OK, I'll have to say, I really enjoyed my last blog, and I wanted to say thank you for letting me express myself through poetry/writing sa tagalog and sa iba pa. Hehe.And I noticed lang din here where I'm at or sa mga friends ko online, almost everyone says or implied that "my Tagalog is deep and complex, and that it's sometimes hard for them to follow" (really? lol)...well, you know, I like it better this way; it gives it more flavor, an anagogic or mystical effect, so to speak. Hehe. And well, to better understand my being so poetic and intensive (nax, lol) in this language, let's go back a little in time--here's a "Once upon a time" story that live/d happily "Taglish" ever after.
Though born and raised in Manila, I spent most of my summer vacations in the countryside of Nasugbu, Batangas (a province somewhere in Luzon), and was also privileged enough to be raised by this fine, gentle and conservative spinster who was one of my great grandmother's siblings, who we also called "Lola" (that's "grandma" in English). Though the proper term would've been "grandaunt" we fondly call her "Grandmother" nonetheless--that's just the way we (Filipinos) refer to our relatives who are seniors y'see; it gives us a sense of a more profound, and loving relationship with them in this way...and we take great pride in doing so, may I add.
Anyway, to further the story; Batangas (like Cavite and Bulacan) as you know is deep-rooted in Tagalog with a distinct accent that starts out (or somewhere along the line) with "Ala e" or "Aba e" pretty much whenever making a statement, replying or asking a question in a sentence (haha, this is killing me, but it feels so damn good reminiscing here. ).
Both my great grandparents and their siblings were very conservative.... Not only did it show with the design of their dwellings and furnishings, they wore those antiquated clothings pretty much on a daily basis. And it's apparent that the words they used (lol) came from an ancient chest, as well! Having said that, it's pretty obvious it's where I learned it from.
Well now you know the story behind it. Hope that helps clear out a few things.
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Example of the way my (great) grandparents would say about a few things:
-Hindi ko gustong napagkikita kang nagsasasama sa mga mahalipaparot na mga babaeng 'yon, puro walang modo! Aba e, akala mo'y mauubusan ng mga lalaki... pagkakakiri't makakati!
(I don't want to see you hanging out with those nasty women [nyahaha], they have no manners! They act as if they're going to run out of available men...What sluts!)
And here's the simplified version:
-Ayokong nakikita kang sumama sa mga malalanding babaeng 'yon, parang walang pinag-aralan. Akala mo mauubusan ng mga lalaki. Malalandi!
(same as the above translation)
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...and here are a few more funny words, (phrases/words compounded in a sentence) I can think of.
"Pumarito (pumarine) ka" instead of "Halika dito" -- "Come here."
"Pumanaog ka sa lupa" instead of "Bumaba ka dito"--"Come down here" (from the second floor).
"Didibdiban kita" instead of "susuntukin kita"--"I'll punch you"
"Bug-on" instead of "Baon"--"Viand"
"Daldakina" instead of "Madaldal"--"Talkative"
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I still remember like it was only yesterday, I used to hide under her long skirt whenever great grandpa gets upset with me over something.... Haha, I was resourceful, I know! Well, it's either that or some spanking, I didn't have much choice, did I? Hehe--it was just this old man's way to discipline us, children. To this day I still don't really agree with it per se, but it sure gave us something to be afraid of whenever we felt the need to be "bad to the bone." Tsk tsk, what a way to bring us under control huh, instilling fear in our innocent little mind.
And to think he was a swordsmith, and known for his courage and strength...I mean, who wouldn't be scared of him, then? It was going around too that he was a "white-eyed hunter," who carried a mystical power of some sort (through swallowing an extraordinary stone that possessed powers, I heard?). Hahaha, I remember, when great grandfather was very ill, my uncle waited many nights sitting by his bedside, hoping that one day soon (then), to receive the so-called "magical gem." And then one evening, at first it seemed that all came to fruition for my uncle, my great grandpa finally coughed up what he thought was the stone/gem he so desperately wanted and wished for so long to inherit...so he immediately grabbed it...but as it turned out, it was false alarm...it was just sheer phlegm (ewwww, grossss!). Evidently, it had no magic whatsoever! Bwahahaha! Oh how pissed my uncle was, I tell you!
Haha, "how gullible" one might say, but it's true, to this day some (or many?) Filipinos still believe in this type of paranormal stuff.... Hehe.
Adios muna mga kaibigan, until next time! Take care and God bless! TTYL! Muahhuggzzz.
(A comic strip of how my great grandmother dressed-like back then was from Gerry Alanguilan Official website: Nestor Redondo Art Gallery--CRAF Publications)
