Filipino Tapestry: Tagalog Language through Culture

1. Pagbati (Greetings)

9 1 OBJECTIVES • Use correct markers, including the respect particles po and ho, in sentences. • Use appropriate greetings in different scenarios. • Identify and describe the differences and similarities between Filipino greetings and those of other cultures. OPENING PHOTO Pagmamano On your own: Study the photograph. Make a list of persons in your life with whom you should use po. Why? Small group/in-class: Use the diagram below to make a list of greetings used in each nation. Share with others the differences and similarities between traditional greetings in the United States and the Philippines. Pagbati Greetings 10 Filipino Tapestry Small group/in-class: Use the following questions to guide a conversation using the few words you have learned thus far. Use the glossary to find appropriate phrases. 1. Ilarawan kung paano ang pagbati sa Ingles. (Describe how English speakers greet each other.) 2. Ano ang tradisyunal na pagbati ng mga Pilipino? (What are some traditional greetings for Filipinos?) 3. May pinagkaiba ba? (What are the differences?) Glossary Kumusta? How are you? Magandang umaga po. (formal/polite) Good morning. Magandang umaga. (informal) Magandang tanghali po. (formal/polite) Good noon. Magandang tanghali. (informal) Magandang hapon po. (formal/polite) Good afternoon. Magandang hapon. (informal) Magandang gabi po. (formal/polite) Good evening. Magandang gabi. (informal) Kumusta po kayo? (formal/polite) How are you? Kumusta ka? (informal) Mabuti po naman. (formal/polite) I’m fine. Mabuti naman. (informal) Tuloy po kayo. (formal/polite) Please, come in. Tuloy. (informal) Salamat po. (formal/polite) Thank you. Salamat. (informal) Maraming salamat po. (formal/polite) Thank you very much. Maraming salamat. (informal) Wala pong anuman. (formal/polite) You are welcome. Walang anuman. (informal) Opo/oho. (formal/polite) Yes. Oo (informal) Hindi po/ho (formal/polite) No. Hindi. (informal) Hindi ko po/ho alam. (formal/polite) I do not know. Hindi ko alam. (informal) Anong oras na po? (formal/polite) What time is it? Anong oras na? (informal) Saan po kayo papunta? (formal/polite) Where are you going? Saan ka papunta? (informal) Saan po kayo galing? (formal/polite) Where did you come from? Saan ka galing? (informal) ♪ 11 Pagbati Ano po ang pangalan nila? (formal/polite) What is your name? Anong pangalan mo? (informal) Ako po si ________ (formal/polite) I am ______ (name). Ako si _________ (informal) Ilang taon na po kayo? (formal/polite) How old are you? Ilang taon ka na? (informal) Ako po ay _______ gulang na. (formal/polite) I am _______ years old. Ako ay _______ gulang na. (informal) Saan po kayo nakatira? (formal/polite) Where do you live? Saan ka nakatira? (informal) Taga saan po sila? (formal/polite) Where are you from? Taga saan ka? (informal) Kumain na po ba sila? (formal/polite) Sir, Ma’am, have you eaten? Kumain ka na ba? (informal) Paumanhin po When asking to be excused Mawalang galang po When asking to be heard in meetings and on other formal occasions CULTURAL NOTE As a general rule, Filipinos are a friendly and extremely hospitable people, especially toward foreigners and strangers. Much of this warmth is due to a cultural quality known as pakikisama , the skill of creating smooth interpersonal relationships. Filipinos generally want the people around them, and especially newcomers, to feel comfortable and part of the group. To facilitate these relationships, Filipinos will often ask a number of personal questions regarding biographical information such as background and childhood, occupation, schooling, family and/or love life, and plans for the future. While these questions are sometimes considered a bit penetrating or “nosy” to foreigners, in Filipino culture it is a natural way to come to know a new acquaintance and build a friendly rapport. Greetings are an excellent example of this cultural phenomenon. Filipinos traditionally greet each other with a question. The most common are Kumusta ka? (How are you?), Saan ka puputa? (Where are you going?), and Sann ka galing? (Where are you coming from?). Although these questions are often preceded by pleasant wishes such as Magandang umaga (Good morning ), Magandang tanghali (Good noon), Magandang hapon (Good afternoon), or Magandang gabi (Good evening), the general purpose of a greeting is to engage the other person in conversation . This is in sharp contrast to the simple and relatively definitive “Hi” or “Hello” in English, which does not attempt to tease out further dialog. Initiating relationships can also be seen in the tendency to greet others in the form of various invitations. When a chance meeting occurs...