Travelling Locally

One of the challenges when taking a local transportation is to make sure you are conveying the right information to the driver who is not very conversant in the English language.  So often times foreigners think that the driver is trying to rip them off or is trying to get more money from them.  This is both a concern for the foreigner as it is for the driver who is embarrased to tell the foreigner that he does not understand him.  To avoid a misunderstanding, here are some useful expressions and vocabulary to help you get around town.

Local Transportation:

Tricycle            
trayk/traysikol

Minicab           
minikab

Car                     
awto

Bus                   
bus

Airplane           
iroplano

Ship                  
barko

Canoe                
baroto

Motor taxi         
habal-habal  

Jeepney           
jeepney

How much is the fare to _(name of place)_?

Pilay pliti  paingun sa ____________?

(It would help if you know the Cebuano term for local places.  You may check out the previous entries)

Here's my fare. (you say this while handing your fare to the driver)

Bayad/pliti.

 When you want to get off, You say: 

(sometimes you have to speak loud enough so the driver can hear you/or sometimes you knock on the roof of the jeep, this is common but not very appreciated.  Some jeepneys hang a string which is connected to a bulb that lights up when someone pulls the string to signify that he/she wants to get off)

Stop (only for transportations)

Para. 

Pull over, please.

Lugar lang, palihug.

Practice these expressions and commit them to your memory.  They will surely be useful if you travel around Visayas or Mindanao.

Ayu-ayo.  Kita ta sunod.

How To Ask for the Price in Cebuano

One of our basic activities is shopping for our basic needs like food, clothing and what-have-you, there are three major places to go when you do your shopping or buying:  a) the sari-sari store, the tiny neighborhood store where you can get stuff for small quantities or amounts, b) the mirkado, or wet market where food items like fish, meat, veggies and fruits can be bought and c) the massive malls, where you can buy almost everything.  There are advantages and disadvantages when you buy in each one.  In the Philippines, you will find sari-sari stores in almost all corners.The neighborhood sari-sari is convenient when you need something very urgently.  Here are some expressions which will help you when you buy or do some shopping:

General expressions:

How much is this?   that?   that one over there?

Tagpila man 'ni?     'na?      'to?

Here you are/ Here's my payment.

Bayad. 

Please give me one (piece).

Palihug hatagi ko ug usa (ka buok).

How expensive!  Discount please.

Mahala uy!  Hangyo, palihug.

In malls:  (salesclerks in malls are comfortable entertaining customers in English, but it will not hurt if you try the following)

Do you accept credit cards/dollars?

Modawat ba kamo ug credit card/dolyar?

Can I try this/it on?

Puydi ko 'ni isukod?

Is there a large size of this?

Na-a bay large ini?

Is there another color?

Na-a bay lain kolor?

These are just a few expressions that I think will be useful.  Write me if you want to know more or better yet,  Attend my classes!!!

You can suggest other practical lessons.  Magkita ta sunod.  Ayu-ayo.