Pangasinan Blog

Repost from Bucaio

Uong na Pungol

Uong na pungol is the Pangasinan term that is the equivalent of the Tagalog kabute sa punso, or kabuteng punso. Literally, these are mushrooms that sprout from anthills, which are regarded in the highly superstitious Philippine countryside not for what they really are, but pungol or punso are quite fearfully considered as the dwelling places of dwarves.So I'm a bit surprised at the intrepidness of the people who gather mushrooms at dawn to sell in the markets. But as they explain, uong na pungol is the best kind of fungi to eat.

The others, like uong na ponti (mushrooms sprouting at the base of banana stalks), or uong na kawayan(those found clustered around bamboo groves), are tough and chewy, and not exactly flavorful.

For almost a month the sun did not shine in my part of the country, which was expected, as it was the rainy season, after all. What with one super typhoon after another, dragging along the habagat so that not a patch -of earth or pavement – was left dry for weeks.

So it was hightime for mushrooms to flourish. People attribute it to thunder and lightning, which are plentiful in this season as well. And so at the markets in Pangasinan uong by the bigao (bilao) were everythwere.

They were being sold for Php15 per bunch of about four pieces tied together at the stalks. That would seem cheap, though compared to the paler and unsubstantial oyster mushrooms that are cultured year-round, they're a bit expensive.

But uong na pungol are only ever here while the rains drop. And so I'll enjoy their brief stint in this world as much as I can.

Uong na pungol look a lot like the cultured variety, but their outer skin is brown, and their caps have pointed peaks. They're meatier, too, and tastier, because they come from the earth. And they don't keep. They sprout overnight, and have to be harvested in the morning and cooked within the day, for they wilt and decay by nightfall.

I love uong mixed with sliced green papayas, boiled briefly in a little bagoong-seasoned broth. But it had been raining hard, and it was cold, and I was in the mood for lauya.

So we mixed the uong with beef and green papayas and potatoes and slurped bowls of the scalding soup. And no matter that life and all things are transitory, because a moment well-lived is more precious than an infinite lifetime.

Sirin interj.; v. word used to emphasize a point.

written by Chago Lim at the Discussion Board of Ulupan na Pansiansiya'y Salitan Pangasinan Facebook Page:

Pangalatok is a combination of the 2 Filipino words "Pangasinan na katok." It was thought to have emanated from the Kapampangans during the Spanish period although it was neither them who invented it nor them to be blamed. Spanish colonizers feared that when unity is established among its colony it could spark an uprising against them. So they devised a lot of internal warfare (physical, mental and psychological) among their colonies here. They instigated hate, people against people among neighboring provinces. Pangasinan was on their cross-hairs as it is the biggest province and the one of the most populous (up to now). Spaniards invented, taught and used this derogatory word to effectively instigate hatred and racism from both neighboring provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga against Pangasinan so as to divide the people. Although this inter-provincial mudslinging didn't last long, eventually the Spaniards were given the boot and the rest, as they say, is history!

Written by: Raul L. Lambino at the ULOPAN na PANGASINENSE ed MUNDO (ULOPAN) Discussion Board
Revised 08 April 2009

Many have confused the terms “Pangasinan”, “Pangasinense” and “Pangalatok”

People of Pangasinan are called Pangasinenses regardless of the language or dialect they speak. The main language is Pangasinan which primarily spoken in central area that includes the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos, and big towns like Lingayen (the capital) Mangaldan, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Binmaley, Malasiqui & Bayambang. Iloko is also widely spoken primarily in eastern part that includes Urdaneta City, Tayug, Binalonan, Umingan, etc. and the western area that includes Alaminos City, Mabini, Infanta, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, etc.. Some people in the western part of the province also wide speak Binubolinao. Others speak Kapampangan, Zambal, Bisaya, Ibaloi, Kankanaey, etc. But majority of Pangsinenses speak both Pangasinan and Iloko.

The term “Pangalatok” is insulting and derogatory. So too is “Ilokogtot”.

Hereunder is what I wrote in a comment regarding a discussion of this issue in the Pangasinan Page in Facebook on March 15, 2009, as follows:

“Saray totoo ya manaayam ed Pangasinan, sikara so Pangasinense anggan antoy salita ra: Pangasinan, Iloco, Bolinao, Zambal, Kapampangan, Bisaya, Ibaloi, Kan-kaney tanaromni. Aman so "Pangalatok" et "derogatory" tan "insulting", makaderal na kagalangan ed sakey ya too no tawagen moy ontan.

Nanlapo tan ya termino nen saman ya panaon nen mangkokolkol iray Ilocano tan Pangasinense lapor ag natalusan na saray Ilocano so salitan Pangasinan.

Say intawag da ed saray Pangasinenese ya mansalitay Pangasinan et "Kasla kayo nga agtogkik nga manok no agsasao" (You are like chicken with a bad flu when talking)= Pangasinan +kasla+ togkik +manok= Panga-la-tok!"

Say imbales na saray Pangasinense ed saray Ilocano met et: "Sicayo ya Ilocano agyo amtay mampuniti no milaban, kapara kayoy asilok ya otot, mangkogtokogtot" (Ilocanos don't know how to box; they jump like frightened rats)= Ilocano +kogtot + otot = Ilokogtot!"

Both words are insulting and derogatory. Sikato komon no narengel yo may salita ya "Pangalatok", please correct it at once.”

In summation:
“Pangasinan” is the name of the province and also the primary language of the province; “Pangasinense/s” is/are the people of Pangasinan regardless of language they speak; and “Pangalatok” is a derogatory and insulting colloquial word.

nen Melchor Orpilla
4:08 P.M., 12 May 2010

Makapatëy su balang tanul na igsa
Putkanën to’y pagëw ëd paruk na igsa

Ta andi talus su katuaa’y kilësa
Kopap tan andi yan su korang na igsa

Daluyon na ogës pilit to’y ondagsá
Itolak to’d tambib na patëy su igsa

Diad nunot, diad likna bëngatla’y onlësa
Ibalang to’y basbas ëd maptëk ya igsa

Amënëng, atiërëng anapë’y balasa
Ta andi manokil no ag say san-igsa

Andi kakabaliksa’y liknan mayasá
Masupdak su anggan masamit ya igsa

Maningël su likna’d kunkunwarin ligsa
Mandëndë’d abut su kulyapis ya igsa.

Amianan/ baybay – North

Abalaten – South

Sagur – West

Bukig/ letakan – East

Anto – What

Siopa – Who

Kapigan – When

Iner – Where

Akin – Why

Panon – How

Piga – How much

Pigara – How many

Dinan – Which

Siopaman – Whom

Siopa so akankien – Whose

Anto'y ngaran mo? – What is your name

Say ngaran ko… -My name is…

Maong ya kabuasan ed sika/ sikayo – Good morning

Maong ya Agew ed sika/ sikayo – Good day to you

Maong ya ngarem ed sika/ sikayo  - Good afternoon

Maong ya lahbi ed sika/ sikayo – Good evening

Salamat – Thank you

Salamat ya balbaleg – Thank you very much

Anggapoy wala – Don't mention it/ You're welcome

Kumusta ka? – How are you?

Maong labat – I'm fine/ good

Inaro taka – I love you

Agtaka inaro – I do not love you

Masuerte ka komun – Good luck

Kasian kay Diyos – God bless you

garatigit n. flirt, wanton, coquette, easy-go-lucky woman

kulasbong v. stumble; to fall inside a hole