Day 20: Ten Steps for Every Pun
In a hospital room in Candelaria, Quezon, Lola Nena (A), two days after knee surgery, refuses to start her walking exercises, so her son Cesar (B) and her physical therapist Ferdie (C) try to win her over with jokes.
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
-
A
Ferdie, bukas na ako maglalakad. Ngayon, pahinga muna ang bago kong tuhod.
Ferdie, I'll walk tomorrow. Today my new knee gets its rest.
-
B
Ma, "bukas" din po ang sabi ninyo kahapon. Maninigas daw po ang tuhod kapag hindi kayo naglakad.
Mom, you said "tomorrow" yesterday too. They say the knee will stiffen if you don't walk.
-
C
Lola, ang pasyenteng walang pasensiya, hindi po gagaling, pero ang sobra sa pasensiya, hindi rin po.
Lola, a patient with no patience won't get better, but neither will one with too much of it.
-
A
Hindi ako natawa, Ferdie. Tuhod baga ang problema ko, o ang baga ko?
I didn't laugh, Ferdie. Is it my knee, baga, that's the trouble, or my baga, my lungs?
-
B
Ma, walang problema ang baga ninyo, nakakasigaw pa nga po kayo sa teleserye.
Mom, there's nothing wrong with your lungs. You still yell at the soap operas.
-
C
Isang hakbang lang po, Lola. Sabi nga po nila, habang may hakbang, may pag-asa.
Just one step, Lola. Like they say, while there's a step, there's hope.
-
A
Ay, natawa ako roon. Ganito na lamang: sa bawat birong magpapatawa sa akin, sampung hakbang.
Oh, that one got me. Here's the deal: for every joke that makes me laugh, ten steps.
-
B
Sabi po ninyo 'yan, Ma! Ferdie, ikaw ang magbibilang ng hakbang, ako ang magbibilang ng tawa.
You said it, Mom! Ferdie, you count the steps, and I'll count the laughs.
-
C
Sampu na po 'yung kanina, Lola, kaya tayo na, kapit lang po kayo sa walker.
That last one's worth ten, Lola, so up we go. Just hold on to the walker.
-
A
Ngayon ko lang naintindihan ang PT, Ferdie: Patawa muna, saka Tayo.
Now I finally get what PT stands for, Ferdie: Patawa muna, saka Tayo. Make me laugh first, then up I get.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 21: Iced Barako Is Not Barako
If this free course has helped you in your Tagalog journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.