P.A.L.S

Welcome to the Pilipino American Language School! Tagalog learning by Fil-Ams for Fil-Ams.

[filipeanut]

Here’s Tala the Tamaraw tooting her own horn or torotot, since October marks Tamaraw month. They can be so annoying! Especially for Mindy, a shy and quiet Mindoro Bleeding-heart pigeon.

Their families have been neighbors for generations, but as time goes on, there are less of them now.

Only around 600 Tamaraw can be found (MBCFI 2021), and up to 400 Mindoro bleeding-hearts are estimated to be left in Mindoro (BirdLife).

Both of them are “island endemics” meaning they can only be found in Mindoro and nowhere else in the world! (Gonzalez 1999)

Learn more by attending the upcoming Tamaraw Symposium in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro this October 16 to 18, 2025. Follow Thriving Together with Tamaraw, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (MBCFI), and the DENR-Tamaraw Conservation Program Office on Facebook for the latest updates and trivia.

📌 Oct 16 – MBC Summit

📌 Oct 17 – Tamaraw Symposium

📌 Oct 18 – Mindoro Wildlife Quiz Contest

References

Juan Carlos T Gonzalez et al, 1999 - Rapid island-wide survey of terrestrial fauna and flora on Mindoro Island, Philippines https://www.mbcfi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/8_Mindoro_Island_Wide_Survey.pdf

BirdLife International - Mindoro Bleeding-heart https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindoro-bleeding-heart-gallicolumba-platenae

[philippinewildlifeart]

Every October for Tamaraw Month, two special animals take a tour of their own home in Mindoro.

Tala the Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) and Mindy the Mindoro Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) pigeon like to visit Mt. Siburan, Mt. Iglit, and Mt. Baco, mountains where generations of their friends and relatives have lived side-by-side.

Unfortunately as time goes on, there are less of them now.

Only around 600 Tamaraw can be found (MBCFI 2021), and up to 400 Mindoro bleeding-hearts are estimated to be left in Mindoro (BirdLife).

Both of them are “island endemics” meaning they can only be found in Mindoro and nowhere else in the world! (Gonzalez 1999)

Learn more by attending the upcoming Tamaraw Symposium in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro this 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. Follow Thriving Together with Tamaraw, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (MBCFI), and the DENR-Tamaraw Conservation Program Office for the latest updates and trivia.

📌 Oct 16 – MBC Summit

📌 Oct 17 – Tamaraw Symposium

📌 Oct 18 – Mindoro Wildlife Quiz Contest

References

Juan Carlos T Gonzalez et al, 1999 - Rapid island-wide survey of terrestrial fauna and flora on Mindoro Island, Philippines https://www.mbcfi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/8_Mindoro_Island_Wide_Survey.pdf

BirdLife International - Mindoro Bleeding-heart https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindoro-bleeding-heart-gallicolumba-platenae

[bookwyrminspiration]

[pa-language-school]

Cultural Note - Philippine history is rooted in resistance!

Did you know that the first official Filipino hero was a Visayan chief who successfully resisted Spanish colonialism?

Lapu-Lapu was one of two datus (chiefs) from the island of Mactan in the Visayas (southern) region of the Philippines. He is famous for defending the island of Mactan from Spanish colonizers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

While other tribes were welcoming of Catholicism and Spanish colonizers, Lapu-Lapu refused to pay tribute to the Spanish crown--even when the other datu of Mactan capitulated.

Raja Humabon, a tribal leader who had been quarraling with Lapu-Lapu at the time, convinced Magellan to attack the island of Mactan for Lapu-Lapu's defiance.

In 1521, Magellan and his men attack Mactan and lose to Lapu-Lapu's warriors. This victory delays the colonization of the Philippines for more than 40 years.

Photo is for educational purposes only.

[pa-language-school]

Practice tayo! (Let's practice!) Scenario: You're the owner of this cafe, and you need to know the names and careers of your workers and regulars. Practice answering the questions in red with the information provided. Put your answers in a reblog, and I'll review your work!

Illustrations by irasutoya on Canva.

[pa-language-school]

Careers in Tagalog Part 2

Karagdagang bokabularyo = Additional Vocabulary

The vocabulary words "babae" (woman) and "lalaki" (man) are included in this slide because this chapter of the textbook includes identifying people and introducing yourself.

Here is an example introduction: "Ako si Clara. Babae ako." = I'm Clara. I'm a woman.

You can also ask, "Sino ang babae/lalaki?" = Who is the woman/man? If you are looking for specific information about a stranger.

Illustrations by irasutoya on Canva.

[pa-language-school]

Careers in Tagalog Part 1

Hanapbuhay = Livelihood Literal translation: Hanap -> Searching for an object (in this case, money/income) + Buhay -> life

Karera = Career

Illustrations by irasutoya on Canva.

[philippinewildlifeart]

Somewhere on a single island an “ancient cloud rat” says hello!

The Dinagat hairy-tailed rat or 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 is one of 18 “cloud rats” found only in the Philippines, and this species can only be found on Dinagat Island.

We like to call it the “ancient temple” of Dinagat, because in its “temple” or head might be an ancient arrangement of blood vessels unique to mouse species that were around a long time ago. Scientists like G Musser et al in 1998 called it a "primative cephalic arterial pattern”.

This tells us that unlike many living mouse species, the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat could be a “living fossil”- and can give us a window to the ancient past of many mice and rats today.

Unfortunately mining occurs on Dinagat Island, threatening other island endemics including another cloud rat: the Dinagat Bushy-tailed cloud rat (𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴).

Milada Řeháková-Petrů et al wrote in 2015 that the balance between “socio-economic development and longer-term biodiversity conservation” needs to be improved, and that “mineral resources of Dinagat are available elsewhere, but its biodiversity is unique!”

The script shown here is Badlit or Suwat Binisaya.

References and more: https://philippinewildlife.art/portfolio/dinagat-hairy-tailed-rat/

[pinoy-culture]

✨️ LAST DAY TO PRE-ORDER BOOKS IS TODAY!!!✨️

If you're interested in pre-ordering any of the pre-order books, the deadline is today! Afterward, I will be taking a break from pre-order books to focus on restocking some candles, handmade jewelry, my long awaited pag-anito anointing oil, and some herbal salves & medicine.

I am also working on doing themed pre-order boxes again! I'll be working on a Halloween/Undas themed box for October! Pre-orders for that box will start at the end of August. Expect some candles inspired by various creatures in the Philippines from the aswang to the tikbalang. I'm pretty excited about this box. 💀🖤

➡️ Head on over to hirayabotanicals.com to pre-order books or snag a copy of a book already in stock. Browse through several jewelry pieces straight from the Philippines and handmade candles dedicated to the deities or inspired by Filipino food.

[pinoy-culture]

Today, let's discuss lunar myths, beliefs, and practices from the Philippines. 🌙✨️

As humans, we are all drawn to the beauty of the moon. Every culture has practices and stories associated with this celestial object that illuminates the dark night sky.

Are there any other lunar beliefs and practices you know of in the Philippines?

[pa-language-school]

Kumusta ka? (How are you?) Here are a few different ways to respond! One of my friends is a nurse, and specifically wants to learn Tagalog to better understand her patients. So, I included some common phrases that you might here in a medical setting, or if someone you know is feeling sick! So, let me ask y'all: kumusta kayo? (How are you all?) Note: This was created in Canva and uses illustrations from irasutoya and Tagaris Studio

[dailytagalog]

Thank you & You’re Welcome

Thank you - Salamat

You’re Welcome - Walang Anuman

[pa-language-school]

I'm relearning Tagalog while also simultaneously teaching my friends, and I got so lost in the sauce that I started remaking the textbook in Canva instead of actually working on the lesson plan.

I don't know about y'all but why are textbooks so ugly? Like make it cute, make it pleasant to look at.