Philippine Units Of Measurements

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Philippine Units of Measurements (3 pages) -by Frederick Victor Paredes Añana Below is a table of various units of measurements used by early Filipinos. Each measuring unit has a corresponding foreign equivalent. Since early Filipinos used mostly their body parts for measuring, I used my body parts as my basis for finding the estimated foreign unit equivalent. For example, in finding the length/distance (foreign equivalent), I used the ruler to measure parts of my body. For the term salok (to fetch water), I used my both hands to fetch water to the measuring cup. Page 2 shows the literal definition of each Philippine measuring unit.

LENGTH / DISTANCE

MASS / WEIGHT

Philippine measuring units

Foreign equivalent (estimate)

Philippine measuring units

Foreign equivalent (estimate)

piranggot sandamak dangkal talampakan bisig dipa

½ inch 4 inches 8 inches 12 inches 16 inches 68 inches

dakot guhit kagitna gatang chimanta kaban

10 grams 100 grams ½ kilo 1 kilo 6 kilos 25 kilos

VOLUME

TIME

Philippine measuring units

Foreign equivalent (estimate)

Philippine measuring units

Foreign equivalent (estimate)

salok saro mangkok

80 ml 250 ml 400 ml

kisapmata saglit sandali

0.5 second 1 second 60 seconds

Note: The word guhit (100 grams) is a very recent unit of measurement. This unit was first used by market vendors probably when the modern weighing scale was introduced. Guhit literally means line. It also refers to the small lines seen in between the numbers of a weighing scale.

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Definition of Terms A.) Length/Distance piranggot - a very small piece sandamak - the width of the hand with the five fingers pressed together dangkal - the span from tip of thumb to tip of middle finger talampakan - sole of foot, a foot length bisig - arm, forearm dipa - the span of two extended arms B.) Mass / Weight dakot – handful guhit – a line, a line or lines seen in between the numbers of a weighing scale kagitna – ½ ganta gatang – unit of measure for rice and other grains, dry measure chimanta (look for page 261 of Encyclopaedia of scientific units, weights, and measures) kaban - a measure of rice, a sack C.) Volume salok – to fetch, as in fetching water saro – mug, ewer mangkok – bowl D.) Time kisapmata – wink of an eye, wink

3 saglit – instant, moment sandali – in a moment, in a minute, in a short time

Online References: Webster’s Online Dictionary http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/ Bansa.org http://www.bansa.org/dictionaries/tgl/?type=search&data=cooked+rice W3Dictionary http://tl.w3dictionary.org/index.php?q=gilit Google Translate http://translate.google.com/# Philippine History http://junemaessaga.blogspot.com/2005/10/chapter-4-our-malayanheritage.html Encyclopaedia of scientific units, weights, and measures By François Cardarelli http://books.google.com.my/books? id=6KCx8Ww75VkC&pg=PT290&lpg=PT289&ots=F2NLttj3xv&dq=obsolete+philip pine+unit+measurement#v=onepage&q=&f=false