MODULE 1

Lesson 1
YOUR JOURNEY

Philippines has abounding natural resources as well as its heritage. In this lesson you
will explore your glorious past and how your ancestors preserved your identity as Filipinos.
Awareness of how your literary history begun has great impact on how you project your
values to others. During the pre-colonial period where pen and paper were not available,
your ancestors never weary to pass on the oral traditions that made your identity unique
among other nations. Filipinos are blessed with wise elders who contributed a lot to your
culture. Knowing Philippine heritage reciprocates finding oneself.
There are examples of literary genres that will help you link to the glorious past while
you are developing your skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

YOUR OBJECTIVES
Leading to the path of your goal to this lesson, you are expected to:
 Express whether a statement is true or false based on what you know
 Recognize differences in voice levels and speech patterns
 Share prior knowledge about the topic
 Describe the different literary genres
 Use information presented in a given text to infer, to evaluate, and to express critical ideas
 Produce the correct critical consonant sounds of /p/ and /f/
 Interpret the proverbs as a means of discovering oneself
 Observe rules in subject-verb agreement
 Present a well-prepared a booklet of riddles
YOUR INITIAL TASKS
TASK 1. Agree or Disagree?
Read each statement below then, write whether you agree or disagree based from your prior
knowledge.

_____1. Riddles depict of the glorious past of the Filipinos.

_____2. Our ancestors used oral tales as form of recreation.
_____3. Proverbs could not serve as guidepost for the upright living of our
ancestors.
_____4. All pre-colonial literary genres appeared in poetic form.
_____5. All proverbs reflect the abounding culture and tradition of Filipinos.

Task 2. What Did They Say?

Complete the grid below as you listen to the recording.
Recording Descriptions of the Descriptions of the
Speaker’s Voice Speaker’s Message
1.
2.
3.

TASK 3. Fast Riddle

Answer the following riddles within one minute.
_____1. Pedro hides but you can still see his head.
_____2. Not a priest, not a king but wears different kinds of clothes.
_____3. Role in the morning, leaf in the afternoon.
_____4. It has one entrance, has three exit.
_____5. It’s here, it’s here, but you cannot see.

YOUR TEXT

These paragraphs will give you deeper understanding about our unique culture prior
to the colonial period. Linking the past to present will lead you to appreciate more of our rich
culture.
TASKS 4. Knowledge Power
RIDDLES
Riddles have been a central part of Filipino tradition before Spanish era took place. They are
oral tradition which have been passed down for several generations. “Bugtong” is the local version
of riddle in the Philippines. Inventing and answering riddles are among top hobbies for early Filipinos
with much spare time at their disposal, marking their liking towards activities that hone the mind.
Its popularity may be greatly attributed to its mirroring of the Filipino culture. The riddles of this
island are known to have two unique indications; its being short but extraordinarily full of images is
another one. One may always notice that riddles made by Filipinos are always based from materials
or equipment that are habitually seen or used. One more thing noticeable about Filipino riddles is
a touched of poetic verses found in it, combining two forms in one, indicating that Filipinos are
already masters of literature even in the olden times. And as Filipinos continuously produced quality
riddles worthy of mention, the quality of literature is also altered proportionally for the better.

Examples of riddles:
 I have a friend and he is with me everywhere I go. (Shadow)
 I can’t see it in light but I can see it in the dark. (Star)
 Maria’s skirt, in different colors. (Rainbow)
 House of Pedro, full of stone. (Guava)
 An island pig with a hair as hard as a nail. (Jackfruit)

PROVERBS
Proverbs are brief instructive expressions that suggest a specific action, behavior, or
judgment. Referred to by some scholars as the wisdom of many and the wit of one, they are
commonly written in the form of short assertions or poetic two-liners which have rhyme. It is
interesting to note that people are easily struck by proverbs when they are woven in conversations
or writings. This is perhaps because they have the power to teach people the more essential truths
about life and the complexity of living. Compared to lengthy narrations, descriptions, or
argumentations, proverbs are able to effect quickly a change in view or disposition. Philippine
proverbs are further illustrated to be ornaments to language, words of ancestors handed down from
one generation to another, and as wisdom gained from experience, which can be quoted to express
a sentiment, a statement, or an opinion. Apart from this, Filipino proverbs are also used to prevent
offending other individuals. Proverbs are also called salawikain or sawikain. They prescribe norms,
impart a lesson, or emphasize traditions and beliefs in a community.
Examples of proverbs:
1. A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.
Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
People gain strength by standing together.
2. While the blanket is short, learn how to bend.
Hangga't makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
If your blanket is too short to cover you completely with your legs straight, bend them so that you
fit. In other words, learn how to adapt to your environment and be satisfied with what you have. If
you have less in life, learn to be frugal until you come to the point when you can spare some
money for a little bit of luxury.
3. It is hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.
Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.
While it is easy to tell people something they do not know, it is much harder if they are willfully
choosing not to see what is before them.
4. If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.
Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
They don't call them the fruits of labor for nothing. Hard work and perseverance are needed to
reach your goals. But if you keep trying, one day you will enjoy the results of your efforts.
5. New king, new character.
Bagong hari, bagong ugali.
New leadership always brings new ways.

TASK 5. Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast riddles to proverbs through a Venn diagram.

Riddles Proverbs
TASK 6. Loud and Clear
Enhance your pronunciation of critical consonant sounds of /p/ and /f/ based on some parts
of the article. You will be guided by your teacher.
/p/ /f/
Proverbs Fit
Persevere Satisfied
Leadership Specific
People Filipino
Produced Friend
Experience Different
Apart Before
Prevent Further

YOUR DISCOVERY TASKS

TASK 7. As For Me

Proverbs My Translations My Interpretations

1. Even though the
procession is long, it
will still end up in
church.
2. Nothing destroys iron
but its own rust.
3. Don’t count chicks
until the eggs are
hatched.
4. A thief hates a fellow
thief.
5. A person who does
not remember where
he came from will
never reach his
destination.

Complete the table below by supplying your own translations and interpretations of the
given proverbs.
TASKS 8. As For Me
Study each sentence below. If Leo, a student, said it is grammatical and you are sure it is
true, write correct. If he said it is ungrammatical and it is indeed true, rewrite the sentence. Do the
same if Leo said it is grammatical but actually, it is not.
Sentence Leo said, it is… Your
Analysis
1. A riddles of the island are known to have Grammatical
two unique indicators.
2. There is Filipino riddles written by some Ungrammatical
scholars that served as a form of
recreation.
3. One of the noticeable things about Grammatical
Filipino riddles is a touched of poetic
verses found in it.
4. There are still many questions about folk Grammatical
literature that need to be answered.
5. Apart from this, Filipino proverbs is also Grammatical
used to prevent offending other
individual.
6. Ancestor as well as youth of today use Ungrammatical
proverbs as their guidepost.
7. An Available list of riddles and proverbs Ungrammatical
preserve our culture and tradition.
8. The researchers, accompanied by local Grammatical
translators were able to gather proverbs.
9. A Philippine proverbs illustrate to be Grammatical
ornaments to language.
10.Oral literature, which depicts our origin, Ungrammatical
express the wisdom of our ancestors.
YOUR FINAL TASK

Task 9. My Book of Riddles

As evidence of your learning in this lesson, you will have to create a booklet containing your
original composition of riddles. You have to follow the given guidelines in creating the booklet.
 Paper size short bond paper folded in half
 Prepare 10 riddles (1 riddle per page)
 Support your riddles with illustrations/drawings

The criteria for assessment will be:

 Content
 Originality
 Creativity
 Neatness
 Promptness

YOUR TREASURE

Developing your awareness of how your literary history begun has great impact on
how you project your values to others. Knowing Philippine heritage reciprocates finding
oneself.
My journey through this lesson enabled me to learn …
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It made me realize that…
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I therefore commit to…
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