Tagalog/Appendix D

The following appendix contains information about the salawikain, or traditional Filipino proverb. The salawikain, also known as the kasabihan ("saying"), is part of a rich Filipino cultural tradition, many of which are very old and date back to pre-colonial or colonial times.

The salawikain is a very important part of Philippine history, since it is one of the contributions early Filipinos have made to Philippine history and culture.

Mga Salawikain (Proverbs)

Here are some examples of the salawikain:

Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.
"He who does not look back from where he came will never reach his destination."

Ang isda ay hinuhuli sa bibig. Ang tao, sa salita.
"Fish are caught by the mouth. People, by their word."

Ang hindi magmahal sa kaniyang wika ay mahigit pa sa hayop at malansang isda. (José Rizal)
"He who doesn't love his language is worse than an animal or a rotten fish."

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
"God has compassion, man has action."

Magbiro lamang sa lasing, huwag lang sa bagong gising.
"Joke around with someone who is drunk, but not with someone newly awoken."

Magsama-sama at malakas, magwatak-watak at babagsak.
"United we stand, divided we fall."

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.
"What's the use of grass when the horse is already dead."

Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
"While there is life, there is hope."

Ang maaabot nang paupo, huwag nang kunin nang patayo.
"What can be reached by sitting down, do not get by standing up."

Ang bahay mo man ay bato kung ang nakatira'y kuwago, mabuti pa ang isang kubo kung nakatira'y tao.
"Your house may be stone if an owl lives in it, but good is a hut when a person lives in it."

Anak na di paluin, ina ay paluluhain.
"A child that will not be spanked will make the mother cry."

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^ Table of Contents ^ | <<Appendix C: Slang | Appendix D: Proverbs