Abbreviations:
Iloc. is for Ilocano in the Ilocos Region including some Ilocano speaking communities in Tarlac and the CAR Region.
Pamp. is for Pampanga and their dialect is called Kapampangan (or Capampangan)
Tag. is for Tagalog
Gad. is for Gaddang in the Cagayan Valley Region
Bis. is for Biyasa from the (Western, Easter, Central) Visayas Region
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Animals: mammals.
1 Ania iti pinarsua iti Dios a balin suec a maturog?
(Iloc.) Panniqui
What thing that God made sleeps with its head down?
Bat
2 Pantas ca man, at marunong bumasa at sumulat, aling ibon dito sa mundo ang lumilipad ay sumususo ang anak?
(Tag.) Kabag
Although you are wise and know how to read and write, which bird in this world flies and yet suckles its young?
Bat
3 Uppat iti adiguina, maysa iti baotna, dua iti paypayna, dua iti boneng.
(Iloc.) Carabao
Four posts, one whip, two fans, and two bolos.
Carabao
4 Apat na tukod langit at isang pang hagupit.
(Tag.) Kalabao
Four earth posts, two air posts and whip.
Carabao
5 Saquey so torutoro duaray quepay-quepay a patiray mansobsoblay.
(Pang.) Dueg
One pointing, two moving, four changing.
Carabao
The head points, the ears move, the legs change position.
6 Nu mat-tut-lud ay atanang udde; nu mat-tadag ay ibbafa.
(Gad.) Atu
If he sits down he is high; if he stands up he is low.
Dog
7 Adda maysa nga parsua ni Apo Dios nga adda uppat a sacana, ipusna quen maysa nga ulona nga aoan ti
imana.
(Iloc.) Caballo
There is one creature of our Lord God which has four legs and a tail and one head; but it has no arms.
Horse
8 Carga nang carga ay ualang upa.
(Tag.) Babuy
Always working and no pay.
The pig
He is ever eating garbage and waste.
9 Eto na si “Nuno,” may sunong na guinto.
(Tag.) Babuy
Here comes “Nuno” with gold on his head.
Pig
The pig is a constant scavenger and frequents the space below latrines and privies; it is a common thing that his snout is yellow as result of his search.
10 Magmagna ni inam sangsangitam.
(Iloc.) Burias
While the mother is walking the child is crying.
A little pig
11 Adda maysa nga lacay gomogoyod ti oay.
(Iloc.) Bao
There is an old man, who always drags rattan.
Rat
i.e. his tail.
12 Kahoy cong Marigundong, na sangay ualang dahon.
(Tag.) Sungay
My tree in Marigundong (town in Cavite) has branches but no leaves.
Horn
The branching horn of a deer.
13 Maco ca quian, yacu naman ing quian.
(Pamp.) Ding bitis daring animal a tiapat a bitis nung lalacad ya.
Away! let me have your place.
The forward legs of an animal
The hind feet tread in the prints of the forefeet.
Bell.
14 Nang hataken co ang baging nagkagulo ang matsing.
(Tag.) Batingao
When I pulled the vine the monkeys came around.
Bell
15 Tinugtog co ang bangca nagsilapit ang isda.
(Tag.) Campana sa misa Page 28
I rang the banca and the fishes came.
Bell
Banca is the canoe or boat; to strike it as with the pole is to ring it. People called to mass by the ringing bell are likened to fishes.
16 Togtoquec ti teppang agarayat ti bagsang
(Iloc.) Campana
I strike upon the washout and the bagsang come for help.
Bell
The curved side of the bell is compared to a washed out slope or curve of the bank; the bagsang are small fishes; the bell is the church bell; the little fishes are the people.
17
Otin nen laquic Tapal ni baleuet ed corral manaquis, ya agnaecal.
(Pang.) Campana
Tapal’s ~ hanging within the corral is crying to get out.
Bell
Tapal is a nickname for an old man.
Betel.
18 Adda tallo nga babbalasang quet no mapanda maquimisa; iti caoes ti maysa ata berde, quet dadiay maysa ata porao, quen dadiay maysa ata lomabaga; quet norommuardan ata malabaga amin iti caoesdan.
(Iloc.) Mamabuyo
There are three ladies who went to mass; the dress of one was green, of another white, of the other red; when they came out together the dresses of all were red.
Betel
19 Nasatiyan pa nang kanyang ina, kinuha at pinapagasawa.
(Tag.) Ang bungang isinasama sa itso
Still in his mother’s body was taken and made to marry.
Betel
The areca nut is first taken out of its covering before being united with the betel leaf and lime.
20 Bulong tiptipparo; puso balasang baro.
(Iloc.) Mama
A tiptipparo leaf; the heart, a young man and a young woman.
Betel
21 Papel a berde sinoratac ti purao Page 30quet intedco iti sangaili dina insubli.
(Iloc.) Gaoed
I wrote a green paper with white: I gave it to my visitor and he did not return it.
Betel-leaf
White lime is smeared upon the green leaf, which is then used to enwrap a bit of areca nut for chewing.
Birds.
22 Nagcapa dimet nagpadi; Nagcorona dimet nagari.
(Iloc.) Manoc
Gown but not priest; crown but not king.
Cock
23 Nancorona agimiet ari; nan capa agmuet pari.
(Pang.) Manoc
The king’s crown but not king; the priest’s cope, but not priest.
Cock
24 Ania ti pinarsua ni Apo Dios nga ag-gungon ti maquimbaba quet agpidot ti maquin ngato?
(Iloc.) Manoc
What thing that Lord God made Page 31sifts below and picks up above?
Fowl
25 Dinay pinalsay Dios ya managtay carne?
(Pang.) Manoc
What creature of God is with meat on its head?
Cock
26 Ania a parsuo ni Apo Dios ti nagsusoon ti carne nga aoan ti imana?
(Iloc.) Tapingar
What creature of our Lord God carries meat but has no hands?
Cock
The meat is the cock’s comb.
27 Uyana-uyana mamuntuk yang baya!
(Pamp.) Manuc
Here he comes with glowing charcoal on his head!
A cock
28 No umayac idiay balayo agtuptupuaccayo.
(Iloc.) Manoc
If I come to your house you will jump away.
Fowl
Boats.
29 Ania ti pinarsua ni Apo Dios nga Page 32ipagnana ti bocotna?
(Iloc.) Baloto
What creature made by Lord God walks on its back?
Boat
30 Oalay asoc ya quisquis no onbatic tirakiang.
(Pang.) Baloto
I have a hairless dog, who goes belly upward.
Boat
31 Naligo ang capitan hindi nabasa ang tian.
(Tag.) Banca
The captain took a bath without his belly getting wet.
Banca
32 Adda impatacderco a caoayan no agbolong intan.
(Iloc.) Parao
I set up a bambu; if it leafs out we shall go.
Prao
The bambu set up is the mast; the leaf is the sail.
33 Nano nga cahoy nga con may dahon may gamut, pero eon ua-ay gani dahon ua-ay man sing gamut?
(Bis.) Parao
What tree is it, that when it has Page 33leaves it also has roots, but when it has no leaves it also has no roots?
Sail, rudder and oars.
34 Nagalacat nagahayang.
(Bis.) Sacayan
He walks with his back.
A ship
35 Manica maco tana, tipa ca queti tana.
(Pamp.) Ancla
Come up and let us go, go down and here we stay.
Anchor
Body: parts.
36 Ania ti pinarsua ti Dios a masicog ti licudan?
(Iloc.) Botoy
What thing created by God has the fullness of pregnancy (masicog) behind?
The calf of the leg
Masicog is the swollen abdomen of the pregnant woman.
37 Bulong ti cappa-cappa nagtalicud nagpada.
(Iloc.) Lapayag
Cappa-cappa leaves placed back to back.
Ears
38 Daluang balon hindi malingon.
(Tag.) Tainga
Two wells, of which you cannot catch sight.
(Your) ears
39 Pito iti taoana; taltallo iti requepna.
(Iloc.) Lapayag, agong, mata, ngioat
There are seven windows; only three shut.
Ears, nostrils, eyes, mouth
40 Sipac nga sipac, saan nga mangeg ti caaroba.
(Iloc.) Mata
Claps and claps, but the neighbors do not hear.
Eyes
41 Tepac cac tan tepac agnereguel na ybac.
(Pang.) Mata
Clapping and clapping but my companions cannot hear me.
Eyes
42 Dalaua cong cahon bucsan ualang ugong.
(Tag.) Mata
I open my two boxes noiselessly.
Eyes
43 Dalawang batong maitim malayo ang dinarating.
(Tag.) Mata
Two black stones which reach far.
Eyes
44 Dalawang tindahan sabay na binubucsan.
(Tag.) Mata
Two stores are open at the same time.
Eyes
45 Adda dua nga Princesas quet nagseng nga tan da iti dua nga bantay; no agsangit iti maysa agsangit danga dua.
(Iloc.) Mata
There are two princesses, who live on the two sides of a mountain; when one cries both cry.
The eyes
46 Adda dua nga pisi agtongpal idiay langit.
(Iloc.) Mata
There are two halves; they go toward the sky.
Eyes
47 Malaon nang patay hindi maibaon at buhay ang capit bahay.
(Tag.) Bulag ang isang mata Page 36
It is a long time since it died, yet it can not be buried for its neighbor is still alive.
One blind eye
48 Señora a samsamping addai ti uneg ti sarming.
(Iloc.) Taotao ti mata
A samsamping is in the middle of the mirror.
The pupil of the eye
49 Daluang balahibuhen masarap pag daiten.
(Tag.) Mata at kilay
Two hairy things, it’s pleasant to have them meet.
Eyelids
50 Adda dua nga Princesa quet nagbaetanda ti maysa nga bantay quet daytoy a bantay adda met dua nga oaig quet no agsangit daguitoy a Princesa agayos met daytoy nga oaig ngem no saanda nga agsangit mamagaan daguitoy nga oaig.
(Iloc.) Mata quen agung
There are two princesses with a mountain between them. In this mountain are two brooks and when the princesses cry these brooks Page 37flow and when the princesses do not cry the brooks dry up.
Eyes and nose
51 Isang biyabas pito ang butas.
(Tag.) Mukha
One guava with seven holes.
Face
52 Limang puno nang niog; isay matayog.
(Tag.) Dalire
Five cocoanut palms; one is higher.
Fingers
53 Adda lima nga Principes nagcallogongda amin ti pisi.
(Iloc.) Ramay
There are five princes and their hat is one half.
Fingers
The nails are the hats.
54 Adda maysa nga ealapati nga nagna ti tinga ti ili manocayo cona ti ari no adda mainayon nga pisi justo nga dua polo cami.
(Iloc.) Ramay
There is a dove that walked in the middle of the town. How many are you said the king. If there is a Page 38half added we shall be twenty.
Fingers
55 Ni ni conconana aoan ti matana
(Iloc.) Tammodo
Here, here, he says, but has no eyes.
Forefinger
It points here and there, touching the things in question, but it cannot see.
56 Tata baculud ay ain-mena maita na ut-tunna si catanang-nga.
(Gad.) Quiray
A mountain the summit of which cannot be seen, being very high.
Forehead
57 Tubo sa punso, ualang buko.
(Tag.) Buhoc
Sugar-cane on clay, with no joints (knots).
Hair
58 Cahoy nga tambalisa, tapson indi malaya.
(Bis.) Buhoc
A plant which does not fade when cut down.
Hair
59 Iclog iti calao bolig iti lima.
(Iloc.) Ima Page 39
The calao’s egg is five-parted.
Hand
The calao is the hornbill; the egg here in question is perhaps his strange head-excrescence.
60 Isang bayabas peto ang butas.
(Tag.) Ulo
One guava with seven holes.
Head
61 Isa ca bungsud nga pito ang iya buho.
(Bis.) Olo
A small hill having seven holes.
Head
62 Sica a tao ti yan ti minuterum.
(Iloc.) Puso
You are the man who has the minute-beater.
Heart
Minuterum the pendulum beating.
63 No agtacderac ania ngata ti omona a ipagnae?
(Iloc.) Mocod
If I stand, what will be the first that steps?
Heel
64 Daluang bangiasan nag hahagaran.
(Tag.) Binte Page 40
Two fence stakes chasing each other.
Legs
65 Atian na ing gulut; ing gulut na ya ing atian.
(Pamp.) Bitis
Its front is the back, and its back is the front.
The lower leg (below the knee)
66 Adda oaig a bassit napnut bucbucaig.
(Iloc.) Ngioat
There is a small brook filled with shells.
Mouth
67 Isang balong malalem, punong puno nang patalem.
(Tag.) Bibig
A deep well is filled with chisels.
Mouth
68 Isa ca cahon-cahon nga punu sang tiguib.
(Bis.) Baba
A box full of chisels.
Mouth
69 Dua nga bobon napnot allid quen dagum.
(Iloc.) Agung Page 41
Two wells filled with wax and needles.
Nose
70 Baston ti Ygorot dica maparot
(Iloc.) Bato
The cane of the Igorot, you cannot pull up.
Penis
71 Mapatar ya dalin tinoboay garing.
(Pang.) Ngipuen
Plain earth has grown ivory.
Teeth
72 Umona nga aglaguis sa agdareedec.
(Iloc.) Ngipen
First place the bars and then the posts.
The teeth
The comparison is with fence-building. Here the posts are first set, and then the cross-pieces. The babe has first smooth, horizontal gums; then the upright teeth appear.
73 Nagapanilong apang basa.
(Bis.) Dila
He is under the shed but is always wet.
Tongue
74 Enlongon empantion onbangon mansermon.
(Pang.) Dila
Coffin in graveyard wakes up sermon.
Tongue
75 Na manantang ay maccatua udde na mannam ay malussao.
(Gad.) Attut
He who loses it rejoices, but he who finds it gets mad at it.
Bad odor; breaking wind
76 Iti nacapocao agayayat quet iti nacabiroc agong onget
(Iloc.) ottot
Who loses it is glad; who finds it is mad.
Bad odor; Breaking of wind
77 Magna sirirquep no nacalucat madi met.
(Iloc.) Mucat
It walks while it is shut; when it is open it does not care to walk.
Secretion from eye corner
78 Aso cong pute inutusan co, ay hindi na umue.
(Tag.) Lura Page 43
I sent out my white dog and he did not return.
Spittle
The practice of spitting, even unrelated to betel-chewing or tobacco-chewing, is far commoner among the
Filipinos than among ourselves.
Book.
79 Tinadtad a root insenpen a panonot.
(Iloc.) Libro
Chopped grass hidden in the mind.
Book
Fodder or “food for thought.”
80 Nagbulong nagbunga nanganac diay nangala.
(Iloc.) Pagbasan
It has leaves and fruits, Godfather took it.
Book
Candle.
81 Ania iti anac a pooranna iti baguis ni inana?
(Iloc.) Candela
What son burns his mother’s intestines?
Candle
82 Tite nang pare, mapute.
(Tag.) Candela Page 44
The priest’s ~ is white.
Candle
83 Kung babayaan mong ako ay mabuhay yaong kamatayay dagli kong kakamtan, ngungit kung akoy pataing paminsan ay lalong lalawig ang ingat kong buhay.
(Tag.) Kandilang may sindi
If you let me live I shall soon die; if you kill me I shall live long.
A lighted candle
84 Masondug a cayu talaque na donna.
(Gad.) Candela
A slender tree which bears only one leaf.
Lighted candle
85 Isang butel na palay punong puno ang bahay.
(Tag.) Ilao
A grain of rice fills the whole house.
Light
The flame of a candle is a little thing, comparable to a rice grain; yet it gives light to the whole house.
Cardinal Points.
86 Adda uppat a nga amigos; idi naparsua toy lubong inda naisigud.
(Iloc.) Uppat aturong Page 45
There are four friends; they have existed since the beginning.
The four directions
Clock: Watch.
87 Aldao rabii agririaoac.
(Iloc.) Reloj
Day and night I cry.
Clock
88 Amanu na mararamdam, dapot masaquit yang intindian, nung ing lupa na ing quecang lauan a usta mu ing qucang sasabian.
(Pang.) Relos
His words are audible but difficult to understand; when you look at his face you will understand what he says.
Clock
89 Ania ti parsua ni apo Dios nga aoan ti imana nga aoan ti sacana quet ammona ti agsao?
(Iloc.) Leros = reloj
What creature of God has no arms and legs, but can talk?
Clock
Coffin.
90 Ang nagapahimo nagahibi; ang nagahimo indi iya; ang tag-iya uala Page 46sing calibutan.
(Bis.) Longon
The one who orders it made is crying; the one who has it, it is not his to give; the one who owns it does not care anything about it.
Coffin
Disease.
91 Taong buhay inaanay.
(Tag.) Bulutong
A living person being eaten up by “anay.”
Smallpox
Anay, termites or white ants.
92 Ania ti pagayatan na a mabalud.
(Iloc.) Ti masaquit
Why does he wish to be in prison?
Pain
Dress.
93 Dadiay adalem agassiquet; dadiay ababao agatengngned.
(Iloc. also Pang., Bis.) Calzon; bado
What is deep reaches only to the waist; what is shallow comes to the neck.
Drawers; jacket
94 Daluang pipit nag titimbangan sa isang siit.
(Tag.) Hicao
Two pipits balancing on a bambu stick.
Earrings
The pipit is a small bird.
95 Bumili ako nang alipin mataas pa sa akin.
(Tag.) Sambalilo
I bought a slave, taller than myself.
Hat
96 Aniat aramid a canennaca,
(Iloc.) Bado
What work devours you.
Camisa
The word work is used in several of these riddles with the meaning of a thing made, a manufactured article.
The camisa is a shirt.
97 Nacaquitaac iti dua a sasacayan; maymaysat naglugan.
(Iloc.) Zapatos
I saw two boats; only one person was on board.
Shoes
98 Dala mo siya, dala ca niya.
(Tag.) Bakia Page 48
You carry it it carries you.
Shoe
09 Dalan mucu, dalan da ca, mipa quinabang cata.
(Pamp.) Sapin
Carry me, I will carry you; let us share alike.
Shoes
Drinks.
100 Con aga naga lapta, pero con hapon naga tipon.
(Bis.) Tuba
In the morning it is scattered in many places, but in the evening it is united into one place.
Tuba
An intoxicating drink made from cocoapalm sap; it is gathered daily. In the morning it is at the trees which yield; at evening it is brought in and stored.
Source: A Little Book of Filipino Riddles
Downloaded from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/2397778/A-Little-Book-of-Filipino-Riddles
