Page 29 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

SAGOT : _____________________. (younger person addressing older person)
4. TANONG : Ano po ang pangalan ninyo? (younger person addressing older
person)

SAGOT : Juan Santos. (older person addressing younger person)

5. TANONG : Kumusta ka? (teacher to student)

SAGOT : ______________________________________. (student to teacher)

6. TANONG : ________________________ (student to teacher)

SAGOT : Mabuti. (teacher to student)

7. TANONG : ______________________________________? (student to teacher)

SAGOT : Guro ako.

8. TANONG : ______________________________________? (student to teacher)

SAGOT : Nagtuturo ako sa San Francisco Community College.

9. TANONG : ______________________________________? (student to teacher)

SAGOT : Dr. Domingo ang pangalan ko.

10. TANONG : ___________________________? (younger person to older person)

SAGOT : Nagtatrabaho ako sa Manila Restaurant.

Mga Tala Sa Kultura (Culture Notes) *

Politeness and respect are important values in Philippine culture. Several Philippine
studies scholars attribute this to the interdependent nature of farming communities.
Farmers depend on one another; they plant and harvest rice together, working on
each other’s farms in succession. Thus, they are careful to use polite language in
addressing each other.
Polite language is characterized by the following:

1. First, the use of “po” and “opo” (yes) or “ho” and “oho” when addressing an
older person or a stranger;
2. Second, by using plural pronouns such as “kayo” (plural form of “ka” or
“you”) or “ninyo” (plural form of “mo” or “your”);
3. And third, by using the third person, such as “sila” (in this case, the third
person plural is used as if it were a second person pronoun when addressing