Nuances of Cebuano language

SCHOOL PROJECT. Several volunteers of The Freeman Foundation had a back-to-school project recently where the foundation built a community library, a classroom and distributed school uniforms and backpacks full of school supplies. During the fun day, nearly 200 schoolkids from Day Care to Grade Six participated in the fun and games with one of the volunteers as the program emcee. After one of the games, the emcee announced to the crowd of students standing in the middle of the school ground that he wanted it cleared to give space to the dancers. So he grabbed the microphone and announced, “Hawani ang tunga!”

GROUND DIVE. Much to the surprise of the volunteers, the students dove to the ground and began scratching and wiping the ground with their bare hands. The emcee said, “Hoy, naunsa mo uy! Ingon ko, padaplin usa kay naay manayaw sa tunga.” After the fun day, a teacher explained to the volunteers, “Kami gud, kung among palimpyohan sa mga bata ang blackboard, amo man sila ingnon ‘hawani ang blackboard’ maong ila pud gipaphaan ang yuta.” One volunteer commented, “Pastilan ning Cebuano language no, lain-lain pud diay og meaning.”