Words of Wisdom
by Damina L. Eugenio
Prepared by:
Mrs. Jonette C. Landayan,LPT
Objectives
1.Use information presented in an
article to infer, to evaluate, and to
express critical ideas.
2.Discuss the features of proverbs, their
intended purpose, and the setting
during which they were produced.
Words of Wisdom
by Damina L. Eugenio
•Damiana L. Eugenio, the mother of
Philippine Folklore compiled and edited
what may very well be considered as the
most comprehensive collection of proverbs
in our country.
•she declared that our elders lived by simple,
yet very meaningful rules of righteous living.
Spanish missionaries were found to have
translated such proverbs and other oral
expressions in Spanish in order for their
fellow religious people to learn our
indigenous languages.
By doing so, they were able to interact
with the early Filipinos their and
eventually introduce the Catholic faith.
Proverbs are brief instructive expressions
that suggest a specific action, behavior, or
judgment.
Referred to by some scholars as ―the
wisdom of many and the wit of one”, they are
commonly written in the form of short
assertions or poetic two-liners which have
rhyme.
In Filipino, proverbs are called
salawikain or sawikain.
They prescribe norms, impart a lesson,
or emphasize traditions and beliefs in a
community.
In the anthology of Damiana L. Eugenio, she
classified proverbs into six categories:
• (1) proverbs expressing a general attitude towards life and the laws
that govern life;
• (2) ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and
condemning certain vices;
• (3) proverbs expressing a system of values;
• (4) proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life
and human nature;
• (5) humorous proverbs and
• (6) miscellaneous proverbs.
1. Proverbs expressing a general attitude
towards life and the laws that govern life
• Walang ligaya sa lupa na di dinilig ng luha.
(Tagalog) There is no earthly joy that is not watered with tears.
• Say liket ban-bantayey ermen. (Pangasinan)
Joy is always guarded by sorrow.
• Ang kapalaran ko di ko man hanapin, dudulog lalapit kung talagang akin.
(Tagalog)
The good fortune which is intended for me will come even without my seeking it.
2. Ethical proverbs recommending certain
virtues and condemning certain vices
• Walang utang na di pinagbayaran.
(Tagalog) No debt remains unpaid.
• Dai mo pagpaagahan an magigibo mo ngonyan.
(Bikol) Do not put off for tomorrow what you can do for today.
• Ayau mo in kahui pila‟a ha kawa‟an mo bunga.
• (Tausug) Do not cut the tree to get the fruit. 3.
3. Proverbs expressing a system of values
• Ti nasadot a baro cas carne a nadangro.
(Ilokano) A lazy young man is like foul-smelling meat.
Ang mga tulo singgot sa taong mangguibuhaton paga bayran gayud sa
guihapon. (Boholano)
Every drop of perspiration of an industrious man will be rewarded accordingly.
Isa ka tuig nga tiponon, isa ka takna wagwagon.
(Hiligaynon) It takes only a moment to squander what took a year to save.
4. Proverbs expressing general truths and
observations about life and human nature
• Huli man at magaling, ay naihahabol din. (Tagalog)
A good thing is never too late.
• Ti saan a matimtemec, nauyong no macaunget. (Ilokano)
The quite person is slow to anger but terrible when aroused.
• Ing mayap a babai, maiguit ya karing rubi. (Pampango)
A good woman is worth more than rubies.
5. Humorous proverbs
• Ang gugma sang tigulang daw igui nga nagakamang. (Hiligaynon)
The love of an old man is like a snail that crawls.
• Ako kanhi cabalyero nga wala‟y kabilinggan; pagdawat sa matrimonio, sa
hinanali ng lawas mingniwang. (Cebuano)
I was formerly a gentleman without a care at all, but when I got married, my
body shrank and became small.
• Kay tagal nanindahan, kabili-bili‟y balindang. (Tagalog)
After shopping for a long time, he ended up with a poor purchase.
6. Miscellaneous proverbs (typically expressive
of specific realities to a certain area)
• Ing matudtud a pemangca e na balu lebasa’ng sapa. (Pampango)
The sleeping boatman does not know the streams he has passed.
Mapipia nu sumavat ka a maysaosaod su sagap as canu caviden mu du calawangan q
manalamad su among. (Ivatan)
It is better to go home and weave a net than to stay on the shore and watch the fish.
Dica agcapcapoy no bassit ti inapoy; dica agnengnengneng no bassit ti diningdeng.
(Ilokano)
Don‘t be too slow if there‘s only a little rice; don‘t be too shy if there‘s only a little
viand
Our proverbs are not only witty expressions.
They are also our cultural treasures. As we
continue to use them in various spoken or
written forms and as we explore ways of
representing them in graphic, musical, or
dramatic modes, we facilitate their
preservation. And through these, we
strengthen our identity as a people.
YOUR DISCOVERY TASK
Task 1. Locate,
Reflect,Evaluate!
T
F
T
T
T
T
T
T
F
T
