The Carabao in Local Life

 The Carabao in Local Life

The native carabao or water bufallo (Bubalus bubalis) has a significant role in the traditional life of Filipino farmers, and this is no different in the town of Bayambang, Pangasinan. A traditional dumaralos or managdalos (peasant or farmer) has the duweg (carabao) as constant companion, often attached to a galosa (wooden sled) to perform the day's farming task. It used to be that local farming life was made possible with the help of this beast of burden, coupled with a variety of farming implements. It is also used to pull a kariton (wooden cart) over short distances, serving as means of transport, the driver at the back whipping the poor animal now and then to do its bidding.

But beyond agriculture, we know the carabao has made quite an impact on the local culture due to a variety of traditional expressions containing it.

For example, in Dr. Perla S. Nelmida's collection of Pangasinan sayings, it appears as "Pekpek ed duweg, batil ed baka," which literally means "the carabao takes the hit, but the cow gets the bruise," but figuratively refers to "a person who gets hurt by words directed at someone else." A variation of this expression is "sitdak ya duweg, batil na kabayo," meaning "the carabao takes the hit, but the horse gets the bruise."

Local idioms are filled with the term duweg. Aga nalukso’y duweg (a carabao can't jump over it) means  pinasya (Pangasinan), ginalingan ng husto (Tagalog) or pulled out all stops (English). Aga nalukso'y duweg is also used as an adjective to mean matao, mataas; many or crowded; or too high to hurdle.

Aketket na duweg (bitten by a carabao) means nandaiset or crazy.

Di bato'y duweg (has a carabao's kidneys) refers to a person who eats a lot.

Impaduweg ya trabaho (like a carabao's work) refers to a person who spends a lot of time working.

Katat na duweg (carabao skin) means maksil, malakas, or strong.

Nantrabahon singa duweg (nagtrabahong parang kalabaw; worked like a carabao) means "worked with all his/her strength."

Tinmerak lay saklor na duweg (the carabao's horn has crushed) mysteriously means tanghaling-tapat na or tirik na ang araw or it's already noon. Example: Akin naugip ki ni? Tinmerak lay saklor na duweg! (Why are you still asleep/in bed? The carabao's horn has crushed!)

There are at least two local similes with duweg: Singa duweg (parang kalabaw; like a carabao) reportedly means balbaleg ya dugyot, malaki at marumi, or huge and untidy. Singa mata'y duweg (parang mata ng kalabaw; like a carabao's eyes) means something (anything) is incredibly big.

In other parts of speech, the carabao also makes an appearance.

Nepnep na duweg or uran na duwëg -- literally, ulan ng kalabaw or carabao rain -- allegedly means not-so-strong but nonstop rain, the height of the rainy season.

Andirit na duweg refers to a big species of dragonfly.

A person in the family who is considered the "duweg" is the one is tasked as the breadwinner.

I have yet to find a folk song containing the word "duweg," but at least the novelty song "Inggon Dumaralos" by Raul "Insyong" Tamayo mentions the carabao: "No unla layan undalos/Duweg to'y mabetbet ya nabulos..."

Apparently, one can't discuss traditional local life without mentioning the carabao, but because it is such a lowly beast of burden that has already served its use, it is so easy to miss it. In the time of modern farming machineries, it is also seldom seen nowadays except as milking carabaos for fattening.