A Little Book of Filipino Riddles

Occupations.

234

Ang madamu guina dugangan, pero ang diotay guina buhinan.

(Bis.) Ang pag limas sang tubi sa sulod sang sacayan.

The greater is increased, the smaller is diminished.

When water is pumped out of a boat.

235

Ang iya olo sapat, ang iya lanao cahoy cag ang iya icog tauo.

(Bis.) Carabao arado cog tauo.

His head is an animal, his body is wood and his tail is man.

Plowing

236

Adda tallo nga caquita; dadiay immona magmagna nga aoan tagarina; Page 83dadiay maicadua mangmangan quet; dadiay maicatlo magmagna nga tomanagari.

(Iloc.) Agarado

There are three things; the first is walking without talking; the second is eating; the third is walking and talking.

Plowing

The carabao, the plow, and the man.

237

Manoc cong pute, nag talon sa pusale.

(Tag.) Hugas bigas

My white chicken jumped into the puddle.

Rice-washing

The water that runs from rice washing is white; it falls from the kitchen down into the accumulated water under the house.

238

Ania ti aramid ti babay a dina malpas?

(Iloc.) Abel

What woman's work is never finished?

Weaving

There is always a lower edge which cannot be woven. Page 84

Persons.

239

Acoi nag tanem nang sile sa tabe nang catre, ang idinileg coi, puro ang ibinungay diamante.

(Tag.) Bata

I planted a pepper near a bed, I watered it with honor, it yielded a precious jewel.

Baby

240

Con mag atubang si tatay; apang con mag talicud si nanay.

(Bis.) Insik

If it faces you it is your father; but if it turns its back it is your mother.

Chinaman

Seen from before the general appearance is that of a man; from behind, a woman.

241

Taung inucul dang loco, dapot ing dapat na mibulalag quing yatu.

(Pamp.) Cristobal Colon

One whom they thought a fool, his work beeame world-known.

Columbus

242

Nag habla ang may sala nag tago ang justicia.

(Tag.) Nagevemupisal Page 85

The culprit appears in court, the justice is hidden.

The Confessional

The person confessing is plainly seen; the priest receiving the confession is out of sight.

243

Nagmolaac iti pipino idiay arisadsad ti convento dimet nagbunga ti pipino no di Sto. Cristo.

(Iloc.) Natay

I planted a pip near the convent but it did not produce a squash but Sto. Cristo.

A dead person

244

Ania ti ringgor nga saan nga agtaud ti dila?

(Iloc.) Umel

What quarrel is not made with the tongue?

A dumb man's

245

Sin-o ang napatay nga guin lubung sa tiyan sang iya nanay?

(Bis.) Pari

Who died, who was buried in his mother's bosom?

Friar

He was buried in the church.

246

Duro co nga dalagan pero ua-ay aco dinalaganan?

(Bis.) Naga sacay sa duyan Page 86

Who was running fast but did not move from where he started?

One in a hammock

247

Ing makalub makalual ya, ing makalual makalub ya.

(Pamp.) Ing inda ampo ing anak.

What was exposed is inside, what was inside is exposed.

Mother and babe, when the latter is baptized.

The mother stays at home in the house.

248

Pinonggosco a pinongos bino caycayan iti Dios.

(Iloc.) Masicog

I grasped and grasped and God loosed it.

Pregnant woman

249

Ania ti anac a mangisquis quen mana.

(Iloc.) Ti mangrarit ti piracna.

What child shaves his mother?

Who spends her money

250

Aniat baybay a di aglippias?

(Iloc.) Ti Quinaquirmet

What sea does not overflow?

The stingy man Page 87

Though he has abundance he gives out none.

251

Con tulcon nimo uala sia pag pahuay sang lacat apang uala man sing limacatan.

(Bis.) Manoghabol

She appears to be always walking, but after all is still in her place as before.

A weaver

Plants.

252

Deli queenteng kaballero rianu mang tiknang an nang palacio, agad yanag malaso.

(Pamp.) Balite

A gallant horseman causes any castle in which he is to crumble to pieces.

The Balite

This is the great parasitic fig, which encloses other trees in its embrace.

253

Adda maysa nga cayo nga bulong nga bulong di met agsabong; sanga nga sanga dimet agbunga.

(Iloc.) Caoayan

There is a plant that produces leaves after leaves, but no flowers; branches after branches, but no fruit.

Bambu Page 88

254

Siroc iti balay ti bacnang di macaycayan.

(Iloc.) Bulong ti caoayan

Under the bacnang's house it cannot be clean.

Bambu leaves

255

Nab-barnasi sin accab-bing-nga udde sicuana.

(Gad.,—also Iloc., Pang., Bis.) Ufud.

When newly-born, well dressed, but when he gets old he is naked.

Bambu shoot

The bud is covered with a down, which disappears.

256

Nang munte ay may tapis, nang lumaki ay bulisles.

(Tag.) Caoayan

When young she wore a tapis; when grown she is unclad

Bambu shoot

The tapis is the most characteristic part of the woman's dress. It is a wide band of dark cloth (black or brown) worn over the other clothing, around the whole middle part of the body. Page 89

257

Nanganak ang virgen itinapon ang lampen.

(Tag.) Sagueng

The virgin gave birth to a child and threw away the blanket.

Banana

258

Nanganak ang asuang sa tuktok nagdaan.

(Tag.) Sagueng

An asuang gave birth to a child from the top.

Banana

259

Naguit-log ni cannaoay inocopan ni teg-gaac idi cuan guiaoen ni oac ti nagtaraquen.

(Iloc.) Saba

A stork laid an egg; the crane hatched a lark from it; the crow took care of the young.

Banana

260

Sancadaoa sangalabba.

(Iloc.) Sangcabulig a saba

A seed-bearing stem; one fills a basket.

Bunch of bananas

261

Macagto sa simbahan si Mary, pito o ualo ang iya saya.

(Tag.) Puso

Mary is going to church having seven or eight shirts.

Banana bud Page 90

The bud is wrapped or folded within a number of bracts.

262

Adda puso a maysa dagat nag apuanna alupasit naglasatanna.

(Iloc.) Puso ti saba

There is a heart that came from the earth and pushed up through alupasit.

The heart of the banana

Alupasit is banana fibre.

263

Caballo moreno umosoc idiay ngato.

(Iloc.) Sabonganay ti saba

The red horse comes out upward.

Banana flowers

264

Isda co sa Sapa-sapa sapin-sapin ang taba.

(Tag.) Saha nang saguing

My fish in Sapa-sapa has manifold layers of fat.

Stem of banana

The stem of a banana cut through shows in wrapping layers, not unlike fat.

265

Dasug ca kaka, libutad ya y inda.

(Pamp.) Saging ampo ding sui na

Move on my brother, let mother be in the middle.

A banana plant and its suckers Page 91

The new ones displace the older ones, pushing them outward.

268

Ang puno lubi; ang dahon espada; ang bunga bala.

(Bis.) Cahoy ngaburi

The trunk cocoanut; the leaves swords; the fruit bullets.

Buri palm

267

Angibitinac na liquen tangtanga yey mamasiquen.

(Pang.) Camantilis

I was hung by a potring; the old men looked up at me.

Camachili

The pendent fruit suggests the riddle.

268

Nano nga sapat nga ang iya palod hayang pero ang iya tudlo culub?

(Bis.) Packing sang lubi

What animal is it which has its palm upside up but its fingers upside down?

Cocoanut leaves

269

Payung y Santa Maria amena mabata.

(Gad.) Tafal

Saint Mary's umbrella cannot be wetted.

Gabi Page 92

This is the cultivated plant commonly known as taro. Its great leaf sheds water perfectly.

270

No malipatam maca-alaca; quet no malaguipmo dica maca-ala.

(Iloc.) Poriquet=amorsico

If you do not remember, you get; but if you do remember, you do not get.

Grass-burs

271

Agsabong dina met bonga agsanga isut bongana.

(Iloc.) Mais

It produces a flower but it is not its fruit; it produces branches which are its fruit.

Maize

272

Nag tapis nang nag tapis nacalitao ang bulbolis.

(Tag.) Mais

She wore and wore her tapis yet her pubic hair was displayed.

Maize

The green husks are considered the tapis, or wrap about the mid-body; the silk appearing from the husk wrapping is the pubic hair. Page 93

273

Alo-divino de gracia malayo ang bulaklak sa bunga.

(Tag.) Mais

Of all divine gifts it is the only plant whose flower is far from the fruit.

Maize

274

Tite nang Ingles, puno nang gales.

(Tag.) Mais

The Englishman's ——— is full of pustules.

Maize; ear

275

Siasino iti pinarsua ni Apo Dios nga umuna nga matay santo agbonga?

(Iloc.—also Pang.) Sarguelas

What thing our Lord God made dies first and then fruits?

Plum tree

276

Uala sa langit, uala sa lupa, ang dahon ay sariwa?

(Tag.) Quiapo

It is not in heaven, it is not on earth, its leaves are fresh.

Quiapo

The water-lettuce; it covers the surface of quiet spots in rivers. Page 94

277

Cung hindi lamang si tagabundok si tagalati ay mahuhulog.

(Tag.) Iyantok at parvid

But for the one living in the mountain the one living in the swamp would fall.

Nipa and rattan

The rattan (growing in the mountain) is used to lash on the nipa (growing in the swamp) to the house framework.

278

No colditenca matayea quet no adayoanca mabiagea.

(Iloc.) Bainbain

If I touch you you will die; but if I get away from you you will live.

Sensitive plant

279

Adda maysa a cayo idiay toctoc adda bobonco.

(Iloc.) Silag

There is a tree up there and I have a well on it.

Silag

A sort of palm, the bud is cut out and a sweet sap secured.

280

Tagbatec ta sacam: inomec ta daram.

(Iloc.) Unas

I chop your feet; I drink your blood.

Sugarcane Page 95

281

Lalabas cu, tindus dacn.

(Pamp.) Sulput

I was going out into the field, they pierced me.

A grass with slender and sharp seeds.

282

Pinagsakitan kong aking matuklasan ang bagay na isang ninais makamtan at nang sa pagkita ay hindi mapalaran tinaglay-taglay ko hangang kamatayan.

(Tag.) Tinik

I sought a thing I wished to get, and as I could not find it I kept it until my death.

Spine

283

Adda tal-lo a Princesas sag-gaysa ti coartoda ngem saan da nga agquiquita.

(Iloc.) Tagunbao

There are three princesses; each has a separate room and they cannot see each other.

Tagunboa

A shrub used for hedges, with a tripartite pod or capsule.

284

Ania iti mula a uray bolding mailasinna?

(Iloc.) Siit Page 96

What thing is blind but can select?

Thorn

Qualities.

285

Aniat cala-adan ti bomaro atao?

(Iloc.) Ti quinasuquer

What is the worst disfigurement for a young man?

Disobedience

Relationship.

286

Ano ang itatawag mo sa biyenang babayi nang asawa nang kapatid mo?

(Tag.) Ina

What will you call the mother-in-law of your sister's husband?

Mother

287

Ang amain kong buo ay may isang kapatid na babayi, ngunit siyai hindi ko naman ali. Sino siya?

(Tag.) Aking ina

My uncle has a sister but she is not my aunt. Who is she?

My mother

288

Ang mga babaying A at B ay nakasalubong sa daan ng dalawang lalaki; at nagwika si A; naito na ang ating mga ama, mga Page 97ama nang ating mga anak; at mga tunay nating.

(Tag.) Ang ama ni A ay napakasal kay B at ang ama ni B ay napakasal kay A at nagkaroon sila nang tigisang anak.

Ladies A and B met two men and said, “There come our fathers, fathers of our sons and our own husbands.”

A's father married with B and B's father with A, and each of them had a child.

289

Nang malapos nang madalao nang isang lalaki ang isang bilango ay tinanong nang bantay; ano mo ba ang tawong iyon? Kapatid mo ba o ano? Ang sagot nang bilango ay ito; akoy ualang kapatid, ni pamangkin ni amain, ni nuno, ni apo, ni kahit kaibigan; ngungit ang ama nang tawong iyan, ay anak nang anak nang aking ama. Ano nang bilango ang tawong iyon.

(Tag.) Anak

After a man visited a prisoner, Page 98the guard asked him—“is that man your brother, or what?” The prisoner's answer was, “I have no brother, no uncle, no nephew, no grandfather, neither grandson nor friend; but that man's father is my father's son. “Who was that man?

Son

Religious.

290

Oalayan pinalsay Dios ya amayamay iran sanaagui et sacsaquey so pait da.

(Pang.—also Bis.) Colintas

Many of them, brothers—but they have only one bodytube.

Beads

291

Adda tal-lo gasut a bacac maymaysat nanglidingac.

(Iloc.) Cuentas

I have three hundred cattle, with a single nose cord.

Beads

292

Nacno agapaldua.

(Pang.) Simbaan

Only half full.

Church

293

Napuno pero ua-ay mag tunga.

(Bis.) Simbahan

They said it was full but it was half-full.

Church Page 99

294

Idi nagcasar ni Ina quen ni Ama avanac pay a dara ngem idi nagbuniag ni Apo siac ti namadrino.

(Iloc.) Cristo

When my father and mother were married I was not yet in the womb, but when my grandfather was baptized I was his godfather.

Christ

296

Dua ti taquiagna, maysat sacana, adda olo aoan matana.

(Iloc.) Cruz

Two arms, one leg and a head, but no eyes.

Cross

297

Tatlo ang botones, apat ang ohales.

(Tag.,—also Bis.) Cristo

Three buttons, four holes.

Crucifix

298

May isang batang lalaque, umakyat sa camachile nang hindi ma ca puede, likod ang idinale.

(Tag.) Si Cristo

There is a boy climbed up a camachili tree; when he could not stand it he climbed on his back.

Crucifix Page 100

299

Maysa a cayo nagango idiay poona nabasa idiay tingana, nagango met ti ngodona.

(Iloc.) Sto Cristo

A tree dry at the foot, wet in the middle, dry also above.

Christ, i.e, crucifix

300

Aramid ti masirib canen ti nalaing. amin a macaquita pasig amin a logpi.

(Iloc.) Ostia

Work of a wise man, eaten by a wise man; all who see are lame.

The host

301

Akoi nag tanim nang sicolo sa gitna nang convento, ibinunga ay si Cristo.

(Tag.) Hostia

I planted a sicolo in the midst of the convent; it bore Christ for fruit.

The host

A sicolo is a small piece of money; it here relates to the contribution made at communion service.

302

Isang tubong sinanduyon, abut sa langit ang dahon.

(Tag.) Panalangin Page 101

A sugarcane without joints, whose leaves reach heaven.

Prayer

303

Nang maitayo na yaong hangang baywang nagbitiu ng pawang kalunkut lunkutan.

(Tag.) Ang pitong wikang iniaaral nang pari sa Viernes Santo.

After he hid from his feet to his waist he gave very sad things.

The preaching in the pulpit by a priest about the seven utterances of Christ on Good Friday.

304

Aquinngatot cadsaaran, aquinbabat bobengan.

(Iloc.) Polpito

The floor is higher, the roof lower.

Pulpit

i.e. than that of the building in which it stands.

305

Sag magkakapatid na pitong sin liyag ako ang naunang nagkitang liwanag. At ako rin naman yaong nagkapalad na tawaging bunso sa kanilang lahat.

(Tag.) Ang pitong linggo nang Cuaresma. Page 102

Seven brothers are we; the firstborn was I but I am the youngest of all.

The seven weeks of Quaresma.

306

Asin ti yanti espiritu iti bagui?

(Iloc.) Aquincatiquid nga abaga.

Where is the spirit in the body?

In the left shoulder

In making the sign of the cross the word spirit comes when the left shoulder is pointed to.

307

Adda pitu a botonisco; maymaysat pinat pategco.

(Iloc.) Domingo

I have seven buttons; I like one best.

Sunday

308

Pitu casiglot maymaysat nairut.

(Iloc.) Domingo

Seven twined (“twisted”), only one tight.

Sunday

309

Contirad contibong; bandera ti lobong.

(Iloc.) Torre

Sharp and long; flag of the world.

Tower Page 103

310

Caoayan bayog ag nayogayog.

(Pang.) Torre

Caoayan bayog1 you cannot shake it.

Tower

311

Mayroon akong pitong bunga nang kohol ibinigay co sa iyo ang anim at ang isang natira sa akin ay ibig mo pang kunin.

(Tag.) Ang pitong arao nang isang linggo.

I have seven oranges. I gave you six and you want to take the remaining one.

The seven days of the week

312

Minagaling pa ang basag cay sa baong ualang lamat.

(Tag.) Ang sabi sa evangelio ni Cristo ay ganito. Hindi rao sia naparito o nanoag dito sa lupa para sacupin ang mga banal cung di ang macasalanan.

Better the broken piece than the whole without crack.

In the gospel Christ said that he did not Page 104come upon earth for the righteous but for the sinner.

313

Cung uala cay magbigay ca at cung meroon ay huagna.

(Tag.) Nung ang nga fariseo ay nacahuli nang mangangaluniang babae ay i ni habla cay Cristo, at ang canilang sabi, Hindi po ba maestro na sabi sa ley ni Moises na sino mang mahuli sa pangangalunia ay pupuculin nang bato hangan sa mamatay. Ang isinagot ni Cristo; sino mang ualang sala ay cumuha nang bato at puclin na.

Give if you have none; if you have don't give.

When the Pharisees caught a woman in adultery, they took her before Christ. They said, “what sentence do you give to those taken in adultery, since in the law of Moses it is commanded that the woman taken in adultery shall be stoned until she die.” Christ answered, “Let him which is without sin among you cast the first stone.” Page 105

314

Humiling ang hari sa canyang alagad nang uala sa kanyat di pa natatangap, ang hiningan naman ay dagling nag-gaoad nang sa boong yatu'y di pa natutuklas.

(Tag.) Ang pagbibinyag ni San Juan Bautista cay Cristo.

The King asked from his soldier what he had not, and the soldier gave him what was not in the world.

The Baptism by St. John Baptist of Christ.

315

Nang mabasag ang bote lalong na paka buti.

(Tag.) Mahal na Virgen

The bottle became better when broken.

The Virgin Mary

“When Mary was yet unmarried and Christ had not yet been born she was not considered very sacred; we say the bottle was not yet broken. When she was married to Joseph and Christ was born she became very sacred; so we say that when the bottle was broken the better it became.” Page 106

316

Nang pitasin ang hinog hilas ang siang nahulog.

(Tag.) Noong magpapugot si Herodes nang mga bata dahilan sa gusto niang mapatay si Cristo. Napatay ang meroon 1000 bata data puat si Cristo hinde napatay. Sa macatuid napitas nia ang hilao at ang hinog ay hindi. Si Cristo sapagcat puno nang carunungan ay ipinalagay na hinog at ang mga bata ay hilao sapagcat sila ualapang carunungan.

When he plucked the ripe, the unripe fell.

When King Herod wanted to kill Christ, he ordered to kill all children; he thought that if all the children in his country were killed, Christ could not escape. But he did not know how powerful Christ was. So the children who knew nothing (were unripe) fell and Christ (ripe) because he knows everything escaped.

317

Ipinalit ang guinto sa bibinga.

(Tag.) Page 107Ito i nauucol sa pagsacop ni Cristo sa ating casalanan na hindi cailangan sia mamatay masacop lamang ang ating casalanan na siang catulad ng bibinga at ang caniang pagca Dios na catulad ang guinto.

Sand is changed to gold.

This applies to Christ, when he redeemed our sins. He did not value his life but gave it that we might be saved from our sins. His life is gold because he was full of knowledge; he died on account of our sins which are like sand.

Reptiles, etc.

318

Nang munti ay may buntot nang lumakiy napugot.

(Tag.) Palaca

When he was little he had a tail but when he was grown he had none.

Frog

319

Adda maysa nga ubing nga adda idiay danum ngem di met uminom.

(Iloc.) Tocak

There is a boy living in the water who does not drink.

Frog Page 108

320

Baston ti bacnang saan mo nga maiganan.

(Iloc.,—also Pang.) Uleg

The bacnang's cane, you cannot hold it.

Snake

Bacnang, a man of wealth.

321

No nacariing nacamulagat; no nacaturog nacamuldagat.

(Iloc.) Uleg

If awake, his eyes wide open; if asleep, his eyes wide open.

Snake

322

Anano nga sapat nga con maglacat, dala nia ang iya balay?

(Bis.,—also Pang.) Ba-o

What animal carries his house wherever he goes?

Turtle

323

Tata a tolay icacangcalinna na balena.

(Gad.) Dagga

A man who always carries his house along with him.

Turtle

324

Magmagna itugtogotnat balayna.

(Iloc.) Pag-ong

Walking and walking and carrying his own house.

Turtle Page 109

325

Eto na si caca may sunong na dampa.

(Tag.) Pagong

Here comes brother with a house over his head.

Turtle

326

Magma nagcal-logong no maibagam pag-ong.

(Iloc.) Pag-ong

Walking, wearing his hat.

Turtle