Dusk

GLOSSARY

anahau:

Short palm tree, no taller than a man. Its leaves are made into fans, rain capes, and the like.

Apo:

Respectful form of address.

Apo Init:

The sun.

azotea:

Area attached to the rear of large homes, lacking a roof (Sp.).

bakas:

Ilokano ritual to mark the end of mourning, when Ilokanos stop wearing black.

banaba:

A tree with medicinal leaves and purple flowers.

bangcag:

A plot of land not suitable for rice. It is planted with vegetables, root crops, and/or sugarcane.

basi:

Sugarcane wine.

batalan:

Same as

azotea

, but on farmhouses, where water jars and some potted plants are placed.

benting:

A 25-centavo coin (no longer used).

bodega:

Store or house (Sp.).

calesa:

Buggy (Sp.).

carabao:

Water buffalo. The animal does not perspire, which is why it needs to soak in water or mud every day to cool off.

cartilla

(literally “primer”): The alphabet (Sp.).

carzoncillo:

Shorts for men, tied with a string around the waist, usually made of cotton, often knee-length.

catón:

Primer; a reader for children (Sp.); a teacher.

catuday:

Tree with white or pink flowers that can be eaten.

cédula:

Residence certificate (Sp.).

culibambang:

Tree with leaves like green butterflies, hence its name. It grows wild, usually on hillsides.

dalipawen:

A very tall tree, like a palm, that draws fireflies.

dal-lot:

Traditional Ilokano poetry, usually chanted.

galletas:

Biscuits (Sp.).

garita:

Measure of grain; term no longer used, as grain is measured in kilos.

gobernadorcillo:

Town mayor.

herbolario:

Native healer, who usually uses herbs.

ilustrados:

The first Filipinos, usually of means, who studied in Europe (beginning in the 1880s) in order to become “enlightened”; literally, “learned” or “well-informed” (Sp.).

inang:

Ilokano equivalent of “mama.”

ipil:

Tree usually used for firewood.

kumbento:

Part of the sacristy where the priest lives.

kusing:

Smallest monetary unit, even less than a penny (no longer used).

lomboy:

Edible fruit, like purple grapes, but with a big seed.

madre de cacao:

A shrub planted as fencing, with beautiful cherrylike flowers in dry season.

mal vivir:

Spanish name for Filipinos who fled from Spanish tyranny.

Manong:

Affectionate, respectful form of address for older brother or man. Ilokanos do not call older relatives by their given names alone.

marunggay:

Its leaves and young fruit are cooked as vegetables.

médico titulado:

Officially licensed doctor (Sp.).

micol:

Five-centavo coin (no longer used).

municipio:

Town hall (Sp.).

oración:

Prayer, usually in Latin (Sp.).

pañuelo:

A scarf worn by women, usually with the national dress (Sp.).

parunapin:

Hardwood tree.

pasyon:

The Holy Week story of the crucifixion, usually sung in verse form.

patintero:

A game usually played in the moonlight.

pomelo:

Tropical orange, often as big as a soccer ball.

principalia:

The provincial elite, usually landlords (Sp.).

rayadillo:

Seersucker design of the revolutionary army; tiny blue lines on white.

remontados:

Spanish name for Filipinos who fled from Spanish tyranny.

sagat:

Hardwood tree. Sagat is the hardest Philippine wood, used for house posts or railroad ties.

sala:

The living room in large houses (Sp.).

salapi:

Fifty centavos; also denotes money, lucre.

saluyot:

A wild-growing shrub with leaves that are the best-known Ilokano vegetable, slippery like okra.

sineguelas:

Tree bearing a green fruit no larger than a Ping-Pong ball.

sipi:

A small room attached to the farmer’s house, where pillows and the rice bin are stored.

sitio:

A group of houses smaller than a village.

siyam-siyam

(literally “nine-nine”): Nine days of constant rain.

sopa boba

(literally “fool’s soup”): Small consolation (Sp.)

suman:

Gelatinous rice cooked in coconut milk, usually wrapped in banana leaves or young palm leaves.

Tatang:

Ilokano term for father or affectionate address for an older male.

tinto dulce:

Sweet wine (Sp.).

tulisanes:

Thieves.