What is it about?
Sadya (sad-YAH, Ilonggo, Cebuano: happy ; sad-YA^, Tagalog: intentional) is a once a month “happily intentional” Filipino conversation practice which aims to be organized from an anti-racist and anti-oppressive, feminist, queer, healing-centred engagement, and decolonization lens. By using the word sadya and the different meanings of the word across Philippine languages, this choice positions the inclusive and contested nationalisms approach of this conversation circle.
Theme: Introductions, tracing roots and creating connections
You will learn how heritage language learning intersects with decolonization, activism and self-care, learn how to introduce yourself through a song in Tagalog, map out your roots on a map of the Philippines, acknowledge your ancestors, connect with other heritage language learners in the Fil Hamilton community and contribute to the evaluation and development of future Sadya sessions.
Meet your Facilitators
Anabelle Ragsag
Anabelle Ragsag was born in Manila and raised in Mindanao in the south of the Philippines, and is equally fluent in Bisaya (Sugbuhanun/Cebuano) and Tagalog, understands Hiligaynon, and to some extent, Ilokano. She considers Bangladesh as another home, through marriage. She is a mother, a PhD in Social Work student, a sessional instructor at McMaster University, and a researcher for several projects. Anabelle loves thrifting and goofing around with her kid and her kid's cat, Simba.
Jennie Hamilton
Jennie Hamilton was born and raised in Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, Philippines and Tagalog is her first language. She moved to Canada in 2007 and has lived in Hamilton since 2008. She is currently a librarian for the Hamilton Public Library. Jennie enjoys reading romance novels and true crime documentaries. She is also very proud of the Best in Penmanship award she received when she was in Grade 6.
Learning objectives:
How to introduce your name (pangalan mo)
The meaning behind your name (kahulugan ng pangalan mo)
Your pronouns (ang iyong mga gamit na panghalip)
Locating where your ancestry might be from the Philippine map (lupang pinanggalingan ng iyong mga ninuno)
Locating and acknowledge the Indigenous land your family considers as home here in so-called Canada
Key terms:
“Ako si ____.” (I am ____.)
“Pangalan.” (Name.)
“Siya si ___.” (They are ___._
“Ikaw si ___.” (You are ___.)
“Kamusta ka?” (How are you?)
“Mabuti.” (I’m fine.)
“Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat” (Good evening, everyone.)
Respond: “Magandang gabi din” (Good evening, to you too.)
Different greetings for the time-of-day: Magandang (umaga) (tanghali) (hapon) (gabi)
“Ano?” (What?)
“Sino?” (Who?)
“Oo.” (Yes)
“Hindi.” (No)
“Paalam.” (Bye)
“Ingat.” (Take care)
Gawain (activity):
Ancestor Reflection and Acknowledgment
Direction: In your notes, write the name of an ancestor you want to remember today
What is your relationship to them?
What is something you remember or miss about this person?
Trace your roots and/or relations to land
Indicate on the map what you know as your roots or your relatives/ancestors in the Philippines
Share it to the Circle:
“Taga ____ ako/kami sa Pilipinas” (I/we are from ____ in the Philippines.)
“Taga _____ ang mga kamag anak at ninuno ko sa Pilipinas.” (My relatives/ancestors in the Philippines are from _____).
Practice how to make introductions in Tagalog with activity and movement. Mawit tayo (Let’s sing):
“Kamusta ka (How are you?)
“Halina’t magsaya” (Let’s have some fun)
“Ipalakpak ang kamay, ituro ang paa” (Clap your hands, point to your feet)
another version of the third line: “Pumalakpak, pumalakpak, ituro ang paa”
“Padyak sa kanan” (Stomp on your right)
“Padyak sa kaliwa” (Stomp on your left)
“Umikot ng umikot at humanap ng iba” (Go round and round, and find someone else)
Presented by the Filipinas of HamOnt. Supported by the Catalyst Grant of McMaster’s Office of Community Engagement.
