Page 193 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

Read the following poem, and then answer the questions that follow. Study the
following new words to enable you to understand the poem better. Also, you may
want to refer to the culture note above. Note that in this particular reading exercise,
the objective is not to practice the language but for you to see if you can understand
the use of images and metaphors in the language. Thus, you can write your answers
in English.

Palaspas Dried fronds waved during Holy Sunday

Tuwa Happiness
Luha Tears
Sabado de Gloria Holy Saturday

Deboto Devotee
Pagdiriwang Celebration

Kuwaresma (Lent)

Ang Kuwaresma ay nagsisimula

sa mga palaspas.
Isang linggo ng luha at tuwa.

Ang Biyernes Santo ay pagluluksa,
Ang Linggo ng Pagkabuhay ay pagdiriwang,

Pero ang Sabado de Gloria ay tahimik
na araw.

Maaaring dumaraan ka lang
sa buhay ko,

parang santo sa prusisyon,
o deboto sa via crucis.

Pero salamat.
Ang Sabado de Gloria,

ay araw ng pagdiriwang

kahit walang mga palaspas.