Showing posts with label Philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippines. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Filipino Surnames Derived from Names of Places

 

Majority of surnames carried by Filipinos are either Spanish or indigenous in origins. Some surnames of the Spaniards are names of places in Spain and other countries. With Spanish contacts especially during the era of colonization, some Filipinos have Spanish surnames  as a result of Spanish ancestry or adaptation of the decree on November 21, 1849, by Spanish Governor General of the Philippines Narciso Claveria Y Zaldua urging the inhabitants to select and adopt surnames based on the list provided in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apilledos.

Below is a list of Spanish surnames that are derived from places in Spain that some Filipino families also carry as their own. Some of the names have changes in Spelling when used by Filipinos.

Abenoja (Abenojar), Agudo, Alava, Albarracin, Alcantara, Alcaraz, Alcazar, Alfaro, Almazan, Almonte, Aragon, Arevalo, Astorga, Atienza, Avila, Barcelona, Barrameda, Barriero, Bilbao, Brosas (Brozas), Burgos, Cadiz, Cartagena, Caspe, Collado, Cordova, Cuenca, Daymiel (Daimiel), Escatron, Espina (La Espina), Estremadura (Extremadura), Figueras, (Figueres), Figueroa, Fontanosas, Galvez, Garlito (Garlitos), Girona, Granada, Guadalupe, Jaca, Ledesma, Ligazpi, Linares, Logroӣo, Loyola, Lugo, Madrid, Manzaӣares, Martos, Mayorga, Molina, Mondejar, Monsanto, Monteroso (Monterroso), Montilla, Monzon, Navarra/Navarro, Olivenza, Onda, Oropesa, Palencia, Pamplona, Peӣafiel, Peralta, Poblete, Quezada, Quintanar, Quinto, Robledo, Sagunto, Sahagun, Salamanca, Salas, Salcedo, Saldaӣa, Santander, Sepulveda, Sevilla, Soria, Talavera, Teruel, Toledo, Tolosa, Tortosa, Trillo, Trujillo, Valdepeӣas, Valencia, Vigo, Villahermosa, Viloria, Zafra, Zamora, Zaragosa

Spaniards also bear surnames that are derived from other places or countries, and when they do, the word or the spelling of these names is Hispanized. Below is a list of some of those names that are also adopted by Filipinos including names of places in the Philippines that are only used by them as surnames.

Avelino (Avellino, a City in Italy), Babilonia (Babylonia), Bacolod, Baguio, Basilan, Bayona (Bayonne, a port in France), Beja (a Portuguese city), Belen (Bethlehem), Belgica (Belgium), Bohol, Bordeos (Bordeaux, a city of France), Braganza (Braganca, Portugal), Capistrano (Capestrano, a town in Italy), Cerdeӣa (Sardinia, an island of Italy), Chavez (Chaves, a city In Portugal), Cuba, Damasco (Damascus), Davao, Egipto (Egypt), de Asis (Assisi, a town in Italy), Evora (a city in Portugal), Filipinas, Florencio (Florence, a city in Italy), Gante (Ghent, a city in Belgium), Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan, Lamigo (Lamego, a city in Portugal), Luzon, Medina (a city in Saudi Arabia), Montenegro (a country in Southeast Europe), Napoles (Naples, a city in Italy), Padua (a city in Italy), Pedroso (a municipality in Portugal), Piamonte (Piemonte, a region in Italy), Rabat (the capital of Morocco), Ravena (Ravenna, a city in Italy), Surigao, Tiro (Tyre, a city in Lebanon), Tolentino ( a town in Italy), Valenzuela (little Valencia), Villareal (Vila Real, a city in Portugal)

related blogs that you may also like:

Filipino Family Names

https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2013/08/filipino-family-names.html

Filipino Surnames Relating to Faith, Biblical and Religious Characters

http://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2025/09/filipino-surnames-relating-to-faith.html

 

 

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Mayor Maximo Suniel, Congressmen Pedro Baculio and Emmanuel Pelaez: the Distinguished Gentlemen behind the Cagayan de Oro City Charter



On June 15, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino signed R. A. 521, a law that converted the Municipality of Cagayan de Misamis into a chartered city. This year, 2025, marks the 75th or Diamond Anniversary of Cagayan de Oro as a city. That historic event in 1950 was just a few years after the country’s devastation caused by the Second World War. On the other hand, there was the joy of American and Filipino victories over the Japanese. There was also the glory of the independence granted by the United States to the Philippines on July 4, 1946, which was just a year after the end of the war. Those memories were still fresh in the Kagay-anons’ mind on that charter day.                                                                

The Japanese surrendered to the American and allied Forces on September 2, 1945, which formally ended the war. A year later, an election was held on April 1946 that resulted to the election of Manuel Roxas as president. Three months later, on July 4, 1946, the United States granted independence to the Philippines thus ending the country’s commonwealth status.                                                                    

In Cagayan de Misamis, in the aftermath of the war and the granting of the country’s independence, the municipality went through the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructures. Government institutions had to be re-established. Local government officials at that time saw the need to elevate Cagayan to a city Status. In this regard, the municipal council created a three-man committee led by treasurer Maximo Suniel to promote the conversion of Cagayan into a chartered city. Relative to that move, Pedro Baculio who was the congressman of Misamis Oriental sponsored bill 2829 for that purpose. In 1948, President Roxas died of a heart attack and Vice President Elpidio Quirino took over as president who then appointed Maximo Suniel as Mayor of Cagayan.   

                                                 
The term of the first congress expired in 1949 with the bill not yet enacted into law. Emmanuel Pelaez who succeeded Pedro Baculio as the representative in Misamis Oriental worked for the passage of bill in congress. The bill was signed into law by President Quirino on June 15, 1950. Cagayan de Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of R. A. 521. Immediately after the signing, the president sworn in Maximo Suniel as the mayor of the newly created city. The word “Misamis” was removed from the name and in its place was the Spanish word “Oro” which means gold. Oro was an appropriate word addition because Cagayan River is known for the presence of gold sediments and nuggets as well as the hospitable and friendly dispositions of the residents which are considered as golden traits. Thus, the official name of the newly charted city was Cagayan de Oro. The signing of the charter was 4 years after the Philippines independence and 5 years after the war.   

The distinguished gentlemen behind R. A. 521:       


                                                                   
Maximo Yparraguirre Suniel was born in Carascal, Surigao on November 18, 1898. At age 24, he became the municipal treasurer of Mambajao, Camiguin. He moved to Cagayan de Misamis as a municipal treasurer on January 24, 1924. When war broke out, he joined the resistant movement against the Japanese. After the war he was given back his job as a treasurer. On September 25, 1947, the municipal council created a three-man committee to work for the conversion of Cagayan into a city. In 1948 he was appointed as the mayor of Cagayan. Upon the signing of President Quirino of R. A. 521 of the city’s charter, the president immediately sworn in Maximo Suniel as the mayor of the new city. Thus, Maximo Suniel was the last mayor of Cagayan de Misamis, and the first mayor of Cagayan de Oro City.     


                                                                                                                                        
Pedro Salvador Baculio, a lawyer, was born on October 19, 1909. He was the acting governor of Misamis Oriental on August 1, 1945, which at that time included the island of Camiguin and Cagayan de Misamis. He represented the province in the first congress from 1946 to 1949. In Mar 1953 he was the appointed mayor of the new city of Cagayan de Oro. The loss of President Quirino that he supported in the election of 1953 cut short his stint as Mayor in December 1953. As a congressman, he was responsible for sponsoring a bill in 1948 to convert the municipality of Cagayan de Misamis into a City. 


 Emmanuel Neri Pelaez was born on November 30, 1915, in Medina, Misamis Oriental. He topped the 1938 bar exam with a rating of 91.3%. He succeeded Rep Baculio as the Misamis Oriental representative in congress on December 30, 1949. In that capacity he worked for the passage of the bill filed by Rep. Baculio. Pelaez’ effort helped in the signing of the bill to become R. A, 521 that converted Cagayan into a chartered city. In the 1953 election he ran for senator and won. In the 1959 election, he won as vice president in tandem with Diosdado Macapagal who was elected president. In the Macapagal administration, Pelaez was also appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. His differences with Macapagal caused his resignation of the post, and he later transferred to the Nacionalista Party where he made himself available as its presidential nominee. During the party convention to select the party candidate for president, Senate President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who topped the bar in 1939, bolted the Liberal Party to join the Nacionalista and challenged Pelaez in the presidential nomination. In the convention marred with allegations of coercion and vote buying Marcos defeated Pelaez as the party’s presidential candidate. In the election that followed Marcos defeated Macapagal to become the new president of the Philippines. After his vice presidency, Pelaez served as a congressman, as a senator and as a member of Batasan Pambansa in the Martial law period. During president Corazon Aquino’s term of office, he was appointed as the Ambassador to the United States in 1986.                                     

Pelaez was one of the most popular political personalities in the Philippines at the prime of his political career. He was an admired and beloved figure of the people of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental who fondly called him “Maning. He was the first person in Mindanao to top the bar exam. He was also the first politician from Mindanao to become vice president of the Philippines. His ambition to become the President of the Philippines was within a hair’s breadth had Ferdinand Marcos Sr. not seized from him that opportunity.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Coconut, the Tropical Tree of Life

Coconut trees adorn a white sand beach.

For this article I would like to refer to the coconut tree as the plant and the coconut as the fruit. The coconut tree (cocos nucifera) belongs to the palm tree family. It has a branchless trunk with leaves, inflorescences and fruits clustered on the upper part of the tree. The coconut is round in shape and its skin turns to grayish brown when matured. Inside the outer skin is a fibrous coir. The husk surrounded a water filled shell containing the meat and embryo. People should stay away from a tall coconut tree with matured fruits because a hit on the head coming from a falling coconut will be very fatal.       

coconut tree with fruits

Many Filipino families, 25% to 33% of them, depend on the coconut for their livelihood. Coconut tree is the easiest and one of the most profitable plants to grow in the tropics. A coconut planted or buried in the ground will sprout after several days or weeks. And from then on the tree healthily grows even with less fertilizer or pesticide unlike other crops. A tree yields fruits after about 6 years, and will live up to a hundred of years. When the tree fruit all a farmer has to do is just watch them and hire workers when harvest time comes. The good thing is that coconut tree is everbearing unlike other crops that bear fruits by season. In the past and even today, in rural areas, some poor Filipinos make for their living climbing up the tree, cut off portions of its inflorescence crosswise and gather the sap for a toddy drink called "tuba". This drink is one of a kind considering that it can get people drunk when taken in excessive amount even if the sap is just freshly gathered from the tree. Left alone, unsold or unconsumed "tuba" turns into an all natural healthy vinegar after some time. When the sap or "tuba" is fermented or distilled and aged, it becomes a wine. It is called "lambanog" in Tagalog. Other product derived from coconut sap includes coco sugar.     

coco sugar

Families with sizable areas of land planted with coconut earn most of their income from the dried meat of the coconut called copra. The production of copra is a big industry which provide the farmers and the government money. Coconut products are one of the leading exports of the Philippines which account for about 64% of the world's production.                                                                                              

green coconuts for sale

green coconut with drinking straw

an opened green coconut with flesh

Some people love to consume coconuts especially the young green one for its water and tender jelly like flesh which is called "butong" in Visayan or "buko" in Tagalog. The water is tasty, refreshing and invigorating and is rich in anti-oxidants and electrolytes. It is comparable or even better or healthier than commercial sport drinks because coconut water is all natural.                                                    

People do not usually eat the matured coconut meat because of its bland taste and hard texture. They instead grate and extract from it the so-called "milk" or "gata" which is used as ingredients for delicacies such as "suman", "biko", "binignit" and other snack foods. Coconut milk is also added to soup and dishes. Although the locals have been using the milk from fresh matured coconut meat for generations, they do not do it to extract oil for cooking. Oil can be produced from fresh grated meat by putting it on a wok and heating it until oil is produced. The oil that is made is fragrant with distinctive coconut aroma. It is then sifted to separate it from coconut sediments and then placed in a container such as small bottles and other vessels. The oil is used especially by folk healers to massage people to relieve their muscle and joint pains or heal dislocated or broken bones. Superstitious people use the oil to immerse their amulets inside the bottle. They called the oil filled bottle with amulet "lana" or "laning-laning" in the Visayan dialect. Although homemade coconut oil for massage is soothing, some people shun it because of the coconut smell that may not be desirable when the one who has it is near other people.         

an opened matured coconut with shell and meat
                                                                                                                       
commercial coconut milk in sachet

grated coconut meat

fresh coconut milk

Matured coconut meat is the most economically profitable produce of the tree. From it, is derived oil and other products. Coconut oil is arguably one of the healthiest in the world. There are sources though that state that coconut oil contains significant amount of saturated fat that is not good for the heath. But other reliable groups claim that oil from coconut comes naturally and need not much processing or addition of compounds that makes it good for consumption despite its high saturated fat content. Coconut oil is different from the so-called vegetable oils like soy, canola, corn and others which need complicated mechanical pressing to extract their oil. In addition some of the vegetable oils are products of chemical extraction process which can affect the quality of oil. Coconut oil had been demonized in the past as unsafe and unhealthy especially from soybean farmers to promote their own product. Fortunately, the trend is that coconut oil has gained wide acceptance from some health professionals that it is safe and healthy for human consumption.  

de-husked coconuts

coconut oil in plastic container

extra virgin coconut oil

Other products from coconut include cosmetics such as soap and shampoo and foods such as coconut cream, milk, coconut flour among others. Aside from those already mentioned about the products and benefits from the coconut, there are many other things that can be derived from the coconut tree. Almost all of its parts are useful. An upright coconut cut in half with the husk and shell still intact can be made as scrub to clean floor especially the wooden one. The fibrous husk can be a material for filling mattresses and potting composts. Next to the husk is the hard shell that can be made into buttons and charcoal. The leaves are used as wrappings for "suman", a glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and and woven as pouches called "puso" to contain a boiled rice. A broom can be made out of the midribs of the coconut pinnate leaves. This is called "walis tingting" in Tagalog. In a situation when temporary shelters are needed to camp soldiers or other people in the field, coconut fronds can be a material for thatched makeshift huts. Petioles and husks can be used as fuel for cooking. In contemporary time when forest woods are scarce and expensive and cutting of trees in the forest is strictly prohibited by the government, sawed coconut trunks also known as coco lumber provide materials for low cost housing constructions.                                                                                         

coconut scrub and broom
boiled rice wrapped in woven coco leaves

The Philippines is fortunate to have the coconut tree. It is a blessing that God gives to the Filipinos for their sustenance and health. Tropical paradise as depicted in the west is an island with white sand beach surrounded with turquoise water with coconut trees or palm trees as vegetation. This palm tree deserves people's admiration considering the benefit it gives to the people and community to include the nation's economy. The coconut tree is truly a tropical "tree of life".

a beautiful tropical island with coconut trees


Related post:

Young Green Coconut Water and Meat https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2023/06/young-green-coconut-water-and-meat-buko.html

The Unfiltered All Natural Probiotic Coconut Sap (Sukang Tuba) Vinegar https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-unfiltered-all-natural-probiotic.html

The Benefit of Coconut Oil https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html



Sunday, August 28, 2022

Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City

 

The Spaniards during the colonial era built military fortifications in some strategic places of the Philippines to protect established communities from raids and incursions especially from pirates and Moros. In Mindanao forts were also built. Some of them were demolished and others did not survive the ravages of time. But there are still others that exist today.

In the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula Jesuit priest Melchor de Vera with the approval of Spanish Governor General Juan Cerezo de Salamanca built a fortification called Fort San Jose on June 23, 1635.  That date was also the founding of Zamboanga. The military fort was to protect the place called Jambangan from Moro pirates as well as attacks from Sultans of Mindanao and Sulu.

Due to lack of manpower, Spanish, Peruvian and Mexican builders had to import additional workforce from Cavite, Bohol and Panay for the construction of the fortification. The mix of different people from various places in the Philippines with diverse dialects under the control of the Spaniards may explain the development of Chabacano, a Spanish pidgin dialect spoken in Zamboanga because people had to communicate with each other in an understandable language, in that particular situation the Spanish.

The fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1646. It was abandoned by the Spaniards in 1662 to reinforce the Spanish administration in Manila which was under the threat of the Chinese pirate Koxinga who earlier defeated the Dutch. The attack however did not happen.

After it was destroyed by the pirates and raiders, Jesuit missionaries rebuilt the fort in 1699. Upon order of Spanish Governor General Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante Y Rueda Spanish engineer Juan Sicarra rebuilt the fort in 1718. The fort was then renamed Real Fuerte de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza.

The years that followed saw attacks on the fort and a violent incident. In 1718 Dalasi, king of Bulig with about 3,000 Moro pirates stormed the fort but were repulsed by the defenders. In 1798, the British cannoned the Fort and in 1872 it was a scene of mutiny of 70 prisoners.

Marian relief

In 1734, a Marian relief was built on the eastern wall of the fort. It was named Nuestra Señora del pilar de Zaragoza (Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza). The Virgin Mary of the Pillar became the patroness of Zamboanga. The outdoor Marian Shrine become a place of devotion and worship to some faithful who believe that the Lady of the Pillar is miraculous. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary made several apparitions. It is said that she first appeared to a soldier near the gate of the Fort on December 6, 1734. During an earthquake on September 21, 1897 in the Zamboanga Peninsula, it was said that some visionaries saw the Virgin Mary floating in the air in Basilan Strait and raised her right hand to stop the onrushing waves thus preventing the onslaught of Tsunami in Zamboanga.

On May 1899 during the Spanish-American War, the Spaniards surrendered the fort to the Filipino revolutionaries led by General Vicente Alvarez. On November 19, 1899 the fort was captured by the Americans. During World War II, the fort was occupied by the Japanese. American and Filipino troops recaptured it in 1945. The Americans officially turned over the fort to the Philippine government on July 4, 1946.

On August 1, 1973 Fort Pilar was declared as a national cultural treasure. Today the fort is placed under the administration of Regional Museum of the National Museum which makes the fort its regional headquarters.

Today, the fort is a major tourist attraction of the city. The original walls are still intact, and is protected by a metal fence around them. On the eastern side of the fort’s wall is the relief of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza and below it is an altar. The shrine is enclosed and protected with metal fence.

Historical marker

courtyard and museums

At the entrance of the fort is a historical marker. Visitors can go inside the fort passing through the security personnel of the National Museum for free. In the center inside the fort is a courtyard. And adjacent to the walls are buildings which house the museum containing different artifacts and materials of the marine life of Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu. Visitors can view the display in the museum for free. They are required though to take off their shoes to view the displays and they are not allowed to take picture with a DSLR camera. They can only take pictures with a smart phone, and that they will not use flash or take video with their phone.

preserved marine life

lantaka

colonial era bell

ramp

a walkway and a bastion

Visitors can climb to the rampart of the Fort through the ramp that connects it. On top is a walkway where they can see the scene below including the sea and the Santa Cruz Islands. At corner of the walls are bastions with security guards manning a guard house. Also on the bastions is parapet with merlons and crenels. In the days of old these structures might have given a defender a vantage position from the attackers who were on the ground below.

Related posts:

Siargao, a Tropical Island Paradise in the Pacific https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2018/04/siargao-tropical-island-paradise-in.html

The Rizal Shrine of Dapitan City https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-rizal-shrine-in-dapitan-city.html

 Camiguin Island: a Tourist Destination https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2012/08/camiguin-tourist-destination-island.html

Tinago Falls, Iligan City, Philippines https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2012/08/tinago-falls-iligan-city-philippines.html

The Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon, Philippines https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-del-monte-pineapple-plantation-in.html

A Taste of Nature at Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape in Misamis Oriental https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-taste-of-nature-at-initao-libertad.html

Mount Hibok-Hibok, a Natural Monument in Camiguin https://lapasan-myblognoel145.blogspot.com/2012/08/hibok-hibok-volcano-natural-monument-in.html



Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Cebuano or Filipino Words that You Think are Indigenous but Are Spanish in Origin

 

Most of Spain’s former colonies speak Spanish. The Philippines is an exception because although it adopted Filipino or Tagalog as its official language, Filipinos speak different languages or dialects according to the ethnic group they belong to. Spain’s long occupation of the Philippines has brought about an enduring influence over the Filipino’s culture, religion and languages. Cebuano, the second most widely spoken language in Philippines next to Filipino or Tagalog, has been enriched with the infusion of Spanish loan words. Most of them have found their niche into the native tongue so that they become part of the regular vocabularies of modern native speakers.

Below is list of words that are “naturalized’ into the Cebuano or Tagalog languages with their Spanish and English equivalent. I did not include words that are obviously Spanish in origin because there are multitude of them, and this will make my list a very lengthy one. A language such as Spanish may have some changes in spelling or addition or reduction in letters when adopted to another language, but its original meaning will remain the same.  There are some words though that may lose their original meaning with the passage of time.

Cebuano/Filipino

Spanish

English

 

Abante

Avante

Ahead

 

Abono

Abono

Fertilizer

 

Abswelto

Absuelto

Acquitted

 

Abunda

Abunda

Abounds

 

Agrabyado

Agraviado

Aggrieved

 

Agwanta

Aguantar

Endure

 

Alahas

Alhajas

Jewelry

 

Albularyo

Herbolario

Herbalist

 

Alibyo

Alleviar

Alleviate

 

Alkansiya

Alcancia

Piggy bank

 

Angkla

Ancla

Anchor

 

Antyohos

Anteojos

eyeglass

 

Anyel

Añil

Indigo

 

Aparador

Aparador

Sideboard

 

areglar

Arreglar

Arrange

 

Areglo

Arreglo

Arrangement

 

Asado

Asado

Roast

 

Asenso

Ascenso

Ascend

 

Asite

Aciete

Oil

 

Aspalto

Asfalto

Asphalt

 

Atras

Atras

Behind

 

Ayuda

Ayuda

Aid

 

Bacalao

Bacalao

Cod

 

Bahada

Bajada

Descent

 

Bala

Bala

Bullet

 

Baldado

Baldado

Cripple

 

Balde

Balde

Pail

 

Balsa

Balsa

Raft

 

Balyena

Ballena

Whale

 

Bangkò

Banco

Bench

 

Banyo

Baño

Bathroom

 

Bara

Barra

Rod

 

Barandelya

Barandilla

Railing

 

Barato

Barrato

Cheap

 

Barena

Barrena

Auger

 

Bastante

Bastante

Enough

 

Basura

Basura

Trash

 

Bayle

Baile

Dance

 

Biberon

Biberon

Feeding Bottle

 

Bentaha

Ventaja

Advantage

 

Berdugo

Verdugo

Executioner

 

Bibo

Vivo

Live

 

Bisagra

Visagra

Hinge

 

Bisyo

Vicio

Vice

 

Bola

Bola

Ball

 

Bombelya

Bombilla

Light Bulb

 

Bombero

Bombero

Fireman

 

Bosina

Bocina

Horn

 

Braso

Brazo

Arm

 

Bruha

Bruha

Witch

 

Kambyo

Cambio

Change

 

Camote

Camote

Sweet Potato

 

Delubyo

Diluvio

deluge

 

Destroso

Destroso

Disastrous

 

Duda

Duda

Doubt

 

Duwende

Duende

Elf

 

Embudo

Embudo

Funnel

 

Embutido

Embutido

Sausage

 

Empanada

Empanada

Patty

 

Enano

Enano

Dwarf

 

Ensigida

Enseguida

Right Away

 

Espiso

Espeso

Thick

 

Esplicar

Explicar

Explain

 

Ganansya

Ganancia

Gain

 

Garboso

Garboso

Jaunty

 

Golpe

Golpe

Blow

 

Goma

Goma

Rubber

 

Grahe

Graje

Garrage

 

Gripo

Grifo

Faucet

 

Guwantes

Guantes

Gloves

 

Habal (to copulate)*

Jabali

Boar

 

Henyo

Genio

Genius

 

Higante

Gigante

Giant

 

Hulmigas

Hormigas

Ants

 

Husga

Juzgar

To Judge

 

Idro

Idroplano

Hydroplane

 

Iguales

Iguales

Same

 

Imbis

En Vez

Instead

 

Impatso

Empacho

Indigestion

 

Ingrato

Ingrato

Ungrateful

 

Inodoro

Inodoro

Toilet

 

Intriga

Intriga

Intrigue

 

Irihis

Hereje

Heretic

 

Kabayò

Caballo

Horse

 

Kadena

Cadena

Chain, String

 

kalabasa

Calabaza

Pumpkin, Squash

 

Kalambre

Calambre

Cramp

 

Kalyo

Callo

Callus

 

Kama

Cama

Bed

 

Kaminero

Caminero

Roadman

 

Kanta

Cantar

Sings

 

Kapatas

Capataz

Foreman

 

karsel

Carcel

Prison

 

Karwahe

Carruaje

Carriage

 

Katre

Catre

Cot

 

Kolokar

Colocar

Place

 

Kombinser

Convincer

Convince

 

Kompra

Compra

Purchase

 

Kompromiso

Compromiso

Compromise

 

Kompyansa

Confianza

Confidence

 

Konsinter

Consenter

Consent

 

Kontador

Contador

Counter

 

kumpisal

Confesar

Confess

 

Kumusta?

Como Estas?

How are you?

 

Kuna

Cuna

Cradle

 

Laba

Lava

Wash

 

Labandera

Lavandera

Laundry Woman

 

Lamano

Estrechar La Mano

Shake Hand

 

Lastiko

Elastico

Elastic

 

lata

Lata

Can

 

Liha

Lija

Sand Paper

 

Limos

Limosna

Alms, Handout

 

Linti

Lente

Lens

 

Lugar

Lugar

Place

 

Mais

Maiz

Maize, Corn

 

Maldito

Maldito

Cursed

 

Maleta

Maleta

Bag

 

Maligno

Maligno

Evil One

 

Mani

Mani

Peanut

 

Manibela

Manivela

Handle, Crank

 

Maniobra

Maniobra

Maneuver

 

Manteca

Manteca

Butter

 

Mantiner

Mantener

Keep

 

Martilyo

Martillo

Hammer

 

Mas

Mas

More

 

Maselya

Masilla

Putty

 

Maseta

Maceta

Flower Pot

 

Maton

Maton

Bully

 

Menudo

Menudo

Small

 

Minos

Menos

Less

 

Mirisi

Mereces

Deserve

 

Mismo

Mismo

Selfsame

 

Mohon

Mojon

Boundary Stone

 

Molestya

Molestia

Bother

 

Monyeka

Muñeca

Doll

 

Multa

Multa

Fine

 

Negosyo

Negocio

Business

 

Nerbyoso

Nervioso

Nervous

 

Pala

Pala

Shovel

 

Palanggana

Palangana

Basin

 

Palito

Palito

Little Stick

 

Palo

Palo

Stick

 

Palso

Falso

Fake

 

Palyar

Fallar

Fail

 

Pan

Pan

Bread

 

Pantalla

Fantalla

Screen

 

Para

Para

For

 

Parol

Farol

Lantern

 

Pasio

Paseo

Walk, Stroll

 

pastol

Pastor

Shepherd

 

Pareha

Pareja

Pair

 

Payaso

Payaso

Clown

 

Periko

Perico

Parakeet

 

Perya

Feria

Fair

 

Peste

Peste

Pest

 

Pilde

Perder

Lose

 

Pilyo

Pillo

Rogue

 

Pintor

Pintor

Painter

 

Pitaka

Petaca

Cigarette Case

 

Plaka

Placa

License Plate

 

Plangka

Palanca

Lever

 

Pomada

Pomada

Pomade

 

Posas

Esposas

Handcuffs

 

Poso

Pozo

Well

 

Preno

Freno

Brake

 

Priso

Prision

Prison

 

Prito

Frito

Fried

 

Pulgada

Pulgada

Inch

 

Pulgas

Pulgas

Fleas

 

Pulido

Pulido

Polished

 

Pulseras

Pulseras

Bracelets

 

Punyeta

Puñeta

Damn

 

Punyete

Puñetazos

fisticuff

 

Purwesyo

Perjuicio

Damage

 

Pursiger

Persiguer

Pursue

 

Pusil

Fusil

Rifle

 

Puta

Puta

Bitch, Prostitute

 

Pwesto

Puesto

Place, Position, Market Stall

 

Pwes

Pues

Then

 

Pyansa

Fianza

Bail

 

Rebansen

Revancha

Rematch

 

Rehas

Rejas

Bars

 

Remate

Remate

Auction

 

Resiko

Reseco

Parched

 

Retaso

Retazo

Remnant

 

Ripa

Rifa

Raffle

 

Sabon

Jabon

Soap

 

Salbabida

Salvavida

Lifesaver

 

Salbahes

Salvaje

Wild

 

Salsa

Salsa

Sauce

 

Santilmo

Fuego de San Telmo

Saint Elmo's Fire

 

Sartin

Sarten

Pan

 

Sastre

Sastre

Tailor

 

Sebo

Sebo

Tallow

 

Seda

Seda

Silk

 

Selda

Celda

Cell

 

Serin

Serrin

Sawdust

 

Siboyas

Sebolla

Onion

 

Sili

Chile

Chili Pepper

 

Sini

Cine

Movie Theater

 

Sirado

Cirrado

Closed

 

Solda

Soldar

Weld

 

Subasta

Subasta

Auction

 

Subida

Subida

Ascent

 

Suborno

Suborno

Bribe

 

Sundalo

Soldado

Soldier

 

Sustener

Sustener

Sustain

 

Swabe

Suave

Smooth

 

Swerte

Suerte

Luck

 

Talyer

Taller

Workshop

 

Tampulano

Tal Fulano

Such a Guy

 

Tapalodo

Tapalodo

Mud Flap

 

Taro

Tarro

Tin

 

Tela

Tela

Cloth

 

Terno

Terno

Suit

 

timon

Timon

Rudder

 

Tinda

Tienda

Store

 

Torta

Torta

Cake

 

tsaliko

Chaleco

Vest

 

Tsikiting

Chiquitita

Tiny

 

Tsinelas

Chinelas

Slippers

 

Tsupa*

Chupar

Suck

 

Tukar

Tocar

Play

 

Tukayo

Tocayo

Namesake

 

Tuwalya

Tualla

Towel

 

Umento

Aumentar

Increase

 

Yabi

Llave

Key

 

Yate

Yate

Yacht

 

Yelo

Hielo

Ice

 

Yero

Hoja de Hierro

Iron Sheet

 


 

 

 

 


*”Habal” in Cebuano means to copulate which is different from Spanish Jabali which means boar. In the past it was the practice of locals to lend their “jabali” or boar to those with sow in order for the animals to breed. The act of mating was called “habal”, thus, “jabali” completely lose its original Spanish meaning. The term “habal” is not used to refer to sexual acts between people. Its use is limited to animals especially pigs.

*”Tsupa” in the Philippines is an indecent word used to refer to oral sex between two males. It is never used in serious or formal conversations.