Unit 10 - Paglalakbay (Travel)

INTRO:

Paglalakbay
Travel

Travel conjures up images of wonderment, adventure, misadventure, change, adaptation, moving-on, time, schedule, weather, leisure, preparation, visa, currency, maps, directions, money exchange, photographs, memories.  Filipinos have been known for being excellent sea-farers and travelers, able to speak the language and adapt to the culture of their adoptive country. 

The terms for travel in Filipino are paglalakbay, pagbibiyahe, perigrinasyon   Lakbay is a native word for ‘journey,’ while pagbibiyahe and peregrinasyon are derivedfrom the Spanish viaje and peregrinacion.  We find the words lakbay-diwa literally, imagination wandering, journey of the mind, intellect or spirit, day dreaming;  lakbay-aral, a field trip or study abroad.  Kalakbay means fellow-traveler.  Biyahe on the other hand can mean a trip for business, pleasure, or for employment, as in the case with overseas Filipino contract workers, or with sailors who work off-shore on board a ship.  A biyahero or biyahera is a person who travels to buy merchandise to sell for profit when s/he comes back.  It refers to a person who engages in the business of buy-and-sell.  Perigrinasyon means a pilgrimage or a journey to a holy land.  Some travelers stay in their new-found place permanently, which accounts for the large migrant population outside the county.  The current word for this is “diaspora.”  Meanwhile, the English word “trip” in street talk means to like someone, an activity, or hallucination.

In Philippine culture, travel implies not only leaving one’s homeland, but leaving loved ones behind.  Those left behind give pabaon, provisions, food, money or supplies to the person going on a trip.  And when the person returns from the trip, he brings back pasalubong, souvenirs or gifts brought back from one’s travel.

Paglalakbay is a trope found in Filipino epics.  The epic hero leaves home to find his fortune and to build or strengthen his character.  Traveling or leaving home implies adventure, even danger.  It was once reserved for men only.  Women were kept in the safety of their home.  Going on a journey is symbolic of one’s “coming of age” or an inner voyage to one’s personhood. 

For the Filipino-American who has never set foot on his or her ancestral land, and to Filipino balikbayans or returnees to their native Philippines, we say Mabuhay! Welcome!   And for those going on a trip, we bid them goodbye with  “Mag-ingat kayo at pagpalain nawa kayo ng Diyos,  “Take care  and may God bless you.”

(Tita Pambid)