This document contains introductions and examples of different types of Philippine oral lore including riddles, proverbs, and sayings. Riddles are indirect descriptions of objects that must be guessed. Examples of riddles include descriptions of a coconut, the sky and water, and a wild boar. Proverbs contain advice or truths and reflect cultural values. Example proverbs encourage perseverance and nonviolence. Sayings express common beliefs and lessons through short phrases. The document seeks to preserve elements of Philippine folk culture and wisdom.

1. Philippine Oral Lore:
Introduction
Prepared by:
Joey F. Valdriz

2. RIDDLE
is an indirect presentation of an object,
by stating its characteristic features or
peculiarities, enough to call it to mind
without naming it.

3.  Pedro hides but you can still see his head.
 Here comes Kaka, walking an open leg.
 Adam’s hair, you can’t count.
 It has one entrance, but has three exit.
 It’s here, it’s here, but you cannot see.
 General Negro pass by and everybody die.
 I have a friend and he is with me everywhere I go.
 Judas cooked the rice, he took the water and throws the rice.
 House of the lieutenant, with only one post.
 I saw two boats; only one person was on board.
 He is under the shed but is always wet.
 Come up and let us go, go down and here we stay.
 The clown cooked rice with the fire above.

4.  Round, plump; hairy outside; red inside.
 Sky above, sky below, water in the middle.
 Wild hog, whose hairs are nails.
 The letter c becomes O, O becomes C.
 If you look at me, you cannot see me.
 Big Square Bag of Mr. Jacob, to use it, you have to turn it upside down.
 Maria’s skirt, in different colors.
 Her skin is green, her seed is black, her tissue is red. Who is she?
 House of Pedro, full of stone.
 A bunch of charcoal, hanging here and there.
 My sister, your sister, everyone’s sister

5. PROVERBS
- are pithy sayings that contain advice or state a
basic truth
- reflect folk wisdom as to how to act and live,
hence, they show the cultural values and the
physical environment of the region where they
originated

6. • While the blanket is short, learn how to bed.
• If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your
labor.
• Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion.
• Weeds are difficult to kill.
• Don’t count the chicks until the eggs are hatched.
• There is no need to cry over spilt milk.
• If someone throws stones at you, throw back
bread.
• The early bird catches the worm.

7. • Of what use is the grass when the horse is already dead.
• While there is life, there is hope.
• In every forest, there is a snake.
• A thief hates a fellow thief.
• New king, new character.
• An intelligent monkey can still be beaten.
• A monkey dressed up is still a monkey.
• A clear conscience is more valuable than wealth.
• He who believes in hearsay does himself a disservice.

8. Supply the missing word.
1. Early to ___________ and early to rise makes a man
___________, wealthy, and wise.
2. Don’t put all your ___________ in one basket.
3. When the ___________ is away, the mice will play.
4. It’s better to ___________ than to receive.
5. Curiosity ___________ a cat.
6. A friend in ___________ is a ___________ indeed.
7. Tell me who your ___________ are and I’ll ___________
you who you are.

9. 1. Haste makes waste.
2. Rome was not built in a day.
3. Money is the root of all evil.
4. All that glitters is not gold.
5. No pain, no gain.
6. There’s no use crying over spilt milk.
7. Blood is thicker than water.
8. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
9. Look before you leap.
10. A leopard cannot remove its spots.

10. People do evil for the sake of money.
Family is more important than other relations.
You have to work hard for what you want.
Something we don’t have is much better than what we have.
You have to be patient to see the result of your work.
It is impossible for people to change.
Consider the result before you act.
Don’t judge the value of anything by its appearance.
If you hurry, something might go wrong or become useless.