FilipinoPod101.com Blog

There’s probably no country that sends its people to work overseas more than the Philippines. And although it’s largely a country where people tend to leave and decide to settle abroad, it also attracts quite a good number of foreigners. In March 2019, some 714,000 foreign visitors were reported to have visited the Philippines. Headlines may say that living here isn’t a good idea, but foreigners who’ve experienced life in the archipelago say otherwise. Considering foreigners’ appreciation of the Philippines and the Filipino language’s international reach as a spoken language, it’s not hard to see why more and more foreigners are looking for ways to learn Tagalog fast. But how long does it take to learn Filipino, really? And what’s... Show more

The Filipino culture is saturated with all kinds of traditions, beliefs, and superstitions, many of which are either illogical or impractical. Despite this, it’s also rich in proverbs that contain ageless wisdom. Known as salawikain in Tagalog, Filipino proverbs are bits and pieces of knowledge passed down orally from one generation to another. Their main purpose is to relate perceptions and little truths that have been tested through time. There are many things from my childhood I will never forget. Among them are the Filipino proverbs that were taught to me by my parents and elders, and the ones I read from the once-popular Tagalog children’s magazine Pambata, which featured a comic strip entitled ‘Mga Salawikain ni Lolo Brigido.’ ... Show more

Manila may not be the same since the lockdown started, but what remains is the fact that it's one of the best and most important places to visit in the Philippines. This is especially true if you have a desire to study the language and culture of the Filipinos.  In this Manila travel guide, we’ll take a look at the top ten places to visit in Manila. Whether or not you’ve been to Manila before, you’ll find this guide invaluable. Here, you’ll learn the best times to visit the region, which landmarks and tourist spots to see, and which words and phrases to use when conversing with the locals. So, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s take a ride to the capital of the Philippines—Manila! Metro Manila at night. Table of Contents ... Show more

In your interactions with native Tagalog speakers, don’t be surprised to hear a few English words thrown in. Some refer to this mixing of the two languages as Taglish, while others call it Philippine English or Filipinism. The practice of using English words or phrases in a uniquely Filipino way has been around for decades, and it usually leaves English-speaking foreigners scratching their heads. Yes, that's what this kind of Filipino-speak produces at times: confusion.  If you're a foreigner studying the Filipino language and desire to truly master it, this is one aspect of the language you must not overlook, as 99% of Filipinos speak in this manner. To help you navigate this crazy world of English words used in the Filipino language,... Show more

Studying and learning about different cultures helps us understand why certain groups of people see the world the way they do. If you're studying the Filipino language, it makes sense to gain a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture, as well. Doing so will help you better appreciate every new Filipino word or expression you learn. The Filipino culture is quite complex, having been influenced by many different cultures. Each value and belief is applied to people’s daily lives, revealing how significant the nation’s history is. Yet despite the impact of other cultures on the character and behavior of Filipinos, it’s interesting to know that there are still many values unique to this group of people. Thus the expression Onli in da... Show more

Filipinos probably love eating more than any other group of people in the world. To give you an idea, there are restaurants in the Philippines that serve "unlimited rice," more popularly known as "unli-rice." And while food is the basis of social life for the hospitable Filipinos, there’s also no question that Filipino food is delectable. People in most cultures eat three meals a day with some snacks in-between. A typical Filipino eats in this order: coffee and bread upon waking up to warm the stomach; breakfast at around seven in the morning; some snacks at ten; lunch at noon; coffee break with snacks at three in the afternoon; dinner at six-thirty in the evening; and midnight snacks before going to bed. Not to mention that every major... Show more

Filipino is a beautiful language, but it cannot be learned and mastered overnight.  If you want to master grammar in Tagalog and speak like a native Filipino, you need to have a strong foundation. That means studying the language in-depth and learning the most basic concepts before advancing to the more difficult parts. Well, if you want to familiarize yourself with the Filipino grammar basics, you’ve come to the right place. On this page, we’ll present you with the fundamentals of Filipino grammar, from sentence formation to pronunciation. Table of Contents General Rules Nouns Pronouns Verbs and Tenses Adjectives Level Up Your Filipino With FilipinoPod101 1. General Rules There are four general aspects... Show more

Writers often use quotes to develop a piece of writing they’re working on, be it an article, poem, essay, or novel. Whether you're a writer or not, learning quotes and sayings from other cultures can benefit you in more ways than one. If you're learning the Filipino language, for instance, studying Tagalog quotes and sayings will give you a better grasp of both the language of the Filipino people and their culture. Filipinos are a very expressive people, and they express their thoughts and emotions through art, particularly in music or literature. They also use quotes or proverbs to share wisdom, express a sentiment, give a lecture, or even try to win an argument. There are several ways that Filipinos convey a message through these... Show more

The Philippines is a multicultural country and is highly influenced by Western culture. This means that it’s not uncommon to hear people speaking their own language mixed with other dialects and foreign languages, particularly English. In fact, in some organizations, employees are encouraged to use English as the primary means of communication. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t stop you from learning Filipino business phrases. Most job interviews in the Philippines are done in English, but Tagalog (mixed with a little bit of English, of course) is still the main language used in the workplace, particularly within the National Capital Region. If you wish to find employment in the Philippines as a foreigner, there are a few things that will be... Show more

Did you know that as you learn to speak Tagalog, YouTube videos can be a valuable supplementary resource? YouTube has been around for fifteen years and it's one of the most visited websites today, with five billion videos watched per day. While it's filled with a variety of content, YouTube isn't only about cat videos, pranks, and celebrity vlogs. When harnessed correctly, YouTube can be a very powerful educational tool—and this certainly applies to language learning! Regardless of which language you wish to learn and master, you can rest assured that YouTube is one of the best platforms to supplement your studies.  In this article, we’ll present you with ten of the best Filipino YouTube channels for enhancing your Tagalog-speaking... Show more