Cats and dogs are often pictured as mortal enemies, but to Kapampangans, they live a happy co-existence in our homes and hearth. In all kinds of weather, “Tagpi” and “Muning” will stay by you and reward you with loyalty. Beaten, bruised or starved, they will continue to come home. More than just pets, dogs and cats— askals or Afghan hounds, pusang layas or Persians-- will remain faithful companions, quick to defend, easy to please. They not only enrich our lives with their presence, but they have also contributed to our folklore and traditions with all sorts of expressions, sayings and folk beliefs with reference to our furry friends!
1. MAMULANG ASU (Mad dog).
An expression to describe someone who has gone off his rockers, complete with bloodshot eyes and frothing, snarling mouth.
2. IPAN ASU (Dog Teeth ).
A term to describe the filed and blackened teeth, that resembled canine teeth. Having such pointed was considered a mark of beauty.
3. DAYANG ASU (Having the blood of dogs, dugong-aso”).
A pejorative term used to describe Kapampangans as dog-blooded—traitors of their own race. This is in reference to that time in our history when Kapampangans were aiding Spaniards and Americans in their campaigns against Filipinos, capped by the capture of Aguinaldo with the help of Macabebe soldiers.
4. ASO-ASO.
A dog collar outfitted with bells. It also refers to a similar noisemaker tied to a dog’s tail, when one was in a playful mood.
5. MANGASU. To go hunting, using dogs.
6. BULBUL ASU, BULBUL PUSA (A dog's fur, a cat's fur).
Refers to a hodgepodge of things that should not be mixed in the first place, or trouble will follow.
7. MIPATE ASO'T PUSA.
To fight like cats and dogs.
1. ING ASUNG MAMALUKTUT, BUTUL MAN E MAKAPULUT. (A dog that curls up, will not find a bone) .
Lazy people will not find any opportunities
2. ING ASUNG KAKAUNG, BIHIRA YANG MANGET. (A barking dog, seldom bites).
People who threaten you, or say they will do something bad to you, seldom take action.
3. ALANG ASUNG KINAUNG A E RA KEUNGAN, ALANG MEILI A ERA KEILIAN. (No dog barks unless barked at; no one smiles, unless smiled at first).
People do not react, unless they are provoked.
1. A dog is said to become fiercer if he is tied.
2. An open wound can be disinfected with a dog lick (which unfortunately was not the case with actor Fernando Poe Sr., who died of rabies after being infected in this manner by his pup).
3. It is believed that dogs can tell if a person has eaten ‘azucena’ (aso + cena = dog dinner) through a snarl or a growl.
4. The howling of a dog foretells something ominous, like death and misfortune.
********
1. LUPANG MUSANG (Face of a civet cat).
A civet cat is noted for its untidiness, so when someone describes as “lupa kang musang”, it means you have a dirty face.
2. MANGUSANG (meowling like a civet)
The same breed of cat also gave us the word “mangusang”, (variation: mausang), which means to have an asthma attack, in reference to the cat-like gasps and wheezes an asthmatic emits.
3. PUSA LAMPUNG.
When in heat, cats can often behave in a wild, crazed and noisy manner during their mating ritual, hence the term, “pusa lampung”. An early definition of “lampong” as collected by Bergaño is “to smash or break plates or tiles in a hearth”. Could that refer to the cat’s ear-breaking wails while in the throes of passion? ”. It is also interesting to point out that there is a Lampung province in Indonesia—could it be that a cat was a bred there and came to this country via the land bridges as a feral cat? The term “lampung” has come to mean making flirtatious, sexual moves between a man and a woman, as in “makipaglampungan”.
4. MARIMLA YA PA KENG ARUNG NING PUSA (Colder than a cat’s nose).
An expression to describe a state that is colder than the ordinary, for example, when one touches a dead person, his temperature will be described as “marimla ya pa keng arung ning pusa.”
1. NANAN ME MAN ING PUSA, SUCLAB YA LALAM DULANG. (No matter what you do to a cat, it always gets under a table).
Refers to the unique behavior of the animal to attach itself to a place, rather than to a person. Figuratively, it is also a reference to the natural attachment of Kapampangans to their native land.
2. ING PUSANG MEPALI NA, MARIMLA MAN TATAKUT YA. (A scalded cat is afraid even of cold water).
Someone who has known pain or danger, will be wary of anything.
3. PUSA MANGANAK YANG KUTING, DAGUL YA, PUSA YA RIN. ( A cat who gives birth to kittens, will grow up as cats).
Parents beget children who will grow up, in many ways, like them.
4. ING PUSANG MAMALUKTUT, DUI MAN E MAKAPULUT. (A cat who just curls up, will not find a single fishbone).
1. A cat standing by the front door portents the arrival of a visitor
2. A cat wiping his face (“manimu ya”) forewarns of rains.
3. It is believed that a fishbone in one’s throat can be unstuck by brushing a cat’s paw across one’s throat.
4. Allowing a cat to lick off one's plate will bring good luck.
5. A person who kills a cat will become a pauper.
No comments:
Post a Comment