We Filipinos make use of sayings and proverbs to highlight a concept, an opinion or a comment.

Our own sayings, called salawikain in Pilipino, come in variety of proverbs that cover most situations imaginable. Hey we like to make a point!!! LOL

Salawikain – Filipino Sayings and Proverbs

Here are my own favourite ones:

Ang taong walang pilak ay parang ibong walang pakpak.

Literal translation: A person with no silver is like a bird without wings.

Meaning: This is the ugly truth of capitalism and commercialism, they rule lives. We have to accept, I am afraid, that money makes the world go round. We live in a material world and most things cost money. Without money, we are like birds that cannot soar into the blue yonder. Money sets limitation to our way of living, to our movements, even to our idealism to a certain extent.  Everywhere you turn would cost money.  We all want to make our family happy  but it would usually cost money. We are, therefore, constraint in our ability to do what we wish to do by lack of money.  My Mother used to say to choose someone to marry who has a good job because no money, no honey. Without food on the table, love flies out of the window! I think that was a sagely advice.

 

Ang isip ay parang itak, sa hasa tumatalas.

Literal translation: The brain is like a knife; it is by honing that it gets sharpenend.

Meaning: The brain should be nurtured by using it, feeding it with words through reading, giving it mental exercises, such as  talking, listening, thinking and problem solving.  Like a knife, the more the brain is licked into shape, the better functionality it will provide.

 

Sa taong walang takot, walang mataas na bakod.

Literal translation: To a fearless person no fence is too high.

Meaning: An overly confident person doesn’t take no for an answer.  Nothing can’t be overcome!  There is nothing to fear than fear itself. Fear is just a word. He has a tunnel vision in getting what he wants. Nothing can stop him to get to where he wanted to be.

 

Kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga.

Literal Translation: A tree will bear a fruit of its kind.

Meaning: Children are reflection of their parents.  It is like saying, if you want to see how your wife or girlfriend in 10 years time, look at her mother! LOL

 

Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.

Literal translation: If you do not have patience, you do not get to enjoy boiled stew.

Meaning:  Nilaga or stew takes time to cook and, therefore, to enjoy it, you need to be prepared to wait.  In life there are things that are worth waiting for.  You have to have patience to accomplish some things.  After all Rome wasn’t  built in a day.  Good things come to those who wait.

 

Kung may tinanim, may aanihin

Literal Translation: If you planted, you get to harvest.

Meaning: If you did something, sooner or later you get to benefit from it.   You get to harvest the fruit of your labour.  Unfortunately is may not always be in  a positive way.  If you planted something third-rate, you will yield something third-rate as well.  This could also mean, if you had done something wrong, one day you will get something from this wrong thing you did.  So make sure to plant good things/seeds so to harvest and yield choice fruits and positive karma! 🙂

 

Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.

Literal Translation: A person in dire need would grasp at the blade of a  knife/sword.

Meaning: A desperate person will do anything if push, even if it may mean harm or death to himself.  Sometimes we are forced to make a decision or to do something, even when we obviously know that the road we are taking is a perilous one and could mean injury and even death.  We would not hesitate to go ahead because we have run out of side roads to turn to.  We have run out of contingency plans.  We have run out of options. No more choices but to push on ahead wherever it may lead to and whatever consequences it may bear.

 

Ang tunay na anyaya, sinasamahan ng hila.

Literal Translation: A true invitation is coupled with a reassuring tug.

Meaning:  If you are being invited to a party or other things, you would always know that it is more than lip service when the would be host/hostess would give you a reassuring hug or pull you by the hand. Or even tell you that you are most welcome and you would enjoy the shindig.  If you saw a friend who was on a date with boyfriend/girlfriend and they asked you to join them, refuse at once.  They are just being polite, don’t be a third wheel in a bicycle (otherwise if would be a tricycle, lol)

 

Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.

Literal translation: However long the procession, it will always lead to the church.

Meaning:  If you are meant to be together, then delay and postponement are just mere hitches to the inevitable,which is a wedding in church.
This could also apply to life and death. Man is mortal; one day we all return to the church in a coffin.

 

 

Ang batang hindi iyakin, hindi pinakakain.

Translation: A baby who does not cry, does not get fed.

Meaning: You have to make yourself known to get noticed.  This is true, gone are the days when waiting quietly in a corner is really productive.  You have to bring attention to yourself to get noticed. Stand up for yourself and be counted!  Don’t be a wallflower!

 

Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.

Literal translation: While there is life, there is hope.

Meaning: Never give up! Give a good fight to the end.  Don’t let life or anything grind you down!

 

Nasa Diyos ang awa,nasa tao ang gawa.

Literal Translation: God has mercy to those who help themselves!

Meaning: God will show and help you find your way if you work towards what you are seeking!  We cannot just keep wishing and praying for things we want, we have to work for it to get it.  God is there to watch over you, not do things for you.

 

Lahat ng gubat ay may ahas.

Literal translation: All forests have snakes.

Meaning: Where there is good, there is also evil. It is a yin and yang. I believe that heartaches are there for a reason. To be able to feel total joy, you must know pain. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell joy without anything to compare it with.

This can also mean what Mulder and Scully of X Files have said all along: “Trust No One”!  We live in an imperfect world, where good and evil live side by side, ergo, you cannot completely trust anyone, there is always going to be a traitor somewhere who will betray you in a heartbeat.

 

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo!

Literal translation: What would you need the grass for when the horse is already dead!

Meaning: Carpe diem; seize the day, don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Tell your parents, children, wife, husband girlfriend, friends, etc how much they mean to you before it is too late. Everything in this world has an expiry date, when they are gone, they are gone so remember always  do whatever you can to something or someone who needed your attention without delay, before it becomes too late and immaterial in the long run.  Remember, you might have attained your goal by being single-minded about it, but you might have lost all those people you care about along the way trying to achieve your goal. Also remember health is wealth but it does not always mean wealth is health.

 

Pag may hirap, may ginhawa.

Literal Translation: When there is difficulty, there is also relief/prosperity.

Meaning: Life is like a wheel, gulong ng palad, sometimes you are on top and sometimes you are at the bottom or vice versa. This is the yin and yang of life. Never take anything for granted because fate is capricious, you might be sad one moment and absolutely ecstatic the next.

Life is not always one difficulty after another, there are also moments of great relief and total joy.  Like  in Cinderella’s case, after living a life of drudgery, she became a princess.  It is up to us to seize that moment of prosperity and prolong it the best we can  against chaos and perdition.

 

 

Ang ibinabait ng bata, sa matanda nagmula.

Literal Translation: The goodness of a child, starts from adults.

Meaning: If you want your child to be respectful, loving and tender, then as an adult you should show the child respect, love and tenderness. A child is like a sponge, he soaks up  everything he sees, hears and feels from adults around him.  Inspire the children to do good and live well by being a role model.

 

Magbiro ka sa lasing, huwag sa bagong gising.

Literal translation: Joke with a drunk but not with someone who just woken up.

Meaning: No truer word; I am so grumpy when I have just woken up especially from a nap during daytime.  My virago personality takes over.  Any semblance of sense of humour is absent from a still befuddled brain. Just be warned! LOL

 

Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo.

Literal translation: A quiet person is seething inside. (This is also a version of still water runs deep.)

Meaning: This is a universal observation, many countries have a version of this saying. Beware of a quiet person, deep down he might be up to something.  He might not say something much but deep within he is full of rage until one day when he can’t take it anymore, he’ll go berserk.   Maybe a serial killer? LOL

 

Kung anong bukang-bibig ay siyang nilalaman ng dibdib.

Literal translation: What always comes out of the mouth is truly heart-felt.

Meaning: This means that when you talk non-stop about a person, whether he annoys you somewhat, it shows that deep inside you care about that person; you think a lot about that person.
Beware (my advice) when your boyfriend/husband/partner keeps talking about a girl/woman and then suddenly stops mentioning her, it may mean that they have gotten together. Your radar should be twanging! LOL

 

Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.

Literal translation: Those who surrender do not win; Winners do not surrender.

Meaning: Only those who stay the course get to yield the prize. Winners do not give up, they try everything to succeed.  Winner takes all! Try and try until you succeed.

 

 

Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim.

Literal Translation: Life is like a wheel, sometimes you are on top and sometimes you are down below.

Meaning: Life is capricious. Sometimes you are so happy but there are times you are so stressed and sad. Sometimes you are doing well and yet there are also times that it feels like the end of the world. Sometimes you have more than enough money and then sometimes you can’t even afford to buy a can of Pepsi. Just make sure the wheel keeps moving and never stagnate especially when you are on a downward spiral.

 

Ang mabigat ay gumagaaan, kung pinagtutulungan.

Literal Translation:  What is heavy ligthens when shared.

Meaning: It means that a heavy load becomes bearably lighter when other people are there to help.  This could also be applicable to a problem or just something on your mind.  A problem shared is a problem halved.

 

Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.

Literal Translation:  It is hard to wake someone who pretends to be asleep.

Meaning: the literal translation is as good as any meaning. True

 

Huwag kang magtiwala sa di mo kakilala.

Literal Translation: Do not trust those who you do not know.

Meaning: It is literal really, we can not really rely on the integrity of a stranger, someone we hardly know or just met.  No matter how winsome a stranger is, you can’t give her/him your total confidence until you know them futher.  Everyone has a hidden agenda.

 

Ang pili ng pili, natatapat sa bungi.

Literal Translation: The person who is too choosy with a prospective partner often end up with the toothless. LOL

Meaning: This means that a person who is fussy and fastidious when it comes to choosing a life partner could possibly end up  with what or who is left and he/she may not be the top of the crop.

However, it is not bad to be choosy as long as you know what you want and going for it.  Don’t settle for less than what you want.  But if you have found what you are looking for but wanted more and more, then this is when the trouble begins.

 

Ang di-marunong mag-ipon walang hinayang magtapon

Literal translation: One who does not know how to save, often doesn’t care how he spends his money.

Meaning:   Those who do not know how to save are those who cannot manage their money.  Saving is putting some money for rainy days.

 

Sinimulang gawain ay tapusin mo bago gumawa ng panibago.

Literal translation:  Finish what you started before commencing a new one.

Meaning:  You should always concentrate on finishing what has been started before going to the next project, otherwise you will never finish anything and will come up with nothing worth talking about!

 

Aanhin pa ang kagandahan kung, ang utak ay walang laman.

Literal translation: What is the use of beauty if brain is empty.

Meaning: This proverb is rather old-fashioned. In today’s world, beauty is everything. You only have to look at Hollywood or even the Philippines. Rhinoplasty is now just like changing your hair-colour. Some would rather pick a new lipstick rather than a book! LOL.  This is acceptable when younger, but beauty fades, therefore, sooner or later you have to rely on your brain to continue to be scintillating!  Feed that brain.  Read, read, read, think, think, think!

 

Huwag magbilang ng manok hangga’t hindi napipisa ang itlog.

Literal Translation: Don’t count your chicken until the eggs are hatched!

Meaning: Do not be too sure. Anything could affect the certainty of even the most innocuous thing! It is better to wait for the result before celebrating or stressing and worrying about a perceived problem that has not occured or may not occur.

Ang kalusugan ay kayamanan

 

Literal translation:  Health is wealth

Meaning:  Self-explanatory really.  Your health really is everything.  Sometimes even good health can’t be bought by money!  So look after yourself and be healthy!  Eat well, exercise and do not engage in any death-defying activities.  Do not smoke, do not do drugs and certainly no driving under the influence of alcohol.