Day 105: Do We Tell Papa the Truth?
In the cafeteria of a hospital in Cavite where their father is recovering from a heart attack, Dindo (A) wants to tell him that the family's rice mill, his life's work, has gone bankrupt, and his older brother Butch (B) wants to keep it from him.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Tagalog. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day
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A
Kuya, kinumusta na naman ni Papa ang kiskisan. Hindi natin ito maitatago sa kaniya habambuhay.
Kuya, Papa asked about the mill again. We can't keep this from him forever.
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B
Hindi habambuhay, Dindo, hanggang lumakas lang siya. Narinig mo ang cardiologist: bawal ang stress, kahit maliit.
Not forever, Dindo, just until he gets stronger. You heard the cardiologist: no stress, not even a little.
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A
Maliit? Apatnapung taon niyang itinayo 'yon. Kapag sa iba niya nalaman, 'yon ang papatay sa kaniya.
A little? He spent forty years building that. If he hears it from someone else, that's what'll kill him.
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B
Kanino niya malalaman? Bilin ko sa lahat ng tauhan, walang magsasalita.
Who would he hear it from? I've told all the workers, nobody says a word.
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A
Bilin mo. Pinagsisinungaling mo ang buong bayan para sa kaniya? Kasinungalingan pa rin 'yan, Kuya, kahit gaano kabait.
Your orders. You're making the whole town lie for him? It's still a lie, Kuya, however kind.
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B
Mabait na kasinungalingan, oo. Gusto mo bang marinig niya ang totoo, tapos atakihin ulit sa harap mo?
A kind lie, yes. Do you want him to hear the truth and then have another attack right in front of you?
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A
Kuya, kaninong kapayapaan ba ang iniingatan mo, kay Papa o sa iyo? Ikaw ang nagpatakbo ng kiskisan nitong huling tatlong taon.
Kuya, whose peace are you protecting here, Papa's or yours? You're the one who ran the mill these last three years.
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B
...Oo, ako. Ako ang pumirma sa utang, ako ang hindi nakabayad. Ayokong ikahiya ako ni Papa, lalo na ngayong mahina siya.
...Yes, it was me. I signed for the loan, I'm the one who couldn't pay. I don't want Papa ashamed of me, especially now that he's weak.
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A
Hindi ka niya ikahihiya, Kuya. Pero ang pagsisinungaling nating dalawa, baka 'yon ang hindi niya mapatawad.
He won't be ashamed of you, Kuya. But the two of us lying to him, that might be what he can't forgive.
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B
Kung sasabihin natin, paano? Hindi puwedeng bigla, hindi puwedeng habang naka-oxygen pa siya.
If we tell him, how? It can't be sudden, and it can't be while he's still on oxygen.
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A
Kapag pumayag na ang doktor, sabay tayo. Ikaw ang magkukuwento, ako ang hahawak sa kamay niya, at sa kamay mo.
Once the doctor says yes, we do it together. You tell him, and I'll hold his hand, and yours.
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B
Sige. Aakyat ako sa kaniya ngayon din. Ang tagal ko nang umiiwas sa mga mata niya.
All right. I'm going up to him right now. I've been avoiding his eyes for too long.
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