While Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) written by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry in 1943 now has over 300 translations in different languages worldwide and is now considered the world’s most translated book (not counting religious works), there have been surprisingly only two translations of his book in the Philippines (Filipino and Bicol). El Diutay Principe is only the third edition featuring a Philippine language. The Little Prince is a classic French novella about a pilot who gets stranded in the desert after a plane crash and encounters a little fellow who asks him to draw a sheep for him. Through the course of their meeting, the pilot rediscovers the true meaning of life and what people should value the most. When I came across the book in 2013, I found that I could relate very well to the negative image given to “growing up” in the book. When the idea to translate the book into my mother tongue was presented to me, I didn’t think twice. I thought, ‘a lot of people my
So you find yourself in downtown Zamboanga city where all the action happens and you wanted to ask directions in the local language. What would you say? Well, that is exactly what this blog post will teach you. Here is a dialogue between two people, one is a local and the other a Basileño (or a native of Basilan *where they also speak Chabacano). Joseph: Noy, puede tu conmigo habla donde yo? Cosa camino este? Arnold: Taqui tu sir na pueblo. Calle Ramos el nombre de este camino. Joseph: Que modo yo anda na city hall? Kay manmirahan kame de mio hermana na Plaza Pershing. Ya habla conmigo de mio hermana cerca daw el city hall na Plaza Pershing. Arnold: Onde ba tu necesita anda sir? Na city hall o na Plaza Pershing? Joseph: Na Plaza Pershing. Arnold: Camina lang tu derecho sir. Despues cuando llega tu na canto, camina tu pa izquierda. Despues cuando llega tu otra vez na canto, travesa tu con el camino. Basta ese Plaza Pershing en frente ‘se ele del Lucky Mall. Joseph: Cosa hechura