This might not be the typical expat blog, written by a German expat, living in the Philippines since 1999. It's different. In English and in German. Check it out! Enjoy reading! Dies mag' nun wirklich nicht der typische Auswandererblog eines Deutschen auf den Philippinen sein. Er soll etwas anders sein. In Englisch und in Deutsch! Viel Spass beim Lesen!
You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?
Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!
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Thursday, December 4, 2025
I Love you !
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
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.”
Monday, June 28, 2021
Typical Filipino (XXII) - Typisch Philipinisch (XXII): What does ''Mahal kita'' in Tagalog mean?
"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”).
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



