One popular past time among Filipinos, besides playing crossword puzzles and word jumbles, is enjoying brainteaser riddles. Philippine riddles are a very important part of the Philippine culture, because it shows the keen observation and natural witty side of the Filipinos towards their surroundings. It is called “bugtong” in their native language. It is part of the oral history tradition of the country, which has been passed down from one generation to the next. This is taught in school and studied by students so that they would appreciate how talented Filipinos are in coming up with ideas that need hard thinking. Also, Filipinos tend to make up their own riddles, depending on the signs of the times.
A common aspect among these riddles are that they come in rhymes. This creates a larger recall value, making it more accessible to people from all walks of life. As for themes, almost anything under the sun is considered! There are riddles that would pertain to fruits, animals and even popular Filipino celebrities. Let us take a peek to some of the most popular Filipino riddles below:
1) It is tall when it is sitting down and short when it is standing.
Answer: Dog – the four-legged furry friend looks a lot taller when it sits in an upright position.
2) The queen imprisons herself after making a temple or castle.
Answer: Termite – it’s that pesky hive of critters! The queen’s right in the center of it all.
3) Isang panyong parisukat kung buksa’y nakikipag-usap: A square handkerchief talks to you when you open it.
Answer: Letter – a folded page of paper actually looks like a handkerchief.
4) May alaga akong hayop, malaki ang mata kaysa tuhod: I have a pet animal whose eyes are larger than its knees.
Answer: Dragonfly – the bizarre size of this winged insect sure looks heavy. It’s a dominant trait, that its entire body actually looks more like a stick.
These are just some of the thousands of Filipino riddles out there. Some may be hard, others just plainly fun. But whatever the riddle may be, it sure is a good reflection of the common Filipino’s creativity and wit. You can actually have access to more riddles, either by simply searching online or purchasing the large number of books on this topic on Filipino themed bookstores. Or, just simply ask a Filipino for a riddle. More often than not, he or she knows one – or can make one up on the spot.
