#ilonggo

Concept art of a character that has changed considerably over the years. His culture is based on pre-colonial Ilonggo culture. 🇵🇭

In Tagalog it’s maganda but gwapa is commonly used in Visayas where bisaya and hiligaynon people use this word to compliment someone. 

“Hi perti ka gwapa simo” 

“Hi sobrang ganda mo”

I should have blogged last night. Yesterday was a pretty bad day. I hadn’t wanted to write about it at the time, but now that I’m feeling better, I wish I had something to compare to today. A journal that records only the highs isn’t a very faithful record.

What happened yesterday was that my students had to take their first quiz . . . and they didn’t do very well. So I blamed myself. First, for not drilling them as thoroughly as I could have -- and then for creating a “fun” quiz that mostly confused them.

When I came in for work today, I admitted as much to the head German teacher. He smiled at the story, then reassured me that all the learners tend to mess up on the first quiz. If your first language is Tagalog, Bisaya or Ilonggo, and you’ve never experienced learning a foreign language from scratch, then German is going to be a real shock . . . to put it lightly.

And at least there was nowhere else for me to go but up.

He was right. The second class flowed more smoothly. Having learned my students’ weak points, I was able to target them more effectively. And I remembered that teaching also involves a lot of learning.

After yesterday, I didn’t dare get creative today. First we worked on what gave them the most trouble on the test: the conjugation of sein, arbeiten, kommen, and wohnen -- and the male, female and plural forms of Artz and Pfleger. 

While living in an Ilonggo-speaking region in the Philippines, I had the amazing opportunity to learn a some of the language. One feature I thought was fascinating is how people address others, especially family members. There are so many terms we don’t necessarily use in English. I tried to catalogue as many as I could. If you’re a native speaker please correct any mistakes you find! These are based on my experiences alone and might differ based on family structure or region. 

Mama/Ma/Nanay/Nay — all terms used for mother! Nay/Nanay is more often used by people 30+ talking about their parents, younger generations tend to use Ma/Mama.

Papa/Daddy/Tatay/Tay — all terms used for father! Functions pretty much the same as the terms for mother.

Lola/La — grandmother, carries a strong connotation of being older so sometimes the grandmother in a family is called Nanay by relatives instead, as a way to be polite.

Lolo/Lo — grandfather, same as above.

Manang/Nang — literally refers to an older sister but can be used for any older girl you’re close with, for example a cousin or aunt. The shortened term is cuter and more affectionate.

Ate — the Tagalog word for older sister, which is rarely used. It’s a more polite or formal version of Manang, used especially for people who aren’t from the Bisayas.

Manong/Noy — literally refers to an older brother but can be used for any older man you’re close with, or strangers if you’re a very friendly person. Especially the shortened term!

Kuya — the Tagalog word for older brother, which is rarely used and is a more polite or formal version of Manong.

Toto/To — literally refers to a young boy but it can be used for any younger man you’re close friends with. Also used as a general term for brother ex. A younger sister might refer to her older brother exclusively as “To” and not by name. It can also be a nickname, for example an administrator going by “Sir Toto” among close coworkers.

Bibi/Bi — I think this is the feminine version of Toto. Can refer to any young girl you’re close with, including a family member. I only ever heard it shortened to “bi” and never the long version.

Nini/Ni — The feminine version of Toto but implies older than Bibi. Ex. A Lola might refer to her daughter as Ni and her granddaughter as Bi. Might be a very shortened form of Manang?!

(This implies there’s another word for brother which could refer to older or younger than Toto, but if I know it I can’t remember it! Super frustrating!)

Inday — a term of endearment which means beautiful young lady. Can be used often as a nickname ex. Where’s Inday Felicia? Often used among older people talking about someone younger whom they’re fond of.

Gwapa/Gwapo — literally just means good-looking person, but it can be used in so many contexts. Anytime someone looks nice or is dressed up, AH GWAPA GID SIYA! Also can be used as a nickname ex. Miss Gwapa teaches third grade. Used to compliment kids and teenagers a lot! Gwapa is feminine and gwapo is masculine.

Upod — literally can translate as “companion” but it’s a really common way to figure out if someone is or isn’t alone. For example may upod siya? = does she have a companion? Sino ang imo upod sa Manila? = who’s your companion in Manila? This is a really common word heard in a household. Going places alone can be seen as sad or pitiful (sa akon experience lang!) and people generally try to travel together.

Hinipo — the youngest, either in a family or group of people. Can be masculine or feminine. Not too commonly used.