Traditional Parental Advice

(Category: Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe)

• "Anos labat so bilay."

It is believed that life is innately hard, so one must persevere to be able to survive it.

“Say imbaga nen atateng mi nen saman, mairap a talaga so bilay, kanyan man-anos ka'd bilay.” (Our parents said that life was really hard, so you must persevere in life.)

• "Unor mo'y ateng mo." 

One must obey one's parents because they know better and they know what is best for us.

“Mainumay kumon no unoren mo so atateng mo ed amin a ibabaga dan maong para'd sika.” (Life becomes easy when you are obedient to your parents, since they know what is best for you.) 

• "Mi-aroan ka'd arom a totoo." 

“Diyad amin ya laen mo, maong met ya antam so mi-arod arom, piyan nabangatan da kay kaantaan met ed panagbilay tan wala'y untulong met ed sika ed paniirap mo.” (Wherever you go, it is good that you know how to socialize with others (beyond your family), for you to be instructed about life, and to have company in your struggles.) 

• "Paunla ka ni labat, papawil kami la." 

It is believed that when someone is ‘paunla’ or ‘on their way’ while the other one is ‘papawil’ or ‘returning’, it means that people who have passed through life's struggles or challenges have gained much more knowledge and wisdom from their experience and thus have earned the right to guide someone else (usually the younger ones) because they have experienced it first-hand. 

• "Aliwa so mangkawes na antikey." 

According to Leonita Romano, parents in the past were strict with how their daughters dressed up. They frowned on women wearing short clothes, as they considered it to be immodest. "Pagagalitan at parurusahan ang sinumang magdamit ng maiikli sa panahon namin, at natatakot kaming mapagalitan noon, kaya lahat ng bawal di namin ginagawa," she said.

• "Pilim a maong so asawam." 

People of marrying age were advised by their parents to decide carefully and wisely which person to choose because marriage is a lifelong commitment, and once committed, there was no turning back. If you chose the wrong person, you faced the consequences. 

According to Minda B.  Pagsolingan, her father -- a soldier -- would often advise her, “Piliin mo’y mayaman ya asawa, ta piyan unasenso ka ed bilay.” (Choose a rich husband/wife so that you can have a better life.)

Being vocal about the issue was the parents' way of expressing their love and concern for their children.

• "Igalang mo so mas panguluan ed sika." 

This means younger people must respect those who are older than them. This outright demand for respect according to age is based on the presumption that the older ones have much more experience in life and thus have gained more knowledge and wisdom than younger ones, who need their guidance.

• "Agka misasalaok no mantutungtong ira'y matatakken." 

According to Mr. Renato Mamaril, this means that when adults are having a conversation, children should not butt in. Disobeying this indicates that one does not have respect for one's elders or one has no manners.

KEY INFORMANTS: Jose Paningbatan Ferrer, Cadre Site; Elvira Ferrer, Cadre Site; Leonita A. Romano, Tatarac; Minda B. Pagsolingan, Cadre Site; Mrs. Florentina S. De Guzman, Bical Norte; Mr. Renato C. Mamaril, Sapang

PROFILERS/MAPPERS: Carl Jason Centeno, Ralph Michael Tumaneng, Cindy Grospe, Rezza Mae Pagsolingan, Marlyn De Guzman, Shekinah Macaraeg

GRADE 12 HUMSS-PSALMS

Date Profiled: January 16, 2019

ADVISER: Mr. Christopher Q. Gozum

Subject: Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

School: Bayambang National High School – Senior High School

School Year: 2018-2019

See Part 1 here: https://bayambangmunicipalnews.blogspot.com/2020/08/mga-lokal-na-salawikain.html