Day 24: Romeo Speaks Batangueño
In a community theater in Rosario, Batangas, Tirso (A), a high school teacher who has adapted Romeo and Juliet into Batangueño Tagalog, rehearses the balcony scene with Mateo (B), a young actor from Manila playing Romeo.
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
Huling ensayo na natin, Mateo, mula sa umpisa: "Ala eh, ano ga ang liwanag na iyon sa bintana?"
This is our last rehearsal, Mateo, so from the top: "Ala eh, what light, ga, is that at yonder window?"
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B
"Ala eh, ano ang liwanag na iyon sa bintana?" Ayan po, may ala eh na.
"Ala eh, what light is that at yonder window?" There, I put the ala eh in.
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A
Nasaan ang ga? Isang pantig lang iyon, pero doon nakatira ang buong Batangas.
Where's the ga? It's just one syllable, but that's where all of Batangas lives.
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B
Direk, sa totoo lang po, kapag may ga ang pag-ibig, nagiging komedya po, hindi trahedya.
Direk, honestly, when love has a ga in it, it turns into a comedy, not a tragedy.
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A
Maynila kasi ang tainga mo. Pakinggan mo si Juliet: "Romeo, Romeo, bakit baga ikaw si Romeo?"
That's because you've got Manila ears. Listen to Juliet: "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore, baga, art thou Romeo?"
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B
Ay, iba po pala kapag mabagal, Direk, parang may hinihintay pong sagot ang "baga."
Oh, it's different when it's slow, Direk. It's like the baga is waiting for an answer.
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A
Iyan ang punto ko, hindi biro ang ga, pusong nagtatanong iyan. Ikaw naman.
That's my point: the ga is no joke, it's the heart asking. Your turn.
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B
"Ala eh, ano ga ang liwanag na iyon sa bintana?" Ganoon po ga, Direk?
"Ala eh, what light, ga, is that at yonder window?" Like that, ga, Direk?
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A
Ala eh, may ga ka na kahit wala sa script. Sa Sabado, iiyak ang Rosario, hindi tatawa.
Ala eh, now you've got a ga even off the script. On Saturday, Rosario will cry, not laugh.
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B
Basta po, Direk, kapag may tumawa pa rin, kayo ang aakyat sa balkonahe.
Just so you know, Direk, if anyone still laughs, you're the one climbing the balcony.
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