This document summarizes different forms of pre-colonial folk speeches used in the Philippines, including poetry, riddles, proverbs, chants, and sayings. Poetry generally consisted of quatrains with 5-12 syllables per line that were chanted. Riddles used images as metaphors to refer to objects to be guessed. Proverbs and sayings provided rules for good behavior or were used for teasing. Chants were used in witchcraft or enchantments. Overall, these forms of folk speeches served as a way to preserve oral knowledge and literature from the pre-colonial period in the Philippines.

1. PRE-COLONIAL FOLK SPEECHES
SYMON PETER Q. RAFOLS
Grade VII - VIDES

2. • The literature of a formative past by the various groups of people who inhabited the archipelago.
• It referred chiefly to oral knowledge preserved among the illiterate masses elsewhere or the oral
literature of all people whether they have written knowledge or not.
• The literature of varying of varying human interest of a formative past of archipelago
• Literature of varying human interest
• Close the religious and political organization of ancient Filipino
• The verses were addressed to the ears rather than the eyes
• They are the shortest form of folk literature
• Folk speech includes proverbs, riddles, and short poems
PRE –COLONIAL FOLK SPEECHES

3. Filipino Poetry
They are generally quatrains consisting of 5-12 syllables per line which are used to be
chanted.
Examples:
• Dalawang balon
hindi malingon
• Sa araw ay bunbong
Sa gabi ay dahon
• Sang dalagang marikit
Nakaupo sa tinik

4. Riddle (Bugtong)
Riddles use one or more images as metaphor to refer to an object to be guessed. They
enrich imagination and sharpen the senses.
Examples
• Ate mo,ate ko ng lahat ng tao
Sagot: Atis
• Buto’t balat, lumilipad
Sagot: Saranggola

5. Salawikain & Sawikain
Short poems that have been customarily been used and served as laws or rules on good
behavior by our ancestors.
Examples:
• Salawikain
Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maaasahan
• Sawikain
Kumulo ang dugo
Isulat sa tubig

6. Bulong (chants)
Chants are used in witchcraft or enchantments.
Examples:
• Hehe hehe
Bago kyeme
• Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong
makikiraan po lamang.

7. Kasabihan (Sayings)
Sayings are used in teasing or to comment on a persons’ actuations
Example:
• Nag-almusal mag-isa
Kaning lamig,tinapa
Nahulog ang kutsara
Ikaw na sana,sinita