Hulobaton or Proverbs IV

Proverbs About Reverence and Good Upbringing


1. Ang mahakug
    Madalin madunlan.

    A person who is greedy
      Can easily be choked up.


2. Sobra nga dali
    Makadto sa kuri.

     Too hasty or too in a hurry
     Will go too slowly.


3. Bisan wala sing tinun-an
    Kon may pinanilagan.

    Even if someone is not educated enough,
      If there's a learning from observing.

* this particular proverb is about manners and breeding.

4. Nalagyo sa kalaha
     Tumupa sa baga

    Run away from cooking pot
     End up in ember

5.  Ang suba nga magahud manabaw;
      Ang suba nga malinong madalum.

     A noisy river is shallow;
       A silent river is deep.

6. Ang mga palakutso kutso
      Alonga-ug ang ulo.

    Those who likes to gossip
     Have crazy minds.

7. Ang tao nga butigon
     Dili gid pagpatihon

    People who lies
     Should never be believed

8. Kon magpati ka sing sudyot
      Wala ka sing binubuot.

   If you believe in rumors
     You have no common sense.

9. Ang tao nga palasumbong
     Malain sing tagipusuon.

   A person who always complains or accuses
     Has a bad heart.

10. Alason mo anay ang imo ikug
        Kag mag-alas sang iya sang iban.

      Wind up your tail first
        Before you wind up the tails of others.

11. Kon dili uyon sa imo
       Indi pagbuhaton sa iba.

     If you don't want to be done unto you,
       Don't do it unto others.

12.  Ang tao nga matinaas-taason
         Dali masumpo

       A person who is haughty or snobbish
        Can easily be blunted or dull

13. Ang kamatayon malas-ay
        Kon wala sing kabangdanan.

      Death is tasteless
        If there is no reason.


Proverbs With Some Sounds of Jest:

1. Ang komersiante labing 
     butigon pa sa Ati.

    A merchant is a better 
      liar than the Ati. 

*ati - is an indigenous aboriginal tribes living in the hinterlands and mountainous parts of Panay and can be found in other parts of the country. 

2. Nagasiling nga indi
     Apang naga panagitlon.

    Someone is saying no
     However having a hard time swallowing.

3. Anhon si kagayon kon wala
     sulod si kulon.

   What is beauty if 
      the pot is empty.

4. Ang maayo nga asawa
     Sa balay sang iya bana muchacha
   Apang sa taguipuso-on sang iya bana
      Isa sia ka reyna. 

   A good wife 
     In the house of her husband she is a servant
   But in the heart of her husband
     She is a queen.

5. Mapungas ang baha
      Indi ang baba. 

   Flood is deep
    Not the mouth.


6. Ang gugma sang mga ulay
     Matam-is nga daw kalamay
    Ang gugma sang mga balo
      Makid-ol nga marabo-rabo. 

    The love of the virgins
     Is sweet like sugar
    The love of the widows
      is well done and savory.

* kíd-ol - Cooked to a turn, neither too hard nor too soft, but just right, well-done, said of eatables; to be or become nice, tasty, etc. 

* rabo - Tastiness, quality of being savoury; to be tasty, toothsome; to become savoury (said of fruit, tubers, squashes and the like). (labó id.). 

7. Ang tao nga bugalon
     Ang ulo dapawon.

    A proud person
     It's head is full of lice.

* dápaw - A small insect often to be found in hens' nests and causing a peculiar itch, if it gets on human skin. Also verb. Butangí sing ádgaw ang pugarán sang ímo manók, agud índì pagabután sang dápaw or agúd índì pagdapáwan. Put some adgao—leaves into your hens' nests, so that the dápao-insect may not infest them.

8. Mabudlay pukawon
     Ang tao nga nagamata.

   It's difficult to wake up
    A person who is waking up.

9. Ang tao nga mapinatihon
     Nagasaut nga wala sing sonata.

    An obedient person
      Is dancing without music.

10. Ang tao nga mahakug
       Wala pagkabusog. 

      A person who consumes too much
       Are never satiated.

11. Makitid sang agtang
        Malip-ut sing panumduman.

      Narrow forehead
        Has a short or narrow mind. 

12. Ang tao nga putot
       Kon indi palawakal palasaut.

      A midget or short person 
       Loves dancing if not talkative.

13. Bisan maguba ang langit
       Kon dili ako maipit.

      Even if the heaven is destroyed 
        As long as I am not squeezed or pressed between

14. Ang manok nga makaitlog
        Nagakutak-kutak. 

      A hen that can lay eggs
         Is cackling.


Proverbs About Life's General Truth:

1. Mahapus ang mag-anak
      Mabudlay ang magpadaku.

    It is easy to give birth
      Difficult to raise a child.

2. Ang kalipay agi
      Ang kasakit pirme.

    Happiness is temporary
      Misery is often.

3. Hinugay pili kay basi
      Makadto ka sa pasi. 

    Don't be so choosy or picky,
      Else you will end up with rejects or residue.

*pasi - Unhulled rice mixed with hulled rice after pounding.



4. Ang bulawan kag saway
     Indi magsimpunanay.

    The gold and brass or bronze
    Could not be combined.


5. Dili ang tanan nga
      Nagaidlak kay bulawan.

   Not everything that
    Glitters is gold.


6. Tawo nga may kasaypanan
     Iya kalas, iya dalagan.

    Person with defects
      His undoing or untying, his running.


7. Ang pangabuhi may hunas
      May taob.

    Life has low (ebbing) and high tide.


8. Ang dingding may dalunggan.

    The wall has ears.


9. Ang kada tawo may ikog.

    Every person has a tail.


10. Ang kalibutan daw ariring
       Sa hinali mapaibabaw.

       The world is like a wheel
        In an instance it will go up.


11. Kon diin ang sanga nagahoyhoy
      Dira nagahuyog ang kahoy.

      Wherever the branch is clinging or dangling
       There is the tree rooting or staying.


12. Wala sing madasig
       Nga dili paghapu-on.

      No one who is fast and quick
       That will never pant or gasp for breath.


13. Karon imo pa
      Buas akon na.

      Today is still yours
       Tomorrow it will be mine.


14. Ang tao nga wala sing pilak
       Daw pispis nga wala sing pakpak.

      A person without a silver
       Is like a bird without wings.


15.  Kon madamo ang maestro
        Maupos ang pinirito.

       If there are lots of teacher / chef
         The frying will get burnt.


17. Ang kagamo magakadto gid
       sa matawhay.

       The tumult or trouble will really
         go into peace and tranquility.


18. Ang tao nga mapinulugnon
        mabinuhaton.

     A person
        is also a doer.


19. Ang isda indi madakop
       Sa ikug kundi sa baba.

      The fish could not be caught
       by the tail but by mouth.


20. Masakit sing hinambalan
      Malain ang madangatan.

      Hurtful in words or in saying
       It will have a bad precedent.


21. Ang kalampay sa buho
       Dili makagat kon dili pagkuhiton.

     The crab in the hole
     Will not bite if not touched


22. Ang sab-a dili magbunga
       sang lisohan.

      The sab-a banana will not
         bear a seed fruit.


23. Ang diotay nga kaalam
       Madali sa katalagman

      A little knowledge
       Would be near to peril.


24. Dili maka-angay ang
       Bulawan sa saway

      It is not equal or not alike
      Gold in Brass or Bronze


25. Ang balay nga may kalamay
        Guina-amag sang subay.

      The house that has sugar
        Attracts or lure some ants.


26. Sanglit kay baga
       Maga-inggat gid.

      Since its ember
       It will really glimmer.

Hulobaton or Proverbs III

Proverbs About Forgiveness and Perseverance:


1. Wala sing adlaw nga
     Walay pala-abuton

    There are no days that
      There's no future


2. Ang bato bantiling
    Sang dapya sang tubig nagabuhin.

     The flint rock
      of the wafting or carried along by the water reduces


3. Bisan mabudlay kon gusto
     Langit ang infierno.

    Even if it's difficult if wanted
     Heaven is hell.


4. Bisan ano kalawig sang prusisyon
     Mabalik sa simbahan man gyapon.

   No matter how long is the procession,
    It would still return in the church.


5. Kon may kasakit
     May kalipay

    If there's sorrow,
     There is happiness.


6. Kon may unos may kalinao.

    If there's a storm, there is also stillness or peace.

Hulobaton or Proverbs II

Proverbs About Good Manners and Reservation:

1. Wala utang nga sang Dios
    Hindi pagsukton.

   There is no debt owed to God
    That he will never charge.


2. Indi ka magpahamak
    Kay kon ang Dios maghampak
    Indi bation ang lagpak

   Don't ever get into trouble
   'Cos if God will do the beating or whacking
   The beating sound will never be heard.


3. Wala sing utang nga
     Indi pagabayran

  No debts that
   Will never be repaid


4. Ang tao nga daso-daso
    Madali mapaso.

    The person who is reckless
     Will easily be burned.


5. Dili ka magdaso-daso,
     Agud dili ka magpaso.

   Don't be so reckless
    So you will never be burned.


6. Makitid sing agtang
    Malip-ut sing panumduman.

    Narrow forehead
      Short memory or thoughts


7. Ang nagapanggas sang hangin,
    Maga-ani sing dalimuos.

    Those who sow air,
     Will reap flurry or gust.


8. Bisan taguon kay baga
    Mainggat ang kalayo.

    Even if you will hide it cos its ember
      It would still glimmer because its fire.

Hulobaton or Proverbs I

The Hulobaton, Hiligaynon term for proverbs, are short statements of general truths, basic rules or rules of conduct. It can be in poetic or in prose form. The author could not be traced and this is passed through generations. According to William Bascom, the proverbs is the refined knowledge of past generations.

The included proverbs is referring to generosity, hard work, punctuality and frugality; good manners and reservation, excuse and perseverance, reverence and good upbringing and practice, banter, and the ushering truths of life.


Proverbs About Generosity, Hard Work, Punctuality and Frugality:

1. Ang tao nga tamaran,
    Waay isulod sa pinggan.

    The person who is lazy,
    Nothing to put in the plates.


2. Ang tao nga palabugtao
    Indi mawad-an sang bahao.

   The person who is always awake
   Will not be left out with cold rice


3. Tao nga palatulog
    Walay lutuon sa dapog.

    A person who is always asleep
    Nothing to cook in dapog

*dapog is local improvised version of hearth or furnace for cooking

4. Ang tao nga mapisan
    Indi gid magutom

    A person who is hardworking
    Will never be hungry


5. Sa tingadlao magtipon
    Agud sa tig-ululan may gamiton.

    Save up or collect during the sunny days
    So there's something to use during the rainy days.


6. Ang hipon nga tulog
    Ginaanod ding sulog

   A sleeping shrimp
   Is washed away rapidly


7. Anhon pa ang humpay
    Kung patay na ang kabayo

    What will you do with the grasses
     If the horse is dead.