BUGTONG – a riddle is a question, a
puzzle, a phrase, or a statement devised to
get unexpected or clever answers. It is a
folklore genre as well as rhetorical device,
often having veiled or double meanings.
When someone uses it as a puzzle or a
question, it could be a thought-provoking
challenge for the audience to figure it out
themselves, or it could be a funny comment
intended to make the audience laugh.
The meaning of the foretold riddle is hidden
but it can be answered by things that are
directly related to the riddle. It is a puzzle
(palaisipan) that will try your skills in
discovering the connection between the
words of the riddle. A riddle must have only
one correct answer.
Usually, a bugtong or riddle pertain to
whatever occupies the immediate
surroundings of its inventor. One more
thing noticeable about Filipino riddles is a
touch of poetic verses found in Enigma (it,
combining two forms in one, indicating that
Filipinos are already masters of literature
even in olden times. In time, more and more
riddles are being coined by clever Filipinos,
adding to the wealth of their literature,
unrivaled elsewhere.
Tagalog riddles are called bugtong, while
the Ilocanos call these burburtia. Usually,
riddles are made to rhyme and utilize the
talinghaga, a form of metaphor whose
signification eventually conveys the
meaning of the answer to the riddle. Riddles
such as these for instance illustrate the use
of the talinghaga:
Hindi hari, hindi pari
Ang damit ay sari sari
(Sagot: Sampayan)
The riddle also has size (sukat) and matches
(tugma), and usually consist of 2 to 4 lines
1. The first (two) lines start with some
familiar objects in the environment
2. The last (two) lines provide a unique
feature in the item mentioned in the
preceding line
Types of Riddles
talinghaga)- problems expresses in a
metaphor or algory language that require
intelligence and careful reflection for the
question
1. Puzzle (konumdrum)- questions that
rely on the use pf question mark or
the answer.
In Filipino literature, bugtong describes the
behavior, mind, everyday life and native
environment of Filipinos. As a short poem, it
is often use as a puzzle when children play.
A sophistication aimed at improving the
mental capacity of Filipinos. It uses lines that
match. It can be called a true poem.
Brief history of bugtong
It all started even before the Spaniards
came (pre-colonial). Before, riddles were
used to entertain people in their free time.
Eventually, this became a habit of Flipinos in
gatherings, burol, or at night.
BULONG
It is a form of a whispered prayer or chant
used by our ancestors to pay respect to
unseen spirits or elemental spirits like
dwarfs and kapre in order to deliver them
from trouble and danger.
 In Philippine Folk Medicine, the albularyos
are the healers in rural areas that specializes
in the use of medicinal herbs.
A bulong, whispered prayer or orasyon, a
written prayer are usually used by albularyos
during the course of the healing of their
patients.
FOR BACK PAIN AND SORE THROAT: AMAM
SANCTUM, AMAM TACA, AMAM SABAB.
FOR TOOTH EXTRACTIONS: DOMINUM
PAULUM, WINGIM CARLIM, HIBLIM.
FOR SPRAINS, BULONG WHILE MASSAGING:
MADMED, ACBIUS, ROUDAE.

Other than the albularyos, some rural folk FOR BURNS: SALU AREPO TONAPE EROROTA.
admit using bulong to treat day-to-day
maladies such as headaches, hiccups, burns,
sprains and back pain. Examples of Bulong

The prayers, in Latin or pig-Latin, are also 1. Tabi-tabi po ingkong, makikiraan po

used for countering evil spirits or preventing lamang.
physical harm or as an added ritual to many
2. Lumayo kayo, umalis kayo, at baka
mundane events.
mabangga kayo.
Examples of prayers used by Healers
3. Bulong ng mga Bagobo ng Mindanao
MORE BULONG AND ORASYON EXAMPLES:
"Nagnakaw ka ng bigas ko,
TO AVOID ILLNESSES: ESTO MIHI, Umulwa sana mata mo,
UMBRACOLU, ET MEDECINAM, ET ANEMAE.
mamaga ang katawan mo,
FOR VARIOUS ILLNESSES: ECCECRUCEM
DOMINE, FUGITE PORTIS AD VERCE, VINCIT patayin ka ng mga anito"
LEO DE TRIBU, JUDA DAVID - ALELUYA, 4. Bulong sa Ilocos
ALELUYA, ALELUYA.
"Huwag magalit, kaibigan,
FOR SPRAINS: QUEM QUAERITIS SUSUBANI,
aming pinuputol lamang
EGOSUM HOMOMAULI ANG SIRANG BUTO,
CRIATUM, HOMO QUIS LOVEL, PHU, PHU, ang sa ami’y napagutusan"
PHU.
5. Bulong sa Bicol
FOR FOREIGN MATTER IN THE EYE (PUWING):
"Dagang malaki, dagang maliit, ayto ang
(1) RICOTITAM MASUR RISURBO (B) JESUS
ngipin kong sira na't pangit. Sana ay bigyan
PERETUINO ULIMARES GIGLER YLAPUS.
mo ng kapalit"
FOR MOUTH SORES (APHTHOUS STOMATITIS):
(1) MAMONGLAY BARDUCAMIN YCAR BATUR LEGEND
CAR-CAR. (2) OH VIRGO VIRGEN MARIA What are the common subjects of
OPICLUM, JESUS MARIA MAMAHEN. the pre- colonial literature?
The subject matter was the common
experience of the people constituting a
village- food gathering, creatures and
objects of nature, work in the home, field,
forest or sea, caring for children.
What is legend?
Legend is a traditional story or body of
stories, usually of oral origin, that is handed
down from generation to generation and
popularly believed to have a historical basis.
It can also be a story based more on fantasy
than on fact.
Salawikain
Filipino Proverbs are called “salawikain”.
A short sentence that is very meaningful
and aims to provide guidance in every
living.
Express general truths and observations
about life and human nature.
Main purpose: to teach lessons in life.
Examples of Salawikain
“Natutuwa kung pasalop, Kung singili’y
napopoot.”
“Bago ka bumati ng ibang uling, uling mo
muna ang iyong pahirin.”
“Ang isip ay parang itak, sa hasa tumatalas.”
“Ang umaayaw ay hindi nagawawagi, ang
nagwawagi ay hindi umaayaw.”
“Naghangad ng kagitna, isang salop ang
nawala.”
“Lahat ng gubat ay may ahas.”
“Walang palayok na walang kasukat na
tungtong.”
“Kwarta na, naging bato pa.”
Folktale
–  Also called folk story.
–  A story originating in popular culture,
typically
passed on by word of mouth.
–  Any belief or story passed on traditionally,
especially
one considered to be false or based on
superstition.
–  Includes fairy tales, tall tales, trickster
tales, myths
and legends.
Kwentong Bayan
Kwentong bayan is a story about
imaginative
characters representing the kinds of people,
such as
an old king, a wise man, or a stupid woman.
The
story is usually related to a specific region or
region
of a country or land.
–  4 TYPES: Legend,Myth,Fable,Parable
MYTH
From the Greek ‘mythos’ for story-of-the-
people, and ‘logos’ for word or speech, the
spoken story of a people.
Is the study and interpretation of often
sacred tales or fables of a culture known as
‘myths’.
Collection of such stories which usually deal
with the human condition, good and evil,
human origins, life and death, the afterlife,
and the gods.
Myths express the beliefs and values about
these subjects held by a certain culture
Myths tell the stories of ancestors and the
origin of humans and the world, the gods,
supernatural beings and heroes.
Myths also describe origins or nuances of
long-held customs or explain natural events.
Three types of Myths
1. Aetiological Myths- also spelled
‘etiological’
- reason why something is the way it is
today
- aetiological from the Greek word ‘aetion’
which means reason or
explanation.
3 subtypes of aetiological myths
a. natural aetiological myth- explains
an aspect of nature
b. etymological aetiological myth-
origin of a word
c. religious aetiological myth- origin
of religious rituals
2. Historical Myths- told about a historical
event that helps keep the memory of that
event alive.
- the accuracy is lost but meaning is gained
3. Psychological Myths- to explain why we
feel and act the way we do;emotions
- different from aetiological myth
EPIC
Noting or pertaining to a long poetic
composition, usually centered upon a hero,
in which a series of great achievements or
events is narrated in elevated style.
KASABIHAN
A saying (kasabihan) is an often repeated
and familiar expression. Used in teasing or
to comment on a person’s acutations. It is
commonly used by elders.
Example of Sayings o Kasabihan
“Kapag makitid ang kumot, matutong
mamaluktot.”
“Walang mahirap na gawa ‘pag dinaan sa
tiyaga.”
“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa
pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa
paroroonan.”
FOLKSONGS
The folk song, a form of folk lyric which
expresses the hopes and aspirations, the
people’s lifestyles as well as their loves.
These are often repetitive and sonorous,
didactic and naive as in the children’s songs
or Ida-ida(Maguindanao), tulang pambata
(Tagalog) or cansiones para abbing
(Ibanag).
A type of narrative song or kissa among the
Tausug of Mindanao, the parang sabil, uses
for its subject matter the exploits of
historical and legendary heroes. It tells of a
Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands
of non-Muslims.
Example of Folk Song in Pre Colonial Period
A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili
(Ilongo); love songs like the panawagon and
balitao (Ilongo);harana or serenade
(Cebuano); the bayok (Maranao); the seven-
syllable per line poem, ambahan of the
Mangyans that are about human
relationships, social entertainment and also
serve as a tool for teaching the young.
Work songs that depict the livelihood of the
people often sung to go with the movement
of workers such as the kalusan
(Ivatan),soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or
the mambayu, a Kalinga rice-pounding
song; the verbal jousts/games like theduplo
popular during wakes.
Makapal ang bulsa. In English, it’s a person
with a thick wallet, which means lots of
money = wealth.
Di makabasag-pinggan. Literal translation
is “someone who can’t break a plate” to
mean a very careful person

Other folk songs are the drinking songs

sung during carousals like the tagay
(Cebuano and Waray); dirges and
lamentations extolling the deeds of the
dead like the kanogon (Cebuano) or the
Annako (Bontoc)

SAWIKAIN
Sawikain are idiomatic expressions. They
are composed of two or more words
that have an entirely different meaning
when joined together or hyphenated

Some examples of Sawikain

Anak-pawis. The literal translation of “anak”

is son; pawis” is sweat. The idiom really
means “blue-collar worker” to signify sweat
and hard work are exerted.

Balat sibuyas. It’s the Tagalog translation

for “onion-skinned” which means a sensitive
person.

Makapal ang bulsa. In English, it’s a person

with a thick wallet, which means lots of
money = wealth.