Enriching Philippine Literature through Riddles
Riddles can be considered food for the brain and soul, but Filipinos put the bar so high in making them that they’re considered a league of their own. Early Filipinos were almost able to perfect the art of Filipino riddle making, to an extent that they have created their own form while focusing on the objects of their normal day to day transactions. What better way to explore a unique art but by knowing its origins and simply experiencing it, that which this paper luckily made for curious readers.
Origins, Characteristics and Links
Riddles are most commonly called “bugtong” or “palaisipan” in the local context. Filipinos are known for their elaborate siesta periods, perhaps during these times and other free time during the day or weekend are they able to enjoy answering riddles. The simplicity of images being pointed out at these riddles instantly became its best selling point.
The riddles they produce are almost always a single statement holding much thought into it and satisfying two aspects. First of the two is that the riddle must pertain to whatever occupies the immediate surroundings of its inventor. One more thing noticeable about Filipino riddles is a touch of poetic verses found in it, combining two forms in one, indicating that Filipinos are already masters of literature even in the olden times. In time, more and more riddles are being coined by clever Filipinos, adding to the wealth of their literature, unrivaled elsewhere.
If this style is to be connected to a grander link, Filipinos share the same fascination over riddles as much as early settlers of lands overseas. If for early Filipinos, riddling is just for fun, other rudimentary cultures took it seriously by actually profiting from it or taking one’s life for failure to answer any particular riddle. And just as much as the creator’s intelligence is proven, the riddle-solver’s mental ability is also judged by answering.
Try it out
If you want some Filipino riddles with answers, this portion has five of them all complete with translations.
1. Nagtago si Pedro nakalabas ang ulo (Pedro hides but his head is still exposed) - answer: Nail (Pako)
2. Dalawang batong maitim, malayo ang nararating (Two black stones with a far reach) - answer: Mata (Eyes)
3. Itinapon mo na, bumabalik pa (Even if you throw it away, it still comes back) - answer: Yoyo
4. Narito na si Katoto, may dala-dalang kubo (Here is Katoto, carrying a nipa-hut on his back) - answer: Pagong (Turtle)
5. Nagsaing si Hudas, kinuha ang tubig at tinapon ang bigas (Judas cooked the rice, took the water and threw the rice) - answer: Gata ng niyog (Coconut Milk)
This list goes on until who knows how long, but if you really want to read up more Filipino Riddles, the internet and local bookstores are two of the best options to gather reliable resource materials.
