8. 24 ANIMALS SOUNDS IN KAPAMPANGAN

The Kapampangan language is onomatopoeic, in which spelling mimics the actual sounds that a word refers to. Nowhere is this more evident when one goes to a farm, where you can still hear old folks use rarely-used Kapampangan terms to describe the cacophony of sounds that animals make. Here’s a list of some of them:

1. ALULUNG. To howl, like canines do.

2. BIO. Interjection for driving away birds.

3. CANCANG. To growl like a dog when it is driven away harshly.

4. CAUNG. To bark like a dog.

5. CUCUC. The cackling of hens when they have their chicks.

6. CULYO. To shout in the ricefields so birds will be driven away.

7. CURÚC. The sound made repeatedly to call the heans.

8. GAGÂ . To quarrel like animals, as in chirping, howling, but not as strong as ‘gacgac’.

9. GACGAC. To bellow like a cow,

10. GOCGOC. To grunt like a hog.

11. ICAN. How people call for pigs.

12. IYO. How people drive away pigs.

13. LANGUSNGUS. The sound of  a beast when it eats rice grains.

14. LANGUBNGUB. The sound of the teeth chewing something hard.

15. LIBA. To take large gulps, like pigs do.

16. NGATNGAT. A rat gnawing at something.

17. NGEUNG. A cat’s meow.

18. NGIC NGIC. To grunt like a pig at the time it is usually given food.

19. NGUSNGUS, The sound of a pig chewing sugar cane or rice grains.

20. PATÓC. The cackling of hens after laying an egg.

21. SIAC. Chirping of a chick.

22. TATA. To call out the dog by saying,, “tatatata”.

23. TAÚL. Originally, to call in a loud voice, Today, it refers to dog barks.

24. UACUAC. To caw, to cackle (from the word ‘auac’, a crow bird)

 SOURCE: 

Originally appeared as a full article on Singsing Magazine, JDN Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel. Vol. 4, No. 2. pp. 96-97, by Robby P. Tantingco. 

7. 18 PICTURESQUE KAPAMPANGAN EXPRESSIONS

1. ALANG BUSBUS A BUTUL, (“No hole in the bones”) Meaning: the person is hard, inflexible, shameless. "

2. BALBAL A MALUTU, (“cracked egg”) Meaning: A person is unreasonable.

3. KUKULUG A BUNTUK, (“head shakes and rattles”), Meaning: unsteady mind.

4. LAKAD EMA, (“crab walk”), Meaning: suspicious walk

5. MABASA PAPIL (“wet paper”), to ruin one’s honor or reputation

6. MABURAK A BITIS, ( “muddied feet”) Meaning: poor

7. MAIMPIS A LABI, (“thin lips”), Meaning: a person cannot be trusted with a secret. 

8. MAKABA IKI, ("long tail"), Meaning: protracted tantrum, exagerrated dependence on parents.

9. MAKABAKLE KALADUA (“soul askew”), Meaning: evil person

10. MAKLAK A BUNTUK (“deaf head”), Meaning: Dull

11. MARAGUL A TAKLA, (“oversized stool”), Meaning: boastful

 12. MARIMLA GAMAT, (“cool hands”), Meaning: good nursing skills, green thumb

13. MASYAS A BATAL (“hard neck”), Meaning: proud and boastful

14. MATULING A DAYA, (“black blood"), Meaning: evil person

15. MELABNO UTAK (“brain becomes watery”), Meaning: dazed by noise.

16. MENGAMATE SINULAD ("dead threads"), Meaning: untidy-looking

17. MITDA KA BALAT (“skin burns out”), Meaning: you’re dead, you’re going to get it!

18. TINUAG NA ING SABO (“spilled the soup”) Meaning: costly mistake

6. 22 PATRON SAINTS OF PAMPANGA TOWNS AND CITIES

1. ANGELES, LOS ANGELES CUSTODIOS, VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO DE LA NAVAL

 Originally called Culiat, the name was changed to Angeles in honor of its titular patron saints, Los Santos Angeles Custodios (the Holy Guardian Angels) and the founder whose name was  Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda. Also considered patroness is the Virgin of the Holy Rosary, with the pisamban maragul of Angeles dedicated to her. Feast Day: 2^nd Sunday (La Naval) and last Friday of October. Feast of Holy Angels: October 2. 

2. APALIT, SAN PEDRO APOSTOL

Apalit, one of the ancient towns of Pampanga is under the patronage of San Pedro Apostol (Saint Peter the Apostle). He is represented seated on a throne, wearing papal tiara and holding a 3-barred papal cross. An annual colorful traditional fluvial parade since 1844 is held  in honor of the pope saint. The shrine of the ivory image of St. Peter, called "Apung Iru," is venerated by the townspeople the whole year round. San Pedro is the patron of patron of papacy, fishermen, and in the Philippines, of cockfighters. Feast day: June 29.

3.ARAYAT, STA. CATALINA DE ALEJANDRIA

The town that rests under the shadow of the ancient mountain has for its patroness, Santa Catalina de Alejandria (St. Catherine of Alexandria), a 4th century virgin-martyr killed under the reign of Maxentius. Thus the saint is represented standing with a sword, and with the head of Maxentius underfoot. The saint is also invoked for any head ailments (headache, migraine, brain tumors, etc.) because she had given her own head to be severed for Christ's sake. Considered as one of the most important saints of the Medieval period, Sta. Catalina was also a popular Augustinian devotion. Feast Day: November 25.

4. BACOLOR, SAN GUILLERMO ERMITAÑO

Known in the old days as Baculud, the town’s patron is  San Guillermo Ermitaño ( St. William the Hermit), who founded the Williamites  branch of St. Augustine. He led a life of decadence but was converted after an audience with Pope Eugene III who asked him to do acts of penance in Jerusalem. After returning to Italy, he became a hermit in the woods near Pisa, before moving to the desert of Maleval. He is often confused with San Guillermo de Aquitania (St. William, Duke of Aquitaine). San Guillermo’s attributes include  a skull (to symbolize man's mortality), and a crucifix, (upon which he reflected on Christ's passion), and a penitent's whip. Feast Day: February 10

5. CANDABA, SAN ANDRES APOSTOL

Old Candaba or Candawe is placed under the protection of San Andres Apostol (St. Andrew the Apostle), where an ancient stone church bears his name. he is the patron saint of fishermen and also countries like Greece, Russia and Scotland. Tradition depicts the martyred apostle crucified on an X-shaped cross. Feast day: November 30

6. FLORIDABLANCA, SAN JOSE

Documented records indicated that since 1823 there had already been a chapel with a Capellan in the “Hacienda de San Jose de Caumpaui” (or Caumpuit). Apparently, this barrio was the forerunner of the town, we now call Floridablanca. San Jose (St. Joseph), the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the adoptive father of Jesus, continues to be the patron of the town. Thus, he is also the oatron saint of father, home hunters, laborers and working people. Feast day: March 19.

7. GUAGUA, IMMACULADA CONCEPCION

The town that was once known as “Uaua” (lake) was actually an inland port that contributed to its prosperity. But of course, many faithful attribute the town’s progress  to the Immaculada Concepcion (Virgin of the Immaculate Conception), Guagua’s patroness. A 17th  c. baroque church is dedicated to her name. Feast day: December 8.

8. LUBAO, SAN AGUSTIN DE HIPPO

The low-lying town of Lubao that gave the country 2 presidents, is home to a massive neo-classic church where one can find the likeness of its patron saint,  San Agustin de Hippo (St. Augustine of Hippo). The wayward saint was converted through the prayers of her mother, St. Monica. He is represented asa bishop, holding a church in one hand,and a staff in the other. He is the patron of theologians, printers and brewers. He is also invoked against sore eyes. Feast day: August 28, but  moved to May 5 due to the rainy season.

9. MABALACAT, MADRE DIVINA GRACIA

The Augustinian Recollects have always had an early devotion to the Nuestra Señora de las Gracias (Our Lady of Graces) and  they propagated this devotion among  Mabalaqueño converts. The original shrine in Guadalupe, Makati was first dedicated to her Divine Grace. To this day, Mabalacat town continues to be under Her patronage. The seated “Apung Gracia” is shown holding Baby Jesus in Her lap.  Feast Day: Originally June 9, but moved to February 2, to coincide with the Presentation of our Lord.

10. MACABEBE, SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO

One of the oldest and most prosperous settlements in Pampanga has the wonder worker monk, San Nicolas de Tolentino (St. Nicholas of Toletino) for its patron saint. He is said to have cured the sick with bread, now known as "panecillos de saniculas", in the Philippines. The saint is represented wearing a star-studded habit holding a cross and a plate on which a roasted partridge was miraculously revived to life. He is invoked against fires and is the patron saint of the dying, sick animals, souls in Purgatory, babies and mothers. Feast Day: September 10.

11. MAGALANG, SAN BARTOLOME APOSTOL

Magalang was once located at San Bartolome,  a barrio under the jurisdiction of  Concepcion. When the town moved southwards to its present site due to flooding , it retained San Bartolome Apostol (St, Bartholomew the Apostle) as its patron. As he is represented in art being flayed alive, the martyr saint has become the patron of tanners and shoemakers. Feast day: August 24

12. MASANTOL, SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL

The people of the southern town of Masantol consider San Miguel Arcangel (St. Michael the Archangel) as their protector. The warrior angel is represented waging a fight against Devil whom he has trampled underfoot, wielding a shield and a sword. He is the patron of supermarket operators and grocers (his iconography includes a weighing scale), mariners, police and doctors.  Feast day; May 8 (follows the feast of his apparition on Mt. Gargano in Italy in the 6th century, an not his actual Sept. 29 feast day).

13. MEXICO, STA. MONICA

The virtuous woman who managed to convert both her pagan husband, Patricius, and her pleasure-seeking son, Augustine,  is the patroness of Mexico—Sta. Monica. She is invoked against domestic abuse, and is a patron saint of mothers. Patron of wives and mothers. Emblems: girdle, tears, handkerchief, cross. Feast day: May 4 (following the pre-1969 General Roman calendar.  In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church moved the observance to August 27)

14. MINALIN, STA. MONICA

Minalin, another Pampanga town of great age, shares the same titular patroness as Mexico—Sta, Monica, the prayerful mother of St. Augustine. She is  usually shown in a widow’s black outfit as a sign of her mourning. Other emblems: girdle, tears, handkerchief, cross. Feast day: second sunday of May (coincides with Mother's Day).

15. PORAC, STA. CATALINA DE ALEJANDRIA

The town of Porac also shares both a patron saint and a fiesta celebration with Arayat. The people venerate Sta. Catalina de Alejandria (St. Catherine of Alexandria) as their patroness, whom the fondly call “Apung Tali”. Feast day: November 25

16. SAN FERNANDO, SAN FERNANDO REY

The capital city of San Fernando is named after its patron, St, Ferdinand III, Confessor and King of Castile. A man of great faith and devotion, especially to Our Lady, Ferdinand founded and funded hospitals, bishoprics, monasteries, and churches. He was a just ruler, often pardoning those who worked against the crown. Patron of engineers, prisoners of war, magistrates, rulers, paupers. The holy king is shown crowned. with his royal cape, armed with a sword and holding an orb. Feast day: May 30 (date of death of the saint)  moved to May 1

17. SAN LUIS, SAN LUIS GONZAGA

The young aristocrat-turned Jesuit saint San Luis Gonzaga (St. Aloysius Gonzaga) gave this town its name. It is also the masculine derivative of one Doña Luisa, the wife of the town lawyer who won a territorial dispute case against neighboring Sta. Ana. The saint, who died at age 23, is depicted with his attributes: lily, cross, skull, rosary.  He is the patron of Christian youth, AIDS sufferers, teenagers, students. Feast day: April 25

18. SAN SIMON, VIRGEN DEL PILAR

The people of San Simon celebrate two town fiestas, one in honor of Lady of the Pillar who was said to be the patron of the town first barrio of the town founded by Mariano del Pilar de los Reyes. The second feast day is in honor of the Apostle Simon Peter.

 Feast day: October 12

19. SANTA ANA, STA. ANA

Known formerly as “Pinpin”, the town gained a new name through its patroness, the mother of the Virgin Mary, Sta. Ana (St. Anne). Married to San Joaquin (St. Joachim), Sta. Ana is the  patroness of unmarried women, housewives, women in labor, grandmothers. She is portrayed in art as an elderly woman, standing, and looking down on the young Mary, or seated, with a book on her lap, mentoring Mary beside her. Feast day: July 26

20. SANTA RITA, STA. RITA DE CASIA

Santa Rita de cassia (Rita of Cascia) was an Italian widow and Augustinian nun and she is a fitting patron of the town of Santa Rita. Her temperamental husband was killed in a family feud. His two sons vowed to avenge their father’s death, but  the saint prayed to God, asking Him to take her sons before they lost their souls to the mortal sin of murder. Her prayers were answered when  her sons contracted dysentery and died.  Her attributes include a forehead wound, roses, thorns and crucifix. Invoked against marital problems, abuses, wounds and desperate causes.  Feast day:  May 22

21. SANTO TOMAS, STO. TOMAS DE APOSTOL

The town's name is derived from Baliwag ("tardy" in Spanish) a reference to the local habit of arriving late for Mass. Baliwag, whose original name was Santo Tomas, had St. Thomas the Apostle as its patron. He is also called Doubting Thomas, in reference to his skepticism  in the resurrected Christ. Thus, he is  represented touching the wound of Jesus .  Sto. Tomas is also the patron of architects, builders, surveyors,  blind people,  and people in doubt. Feast day:  December 21

22. SASMUAN, STA. LUCIA

Sasmuan, which meant a place where people assembled, is protected by its martyr-saint, Sta. Lucia (St. Lucy).  She is depicted holding the palm of martyrdom and a a set of eyes on a dish (in reference to her being blinded by the torturers of Diocletian. On her feast day, thousands of revelers participate in the kuraldal, in which they dance in a trance while shouting, “Viva Sta. Lucia, pwera sakit!”. The saint is invoked against blindness, eye problems, and in Sasmuan, against barreness. Feast day: December 13

5. 12 AMAZING AETA ACHIEVERS

1. CARAGAN, Mabalacat Chieftain who Gave His Name to a Festival 

 Caragan (or Carangan, Garagan) of Mabalacat is acknowledged as the first Aeta chieftain of the town in 1768. He married a fellow Aeta with the Christianized name of Laureana Tolentino, who went on to become Mabalacat’s first female cabeza de barangay. On 28 February 2008, to honor the Negrito chieftain of Mabalacat, the 1st Caragan Festival was held to cap the month-long town fiesta celebration. The festival, akin to Cebu’s Sinulog, Bacolod’s MassKara and Iloilo’s Dinagyang, featured festive street dancing, colorful Baluga costumes and “uling” (charcoal) face swiping. In 2016, a statue of Caragan was installed at municipal city grounds.

2. BASILIO, Pole Climbing Champion, 1904 'Anthropological Games of the 1904 Olympics 

 The 3rd world Olympics coincided with the holding of the 1904 St.Louis World's Fair. So, a sporting event was organized with international cultural minorities culled from the Fair, who competed in several running, climbing and throwing competitions at the "1st Anthropological Games". Winning 1st place in the Pole Climbing Competition was BASILIO, a Filipino Negrito, who climbed the pole in 20,25 secs. His performance was recognized as a "marvelous performance at pole climbing ever witnessed in this country" and that the times in this particular event were praiseworthy and worthy of a record".. In second place was another Negrito, Sayas, who timed in at 42.25 secs.

3. LUCAS, King of Negritos 

 In 1922, Gen. Johnson Hagood took command of Camp Stotsenburg and met with Negritos up close. He found the Negritos and their lifestyle so fascinating that he even wrote about them in his memoirs, Gen. Hagood was most amused with the Baluga chief, “Lucas”, who once presented himself to him arrayed as “a brigadier general in a miniature khaki uniform wearing a sword” wearing and assortment of “fantastic and humorous commendations” and medals, one of which was a Manila Carnival medal that identified Lucas as “a prize bull”. Gen. Hagood proclaimed Lucas as “King of All Negritos”, and gave him a peace- keeping role among feuding Baluga tribes. The general conferred additional titles to the new “king”--Defender of the Orchids”and “ Grand Commander of the Order of Dead Mules, Second Class”.

4. MAGDALENA NEGRITA, The Illiterate Aeta Heiress 

Dean C. Worcester once caused a stir among Filipinos when he wrote about the existence of slavery and peonage in the Philippines. The charge did not sit well on Filipinos, which prompted Mr. Worcester to cite the inspiring story of a Negrita from Bamban, named Magdalena, and her extraordinary relationship with her mistress, Dña. Petrona David. The latter had met the young Magdalena at the town market where her parents were selling “bulu” ( a bamboo specie) . She took in the 7-year old Magdalena as her househelp, and after her parents died, the kind Doña had her baptized. Magdalena served her foster mother dutifully until the Doña died. She left behind a will, bequeathing one third of her property valued at Php15,000 to Magdalena, who, she said “ has rendered me great service, serving me with loyal and sincere love, and never separating herself from my side ”. As expected, David relatives, contested the legality of the will, and they pursued the case for two years— all the way up to the Supreme Court. But on 24 June 1922, the highest tribunal of the land declared the will, legal, authentic and binding. Still, intrigues hounded her—people could not understand why the Negrita should not be divested of her legacy due to her ignorance. Little did they know that Magdalena’s one special expense is the Php70 that she shells out on the anniversary of her mistress’ death—to buy candles which are lit in her honor and her memory.

5. KUDIARO LAXAMANA. Aeta World War II Hero 

 In the last World War, Kudiaro Laxamana, an Aeta tribal chief born in the foothills of Mount Pinatubo, distinguished himself by heading the 55-155th Squadron of the Northwest Pampanga Mountain District. As a World War II guerilla hero, he reputedly killed 50 Japanese soldiers, thus saving the lives of 10 U.S. airmen. The brave Aeta supposedly chopped off 17 enemy heads with his bolo knife. He is also credited with saving the lives of Col. Gyle Merrill, the overall commander of a U.S. military contingent, and Maj. Henry Conner, of the 27th Bomb Group. Laxamana’s exploits were finally recognized with a posthumous award given on 28 January 1995 in Mabalacat. He returned to civilian life post-war and became active in fighting for the rights of Aetas. He was killed because of his advocacy in 1970 and at his death, he was given a 21- gun salute and buried at the Clark Cemetery. A major road in Clark—Kudiaro Laxamana Avenue—is named after him.

6. MARY, QUEEN OF NEGRITOS, Subject of Annie Leibovitz’ Photo 

 Not much is known about the subject of the photograph, “Mary, Queen of the Negritos” that was taken in Clark Air Base. But the fame of ”Mary” rests on the photographer—the celebrated Annie Leibovitz, who began her career as a photojournalist for Rolling Stone magazine in 1970. Leibovits rose to become the magazine’s chief photographer for 10 years before moving to Vanity Fair. But two years before, she was on a summer break in the Philippines to visit her father, Samuel Leibovitz, who was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Clark. Of the 1968 photograph entitled “American Soldiers and Mary, Queen of the Negritos”, Leibovotz recalled, “It’s one of the first photographs I took after I started to think I could take pictures. I lined them up like a family picture.” The black and white photo was of “Mary” was purchased by the Norton Museum of Art in 2013, where it was shown in a retrospective exhibit that same year.

7. WAYDA COSME, First Aeta Law Graduate 

 In 2001, 26-year old Wayda Cosme made history by becoming the first Aeta to finish law school at the Harvardian College, City of San Fernando. She finished her course through scholarships and stipends, and worked her way to a law degree. This accomplished graduate, was employed in the legal department of Clark Development Corporation. Though she has yet to pass the bar exams, the feat of this woman of color is a courageous story of how a member of an indigenous race overcame prejudice, poverty and personal difficulties to pursue a better life through education, not just for herself, but also for her people. Her remarkable story was made into a telemovie in Channel 7’s “Magpakailanman”. 

8. JONALYN ABLONG, Best Actress Nominee, Gawad Urian 

Jonalyn Ablong was first cast in the movie “Manoro” (The Teacher), a movie that tells the story of an Aeta teacher who made it her mission to teach her fellow Aetas , how to read and write,so that they may be able to vote in the coming elections. Directed by Brillante Mendoza, the film won international awards and gave the Jonalyn Ablong a Gawad Urian Best Actress nomination in 2006, the first and only woman from a cultural minority group to achieve the honor. Her co-nominees included such veterans as Maricel Soriano, Gina Parreño (winner for ‘Kubrador’), Cherrie Pie Picache, Angel Aquino and Mylene Dizon. Ablong’s latest appearance is in the Holy Angel University movie, “ARI, My Life with a King”, (2015) which has also won awards at several international film festivals in London, India and Harlem, New York.

9. AETA GOLD MEDALISTS at the 1ST ASEAN Tribal Games 

 At the 1st ASEAN Tribal Games held in Malaysia from 14-16 September 2010, Aeta Olympians from Mabalacat dominated the games. Jun Ablong, Dumlao Naval and Danilo Tecson won Golds for Treetop Archery, Archery Assault, Blow Pipe Game respectively, while Jimmy Ablong garnered a Bronze in Blow Pipe shooting. The team beat other ethnic delegates from the host country. The Mabalacat Aetas were part of the 12-man Philippine Tribal Team that consisted of Dumagats of Sierra Madre and Mangyans of Mindoro. The ASEAN Tribal Games was held in conjunction with the Nunuk Ragang World Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration in Kota Kinabalu.

10. ARJOHNEL GILBERT, Aeta youtube Singing Sensation 

 This Aeta boy from Marcos Village, became an online singing sensation when a video of his, singing Justin Bieber’s song, “Baby” in front of Puregold-Clark, was posted on youtube in 2011, attracting thousands of views. GMA-7 News did several features of the Aeta singing wonder, who sang to people as a way to get them to buy his nose flutes. YouTube user Ryanesky first posted Gilbert’s video that also show him rendering hits from Bruno Mars, Mariah Carey, and Sean Kingston. In just 3 days, the video had over 190 thousand views. Today, Gilbert has appeared with Grammy Award winner and Kapampangan apl.d.ap in a music video and is currently pursuing a possible showbiz career in Manila while making the rounds of TV talk and variety shows.

11. RONAGIE GILBERT, Winner, 1st Lagu ning Aeta Beauty Pageant 

 In the field of beauty pageantry, Ronagie Gilbert became the first winner of Lagu ning Aeta (Beauty of Aeta) contest in June 2012. The seminal pageant for women of color attracted 12 contestants from Sitio Bilad, Pulang Lupa, Monicayao, Madapdap, Haduan and Calapi. Completing her court of honor were Queen Rose Maye Sibal and Loretta Quedeng.

12. NORMAN KING, 1st Aeta Graduate of the University of the Philippines-Manila

On 20 June 2017, Norman King, 27,  made history when he became the first Aeta to graduate from the University of the Philippine-Manila, earning a degree in behavioral Sciences. The Brgy. Macapagal, Mabalacat native accepted his diploma proudly wearing his “lubay”-an Aeta g-string. King, the eldest of seven children of Warlita and Norman King, had to work his way through school, and used his savings from a job as a delivery boy to study computer technology in 2005. This led to a better-paying job at a BPO company, allowing him to continue his college studies at the state university where he was under a scholarship. King intends to pursue law studies to help his fellow Aetas, just like his aunt  Wyda Cosme, the first Aeta law graduate. King, who goes by the name Isagani Malaya on facebook, is aiming even higher after that. “I want to be a leader of our people,”  he said.

 EXTRA: AETA JUNGLE SURVIVAL TEACHERS 
In the early 1900s, American military men at Stotsenburg encountered the Aetas and found them as fascinating people, equipped with unique skills and capable of embracing change. They hired them as hunting assistants, errand and cargo boys and even posers for souvenir photographs. The Negritos’ mastery of the jungle impressed the Americans, and their skills for jungle survival were soon tapped by the U. S. military, most specially during the Vietnam War. In the 1960s, as communist military strength grew in Vietnam, the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) began to beef up its forces not only with better munitions but also training and readiness. Hence, PACAF Jungle School, under Maj. Ewing, was set up at Clark to prepare air crew members for their Vietnam assignment and to help banish the fear of jungle. Before their ‘students’, Aetas demonstrated such a wide variety of lessons as loading and shooting a primitive crossbow. They also showed the military how to identify species of poisonous snakes and crocodiles, often letting them pet slithering snakes like pythons to overcome their fear. They also gave instructions on how to build fire, collect water using funnel-shaped leaves, make traps and tent-style animal snares. Aetas also taught the Americans a cooking technique using a bamboo tube, called “binulu” (from ‘bulu’, a bamboo specie).It entailed stuffing the bulu with rice, meats, vegetables and water a filling meal. All these valuable jungle survival lessons were learned in the PACAF school, saving the ives of pilots shot down in the hinterlands of Southeast Asia--thanks largely to the Aetas who ably mentored the military from the 1960s thru the 80s. 

Sources:
Caragan, Lucas, Magdalena Negrita: www.viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com "Negrito Newsmakers"
Basilio:Fermin, Jose:1904 World's Fair-The Filipino Experience. UP Press, 2004
Kudiaro Laxamana: www.allposters.com
Mary, Queen of Negritos: "Norton Museum Buys 39 Annie Leibovitz Photos Ahead of Early 2013 Retrospective", blogsartinfo.com

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/200461/sports/1st-asean-tribal-games-to-feature-spear-throwing-and-blow-guns#sthash.5uJVVbrB.dpuf

Ronagie Gilbert FB page, Punto Central Luzon / Wayda Cosme FB page / Jonalyn Ablong: Robby Tantingco FB page
Arjohn Gilbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXgMWQVbfM
Norman King: Orejas, Tonette: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/910248/first-aeta-up-grad-vows-to-serve-pinatubo-tribes#ixzz4mBsmUlJE

4. 10 LITTLE-KNOWN KAPAMPANGAN “PAMANGAN KALULU” (POOR MAN’S DISHES)

Below are some pamangan kalulu (poor man’s meals) served in villages; they are characterized by the simplicity and scarcity of ingredients, yet as still as tasty as any other Kapampangan culinary delights.

1. ABRIU. Soup with sweet kamote and bitter ampalaya leaves, broiled tinapa.

2. GATAS TIGRI. Instead of carabao’s milk, tap water is poured on cooked rice plus a dash of salt; so named because, well, who’s really seen a tiger’s milk.

3. TIM.  Ground pork boiled in carabao’s milk, until the milk coagulates and the pork settles down.

4. PAKSING DEMONYUS. No fish, just eggplant, ampalaya, okra, cooked in vinegar, black pepper and ginger.

5. BISTIG UTAK BABI. Pig brain’s stewed in soy sauce and kalamansi juice.

6. POSTRI. Sautéed ripe guava fruits, simmered with string beans.

7. TULUD MANGGA, TULUD BALUBAD. Shoots of mango or kasoy leaves, blanched and mixed with alubebe and vinegar.

8. SABO TALILUNG, SABO MALIGOSO. Soup of sardines and common herbs, from the roadside.

9. BOBOTU SASMUAN. Tiny, bite-size tamales appearing only during the Kuraldal festival and only in front of the Sta. Lucia chapel in Sasmuan.

10. DAING TALUNASAN.  Giant eel brought down from the hills by Aetas, sundried and fried.

3. 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF THE KAPAMPANGAN LANGUAGE

1. RUGU, unique Kapampangan adverb of compassion or relief. It is the Tagalog “Kawawa naman” and “Sa wakas” with 50 more shades of sympathy and you can insert it anywhere in the sentence or even as a stand-alone word, as in Ninanu ne rugu y Pedro? (“Whatever happened to poor Pedro?”) or Mekisawa na ka pala rugu (“I heard you got married already”) or Sinambut ne regu king lotto y Juan (“Juan has won the lotto at last”) or simply Rugo! or Ay rugo! or Rugu naman! (“Oh my!”). I feel good when I say it and feel even better when I hear it, because it softens hard emotions like fear (“Dios ku rugo!”) and anger (“Nananu ka rugu!”).

2. LUID, a noun that means “conservation, prolongation” as in Lumuid ing pamangan (“The food will last”), Maluid ing dutung (“The lumber is good”), and Lumuid ka sa bie (“May you live long”). Today we often say Luid ka! or simply Luid! as a greeting and a wish to mean “May you live long!” or “Long life to you!” (the equivalent of the Tagalog “Mabuhay!”).

3. SUKU, noun, “full term, peak” as in Sinuku yang lulut ing bunga (“The fruit is fully ripe”) and Sinuku ne ing danum (“The tide has reached its peak”). But it also means “indeterminate end, the end that nobody knows when, not even the one who coined the term” as in Manaya ku anggang king suku (“I will wait forever”). When you put luid and suku together as in Lumuid ka anggang suku, you will get “Live till a ripe old age.” The name of the Kapampangan mythical god Sinukuan must have meant “eternal” or “ageless” instead of “surrendered to.” Old documents, in fact, name him as Suku not Sinukuan.

4. TUA, noun, “age, antiquity, maturity, coming of age.” All the good and positive nuances and meanings that the word connotes are found in this simple Kapampangan word, from matua (“old”) to makatua (“the venerable old folks”) to tutua (“maturing”) to ketuan (“attributes of an old man, excelling in age”) to magmatua (“one who plays the role of village elder, to whom everyone pays attention and without whom nothing is decided”). The Tagalog equivalent is tanda, which pales in comparison to the richness of the Kapampangan tua—a word many Kapampangan families have adopted as their surnames.

5. NE, an all-purpose interjection that has no counterpart in other Philippine languages and no equivalent in English but is found in other world languages like Catalan, Czech, German, and Japanese. It is different from the adverb ne (“already”) as in Minta ne keni (“He already came here”). The interjection ne is the Kapampangan equivalent of “okay” or “all right” and is used only for emphasis or reiteration, as in Ika na mu, ne? (“You be the one, okay?”) and is different from the Tagalog “di ba?” (“is it not?” which is “alé?” in Kapampangan). Kapampangans relish using it because it is a term of endearment and instant recognition. Amazing how a single syllable can turn strangers into friends; you hear ne in a crowd and you know there's a Kapampangan in the room!

6. KAPUTUL, noun, “sibling,” which has more emotional content and is more Kapampangan-sounding than its synonym kapatad. Both terms come from two roots with the same meaning (patad and putul, “cut”) which implies two persons cut from the same bloodline or an imagined family rope. Kaka, the word used to address an older sibling, and the shorter Ka, which is used to address a comrade-in-arms, came from the first syllable of kapatad. I am just intrigued by the fact that while patad’s Tagalog equivalent is patid (hence, kapatid), there is no putul in Kapampangan—so how did the Tagalog putul end up in the Kapampangan kaputul?

7. BATALA, noun that refers to the kingfisher, that elusive blue bird of the swamps and marshes of Pampanga. Kapampangans consider the bird sacred and its rare appearances as apparitions. Magbatala ku or Magmanuk ku means to take the augury of the bird, either as an omen of ill fortune or a harbinger of good news. The word’s ancient Sanskrit and Malay roots had meanings ranging from “noble” to “god” which is why batala eventually became Bathala.

8. DAYAT, noun, “irrigated rice fields, ready for seeding.” Ancient Pampanga had vast areas of irrigated rice fields that looked like a large lake or sea, which is why our ancestors had to use the qualifying term dayat malat (“salty irrigated fields”) to refer to the actual sea. The Tagalogs who had borrowed the term, however, dropped malat and corrupted dayat into dagat. Some scholars think that the agricultural town Arayat got its name from the word dayat (d and r are interchangeable in Kapampangan, as in dugo and rugo).

9. LUALU, noun, a remarkable Kapampangan word that means “defending the defenseless, championing the unprotected and the destitute,” which reveals the kind of cultural values we used to have. The reason this word has disappeared from our vocabulary is we have stopped doing such acts of charity and chivalry. As far as I know, there is no similar word in other Philippine languages.

10. ALAYA, noun, “the dawn,” sometimes used as the directional term paralaya (“the east”) which is the opposite of paroba (“the west”), and the mountain sacred to Kapampangans, Bunduk Alaya (Mount Arayat), “mountain where the sun dwells or rises,” similar to the old Sanskrit term himalaya (hima, “snow” + alaya, “dwelling”). Paralaya also means “to go upstream” and paroba “to go downstream,” based on our ancestors' perspective, i.e., from the riverbank communities in Macabebe they paddled their boats on Pampanga River in the direction of Mt. Arayat, located upstream.

Author: Robby Tantingco.
Originally posted on his FB page.