Philippine Literature

1. PROVERBS
 Aanhin ang malaki na hahanapin pa, kung mayroong maliit na nasa
kamay na?
o What would one do with a big one that needs to be searched for, if
there is a small one that is already in one's hands?
 Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo?"
o What would you do with what you have if it has no use? ***Literally,
"What good is the grass if the horse is dead?"
 Aanhin mo ang palasyo, kung ang nakatira ay kuwago. Mabuti pa ang
bahay kubo, ang nakatira ay tao.
o What good is a palace if it's inhabited by owls. Better a straw hut
inhabited by humans.
 A shot at materialism, this proverb states that it is better to live in a
shabby house and be humane than to live in a lavish house and act like
a low-life or animal.
 Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim.
o Life is like a wheel, sometimes (you're) at the top, sometimes
(you're) at the bottom.
 Ang gawa sa pagkabata, dala hanggang pagtanda.
o What one learns in childhood he carries into adulthood.
 Kung gusto, maraming paraan; kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.
o Those who want (to do something) (find) many ways; those who
don't want (to do something) (find) many excuses.
 Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at
malansang isda.
o He who does not love his native language is worse than a beast or
a putrid fish.
 Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating
sa paroroonan.
o He who does not look back where he came from will never get to
his destination.

2.  Ang katamaran ay kapatid ng kagutuman.
o Laziness is the sibling of starvation.
 Ang langaw na dumapo sa kalabaw, mataas pa sa kalabaw ang
pakiramdam.
o A fly that lands on a carabao feels itself superior to the carabao.
 Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw. Ang lumalakad
nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
o Thorns bury shallowly into one who walks slowly. Thorns bury
deeply into one who walks fast.
 Ang maniwala sa sabi-sabi, walang bait na sarili.
o He who believes in hearsay has no sanity.
 Ang masamang damo, mahaba ang buhay .
o Bad grass does not die easily.
 Ang nagtanim ng hangin, bagyo ang aanihin.
o He who sows the wind, reaps a typhoon.
 Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasamang maluwat.
o Truthfulness ensures a lasting relationship.
 Literally translated: Telling the truth is getting along well.
 Ang pili nang pili, natatapat sa bungi.
o One who spends too much time choosing ends up with cracked
wares.
 Romantically: A choosy person ends up with someone lesser than
she/he expected.
 Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw.
o A person who lies is the sibling of a person who steals. ***Literally
translated: A liar is the sibling of a thief.
 Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
o A desperate person will hold on to a knife edge.
 Ang taong walang kibo, tiyan ang kumukulo.
o A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside his
stomach.

3.  Ang tunay na anyaya, sinasamahan ng hila.
o A sincere invitation is accompanied by a pull (of the hand).
 Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.
o He who quits does not succeed, he who succeeds does not quit.
 Anuman ang gagawin, makapitong isipin.
o Whatever you do, think about it seven times.
 Ang maghangad ng kagitna, Isang salop ang nawawala
o He who cannot do things on his own, loses a lot
 Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan, huwag magagalit.
o Stones hurled to the sky. Don't get angry if you get hit.
 Meaning: Don't be angry if you get criticized without naming names.
o Stones in the sky, he who gets hit, shouldn't get angry.
 Interpretation: If a criticism intended for somebody hits you, you should
not be angry.
 "Basurang itinapon mo, babalik sa iyo"
o The garbage you throw away will return to you.
 Same as: you reap what you sow
 Daig ng maagap ang taong masipag.
o The prepared beats the hardworking person.
 Damitan mo man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.
o A monkey dressed up is still a monkey.
 Di lahat ng kagalingan ay may dalang katamisan.
o Not all goodness brings sweetness.
 Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
o While the blanket is short, one should learn to sleep in a fetal
position
 Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.
o It is never too late to offer anything that is good.
 Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
o If there's life, there's hope.
 Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.

4. o Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.
 Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot.
o If you stash, you have something to withdraw.
o If something was saved, there is something to withdraw.
 Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
o If you plant, you harvest.
 Kung nasaan ang asukal, naruon ang langgam.
o Wherever you find sugar, you'll find ants.
 Kung sino ang masalita ay siyang kulang sa gawa.
o He who speaks too much works too little.
 Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga.
o If you persevere, you'll have stew.
o If you don't persevere, you can expect no reward.
 Interpretation: He, who works, gets compensated.
 Kung sino ang pumutak, siya ang nanganak.
o He who cackles lays the eggs.
o He who blabs is the guilty party.
 Kunwaring matapang bagkus duwag naman.
o One who acts tough is really a coward.
 Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao.
o It is easy to be human. It is hard to be humane.
 Maingay ang latang walang laman.
o Noisy is the can that contains nothing.
 Matalino man ang matsing, napaglalamangan din.
o An intelligent monkey can still be outsmarted.
 Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
o A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.
 May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.
o The earth has ears, news (gossip) has wings.

5.  Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
o Mercy resides in God; deeds are in men.
 Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
o No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church.
 "Pag-ibig, Pag-asa, at Pananampalataya sa Diyos, tatlong katangiang
dapat nating kamtan, nang sa buhay sa mundo, tayo ay magtagumpay"
o We should always keep in mind that Love, Hope, and Faith in
God,will bring us success in life.
 Pag may isinuksok, may maidudukot
o When you insert something, you can pull it
 Punong mabunga madalas binabato.
o A tree that bears fruit is often hurled at.
 People who succeed are the subject of jealousy and injury.