Here are over 200 ways of saying ‘I love you’ in Philippine languages and dialects

The document shows a list of how "iniibig kita" or "I love you" is expressed in over two hundred Philippine languages (UP Department of Linguistics/Facebook)

By James Patrick Cruz 

There are hundreds of ways to express love.

This was proven by a document shared by the UP Department of Linguistics. 

The document showed a list of how “iniibig kita” or “I love you” is expressed in over two hundred Philippine languages and dialects. 

This was compiled by linguist Ernesto Constantino and other members of the linguistic department in 1967. 

According to Ethnologue Languages of the World, there are 186 established languages in the Philipines, with four of which now extinct. 

Of the living languages, 41 are classified as institutional, 72 are developing, 46 are vigorous, 13 are in trouble, and ten are dying.

On February 6, the House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill that seeks to suspend the use of the mother tongue as the primary medium of instruction in early-grade education.

This bill is a response to the scarcity of learning materials in the mother tongue.  

In October last year, there was also a push to remove Mother Tongue as a subject in Grade 1 to 3 classes. 

Education Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said, “there is no need to teach it (mother tongue) to the children because this is already their everyday language in the school and community and family.”

While others have welcomed this suggestion, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) expressed concern saying that the “step will make learning recovery more difficult and shows how the agency lacks real appreciation of the Mother Tongue’s role in learning.”

Typical Filipino (XXII) - Typisch Philipinisch (XXII): What does ''Mahal kita'' in Tagalog mean?

Dayang C Marikit

I’m a Philippine history professor and my Quora account is mainly focused on promoting and educating people about the pre-colonial period.

"Mahal kita" means "I love you" in modern times… however this was not the "original" way of saying "I love you" in Filipino... the original way of saying "I love you" is "Sinisinta kita" or "Iniibig kita"… by the way “Kita” is a dual person pronoun meaning "I" and "You" in Filipino… note: "Kita" in Filipino should not be confused with its Indonesian meaning, which translates to "We". In Filipino "Tayo" is the proper transition of "We".

• "Mahal" has now two meanings in Filipino, it originally only meant "Expensive"… (So when you say “Mahal Kita” it basically means that you “treasure” that person because he/she is "precious" to you).
• But the word “Mahal” was also used when speaking to royals/nobles. This indicates that these members of society were of high status “wealthy, precious, and treasured" and in context it translates to "Your Highness".

Examples:

• (“Mahal kong Lakan/Rajah”) - (“Your highness my king”).
• (“Mahal kong Lakambini”) - (“Your highness my queen”).
• (“Mahal kong Pangino’on/Po’on) - (“Your highness my lord”).
• (“Mahal kong Gino’o”) - (“Your highness my lord”).

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For context, (“Pangino’on”/”Po’on”) directly translates to (“Lord”)… while (“Gino’o”) translates to (“Noble”), so in contexts (“Mahal kong Pangino’on”) and (“Mahal kong Gino’o”) basically mean the same thing.

Philippine History Professor

MA in Philippine History from University of the Philippines. Graduated 2016.

Lives in Quezon City, Philippines

I love you!

Mindanao Daily Mirror

I LOVE YOU!

This week, it's time again for Valentine's Day. Expensive flowers, sweets, lunches, hotel overnight stays ... .

Do you know something about the legend of St. Valentine? The history of Valentine's Day – and the story of its patron saint – is indeed shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

From February 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. ... Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.

Being married since almost 35 years now, Valentine's Day lets me always recall lovely moments from the past.

In a very old issue of PHILADELPHIA NEWS, which is still on my desk, columnist Larry Fields confessed: "I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz by the Austrian king of waltz Johann Strauss!) - it's cheaper than petrol, food and rent!"

Well, some marriages are mad in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest are down-to-earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy celebrating my  wedding anniversary next month.

Maybe you remember this: "Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!" Indeed, they did.

What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these title of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-ever-after marriages. or even earlier, because the so-called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already.

The truth is that life isn't made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove existing. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimously we're in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life needs badly a new outside coating.

All of a sudden, the partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you're revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversary for the first or even second time . Just bear in mind: You've won each other's acceptance  and sometimes even feelings terrible gloomy. This acceptance shouldn't be undervalued.

Even we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: "That's it? That WAS it?"

And suddenly, we experienced the third stage and learned, why it's worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don't mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerable hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men are to unload the garbage without being asked for.

Although no marriage is continually blissful - it can be pretty good most of the time. When we lasted through arguments, money worries, and kid's problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationship is not always a big day celebration.

It's because the fundamental  reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That's MY idea of "Happily ever after, indeed!"

And one thing more: in my opinion, Valentine's Day shouldn't be only on February 14. It doesn't matter, if one is married or not.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .