A Little Book of Filipino Riddles

Road.

327

Bulong ti saba umac-acaba; bulong ti niog umat-atid-dog.

(Iloc.) Calzada

Leaf of a banana become wider; leaf of a cocoanut become longer.

Road

328

Nagmolaac iti carabosa iti santac na macada non idiay Manila.

(Iloc.) Calzada

I planted a calabash; its branches can reach to Manila.

Road

Also has for answer, telegraph line.

329

Nan ta ne mac na laver ed Dagupan angad diay lanioto.

(Pang.) Calzada Page 110

I have planted a betel-tree in Dagupan but its roots reach to here.

Road

Shade, Shadow, etc.

330

No aoan sapolsapolen ngem no adda saan mo met nga alaen.

(Iloc.) Linong

Tf there is none you are seeking it; if there is some you do not take it.

Shade

331

Ania ti umona nga aramiden diay vaca no lumgac ti in it?

(Iloc.) Quitaenna diay anninioanna

What is the first thing the cow does when the sun rises?

Looks at its shadow

332

No magnaac iti nasipnget aoan caduac quet no magnaac iti nalaoag adda caduac.

(Iloc.) Anninioan

If I walk in the dark I have no companion; if I walk in the light I have one.

Shadow

333

No tilioec tilioennac; no itarayac camatennac.

(Iloc.) Aninioan Page 111

If I catch, it catches; if I run away it chases me.

Shadow

334

Diad ogtoy agueo oalay mapalit con anapuen no na anap co agco alaen.

(Pang.) Serom

At noon I must depart to find; if I can find it, I will not take.

Shadow

335

Milub yang alang liban, linual yang alang liualan.

(Pamp.) Anina tamu a mayayaquit quing salamin.

He came in through no door and went out through no door.

Reflection in a mirror

Smoking.

336

San Fernando at Bakulod sabay na nasunog.

(Tag.) Cigarillo

San Fernando and Bacolor were burned at the same time.

Cigarette

The paper and the tobacco are consumed together. Page 112

Storm, Sky, etc.

337

Daluang dahon nang pinda-pinda, sing lalapad sing gaganda.

(Tag.) Langit at lupa

Two leaves of pinda-pinda equal in width and beauty.

Sky and earth

338

Quinosicus a barraas; no maib-agam cucuanac.

(Iloc.) Quimat

Twisted like a barraas; tell it and I am yours.

Lightning

The word barraas is local. Perhaps the name of some vine.

339

Baston ni San Josep indi ma isip.

(Bis.) Ulan

Saint Joseph's canes cannot be counted.

Rain

Drops of rain in a tropical storm may well suggest rods or staves.

340

Buhoc ni Adan, hindi mabilang.

(Tag.) Ulan

Adam's hair cannot be counted.

Rain Page 113

341

Isbu ti guelang-guelang di mabilang.

(Iloc.) Todo

Guelang-guelang's piss, you cannot count.

Rain

342

Vaca co sa Maynila, hangang ditoi, dinig ang unga.

(Tag.) Culog

My cow in Manila, whose mooing is heard here.

Thunder

343

Aniat magna a saan a maquita?

(Iloc.) Angin

What walks that cannot be seen?

Wind

344

Etuna-etuna hindi mo pa naqui-quita.

(Tag.) Hangin

Here it comes, yet you do not see it.

Wind

345

Picabaluan de ding malda alang maca ibic uaga.

(Pamp.) Angin

He is known everywhere but no one can explain what he is.

Wind

Stove.

346

Tal-lo a pugot natured ti pudut.

(Iloc.) Dalican Page 114

Three ghosts endure much heat.

Stove

The three supports for the pot are meant. It seems that the pugot (ghost) is black.

347

Tatlong magkakapatid nagtitiis sa init.

(Tag.) Tungko nang calang

Three brothers suffering from the heat.

Pot rests

348

Tatlong mag kakapitid sing pupute nang dibdib.

(Tag.) Calan

Three sisters with equally white breasts.

Stove

They are equally white—i.e. they are all three black from the fire.

349

Nagcal-logong nag pica nagcaballo tallot sacana.

(Iloc.) Dalican

It has a hat and a spear, a horse and three feet.

Stove

350

Malaki ang namahay cay sa bahay.

(Tag.) Calang at ang bahay nang Calang.

The inhabitant is larger than the Page 115house.

Stove and its lower part (called its house.)

351

Na upo si ca Item, sinulot nica Pula.

(Tag.) Pallot at apoy

Compadre “Item” (black) sat down, Compadre “Pula” (red) poked him.

Pot and flame

352

Ing caballero cung negro makasake yang attung cabayu dapat kikiak yang anting loco.

(Pamp.) Balanga ampong nasi.

My black horseman rides three horses but he is crying like a fool.

A pot of cooking rice

The three horses are the firestones or the three supports of the pot in the pottery stove; the bubbling is the crying.

Time.

353

Ania nga aldao ti caatid-dagan?

(Iloc.) Ti aldao a saan a panangan.

What day is the longest?

The day on which you do not eat Page 116

354

Nag daan si Cabo negro, namatay na lahat ang tao.

(Tag.) Gabi

The black Corporal passed, all the people died.

Night

Died, here, is slept.

Tools.

355

Nung eminuna ing malati, ing maragul emituqui.

(Pamp.) Barrenang espiral

If not preceded by the smaller the larger one will not go.

Auger

356

Adda pinarsua iti Dios natanquen ti pammaguina madi a mangan no di matoen ti olona.

(Iloc.) Paet

There is a creature of God whose body is hard; it does not wish to eat unless you strike its head.

Chisel

357

Adda babay a labang di mangan no diai paculan.

(Iloc.) Paet

There is a woman who does not eat unless you strike her.

Chisel Page 117

358

Ing damulag cung dapa, quing gulut ya ta tacla.

(Pamp.) Catam

My crawling carabao excretes its feces upward.

Plane

359

Taot ngato, taot baba, cayot tingana.

(Iloc.) Ragadi

Man above, man below, wood in middle.

Saw

Below the horizontally placed timber to be sawed a pit is dug; one sawyer is below in the pit, the other above, each holds a handle of the great saw, which works up and down.

Toy.

360

Enbontayog coy ecnol quinmocaoc ya tampol.

(Pang.) Bibintarol

I throw the eggs; they crow immediately.

Firecracker

361

Adda abalbalayco a sinam granada rineppetco a binastabasta imbarsacco diay daga nasay sayaat ti cancionna,

(Iloc.) SunayPage 118

I have a toy like a granada; I tied it around and around and threw it on the ground and it sang sweetly.

Top

Trunk.

362

Pusipusec ta pusegmo ta iruarco ta quinnanmo.

(Iloc.) Lacaza

I turn your navel to take out what you have eaten.

Trunk

363

Adda pay maysa nga quita diay balay a naaramid iti cayo quet adda met uppat nga sacana nga babasit quet adda met innem nga acaba quencuana rupano quet agngiao saan nga magna.

(Iloc.) Baol

I have something in my house made of wood; it has four short legs and six flat faces; it squeaks, but cannot walk.

Trunk

Umbrella.

364

No umulog ti señora augucrad ti sampaga.

(Iloc.) Payong Page 119

When the lady comes down the sampaga2 opens.

Umbrella

365

Con butongon pasoc; con induso payog.

(Bis.) Payong

When pulled it is a cane; when pushed a tent.

Umbrella

Utensils, etc.

366

Hindi tayop, hindi tao, apat ang suso.

(Tag.,—also Pang.) Buslo

Not animal, not man. She has four breasts.

Basket

367

Hindi hare, hinde pare, nag dadamet nang sari-sari.

(Tag.) Sampayan

Not king, not padre, it wears many kinds of clothes.

Clothes-line

368

Adda maysa nga ubing a natured ti lammin.

(Iloc.) Sudo

There is a boy, who does not shiver with the cold.

Dipper

This dipper is made from the half of a polished cocoanut shell. Page 120

369

Nang isoot coi, tuyo, nang bunuten coi natulo.

(Tag.) Tabo

When I plunged it in it was dry; when I drew it out it was dripping.

Dipper

370

Sacay sino balay ina nga puno sang ventana?

(Bis.) Puluguan

Whose house is that, which is full of windows?

The hen house

371

No adda ti lenong agcalcal logong.

(Iloc.) Caramba

If it is in the shade it wears its hat.

A jar full of water

372

Aniat aramid a nagbaticuling ti sabut.

(Iloc.) Pagbagasan

What work has a gizzard like a sabut?

Storage jar for rice

The sabut is the cocoanut cup or bowl: in the pagbagasan, there is always a ganta for measuring rice. This ganta is the gizzard here meant. Page 121

373

Pusepusec ti bato tumbog carayan Veto.

(Iloc.) Gilingan

I turn the stone and there flows out like the Veto river.

Mill

374

Hiniguit co ang yantok, nag bibiling ang bundoc.

(Tag.) Guilingan

I pulled the rope and the mountain turned.

Mill

375

Hiniguit co ang Caguin, nag kakara ang maching.

(Tag.) Guilingan

I pulled the rope and the monkey began to howl.

Mill

Refers to the creaking of the mill, when grinding.

376

Isang malaking babai, sa likuran tumatae.

(Tag.) Guilingan

A big woman, who excretes at the back.

Mill

The meal is here considered as excreted.

377

Dinalas nang dinalas mapute ang lumabas.

(Tag.) Guilingan Page 122

Somebody got busy and something white appeared.

Mill

The ground rice pours out from the mill as a white meal.

378

Aldo at bengi macanganga ya, manena ya yang parusa.

(Pamp.) Asung

It gapes day and night awaiting punishment.

Mortar

379

Isa lamang ang sapin, duha ang batiis apat ang pa-a, isa ang lauas, isa ang baba apang uala sing olo.

(Bis.) Luzong

He has but one shoe, two shins, four legs, one body, one mouth, but no head.

Mortar

380

No igamac ta siquet mo lagtoca a lagto.

(Iloc.) Al-o

If I hold your waist you jump and jump.

Pestle

In pounding rice, the great wooden pestle is taken by the middle, which is more slender than the pounding ends.

381

No magna ni arodoc agparintomeng amin a root.

(Iloc.) Arado Page 123

When the creeper passes all the grass kneels.

Plow

382

Cobbo ni amam quiad ni inam sica nga anacda daramodum ca.

(Iloc.) Arado

The father is bent over, the mother is bent back and the son is bent forward.

Plow

This has reference to the different sticks, or pieces, of which the plow is composed.

383

Sa palacol nabuhay
at sa untog namatay.

(Tag.) Palayoc

Produced by hammering but destroyed by a jar.

Pot

Clay for pottery is prepared by pounding it with a light hammer; it is also beaten into shape in the process of giving it form.

384

Pegarenco abot pegarenco abot.

(Pang.) Liquen

I turn over completely, I turn over completely.

Pot ring support

385

Adda abal-balayco a pusipusac a pusipus mabalbal-cut.

(Iloc.) PudonanPage 124

I have a thing, which I twine and twine and it is covered.

Weaving spool

386

Nano nga sapat nga baba ang naga caon, mata ang nga pamus-on?

(Bis.) Ayagan

What animal is it, which takes its food through its mouth and excretes it through its eyes?

Sieve

387

Bahay ni Guiring-guiring butas-butas ang sinding.

(Tag.) Bithay

“Guiring-guiring's” house is full of holes.

Sieve

388

Adda maysa a caballo; tal-lot sacana; no dica sacayan di magna.

(Iloc.) Egad

There is a horse; he has three legs; if you do not ride on him, he never walks.

Copra shredder

389

Limma ac ed Dagupan dugduaray bacatco.

(Pang.) Sali

I went to Dagupan but I left only two footprints.

Sled

390

Aniat aramid a duduat tugaona Page 125inganat panacaparsuana?

(Iloc.) Pasagad

What work has two seats since its creation?

Sled

391

Ania ti uppat ti sacana dudua ti tugotna?

(Iloc.) Pasagad

What has four feet but only two foot-prints?

Rice-sled

The sled for hauling rice has four supports or legs, which end in two runners.

392

Pusepusec ti pengan tum-bog carayan Vigan.

(Iloc.) Dadapilan

I turn the plate and water flows out like the Vigan River.

Sugarmill

393

Oalay baboy con baleg son laben nga libngaleb.

(Pang.) Darapitan

I have a large pig; during the night he grunts.

Sugarmill

Vegetables.

394

Tite nang ama mo, isinubsob co sa abo.

(Tag.) Camote

Your father's ——— I place in the ashes.

Camote Page 126

The camote is a sort of sweet potato; it may be baked in the ashes.

395

Nagsabong ti sinan malucong nagbunga uneg ti daga.

(Iloc.) Camote

It produces a flower like a cup; fruit underground.

Camote

396

Sirad mirabilis oalad dalem so sicsic.

(Pang.) Cete

The mirabilis (fish) has his scales inside.

Cete

The cete (“piquante”) is the pepper.

397

Otin nen laquic Duardo batil ya anga ed ngoro.

(Pang.) Palia

My grandfather Eduardo's ——— is covered with pimples.

Cucumber

398

Oquis nan bagasnan.

(Iloc.) Lasona

Its bark is its seed.

Onion

399

Binili ang isang minithi kong bagay at ang hinahangad ay pakina-bangan, pagdating sa amin ang pinangyarihan, nang gagamitin luha koy bumakal.

(Tag.) Sibuyas Page 127

I bought a thing I wished to use; when I tried to use it my tears fell.

Onion

400

Isda co sa Mariveles sapin-sapin ang caliskis.

(Tag.) Sile

My fish in Mariveles has manifold scales.

Pepper

Scales laid upon one another; the seeds of the pepper are flat and stacked against one another.

401

Mahanghang hindi naman paminta; maputi hindi naman papel; verde hindi naman suha; turang mong bigla.

(Tag.) Rabanos

It is sharp but not pepper; white but not paper; green but not shaddock; guess what that is.

Radish

402

Ang iloy naga camang ang bata naga pungco.

(Bis.) Calabaza

The mother creeps, and the son sits.

Squash

The mother is the vine; the child is the fruit. The riddle gains point, by suggesting Page 128a reversal of the natural conditions.

403

Ania iti parsua ni Apo Dios nga aoan ti matana aoan ti ngioatna quen aoan ti obetna quet mangan ti ladoc-ladoc?

(Iloc.) Tabungao

What creature of Lord God has no eyes, no mouth, no anus—and eats ladoc-ladoc?

A white squash

Ladoc-ladoc is rice flattened in the mortar by the blows of the pounder. The seeds of the tabungao resemble it.

404

Berdi ya balat, malutu ya laman anti mo ing pacuan.

(Pamp.) Pacuan

Its skin is green and its flesh is like a watermelon.

Watermelon

The riddle is poor, in that it introduces the answer as a term of comparison, in a way to mislead. Similar cases occur in other lands.

405

Verde ang balat pula ang laman espectorante cung turan.

(Tag.) Pacuan

Green skin, red meat, espectorante they call it.

Watermelon Page 129

Vision.

406

Limocsoac alabasco agco asabi.

(Pang.) Pacanengneng

I jumped further but I did not reach.

To see

Waves.

407

Naga dalagan nga ua-ay sing ti-il cog naga ngurub nga ua-ay sing baba.

(Bis.) Balod

It runs having no feet and it roars having no mouth.

Waves

Word plays.

408

Ania iti mainaganan ari ditoy bagui?

(Iloc.) Aripoyot

What king (ari) do you name in your body?

Aripoyot

This is the great inner muscle of the upper leg.

409

Cung hindi lamang ang tatlong letra t, o, at s ay kinakain sana siya.

(Tag.) Asintos

But for the letters t o s we would be eating it.

(String)

The word asintos means string; dropping Page 130the letters tos we have asin left, meaning salt.

410

Bugtong pasmiasa, puno at duloi may bunga.

(Tag.) Calamias

Bugtong pas“mias”a, whose trunk and branches have fruit.

Calamias

Bugtong is a riddle: the word pas“mias”a has no meaning. There is here a mere play on the sound of words. “Pas“mias”a suggests the answer.

411

Casano iti panangtiliu iti ugsa a di masapul iti silo, aso, gayang, oen no a aniaman a paniliu?

(Iloc.) Urayec a maloto

How do you take a deer without net, dogs, spear, or other things for catching?

Cooked

412

Laguiung tao, laguiung manuc, delana ning me tung a yayup.

(Pamp.) Culassisi

The name of a man, the name of a chicken, were carried by a bird.

Culas is a man's name; sisi the name of a chicken. Combined they make a bird's name. Page 131

413

Indi sapat indi man tano apang, ang ngalan nia si “esco.”

(Bis.,—also Tag.) Escopidor, Escopeta.

Neither animal nor man but its name is “esco.”

Escopidor, Escopeta

A mere play on the words. Esco is a nickname for Francisco. The escupidor is a cuspidor, the escopeta a broom. The meaning of the words goes for nothing. The words are both of Spanish origin.

414

Macatu ti poonna, rugac iti ngo-duna.

(Iloc.) Macaturugac

Macatu = cloth

Rugac = old, rotten clothing

Cloth is the beginning; tatters the ending.

i.e. Macatu is the beginning, rugac the ending. The whole word means I am sleeping.

415

Salapi iti poona; ngao ti ngodona.

(Iloc.) Salapingao

(Fifty cents) Salapi is the beginning; (     ) ngao the end. Page 132

The Salapingao is a bird “like a swallow.”

416

Sinampal co bago inaloc.

(Tag.) Sampaloc

I slapped before I offered.

Sampaloc

There is simple word play here; the beginning and end of the riddle give the word S(in)ampal-oc. The Sampaloc is a fruit tree.