Filipinos like wise sayings. Filipino Salawikan are maxims that reflect the culture of the Filipinos. They are poetic sayings that speak of values, virtues and truths of life. They reflect the culture of the Philippines specifically the thinking of Filipinos. Philippine salawikain also reflects the wealth of Philippine literature. They date back to the original native Filipinos who lived before the colonization of the Philippines.

A very popular example is this:

Aanhin pa ang damo

kung patay na ang kabayo.

In English it means:

what good is the grass

if the horse that will eat it is dead.

This means that we have to know the important things and focus our lives on them. It is a reminder to value life more than material things. This Filipino salawikan reflects the value of Filipinos in things that really matter

Another example is this:

matibay ang walis

the magkabigkis of palibhasa.

In English, it means:

The broom is sturdy.

Because it is strongly linked.

It reflects the Filipino culture of being together. Emphasize teamwork and mutual aid. Individualism is not a value in the Philippines. Filipinos are family oriented. They want to do things together. It reflects the “Bayanihan” philosophy of the Filipinos. Bayanihan means that everyone in the community helps even without payment.

One more example is this:

Bahay mo man ay bato

kung tumitira’y kuwago

mabuti pa ang isang kubo

na ang nakatira ay tao.

In English it means:

Even if the house is big, if the inhabitant is an owl

It is better to have a small hut.

whose inhabitants are true caring people.

This Filipino salawikain means that it is better to live in a simple house with real people who care about you than in a very big mansion. This reflects Filipino values ​​for meaningful human interaction. It reflects the values ​​of Filipinos who reject materialism.

Filipino salawikain are wise, poetic and beautiful sayings. It has been around even before the Spanish and American colonization of the Philippines. It reflects the wisdom, values ​​and culture of the native Filipinos.