List of Filipino Proverbs Sayings
Philippine culture is rich with wisdom passed down through generations in the form of proverbs and sayings. These concise nuggets of wisdom encapsulate the values, beliefs, and traditions of the Filipino people. They offer insights into the Filipino way of life and provide valuable lessons for people of all backgrounds. Here are some timeless Filipino proverbs and sayings that continue to resonate today:
1. "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan."
Translation: "He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination."
This proverb emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's roots and learning from past experiences. It urges individuals to stay connected to their heritage and appreciate the lessons of the past.
2. "Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga."
Translation: "If there's perseverance, there's a delicious stew."
This saying conveys the idea that hard work and perseverance lead to rewarding outcomes. It encourages patience and resilience when faced with challenges or pursuing goals.
3. "Kapag apaw na ang takalan, kailangan kalusan."
Translation: "When the jar is full, it must be carried carefully."
This proverb underscores the need to handle success and abundance with care and responsibility. It cautions against complacency and encourages prudent management of resources.
4. "Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim man ay kumakapit."
Translation: "A person in dire straits will even cling to a sharp tool."
This saying reflects the resilience and resourcefulness of the Filipino people in times of adversity. It speaks to the innate ability to find solutions and hold on to hope in challenging circumstances.
Filipino proverbs and sayings not only offer wisdom but also serve as a reflection of the Filipino spirit—resilient, community-oriented, and deeply rooted in tradition. They hold timeless truths that resonate with people across cultures, making them treasures of Filipino heritage.
Do you have a favorite Filipino proverb or saying that resonates with you? Share it in the comments below!
A monkey dressed up is still a monkey. |
What good is horse when the grass is already dead? |
Don’t put your trust in Fortune until you are in heaven. |
He who gives alms to the poor faces heaven. |
He who boasts of his accomplishments will heap ridicule on himself. |
Children who get everything they ask for seldom succeed in life. |
Wealth can be acquired but beauty cannot. |
There is no bitter crust to a hungry person. |
Every road leads somewhere. |
A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
Continues little rain drops, deep river could overflow. |
Boldness is the fruit of hope. |
Loyalty is more valuable than diamonds. |
A wise man doesn't see his foot on the ground, he watches his next step. |
Not all that is black is charcoal. |
What good is a something big that is still needed to be searched, if there is something small that is in your hands? |
The person who makes an error should be taught, and not made fun of. |
Postpone today's anger until tomorrow. |
A young branch can be straightened, a mature one breaks. |
It is never too late to offer anything that is good. |
What good is grass when the horse is already dead? |
The higher the bamboo, the more it can be bent. |
Noisy is the can that contains nothing. |
He who does not love their national language is worse than a putrid fish. |
A good character is real beauty that never fades. |
No child was ever born without having been conceived. |
He who does not look back to his origins will not reach his destination. |
The prepared beats the hardworking person. |
To be merciful is God’s, while to act is man’s. |
An intelligent monkey can still be beaten. |
Mercy resides in God; deeds are in men. |
A year’s care, a minute’s ruin. |
He who gives alms to the poor faces heaven. |
A person who walks fast will have a deeper wound when he is pricked. |
No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church. |
A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside. |
Marriage is not just a porridge that you spit out if it's too hot. |
The rattan basket criticizes the palm leaf basket, still both are full of holes. |
If you plant, you harvest. |
The pain in the little finger is felt by the whole body. |
Don't trust in fortune until you are in heaven. |
The hardest person to wake up is the person who is already awake. |
It is easy to be born, it is difficult to be a human being. |
Acts tough but really a wimp. |
A clear conscience is more valuable than wealth. |
He who does not love their national language is worse than a putrid fish. |
It’s difficult to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep. |
The real hero doesn't say that he is one. |
A diligent person will soon prosper. |
A child that is given everything will rarely succeed in life. |
No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance. |
While the blanket is short, learn to bend. |
A clear conscience is more valuable than wealth. |
It’s difficult to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep. |
The fly on the back of a water buffalo thinks that it's taller than the buffalo. |
If you persevere, you'll have stew. |
Weeds are difficult to kill. |
No man is brave in the presence of a crying woman. |
An intelligent monkey can still be beaten. |
Borrowed clothes are either too tight or too loose. |
Wherever you go, habit follows. |
There is no bad food in a famine. |
A good character is more valuable than gold. |
He who speaks too much works too little. |
A desperate person will even hold on to a knife edge. |
There is no bitter crust to a hungry person. |
A quiet person hides his anger. |
Every kind of animal can be tamed, but not the tongue of man. |
Nothing destroys iron except its own rust. |
It is easy to be a man. It is hard to make oneself human. |
The earth has ears, news has wings. |
Wherever you find sugar, you'll find ants. |
He who eats chili gets burned and he who touches the pot gets charcoal on his hands. |
Don't put your trust in Fortune until you are in heaven. |
If you make a habit of buying things you do not need, you will soon be selling things you do. |
A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound. |
Life is like a wheel, sometimes at the top, sometimes at the bottom. |
Different towns have different customs. |
He who does not know to look where he came from will never get to his destination. |
There is no earthly bliss not watered by tears. |
He who sows, reaps. |
Don’t rush things to get better results. |
Be like a rice stalk, the more grains it bears, the lower it bows. |
Not all that is black is charcoal. |
He who waits dies, he who makes others wait lives. |
What goes up must come down. |
The bitterness of studying is preferable to the bitterness of ignorance. |
It is easier to dam a river than to stop the flow of gossip. |
Wherever the head goes, the tail will follow. |
He who refuses advice will end up in hardship. |
No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church. |
Children who get everything they ask for seldom succeed in life. |
There's a crocodile in every big river. |
If you buy things you don't need, you will soon be selling things you do need. |
A sincere invitation is accompanied by a pull. |
There's no glory without sacrifice. |
If a bamboo tube makes a loud sound, it is empty. |
A fly will not enter a closed mouth. |
It's better to be dead and forgotten than to live in shame. |
Where there is gossip, there will be arguing. |
Tell me who your father is, and I'll tell you who you are. |
Lazy people will eventually lose even their trousers. |
If there is no patience, there will be no food. |
Alertness and courage are life's shield. |
He who believes in hearsay does himself a disservice. |
A young tree is easy to straighten, but when it's big it is difficult. |
To a dog a bone has more value than a pearl. |
He who is choosy often picks the worst. |
What good is a palace if only owls live in it? |
A man that talks too much accomplishes little. |
One who spends too much time choosing ends up with cracked wares. |
The prepared beats the hardworking person. |
Avoiding danger is not cowardice. Courage without discretion is no good. |
Whatever you do, think about it seven times. |
He who cackled is the guilty party. |
To a person who has real shame, words are oath. |
Coincidence defeats a well-laid plan. |
One need not inherit wealth if he inherits good manners. |
A true friend is known in time of need. |
Tell a lie and the truth will come to light. |
A country without freedom is like a prisoner with shackled hands. |
Whatever you do, think about it seven times. |
Beauty will fade, but not goodness. |
Not all goodness brings sweetness. - Download |
Marriage is not just a porridge that you spit out if it’s too hot. |
He who does not know to look where he came from will never get to his destination. |
A long voyage begins with just one step. |
Many people count other people’s faults and ignore their own. |
The fly on the back of a water buffalo thinks that it’s taller than the buffalo. |
He who believes in hearsay does himself a disservice. |
Laziness is the sibling of starvation. |
The voluntary obedience of people depends on who is commanding them. |
He who sowed wind, reaps a typhoon. |
No bread is too hard for warm coffee. |
The pain of the little finger is felt by the whole body. |
Every jungle has a snake. |
He who quits does not win, he who wins does not quit. |
If someone throws a rock at you, throw him bread. |
The person who is always criticizing others is usually the one who deserves criticism the most. |
Every community has its own customs and traditions. |
If you sow arrows, you will reap sorrows. |
A desperate person will cling to a knife. |
A clear conscience is far more valuable than money. |
The noisiest drum has nothing but air inside. |
Caution minimizes loss. |
If you are going a long way, go slowly. |
If the horse is already dead more hay will not help it. |
Whatever the tree, so is the fruit. |
Postpone today’s anger until tomorrow. |
Thorns bury shallowly into one who walks slowly. Thorns bury deeply into one who walks fast. Filipino Proverb in English |
A brave man will face a situation no matter how dreadful. |
We should always keep in mind that Love, Hope, and Faith in God, will bring us success in life. |
If you are going a long way, go slowly. |
Truthfulness ensures a lasting relationship. |
Knowledge is wealth that can't be stolen. |
People who do not break things first will never learn to create anything. |
What one learns in childhood he carries into adulthood. |
He who boasts of his accomplishments will heap ridicule on himself. |
Stones hurled to the sky. Don't get angry if you get hit. |
If it's work, do it fast. If it's food, eat it little by little. |
A clear conscience is far more valuable than money. |
Avoiding danger is not cowardice. Courage without discretion is no good. |
Bad grass does not die easily. |
It is advantageous to follow advice, for you will succeed in life. * |
He who sowed wind, reaps a typhoon. |
Even if the truth is buried for centuries, it will eventually come out and thrive. |
The real hero doesn’t say that he is one. |
A year's care, a minute's ruin. |
What is easily acquired is easily lost. |
Don't empty the water jar until the rain falls. |
The child who is given everything he asks for usually won’t succeed in life. |
What good is a palace if it's inhabited by owls. Better a straw hut inhabited by humans. |
If you stash, you have something to withdraw. |
I have returned from where you are going, or the saying been there, done that. Filipino Sayings |
