Salawikain: Filipino Proverbs

a Vicente Manansala painting

"Banaklaot" a painting by Vicente Manansala
1948. Oil on canvas

In general, a Pinoy will resort to quoting proverbs if he wishes to express himself eloquently, or if he wishes to fancy himself as a sage of wisdom. Defined interchangeably as "ornament to the language," "words of our ancestors," and "wisdom of experience," salawikain, as is called in Tagalog, are sayings that are steeped in traditional Filipino culture and wisdom. They are forceful expressions cloaked in poetry, and are basically euphemistic passages that not too infrequently enter daily conversations. They can be used to emphasize a point or even to punctuate an ending to a rancorous discussion. This does not, however, guarantee that the discussion will end there if the party at whom a particularly biting proverb was just thrown comes back instantaneously with a choice proverb of his own to counter what was dished out to him. If both parties happen to be well-versed in proverbs and if they are so inclined, they could end up engaging in a form of poetic joust worthy of a balagtasan, using proverbs as their weapons right in front of the barrio sari-sari store. Such a scene - found perhaps only in the Philippines - would invariably attract onlookers and passersby who will, in no time, form opposing camps to cheer on their favorite discussant. Bets might even be waged amid much laughter and good-natured ribbing. Soon, bettors could be heard above the din, "Sa pula o sa puti, kanino ka?" The upside to this real-life anecdote is that because of the support that each received from the bi-partisan crowd, both discussants would feel vindicated and would become less and less combative. In the end, the pair would almost always shake hands, embrace each other with a smile, and part as friends again. And to think that it all started with a proverb. This is an exaggeration, of course, but you get the drift.

Salawikain can also be used prefatorily as a sort of disclaimer to a statement when the speaker is about to say something that may offend a particular individual or group. Thus, when Mr. Willy Rabara Francia prefaces his statement that may offend some people concerning his aversion to having to read endless discussions in the ZF2 discussion forum about international affairs at the expense of devoting equal time to his beloved San Felipe with the proverb, "Bato-bato sa langit, pag tinamaan huwag magagalit" (a stone thrown heavenward, if you get hit on its way down, don't get mad), Mr. Francia hopes to accomplish two things: to absolve himself of responsibility for any resentment that his statement might generate and to forewarn affected individuals not to get angry when they are struck by the stone thrown heavenward.

It also seems that when a Pinoy wishes to be more emphatic and finds run-of-the mill, ordinary words are not convincing enough to agree, to disagree, to warn, to lecture, or to advice, he will often quote the appropriate proverb. Because a proverb may be similar, contradictory, or supplementary to another, the speaker or speakers - as illustrated in the sari-sari store anecdote above - will likely use a proverb that supports his viewpoint on a particular issue. Handed down from generation to generation, salawikain is as easily committed to memory as recalling it at appropriate times. What gives proverbs much weight and credibility are their universal wisdom, not to mention the wit and humor contained therein that invariably add spice to the Pilipino language. To examine a salawikain is to capture the essence of the Filipino soul and his way of life.

So, without further ado, here is a sampling of some of the most enduring Filipino proverbs that, in my judgment, best illuminate the character of the Filipino, his philosophy and his values. Arranged in no particular order, the proverbs are presented in their original Tagalog version, along with their English translations. Where a literal translation might sound awkward and does not do justice to the value of the proverb, an equivalent translation is provided. Please also know that in the process of translating the original poetic lines of the proverb, the richness of the original flavor may have been lost. Rest assured that, in translating, I have taken great care in preserving the original intent and wisdom of the salawikain wherever possible.

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Kung sino ang pumutak ay siyang nanganak.
He who cackled is the guilty party.

Magsama-sama at malakas, magwatak-watak at babagsak.
United we are strong, divided we fall.

Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.

Walang palayok na walang kasukat na tungtong.
Every pot has a matching lid.

Sa taong walang takot, walang mataas na bakod.
To a fearless person, no fence is high enough.

Ang bayaning nasusugatan, nagiibayo ang tapang.
A patriot who is wounded becomes more courageous.

Marami ang matapang sa bilang, ngunit ang buo ang loob ay kulang.
Plenty are they who act brave because they are many, but they lack resolve.

Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.

Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
If you don't persevere, you can expect no reward.

Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
If you plant, you harvest.

Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.
It is never too late to offer anything that is good.

Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo.
What good is the grass if the horse is already dead.

Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
A desperate person will grab at a knife.

Ang tunay na anyaya, sinasamahan ng hila.
A sincere invitation is accompanied by a pull [of the hand].

Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo.
A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside.

Kapag apaw na ang takalan, kailangan kalusan.
When the pot runs over, you need to spill some.

Kung di ukol, di bubukol
If it is not relevant, it makes no difference.

Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot.
If you stash, you have something to withdraw.

Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
When the sheets are short, one needs to make do.

Ang magalang na sagot, nakakapawi ng pagod.
A respectful retort wipes away weariness.

Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kung pinagtutulungan.
A heavy burden is lightened if everyone participates in carrying it.

Ubos-ubos biyaya, pagkatapos nakatunganga.
Spend lavishly and you end up with nothing.

Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church.

Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim.
Life is like a wheel; sometimes you are on top, sometimes you are in the bottom.

Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang malangsang isda.
He who does not love the national language is worse than a smelly fish.

Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.
A quitter never wins, a winner never quits.

Malaking puno, ngunit walang lilim.
A heavy tree trunk but it has no shade.

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
Mercy resides in God; deeds are in men.

Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao.
It is one thing to be a person, to have a personality is another.

Ang gawa sa pagkabata, dala hanggang pagtanda.
What one learns in childhood he carries into adulthood.

Kung sino ang masalita ay siyang kulang sa gawa.
Whoever talks much never does much.

Daig ng maagap ang taong masipag.
The early bird beats the industrious person.

Ako ang nagbayo, ako ang nagsaing, saka ng maluto'y iba ang kumain.
I did the threshing, I did the cooking, but once served, someone else eats it.

Kunwaring matapang, bagkus duwag naman.
Acts tough but really a wimp.

Bago ka bumati ng sa ibang uling, uling mo muna ang iyong pahirin.
Before you point out others people's shortcomings, correct your own first.

Walang naninira sa bakal kundi sariling kalawang.
Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion.

Walang lumura sa langit na di sa kanyang mukha nagbalik.
Nobody who spits upward does not spit on his face.

Di lahat ng kagalingan ay may dalang katamisan.
Not all goodness brings sweetness.

Di lahat ng kapaitan ay tanda ng kasamaan.
Not all badness are a sign of evil.

Pulutin ang mabuti, ang masama ay iwaksi.
Emulate what is good, ignore what is bad.

Ang maniwala sa sabi-sabi, walang bait sa sarili.
One who believes in gossip has no self-discipline.

Malakas ang bulong kaysa sigaw.
Whispering a gossip is louder than shouting it.

Walang ligaya sa lupa na hindi dinilig ng luha.
There is no earthly bliss not watered by tears.

Ang kaginhawaan ay nasa kasiyahan, at wala sa kasaganaan.
True well-being is found in happiness, not in prosperity.

Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasamang maluat.
Forthrightness ensures lasting relationship.

Kung saan ang hilig duon mabubuwal.
To wherever one leans is where he ends up.

Yaong mapag-alinlangan, madalas mapagiwanan.
A quarterback who hesitates usually misses a completion.

Nakikita ang butas ng karayom, hindi nakikita ang butas ng palakol.
He sees a minor fault but misses the larger achievement.

Ang pili ng pili, natatapat sa bungi.
One who is choosy ends up with the least attractive choice.

Ano man ang gawa at dali-dali ay hindi iigi ang pagkakayari.
Hasty work results in faulty work.

Ang taong walang pilak ay parang ibong walang pakpak.
A person who has no money is like a bird without wings.

Mainam na ang pipit na nasa kamay kaysa lawing lumilipad.
Better to have a tiny bird in the hand than a soaring eagle.

Ang araw bago sumikat nakikita muna'y banaag.
Early dawn precedes sunrise.

Walang mahirap na gawa pag dinaan sa tiyaga.
No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance.

Huwag kang magtiwala sa di mo kakilala.
Never trust a stranger.

John Reyes

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