Day 148: Who Takes the Extra Rice
At a community pantry in Teachers Village, Quezon City, Tala (A), a young volunteer, tactfully tells organizer Ruby (B) that an elderly man has been taking far more than his share every morning.
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
Ate Ruby, may itatanong po sana ako, pero huwag po sana kayong magagalit.
Ate Ruby, there's something I'd like to ask, but please don't be upset.
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B
Bakit naman ako magagalit? Sabihin mo lang, Tala.
Why would I be upset? Go ahead, Tala.
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A
Iyon pong lalaking may edad na, 'yung nakasombrero, parang sobra po sa kailangan niya ang kinukuha araw-araw.
That elderly man in the hat, it seems like he's taking more than he needs every day.
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B
Si Mang Teban? Ilang supot ba ang nakita mong kinuha niya kanina?
Mang Teban? How many bags did you see him take this morning?
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A
Mga limang supot po, at dalawang kilong bigas. Hindi ko naman po sinasabing masama siyang tao.
About five bags, and two kilos of rice. I'm not saying he's a bad person.
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B
Alam ko. Hindi para sa kaniya ang mga 'yon; para 'yon sa tatlong lolang nakaratay sa kalye nila.
I know. Those aren't for him; they're for three bedridden lolas on his street.
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A
Ganoon po pala. Nahihiya po tuloy ako sa inisip ko.
Oh, I see. Now I'm ashamed of what I was thinking.
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B
Tama lang na nagtanong ka. Pero tingnan mo ang karatula: kumuha batay sa pangangailangan, at hindi nakasulat kung kanino.
You were right to ask. But look at the sign: take according to need, and it doesn't say whose.
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A
Bukas po, sasamahan ko si Mang Teban sa paghahatid, para hindi na siya mag-isang magbuhat.
Tomorrow I'll go with Mang Teban on his rounds, so he doesn't have to carry it all by himself.
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