Filipino Sayings

Aanhin mo ang palasyo, kung ang nakatira ay kuwago? Mabuti pa ang bahay kubo, ang nakatira ay tao.
What good is a palace if it's inhabited by owls. Better a straw hut inhabited by humans.

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?
What good is grass when the horse is already dead?

Ang gawa sa pagkabata, dala hanggang pagtanda.
What one learns in childhood he carries into adulthood.

Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang malangsang isda.
He who does not love the national language is worse than a smelly fish.

Ang hindi marunong tumingin sa pinaggalingan ay di makakarating sa paroroonan.
He who does not know to look where he came from will never get to his destination.

Ang langaw na dumapo sa kalabaw, mataas pa sa kalabaw ang pakiramdam.
A fly that lands on a carabao feels itself to be higher than the carabao.

Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw. Ang lumalakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
Thorns bury shallowly into one who walks slowly. Thorns bury deeply into one who walks fast.

Ang maniwala sa sabi-sabi, walang bait sa sarili.
He who believes in hearsay is a crazy fool.

Ang masamang damo, matagal mamatay.
Bad grass does not die easily.

Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasamang maluat.
Forthrightness ensures a lasting relationship.

Ang pili ng pili, natatapat sa bungi.
One who spends too much time choosing ends up with cracked wares.

Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
A desperate person will even hold on to a knife edge.

Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo.
A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside.

Ang tunay na anyaya, sinasamahan ng hila.
A sincere invitation is accompanied by a pull (of the hand).

Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan, huwag magagalit.
Stones hurled to the sky. Don't get angry if you get hit.
Meaning: Don't be angry if you get criticized without naming names.

Daig ng maagap ang taong masipag.
The prepared beats the hardworking person.

Damitan mo man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.
A monkey dressed up is still a monkey.

Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
While the blanket is short, learn to bend (to fit).

Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.
It is never too late to offer anything that is good.

Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.

Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot.
If you stash, you have something to withdraw.

Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
If you plant, you harvest.

Kung nasaan ang asukal, naruon ang langgam.
Where the sugar is, there are the ants.

Kung sino ang masalita ay siyang kulang sa gawa.
He who speaks too much works too little.

Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga.
If you persevere, you'll have stew.

Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao.
It is easy to be a man. It is hard to make oneself human.

Matalino man ang matsing, napaglalamangan din.
An intelligent monkey can still be beaten.

Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.

May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.
The earth has ears, news (gossip) has wings.

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
Mercy resides in God; deeds are in men.

Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church.

Sa taong may tunay na hiya, ang salita ay panunumpa.
To a person who has real shame, words are oath.

Walang ligaya sa lupa na hindi dinilig ng luha.
There is no earthly bliss not watered by tears.

Walang mahirap na gawa pag dinaan sa tiyaga.
No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance.

Walang mapait na tutong, sa taong nagugutom.
There is no bitter crust to a hungry person.

Walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape.
No bread is too hard for warm coffee.