Day 61 of 160

Day 61: A Patis Label for Export

At the family's patis factory in Malabon, Pedring (A), the founder, meets with his granddaughter Toni (B), who handles marketing, and his son Alvin (C), the plant manager, about the label for their first shipment of fish sauce to the United States.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense.
  3. 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

  1. A

    Ito ang ilalagay natin sa tatak: "Likas na binuro, walang ibang sangkap kundi isda at asin."

    This is what goes on the label: "Naturally fermented, with no other ingredients but fish and salt."

  2. B

    Ang ganda po, Lolo, pero sino sa Amerika ang makakaintindi ng "binuro"?

    It's beautiful, Lolo, but who in America is going to understand "binuro"?

  3. A

    Limampung taon na tayong nagbuburo dito. Hindi ko ikahihiya ang sarili nating wika.

    We've been fermenting fish here for fifty years. I will not be ashamed of our own language.

  4. C

    Pa, hanggang bukas lang po ang palugit ng printer. Magpasya na po tayo.

    Dad, the printer can only give us until tomorrow. Let's decide.

  5. B

    Ganito po: Tagalog sa itaas, English sa ilalim. Required naman po 'yon sa US.

    How about this: Tagalog on top, English underneath. That's required in the US anyway.

  6. A

    Payag ako, basta mas maliit ang Ingles. Hayaan mo silang magtanong.

    Fine, as long as the English is smaller. Let them ask.

  7. B

    Baka nga po mas mabenta pa 'yan doon. Gusto po nila 'yung mukhang authentic.

    It might even sell better there. They like things that look authentic.

  8. C

    Nagkasundo rin po kayo. Toni, ipadala mo na bago magbago ang isip ni Lolo.

    You finally agree. Toni, send it off before Lolo changes his mind.

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