"Lupa’y aga mamarigo," "Sinmabo'y dala," and other idiomatic expressions in

Bayambang, Pangasinan

Pangasinenses, particularly Bayambangueños, have very colorful everyday

expressions, especially when it comes to idiomatic expressions.
To review our English 101 lesson... Idioms are words and phrases that mean
something else, often very far away, from their literal meaning. They are a
fascinating feature of speech in that they spice up the language and always have
interesting background stories. How each idiomatic expression came about and
eventually put into common use needs a lot of historical research that it would be
like digging into the town's history.
Discovering the meaning of each idiom is revelatory, for it never fails to show the
local color when the place was still young: what things surrounded our ancestors'
daily lives, what they did for a living, and how they lived their life in general.
How many of these idiomatic expressions that have been "bunga'y sangi" (literally,
"fruit of the mouth") or traditionally often used in Bayambang, Pangasinan, can we
still hear being used these days?

1. Ampetang so sangim (literal translation: "You have a hot mouth.") – a

negative version of "Magdilang anghel"

2. Amputi'y layag (white-eared) – pala-away; war freak

3. Aga nalukso'y duweg (A carabao can't leap over it.) – matao, mataas;
many/crowded; too high to hurdle

4. Anggapo’y kaasi-asin mo (You don't have an iota of salt in you.) – walang

respeto; disrespectful

5. Umpepeket su bisukol (The snail sticks to it.) – mabagal; ever-so-slow

6. Singa manaakar ed bulan (like walking on the moon.) – mabagal; slow

7. Loob-loob ya singa aso (entering like a dog) – pumapasok nang walang

paalam; entering without permission

8. Singa kinaykay na manok (like a chicken has scratched it) – magulo o pangit
ang sulat; refers to messy handwriting

9. Manasewek so eleng (nose smoking) – galit; angry

10.Manngangalngal na ngalab (chewing on hot coals) – walang preno ang bibig

pag nagalit; trash-talking

11.Atagey so tikyab (matayog ang lipad; high-flyer) – mataas ang pangarap;

dreaming of things too great or too big for oneself

12.Paatageya'y sirit (pataasan ng ihi; pissing contest) – payabangan; as though

trying to outdo one another in boastfulness

13.Matalker so tenger to (stiff-necked) – di namamansin; snob

14.Tangay-tangay ed Pozorrubio (Looking up hopelessly lost somewhere in

Pozorrubio [a town in northern Pangasinan]) – nawawala; lost one's way

15.Singa ka manyekew a manok ("You're like a chicken that is sickly.") –

maysakit o mahina; weak or sick
16.Makarinyon inpanmata (karinyosong mata; coquettish eyes) - refers to a
person who amorously attracts somebody through the eyes

17.Pekpek ed duweg, batil ed baka (the carabao takes the hit, but the cow gets
the bruise) - refers to a person who got hurt by words that were directed at
someone else

18.Impaduweg ya trabaho (like a carabao's work) - refers to a person who

spends a lot of time working

19.Balbaleg so ulom (You're swell-headed.) - used to refer to someone boastful

20.Matarakin lalong (handsome rooster) - handsome man

21.Singa uong a onsasabi (like a mushroom when coming) - refers to a person

that turns up unexpectedly

22.Anggatel so dilam (your tongue is itchy) - refers to a person who talks too
much and spreads gossip

23.Nanbukas ya pagew (opens his/her breast) - a person who expresses or

shows his/her feeling from the heart

24.Di bato'y duweg (a carabao with stone) - refers to a person who eats a lot

25.Mata’y pantat (catfish eyes) - refers to someone chinky-eyed

26.Singa ka mantatanem na belas (You are like planting rice.) - refers to a
person who walks so slow

27.Anaw-awet so ulo (hard-headed) - refers to someone whose ways are

stubbornly difficult to change

28.Singa ka inkutkot a kamote (you are like a sweet potato that was buried) –
mostly refers to a child who gets dirty after playing

29.Matdem so dila (matalim ang dila; has a sharp tongue) - refers to a person
who talks too much, often below the belt

30.Bulsa ya abutaw (butas na bulsa; pocket with a hole) - walang pera; refers to
a person who doesn’t have money

31.Singa tayo managlako'y tuka (We are like vinegar vendors.) - patunda-tunda,
patigil-tigil, stops every now and then

32.Salin singa agat (o kinmakalangakang) - ginger or tamarind-looking toes or

feet

33.Alauka'y t*e (like sh*t suddenly got mixed with it) - yung biglang nasira ang
seryosong usapan sa pagpasok ng isang panira sa usapan (maaaring komiko
na karakter); refers to a conversation that is ruined with the arrival of an
interloper

34.Singa inani ed sirom (like harvested in a shady place) - refers to someone

abnormal or with developmental deficit
35.Maka-tetano , Maka-tetanus (You can catch tetanus with it.) - latian,
kinakalawang, rusty

36.Wala'y sakit ya manok, Mansasakit so manok (The chicken is sick.) -

makakaugip, inaantok, sleepy, looking drowsy all the time

37.Inibong to'y digo (He/she spilled the broth.) - "guminhawa na, napakawalan
pa ang swerte"; unintentionally revealed something confidential

38.Namagaa'y dika (The grass will get dry.) - it takes one too long to do
something

39.Naksel so kalsada, narasa'y kusina. (The street is full, the kitchen is hungry.)
- being showy in an unseemly way

40.Inyanak ya maeta (born raw or uncooked) - born ugly

41.Samal (poison) - unwanted fellow, like one who uses his badge to get a free
ride

42.Sangkakutdang (Kayang-kaya ng isang hakbang; You can reach it with just

one step) - so near

43.Kalkalnaa'y dalan (slowly ease one's way to the road) - parting shot
signaling to go ahead and go home

44.Ambete-betel so dalikan. (The clay stove is so cold.) - walang kaprepara-

preparasyon; no preparation at all
45.Say bilay aga sininger. (Life is not tied.) - "Ang buhay ay di natin piho.";
"Life is uncertain."

46.Uusila'y apangat (a fly is running after something/someone) - mabaho;

stinky

47.Manduruwa'y kanunutan (having two thoughts) - di sigurado; not sure, could

hardly decide

48.Sansangkarangan (just a span) - sobrang liit; too small/too tiny

49.Martir ya ina/asawa, etc. (martyr mother/spouse) - ever patient

50.Agka la akilem! (how come the edge of your teeth is not in pain?; di ka na
nangilo!) - di ka na nahiya; daring or not ashamed of bragging

51.Mansasnit (scorchingly hot) - tapos agad/ubos agad; easily done/easily sold

out

52.Asasnit (scorched) - biglang naglaho/nawala; hastily gone

53.Ayaman to'y dalan (always on the road) - layas, laging umaalis; always on
the go, or always on travel

54.Apatikey to'y kuldon to (had his/her shoelaces short) - madaling napikon;

got easily irritated/impatient
55.Patageya'y sirit (having a pissing contest) - payabangan; competing as to
who is smartest/best

56.Mabmabli'y imis (one's smile is expensive) - bihira kung ngumiti; hardly

smiles

57.In-garahe (kept in the garage) - itinabi; set aside because it is no longer

usable

58.Kinmamatis (turned tomato-like) - namaga; swollen

59.Nabilang na gamet (can be counted with one's fingers) - kaunti lang; few,
can be counted

60.Aga nabilang na gamet (can't be counted with one's fingers) - di mabilang;

innumerable

61.Dukol-dukol ed inawa (lying in comfort) - resting in one's riches

62.Napantanema'y agat (can be planted with ginger) - sobrang duming damit;

so soiled/so dirty (referring to clothes)

63.Paistar (istariray; feeling like a star in an unseemly way) - pa-bida; attention-

getter

64.Inabet da ed sangi'y buwaya (was met at the crocodile's mouth) - rescued by

the skin of his teeth
65.Nalibre'y kinalat na uleg (the one bitten by a snake will receive a free treat) -
aga nalibre; surely will not get a free treat

66.Singa nalad salarek/salaret (like one caught in a bird trap; [salarek is

panghuli ng ibon or bird trap]) - siguradong kuha o huli; sure hit

67.Nansementod pagew (cemented in the breast) - like truth that could hardly
be accepted

68.Nanbuknol ed beklew (caused a knot inside the neck) - caused one to choke
(like water)

69.Inyupot to'y pinanpisingan to (exhausted his or her source of vegetables) -

tinodo ang handaan, ibinuhos na ang lahat ng pera at resources para sa
engrandeng okasyon o handaan; threw all caution to the wind

70.Singa ginawan kanen (like some sort of rice cake) - nalnala; kuhang-kuha;
done perfectly

71.Alaldis (struck or stricken with such ferocity or accuracy) - diretso sa punto;

straight, direct to the point

72.Singa inapunan (as though possessed by spirits) - parang wala sa sarili;

refers to someone who is not his usual self, or to someone acting strangely
or weird

73.Magata-gata (oozing with coconut milk) - "feel na feel"; very juicy; very
expressive; e.g., Magata-gata'y ayew to. (Rough translation: He/she swears
like a sailor.)
74.Bangaw (from the Tagalog word for blowfly?) - one who is always present
during celebrations or gatherings that involve food; usually this person looks
for one where he could eat for free. Ex.: Galila ta mi-bangaw tayo'd
kakaabay. (Roughly: Let's go have free lunch at our neighbor's house.)

75.Inapuna'y kitat (possessed by a local species of frog that bloats its stomach) -
magulo; unruly, uncontrollable, excessively playful

76.Aga makabini (can't sow a seed) - di makahintay; can’t wait for one’s turn;
very impatient

77.Agabangatan (short for “Aga abangatan”; literally, haven't been taught good
manners [by one's parents]) - pilyo; naughty, playful

78.Sarsarit, Saro-saro ([no literal translation]) - nakikisawsaw sa usapan;

unnecessarily being around a group of people or a conversation where a
person’s presence is not being sought

79.Aga mamarigo (literally, won't share a dish's broth [digo]) - madamot o

mahirap maloko o mapakiusapan; somebody who won’t give in to
something; someone whom you can’t fool or take advantage of

80.Nikarunyas so dila (The tongue slipped.) - ay nadulas!; used to refer to

someone when he or she unintentionally lets out a secret

81.Masangi-sangi (literally, too 'mouthy', large-mouthed, or speaks in a very

loud voice) - matabil ang dila; refers to someone who mindlessly spills the
beans (unmindfully reveals a secret to someone who is not supposed to
know)
82.Sinmabo’y dala (blood boils over) - nagalit ng todo; got enraged/extremely
furious

83.Akagatin na t*e (stepped on poop) - mankitley; naglalakad na parang pilay;

walks with a limp

84.Aga unkura-kurap (not batting an eyelash) - matigas sa kanyang desisyon;

standing by his word, undeterred

85.Malmalet ya... (sturdy) - matibay na...; die-hard; Ex.: malmalet ya Katoliko,

malmalet ya kaaro, etc. (Die-hard Catholic, die-hard friend, etc.)

86.Awet (tough) - kuripot; stingy

87.Ambon (gang up) - pagtulung-tulungan; exert combined effort/strength; Ex.

Ambon yo la ta'y trabaho. (Get it done by working together as one.)

88.Maragem (mahangin; windy) - mapangta; mayabang; boastful

89.Binmuenlag ed layag (humarang ng pahalang sa tenga; blocked the ears

horizontally) - something heard which can cause one to react violently

90.Ansaksakket so linggis (malagkit ang tingin; having a sticky in-a-glutinous-

rice-kind-of-way gaze) - enticing, seductive look

91.Inmawe-awet (tumigas ng todo; hardened to the extreme) - hard-to-

convince, die-hard
92.Anawnawet so bikking (ang tigas ng paa; having such hard feet) - when
praised and the person being praised is sort of proud

93.Lupa'y anyani (mukhang multo; has the face of a ghost) - has an excessively
made-up face, which doesn't look nice

94.Lupa'y aga mamarigo (may mukhang ayaw mamigay ng sabaw; has the face
of someone who will not share some broth) - has a stern face

95.Makmakdem so matam (ang talim ng mata mo; you have such sharp eyes) -
matalas ang paningin; has a keen eyesight

96.Itangay ed tawen (itaas ang noo sa langit; lift one's head up to the heavens) -
used when one is offended but doesn't plan to retaliate; leave it to God

97.Kalima-lima ([dumating na] tanging kamay lang ang dala; [showing up]
with just his hands, empty-handed - coming in with nothing useful

98.Makapagew (nakakaumay sa dibdib; gets you feeling sickly full in the

breast) - cloyingly sweet; to refer to an undesirably/excessively sweet/sugary
food

99.Singa duweg (parang kalabaw; like a carabao) - huge and untidy

100. Nantrabahon singa duweg (nagtrabahong parang kalabaw; worked

like a carabao) - worked so hard with all his/her strength
101. Inmaltey (naging parang matigas na atay; has turned livery/liver-like
in hardness) - not fluffy, like the consistency of the kutsinta rice cake

102. Kinmakalangakang - (naging mala-sampalok; has become like

tamarind) - refers to feet that have turned like tamarinds

103. Singa mata'y duweg (parang mata ng kalabaw; like a carabao's eyes) -
incredibly big

104. Singa mata'y kulayot (parang mata ng kuwago; like an owl's eyes) -
incredibly big

105. Singa agat (parang luya; like ginger) - refers to webbed feet with
deformed toes

106. Singa napantanema'y agat (parang pwedeng pagtaniman ng luya;

looks like one can plant ginger it) - you have such dirty… Ex.: Singa
napantanema'y agat ta’y salim! (You have such dirty feet!)

107. Singa akagatin na ararawan (like you stepped on a mole cricket) -

walks like doing a crazy dance

108. Singa manok ya kakalasan (like an undomesticated chicken; synonym:

Singa maatap ya manok) - maatap; sobrang mahiyain; takot sa tao; unusually
shy

109. Bunga'y sangi (literally, fruit of the mouth) - laging sinasabi; popular
expression
(The above is lifted from the Bayambang Culture Mapping Project of 2019.
PROFILERS/MAPPERS: Marie B. Macaraeg, Lyka Mae S. Neri, Theresa M.
Cayabyab, Via G. Garcia, Teddy Boy S. Cayabyab, Jerhome P. Ramos, Freda Joy
R. Del Monte, Brix Adam Palarca, Renalyn Siapno, Princes Geen Andoy, Jandrei
Frias, Rosemarie Macam, Grade 12 HUMSS-Psalms, Bayambang National High
School. ADVISER: Mr. Christopher Q. Gozum (Contemporary Philippine Arts
from the Regions). Date Profiled: January 15, 2019. RESOURCE PERSONS:
Lucida Ali, 63, Brgy. Telbang; Ma. Teresa D. Macaraeg, 60, Brgy. Tanolong;
Rosalinda Jacalne, 63, Brgy. Tamaro; Erlinda dela Cruz, 62, Brgy. Bical Sur; Raul
Garcia, 44, Brgy. Buayaen; Natividad Cayabyab, 83, Brgy. San Gabriel 1st; Pedro
B. Lucena, 80, Nalsian Norte; Remedios I. Siapno, 63, Poblacion, Basista; Myrie
M. Andoy, 58, San Gabriel 2nd; Leonora S. Rivera, 81, Tambac; Crispina Rives
Malicdem, 88, M.H. Del Pilar; Susana S. Macabulos, 57, Nalsian Norte.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE PERSONS: Dr. Leticia B. Ursua; Dr. Nicolas
Miguel; Lily Luz Ursua-Abella; Flora Eve; Oscar Ora; Gloria Valenzuela; Mildred
Odon; Resty S. Odon; Romeo J. Odon; Verna M. Ferrer. CONSULTANTS:
Santiago Villafania, Melchor Orpilla. TRANSLATOR: Resty S. Odon)