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Nick Joaquin’s “Heritage of Smallness”

Nick Joaquin will probably write this same assessment today due to the country’s plethora of problems that everyone believes can be fixed (from our failing airports to drug-dealing policemen). But no one appears to be capable of solving anything. The 18th death anniversary of NJ was recently commemorated. Noong nakaraang Sabado lang. Today, 106 years […]

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puñeta?

Well, it’s still a popular Spanish curse word that we often use to express frustration and bafflement. My adopted grandma used to say “que puñeta” when I was little. Generally, people back then just said puñeta. It’s a passive curse, never directed at a person, but rather at a situation. In my understanding, that’s how […]

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There was no Aguinaldo?

It is probably unknown to most Filipinos that the independence speech was not proclaimed by Aguinaldo. The man wasn’t even in his house. In his absence, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista read the independence declaration. An account of volunteers Juan y Jose Toral’s recollections was published in “El sitio de manila: Memorias de un voluntario”, that Dewey […]

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Mano Po

Due to my friendships and acquaintances with Muslim Malays for years, I have become familiar with some of their traditions. Through these traditions, you discover historical connections. “Máno Po” is one of these practices (salam) that survived even after our country became Christianized. “Mano” is Spanish for hand and is our adaptation of the ancient […]

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konduktor o tsuper?

Spanish words used by Filipinos in public transport and their contemporary meanings. There could be more, and some that were missed. Primarily, these are used in central Luzon. There is no doubt that our local languages, particularly in the south, would be filled with more and perhaps different meanings. The diversity of our languages is […]

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de púto

I found Jo Koy’s bit about “púto” hilarious (check it out). About Mexicans mistaking Puto for something else when they hear it LOL It’s the masculine form of the Spanish puta, which means “prostitute” and used to insult people to denigrate the weak and contemptible. As you can see, not a good word. The thing […]

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ECHA FUERA KA!

One of my favorites, I must say. It means the same in Spanish (sp. thrown out, cast away), but from what I read, it could also mean “to release,” an expert may be able to explain this more clearly. In Tagalog uses, it means you were excluded or you were banished. It is unclear whether […]

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más que/maski

más que “maski” – bagamán o maganáp man. Above is the official translation of the UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino. “Maski” is more commonly used than “bagamán”. So when someone says, “maski na, wala akong pakialam,” it means “so be it, I don’t care.” The Spanish meaning is more than or rather than. This post was inspired […]

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