Lesson:

Proverbs
 DAMIANA L. EUGENIO
• Mother of Philippine Folklore
• She compiled and edited what may
very well be considered as the
most comprehensive collection of
proverbs in our country
•She spent her lifetime
collecting pieces of literature
that reveals our ancestors’
wisdom.
•She declared that our elders
lived by simple yet very
meaningful rules of righteous
living
•She asserted that even the
Spaniards who colonized our
country noticed how
proverbs formed part of the
native spirit.
•Spanish missionaries were found
to have translated such
proverbs and other oral
expressions in Spanish in order
to their fellow religious people
to learn indigenous languages
 PROVERBS
•Are brief instructive
expressions that suggest a
specific action, behavior, or
judgement.
 PROVERBS
•Referred to by some scholars as
“the wisdom of many and the
wit of one” they are written in
the form of short poetic two-
liner which have rhyme.
It is interesting to note that people
are easily struck by proverbs when
they have woven conversations or
writings. This is perhaps because
they have the power to teach people
the more essential truths about life
and complexity of living.
Compared to lengthy narrations,
descriptions, or argumentations,
proverbs are able to effect
quickly a change in view or
disposition.
 PROVERBS
•Sawikain or salawikain
•They prescribe norms, impart
lesson, or emphasize traditions
and beliefs in a community.
 6 CLASSIFICATION OF PROVERBS ACCORDING TO
DAMIANA L. EUGENIO
1.Proverbs expressing a general attitude
towards life and the laws that govern
life
2.Ethical proverbs recommending certain
virtues and condemning certain vices
3.Proverbs expressing a system of values
 6 CLASSIFICATION OF PROVERBS ACCORDING TO
DAMIANA L. EUGENIO
4. Proverbs expressing general truths and
observations about life and human
nature.
5. Humorous proverbs
6. Miscellaneous proverbs
The proverbs of any people are
expressive of life as in the
following:
1. FAMILY SOLIDARITY
Example:
Ang sakit ng kalingkingan,
dama ng buong katawan.

The whole world may quarrel

but not the husband and wife.
2. HONESTY
Example:
Ang taong bulaan,
kapatid ng magnanakaw.

No legacy is richer than honesty.

3. CHARACTER
Example:
Lumilipas ang kagandahan,
ngunit hindi ang kabutihan.

A man‘s character is seen in his deeds.

4. INDUSTRY
Example:
Ang hipong tulog,
tinatangay ng agos.

Industry is the brother of success.

5. THRIFT
Example:
Ubos-ubos biyaya,
pagkatapos ay tunganga

If you tucked away something,

you have something to look up to.
6. LEADERSHIP
Example:
Ang ibinubuti ng nasasakupan,
Ay nasa may hawak ng kapangyarihan.

Full-hearted obedience depends on him who

commands.
7. CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS
Example:
Di man pakaibigin,
huwag lang pakahiyain

A person with good manners is loved by his

companions.
8. CHARITY
Example:
Ang magmalimos sa mahirap,
langit ang hinaharap.

Charity begins at home.

9. COURAGE AND DARING
Example:
Ang umiiwas sa kaaway,
ay isang tunay na matapang.

A hero who is wounded becomes still

braver.
10. MODESTY
Example:
Huwag sanayin ang dila mapangahas na wika,
Pagkat kung hindi magawa ay lalong kahiya-
hiya.

Modesty is the emblem of goodness.

11. PRUDENCE
Example:
Ang dila ng tao ay isang dali,
Ngunit pinapatay kahit isang hari.

Before you say something, think it over seven

times.
12. FRIENDSHIP
Example:
kaibigan kung mayroon,
Kung wala‘y patapon-tapon.

A good friend is known in time of need.

13. CONTENTMENT
Example:
A man is the richest if he is contented even
with little.

A contented man is like one always celebrating

a feast.
14. GREED
Example:
Ang taong gaham-gahaman
Ang nasa‘ di makamtan, malayo sa kapalaran.

A greedy person is never satisfied.

Our proverbs are not only witty expressions.
They are our cultural treasures. As we
continue to use them in various spoken or
written forms and as we explore ways of
representing them in graphic, musical, or
dramatic modes, we facilitate their
preservation. And through these, we
strengthen our identity as a people.
Seatwork #2
Write T if the statement is
True and F it is False.
1. Proverbs cannot
strengthen our identity as a
people.
 2

2. Proverbs and other forms of

folk literature wee introduced
by the Spaniards.
3. Our ancestors’ proverbs
served as guideposts for
upright living.
4. All proverbs are poetic and
figurative in nature.
5. Proverbs may have
geographical origins.
6. People react to the
meaning of proverbs quite
quickly.
7. Proverbs are more superior
than other literary forms in
expressing messages.
8. If proverbs can instruct,
they can definitely
prescribe.
9. It is impossible to classify
and categorize our numerous
proverbs.
10. Our proverbs reflect a lot
of things about our culture
and identity.