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A Little Book of Filipino Riddles

by Frederick Starr

8 of 52 · Contents · Download EPUB

50

Adda dua nga Princesa quet nagbaetanda ti maysa nga bantay quet daytoy a bantay adda met dua nga oaig quet no agsangit daguitoy a Princesa agayos met daytoy nga oaig ngem no saanda nga agsangit mamagaan daguitoy nga oaig.

(Iloc.) Mata quen agung

There are two princesses with a mountain between them. In this mountain are two brooks and when the princesses cry these brooks flow and when the princesses do not cry the brooks dry up.

Eyes and nose

51

Isang biyabas pito ang butas.

(Tag.) Mukha

One guava with seven holes.

Face

52

Limang puno nang niog; isay matayog.

(Tag.) Dalire

Five cocoanut palms; one is higher.

Fingers

53

Adda lima nga Principes nagcallogongda amin ti pisi.

(Iloc.) Ramay

There are five princes and their hat is one half.

Fingers

The nails are the hats.

54

Adda maysa nga ealapati nga nagna ti tinga ti ili manocayo cona ti ari no adda mainayon nga pisi justo nga dua polo cami.

(Iloc.) Ramay

There is a dove that walked in the middle of the town. How many are you said the king. If there is a half added we shall be twenty.

Fingers

55

Ni ni conconana aoan ti matana

(Iloc.) Tammodo

Here, here, he says, but has no eyes.

Forefinger

It points here and there, touching the things in question, but it cannot see.

56

Tata baculud ay ain-mena maita na ut-tunna si catanang-nga.

(Gad.) Quiray

A mountain the summit of which cannot be seen, being very high.

Forehead

57

Tubo sa punso, ualang buko.

(Tag.) Buhoc

Sugar-cane on clay, with no joints (knots).

Hair

58

Cahoy nga tambalisa, tapson indi malaya.

(Bis.) Buhoc

A plant which does not fade when cut down.

Hair

59

Iclog iti calao bolig iti lima.

(Iloc.) Ima

The calao’s egg is five-parted.

Hand

The calao is the hornbill; the egg here in question is perhaps his strange head-excrescence.

60

Isang bayabas peto ang butas.

(Tag.) Ulo

One guava with seven holes.

Head

61

Isa ca bungsud nga pito ang iya buho.

(Bis.) Olo

A small hill having seven holes.

Head

62

Sica a tao ti yan ti minuterum.

(Iloc.) Puso

You are the man who has the minute-beater.

Heart

Minuterum the pendulum beating.

63

No agtacderac ania ngata ti omona a ipagnae?

(Iloc.) Mocod

If I stand, what will be the first that steps?

Heel

64

Daluang bangiasan nag hahagaran.

(Tag.) Binte

Two fence stakes chasing each other.

Legs

65

Atian na ing gulut; ing gulut na ya ing atian.

(Pamp.) Bitis

Its front is the back, and its back is the front.

The lower leg (below the knee)

66

Adda oaig a bassit napnut bucbucaig.

(Iloc.) Ngioat

There is a small brook filled with shells.

Mouth

67

Isang balong malalem, punong puno nang patalem.

(Tag.) Bibig

A deep well is filled with chisels.

Mouth

68

Isa ca cahon-cahon nga punu sang tiguib.

(Bis.) Baba

A box full of chisels.

Mouth

69

Dua nga bobon napnot allid quen dagum.

(Iloc.) Agung

Two wells filled with wax and needles.

Nose

70

Baston ti Ygorot dica maparot

(Iloc.) Bato

The cane of the Igorot, you cannot pull up.

Penis

71

Mapatar ya dalin tinoboay garing.

(Pang.) Ngipuen

Plain earth has grown ivory.

Teeth

72

Umona nga aglaguis sa agdareedec.

(Iloc.) Ngipen

First place the bars and then the posts.

The teeth

The comparison is with fence-building. Here the posts are first set, and then the cross-pieces. The babe has first smooth, horizontal gums; then the upright teeth appear.

73

Nagapanilong apang basa.

(Bis.) Dila

He is under the shed but is always wet.

Tongue

74

Enlongon empantion onbangon mansermon.

(Pang.) Dila

Coffin in graveyard wakes up sermon.

Tongue

75

Na manantang ay maccatua udde na mannam ay malussao.

(Gad.) Attut

He who loses it rejoices, but he who finds it gets mad at it.

Bad odor; breaking wind

76

Iti nacapocao agayayat quet iti nacabiroc agong onget

(Iloc.) ottot

Who loses it is glad; who finds it is mad.

Bad odor; Breaking of wind

77

Magna sirirquep no nacalucat madi met.

(Iloc.) Mucat

It walks while it is shut; when it is open it does not care to walk.

Secretion from eye corner

78

Aso cong pute inutusan co, ay hindi na umue.

(Tag.) Lura

I sent out my white dog and he did not return.

Spittle

The practice of spitting, even unrelated to betel-chewing or tobacco-chewing, is far commoner among the Filipinos than among ourselves.

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