Base to see Humpty Dumphty and the campfire girls. Back to fleet landing and eat those huge donuts before the last liberty launch.
Im not sure about that Paul , i read somewhere that the area of Davao city is 3 times the size of Manila but the population is only 1.4 million, not sure what the population of Manila is but id hazard a guess that Davao has nowhere near their population.
If you count the entire city (which goes all the way to Bukidnon) the population of Davao is actually about 2M, which is nowhere near the size of Manila.
hi Paul
i find the traffic at peak time when travelling downtown is very congested and obviously the infrastructure here is not capable of supporting the growth of the city, but otherwise in other areas even when going to the airport(unlike Manila) its quite an easy drive.Anyway be interested to know your opinion when your there.
The Tagalog alphabet does not include letters such as C or Q. But the national language Filipino, which is Tagalog-based, does.
Troca;
Interesting fact, I’ll assume it’s similar to the US leaving the letter “U” out of English words such as Humor (humour) Harbor (harbour) and many more, whereas The UK, Canada, and Australia still us it.
Filipino is as dynamic as any other language, I guess. Whatever suits the speakers. right? All I know it integrates aspects of all other languages used in the Philippines including Spanish. Interesting articles here. I’ve been reading posts over a year now and there sure are times I wish I was back home, back-to-back typhoons or not.
Troca;
Typhoons are just a part of life, as Blizzards were for me when I was growing up in New England. You take the good with the bad, and make the best of both.
You are absolutely correct about the alphabet of the Filipino language having the letters c and q, but not the Tagalog alphabet. In fact, it has all 26 letters of the modern Latin alphabet PLUS 2, the Spanish “n” (with the diacritical tilde above it) and “ng” of Tagalog, as in “ngayon”. This is to accomodate, simplify, and retain the native spelling of the gazillions of borrowed foreign words and phrases, most notably from Spanish and English. Regarding the popular expression, “Tagalog-based”, when referring to the modern Filipino national language, that is so misleading. Let me just say that the Filipino national language, which is exactly the same as Tagalog, couldn’t have been based from Ilocano or Visayan or whatever. Whether it’s called Filipino, Pilipino, or Tagalog, they are all one and the same, except the minor variation of the alphabet. Blame the misleading phrase to have been coined by Filipino officials who were charged with determining the national language of the Philippines.
I really have to agree with you about Tagalog – Filipino no matter how “scholars” say they are different because of loan words. In fact, Bisaya is said to have more Spanish loan words than Tagalog and that Ilocano retains more of the original Spanish pronunciation (Asukal in Tagalog; asucar in Ilocan; pasyal in Tagalog; pasyar in Ilocano) than Tagalog yet they are still “Ilocano/Bisaya”.
If we were to apply their logic, US English should just then be “American”, not English. LOL.
There is also another misleading word that “Filipino scholars” like to teach. Language= Filipino; Dialects = Tagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya, Kapampangan. Dialects are supposed to be “mutually intelligible” but the languages given are not.
Although Filipino and Tagalog are one and the same language, Filipinos among themselves call the national language, “Tagalog”, but this is simply to differentiate Tagalog from the other regional languages of the Philippines. In other words, the term is for domestic consumption only. On the other hand, “Filipino”, the designated official name of the national language is so called for international consumption – to identify the national language of the Philippines..
It is beyond distinguishing Filipino for the name of the national language. When I went to school in the Philippines, we were taught that Tagalog, Ilocano, etc are “dialects of the Filipino language”. We were also corrected when we’re asked what is the “national language” and we respond “Tagalog”. Oftentimes, we were told that Tagalog and Filipino are different languages.
If, as your teacher taught you, Tagalog and Ilocano are dialects of the “Filipino” language how come they do not understand one another speaking in their respective tongue? It/s because there are no similarities between the two that make them mutually intelligible; thus, they are two separate languages, not dialects. Dialects have to be mutually intelligible to one another in other to be called dialects of the same language. Did your teacher explain how different Tagalog is to Filipino? I see none, do you?
I look at the issue of “dialect” vs “language” in political terms. Since independence, the idea behind Filipino was to unify a country with many different languages into a single unit. If you call Ilocano or Cebuano “languages”, rather than “dialects”, it implies a separatism, distinct from the whole, which could lead to regional nationalism.
A good example is Chinese. Cantonese and Hokkienese are mutually unintelligible to their respective speakers, yet they are considered dialects of Mandarin, a terminology encouraged by Beijing.
Many linguists consider a dialect a regional variation of a language. Therefore, taking the example given, Ilocano and Tagalog would each be considered a separate language. Ybanag would be a dialect of Ilocano (Which is why most Ybanag speakers also speak Ilocano, but most Ilocanos cannot speak Ybanag.)
Not just political but national boundaries as well. For example, the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, people from those countries understand each other even when they speak in their respective languages. Yet, Finnish, Swedish, and Danish languages are not called dialects. They are languages of three different countries. Regarding the implication of separatism distinct from the whole, doesn’t that explain why Filipinos are very regionalistic?
I meant “national identities”, since national boundaries are political.
Upon knowing the definitions in later life, I realized that Filipino, the language; Tagalog, Ilocano, dialect was incorrect by the definition of language and dialects.
This approach is only done in schools. However, among the anthropologists, it’s referred to as languages. And the approach in itself is divisive among Filipinos. Filipino/Tagalog is mandatory in schools and is deemed nationalistic, yet when one is more into Bisaya/Ilocano/Kapampangan culture and language over the “Tagalog language/culture”, it is disdainfully regionalistic, threat to “national unity”? Isn’t it double standards? It even is more so double standards when you pitch English into the argument.
To add more irony, schools are starting to offer foreign languages, but I don’t think any school offer local languages(with the exception of Tagalog) as an elective.
Without “equal” treatment of local languages, the disdain begins.
Ricardo: I would agree, except for Finnish, which is completely different. The rest all had Old Norse as their base language. Another notable exception is Icelandic, which is very similar to Old Norse (Pretty much the same as the Vikings spoke)… Modern Scandinavian languages have changed so much since that time that most Norwegians cannot understand Icelandic.
I do remember a movie that even made a senator to react.
One line from a Tagalog movie, “Dapat Tagalog para Pinoy”. It gave the impression that to be Filipino is to speak Tagalog. How about those who are not well verse in Tagalog (many in the non-Tagalog countrysides) yet very versed in the local language? Are they less Filipino? (according to the movie!) It didn’t help that the maid was “Bisaya” with the stereotypical “Bisaya accent”
Did your teacher explain the difference between Tagalog and Filipino? I am very curious to know.
You might be surprised by the “differences”
Tagalog, according to them does not contain “loan” words, while Filipino does.
😀
English word: chair
Tagalog: salumpuwit
Filipino: upuan/silya
So if a Pinoy says, “Chong, gusto mong bumili ng siopao sa Chinatown o punta na lang tayo sa bar downtown at at mag-sandwich tayo duon sabay ng inom ng beer habang nanunuod ng strip tease”, that guy is not speaking Tagalog because of the loan words? LOL
As per “Philippine education”, they are not speaking Tagalog but “Filipino”.
If Philippine education says it’s Filipino and not Tagalog, I will go along with that to end the discussion, but you and I both know how ridiculous that is. A rose by any other name is still a rose. “Filipino” and “Tagalog” are one and the same – no ifs, no but, no maybes about it, loan words or no. The fact that the language is named Filipino, is approved by the Supreme Court, and is registered with an international body to make it official does not change the language a whit. There are no differences between the two. This whole thing about the Filipino language being “Tagalog-based” is a cock and bull story concocted by a bunch of scholars tasked by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino to come up with an all-encompassing national language that is representative of all ethnic groups of the Philippines. Among several reasons, Tagalog was chosen since it is more widely used than the other predominant languages like Ilocano and Visayan. It is also the language of Manila, the center of culture and commerce. But the group couldn’t call the national language Tagalog, since it would imply that it is the language of one particular ethnic group, the Tagalas. The name, “Filipino” was therefore chosen in part to mollify the non-Tagalas and partly to give the national language a name that is more identifiable with the country Philippines in the international community.
I wish I could find that article again(I think it’s either INQ or GMA) where one politician suggested that there should a translation from Tagalog to Filipino because they are “different”.
I wonder, how will they translate: “Anong pangalan mo” to Filipino?
“Anong name mo”?
No difference whatsoever, but in order to support the argument that Filipino and Tagalog are “different”, adjustments had to be made to the Filipino alphabet in order to incorporate the loan words into the national language called, Filipino, by adopting all 26 letters of the modern Latin alphabet with the addition of the letter “n” with the diacritical tilde and “ng” from Tagalog). In so doing, foreign loan words that have crept in into the language over time retain their native spelling and do not have to be spelled phonetically using the Tagalog alphabet which does not have the letters, c, f, j, q, v, x, and z. This is the only “difference”, if at all. Look how inappropriate “Quezon City” would appear if spelled phonetically in the Tagalog alphabet: “Keson Siti”. (Manuel Quezon would be turning over in his grave, if that were the case). So, tlanguage called “Filipino” is not Tagalog-based. It IS Tagalog with a pretty name. he national language called, “Filipino”, is invented, with all the foreign words spelled verbatim, yet they have been present in the language all along, except that they were spelled phonetically. Loan words or no, the national
No difference whatsoever, but in order to support the argument that Filipino and Tagalog are “different”, adjustments had to be made to the Filipino alphabet in order to incorporate the loan words into the national language called, Filipino, by adopting all 26 letters of the modern Latin alphabet with the addition of the letter “n” with the diacritical tilde and “ng” from Tagalog). In so doing, foreign loan words that have crept in into the language over time retain their native spelling and do not have to be spelled phonetically using the Tagalog alphabet which does not have the letters, c, f, j, q, v, x, and z.
This is the only “difference”, if at all. Look how inappropriate “Quezon City” would appear if spelled phonetically in the Tagalog alphabet: “Keson Siti”. (Manuel Quezon would be turning over in his grave, if that were the case). So, the language called “Filipino” is invented with all the foreign words spelled verbatim, yet such words have been present in the Tagalog language all along, except that they were spelled phonetically.
Loan words or no, the national language called, “Filipino”, is not Tagalog-based. It IS Tagalog with a pretty name.
I love the Royal Store. The last time I was there I saw Tuna hot dogs. I couldn’t believe it. I almost bought them just to say I did, but my wife, wisely I’m sure, wouldn’t allow it.
Instead, we bought some of that rum, cigarettes, some flip-flops and various sundries to take back to the apartment. That place has everything, kind of like Wal-Mart. (No, not the “Wall-Mart” in Barrio Barretto).
I can’t wait to go back there next year, even if it’s only for a visit. This time I’m buying the tuna hot dogs, I don’t care what anybody says!
Billy Mac;
I saw the Tuna Dogs for the first time and gave them a pass, but at Pure Gold store I stock up on the Turkey Hot Dogs, as they are good, if only they put that red dye #5 into them, then they’d be great!
Paul,
Do they sell Oscar Mayer hot dogs at Subic?
Papa Duck;
Not in a very long time but there still is BallPark and Hormel once in awhile!
Hi Paul..funny post…and that mango tree looks pretty sick….Your Wife really had it cutted heavy……hiiiiiiiiiii…..its a good thing she did not come back one day from the beauty shop with a hair a cute like that….you for sure would need 8 bottles of that nice looking rum for sure on that….but do not know much about mango trees, but if they are like some trees here in the USA, in a year it will be all bushy again and the stumps will be covered up with brand new branches and leaves and maybe when it is pretty again some mangos might hang off of it……again…
Dan;
What I know about mango trees you could put on the head of a pin. But I think your right they do seem to snap back within a short period of time, new mangos? Maybe not next season! As for her hair, I leave that up to her, long or short I don’t care. She did go a tad overboard on the trimming of that tree; I’ll just drink beer in my Man Cave for awhile!
Ah the BER months….I’m sure the guy that tried to cut in front of you was not trying to be rude, likely he just has a Christmas dinner to get to!
Tony;
He was one of our favorite types of person here in Subic, a visitor from Manila with attitude toward us peasants’ from the province.
Paul, I think he probably felt that your lowly Honda would just give in to his mighty Chedeng.
Ricardo;
I believe he was more worried about denting his car than I was about mine.
Paul
I just done a quick reseach and found out that the population of Metro Manila according to the 2007 census was nearly 12 million and im sure its grown since then.
David;
That’s way too many people for me, but they are welcome to their city, I don’t even like to visit there.
David. What I was suggesting is Davao from North to South in the real populated city context (people and city buildings) maybe goes from Toril in the North to Sasa in the South. This in my experience takes 30 to 45 minutes in a private vehicle and I have made the trip a number of times. Maybe now it is insanely longer. In any event I don’t think Davao is representative of a huge city as it’s geographical boundaries suggest and miniscule compared to Manila. This is why hearing about things taking one hour that used to take ten minutes is very disconcerting. Maybe I will have to pass on visiting the place in the future as I detest traffic LOL
hire a local driver Paul, they are quite cheap and know every back street of Davao to avoid a lot of the traffic…i have a favourite taxi driver i try to get if my wife and i are going to the SM mall which is quite a trip for us…he will useally get us there for between 120/130 peso whereas others are up to 180 peso with the average being 160….guess im just a cheapskate, but when you can save enough on two taxis to buy a grande of st migs finest pale, why not, lol
On top of that, David, if you count the commuters to the city from the outlying provinces like Cavite and Bulacan, the population of Manila swells during the day.
hi ric,
back in the late 90s the daily transients in MM was said to be 1M from morning to evening, after which the actual number of 12M would be valid.
who knows what the actual transient population is now– and will be– given that they’re deadset on increasing the number of entrypoints to MM from the north, passing via bulacan, plus extending the MRT/LRT system northward from its current last stop at SM north. i heard they’re currently refurbishing the old train system so that it would go all the way to bicol region. and back.
it seems they’d rather centralize congestion & chaos than create incentives for commerce & industry to spread all over the archipelago.
cheers,
One problem with the countrysides is that they tend to be infiltrated by NPAs who blow up infrastructure when businesses don’t pay “revolutionary tax”
With that, how can commerce and industries be decentralized?
Katrina;
Both Subic and Clark have industry, albeit it is protected on both bases, but outside the gates it exists also with little problems. Maybe more gated industrial areas are need until the NPA figures out that communism doesn’t work.
I’m just trying to get wod press working this is a test
I meant Toril in the South to Sasa in the North. Sorry
Hi Paul,
“Let me know what happened to you last month.”
Back on topic; but do you really want to know?
Spent the summer fixing the house here in Palm Harbor, FL.
Spent too much.
Did not use air/con once all summer – used fans – paid for the patio from low elect bill, less than $40.00 per month.
Daisy’s elect bill is P5000 per mo.
Her electric is turned off as I ran out of money to send 2 weeks ago.
Going down to the scrapyard tomorrow to sell some copper.
God I hope this economy improves.
All shipping companies I call say their contracts are cancelled and they are selling ships or laying them up.
Still smiling, but loosing weight,
Jade
Hi Jade;
Well now I know what’s up in Palm Harbor. It appears your September went as well as mine. Stay well, you be back out to sea soon enough.
Jade,
Hope all works out for you. Just keep your head up. No air all summer in Florida. I live down the road in Bradenton. I couldn’t go all summer w/o air. Take care you’ll be working soon.
I’m probably a bit off base here, but the thing I like about September (and August too) is fruit season ( I think).. the last days of August and all of September mainly in Surigao, but did travel through to Kidapawan where we pretty much fed on mangosteen, rambutan and durian. We did try to get some lansones, but they weren’t available.
Fruits that are available here in Australia but costs a lot more. Now, I am waiting for another 4 weeks accrued leave and some funds so I can go back to my family there.
JC;
You’re never off base on LiP. (lol) In my many visits to Australia over the years I admit I never made it to a supermarket of fruit stand, I was busy hunting down those fabulous Steak Houses, In the states we pay top dollar for an 8oz steak, and down under they would drag 1/4 of a steer to my table for a very good price. So that’s what I know about fruit. Get back quickly mate!
On the subject of thanks; During the Typhoon the street in front of our apartment was flooded about 3 feet deep and of course a lot of the neighbors houses were flooded. Our next apartment door lady here ask me if the neighbors could come on to our patio to get out of the water and I didn’t say no, so here they came. I had seen five or six people, a couple of babies, but as they started arriving it was like buying an ice cream for a street kid. Before it was over we probably had 75 people here. That was OK, after all they needed to get out of the flood.. As dark settled in and the flood remained I told them they could sleep in one of the vacant apartments. The next morning the flood was gone but the people wer not. Finally after they had all driftied away some time after noonI ask my wife “did any one thank you for letting them stay?” No one bothered.
Big P;
Don’t hold your breath waiting for that thank you. We were six days without power and I ran my generator from 5am to 9pm every day, we charged every cell phone in our purok, but I guess they felt it was our duty to do so, as very few thank you’s were forth coming.
Interesting article and topics Paul. I have Mindanao Bobs eBook 49 ways to make a living in The Philippines but I have not read all of it yet. Is ” Turn Your House Into A Pawn Shop ” one of those 49 ways or have you come up with a 50th ? It seems your clientel automatically know where to go for the best deal in the neighborhood. LOL
Your description and especially that pic have really made my day. I am still laughing !
Bob;
We’ll have to talk to Mindanao Bob about adding that to his e-book. (lol) I still have some stuff I (my wife) took in pawn that I’ll be giving away at Christmas this year. The disposable camera put me on the floor laughing after the guy le
Paul: Even a big fat Kano like myself could walk to where the squatters you mentioned were… The land is UP land, and they were wanting to use it, to build student housing, I think. The squatters were removed, and promptly built lean-tos under the overpasses on Commonwealth Av, blocking traffic and creating confusion.
Same issue over by the C5 extension that they have been trying to build for years.
John;
The new PC term is Informal Settlers according to ABS-CBN, but I know your right, as I come into Manila I see the camps under every bridge on the highway.
Katrina;
Both Subic and Clark have industry, albeit it is protected on both bases, but outside the gates it exists also with little problems. Maybe more gated industrial areas are need until the NPA figures out that communism doesn’t work.
Hey Paul,
I was just wondering if this was the same neighbor you wrote about before who was complaing about your water runoff?
Hudson;
Yup, my buddy Raymond!
Hi Paul, the same neighbor with the avocado or mango fruit hanging over the fence to your property? Enjoy the next three “BER”.
Mars
Tagalog is the dialect spoken in the Manila and surrounding nearby provinces. Since the Capital of the Philippines was in Manila, then Quezon City (and now back to Manila ?), Tagalog was designated the Official Philippine Language. I had to study “Pilipino” during my school days in the Philippines (from grammar thru college) as a language subject, similar to the “English” subject (including grammar, etc).
The Philippines has over 100 dialects of which about a dozen are the major spoken ones. Some of them share common words, some of them are totally different. I speak Aklanon, Ilonggo, and Tagalog fluently. I also speak english and chinese fluently.
The chinese “Mandarin” dialect was the oral laanguage in use in the Beijing region, so it was designated the Official Chinese Language, and known as Kwo Yi (literally translation = National Language). China has many regional dialects such as Amoy (or Min Nan) for Southern Fujian (Xiamen); Min Pei for Northern Fujian (FuZhou); Cantonese for Canton/KwangTung; Shanghaiese for Shanghai: etc. The current official chinese of PROC/China is known as “PutongHua” meaning “Common Tongue” or Lingua Franca, as it is a simplified version of “Kwo Yi” implemented by the PROC government in order to get the population to speaking a common language where anyone can understand each other.
I have many Mainland Chinese friends who agree that KwoYi is the technically correct Mandarin Chinese, but they speak Putonghua because that is what they learned for communication, and they have difficulty in pronouncing many words accurately in Mandarin.
As for a language vs a dialect, the word dialect is usually used to denote a language that is used in a smaller region as compared to a larger region – subset if you will. This means it is used to denote regional languages within a country. Note that a province in China (e.g. Fujian, Kwangtung) has a unique dialect, not language.
By your definition of dialect, i.e., “a language that is used in a smaller region as compared to a larger region – subset, if you will”, what is the language of the Philippines then? Remember, in your opening statement, you called Tagalog a dialect.
By your definition of dialect, i.e., “a language that is used in a smaller region as compared to a larger region – subset, if you will”, what is the language of the Philippines then? Remember, in your opening statement, you called Tagalog a dialect.
Since Tagalog is a dialect according to you, what is it a subset of?
Ricardo,
You are a treasure trove of info about Filipino languages. Now i know who to ask if i have any questions. Have a nice day!
I appreciate the comment, Papa Duck, though I feel I hardly deserve the compliment as there must be plenty of folks out there, writers and readers alike, who are more conversant than I am on the subject. Nonetheless, it would be my pleasure to serve as your tour guide – and language consultant as well – if we should cross paths in the future in the Philippines, particularly around the Bataan – Zambales area. Say, 3 years from now? 🙂
I appreciate the comment, Papa Duck, though I feel I hardly deserve the compliment as there must be plenty of folks out there, writers and readers alike, who are more conversant than I am on the subject. Nonetheless, it would be my pleasure to serve as your tour guide – and language consultant as well – if we should cross paths in the future in the Philippines, particularly around the Bataan – Zambales area. Say, 3 years from now? 🙂
Shipmate;
The Avocado man, but the tree came down during the typhoon. No free guacamole for me this year!
Ha ha ha, no avocado–no wonder he is going back to San Diego, lots of avocado there!
Mars;
I’ll sure miss him, as I would miss an STD.
Interesting article, Paul, thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your pawnshop! I understand how being told by your neighbour that he hated the U.S., must’ve raised the hair on your neck; been there. But, many Americans, Canadians, etc., don’t seem to realize that the vast majority of people who emigrate to our respective countries don’t do so to become part of that country, rather, do so because they recognize an opportunity to improve their lives, financially. Much like many Americans/etc. living in The Philippines have no desire to give up the citizenship of their native country. As for your neighbour’s U.S. pension, I’d suggest that he is entitled to it, as he paid taxes, & probably worked his butt off, for forty years. I’d also suggest that he fully repaid the U.S. Government’s kindness in allowing him to live/work in the U.S., over those same forty years. The way the global economy is shifting, will it be long before Americans, et al, are applying to move to Asian countries to work? Will they not planfor the day when they can return to the U.S. more financially secure, to live out their remaining days? As for your neighbour’s planned return to the U.S., perhaps he’s just fed up with brown-outs.
Mike;
So I went back and re-read what I wrote, I was looking for the part that said someone begrudged him his pensions, or his right to relocate to any part of the world, what I did point out that after 40 years of hatred for the USA he came back to the Philippines to bad mouth my country. Should I have responded by providing a list of things wrong with his homeland? Yes I live her, but I’m smart enought to leave if I found that I disliked it here, and not waste my life complaining about it.
And to return to the place he admitted he didn’t like, just doesn’t make any sence to me. Did I mention he took US citizenship, and kept that blue passport?
Sorry, Paul, the references to the pension were in posts, not the article. As for the guy keeping U.S. citizenship & returning to the U.S., yeah, that’s pretty bizarre, considering his earlier comments to you. Like I said, “been there”, but realize that most people who move to our native countries do so for the work/money opportunities, much like many of us live/want to live in The RP, but still maintain our roots. Listen, Dorothy, there’s no place like home!(which reminds me, I forgot to pack my ruby-red slippers). My wife had a major howl over the article, but said there’s no way she’ll ever say she has property south of Kebu.
Hi Mike;
We North Americans freely accept legal immigrants, it what our two countries were founded on. I get I get my skivvies in a bunch when some one will come and skim the cream off the top and then spit in the vat. I’ve seen and heard Kano’s do the same here. My point was that if it’s that bad, the airport is open and people of that ilk should leave or at the very least keep their mouth shut. I would never shed my citizenship nor would I bad mouth our hosts. I guess I hold others to the same standard. I like the Kebu comment!