Agoo, Union Province




INTRODUCTION


Although I had already inquired for them from Ilocano boys, my first
actual knowledge of Filipino riddles was due to Mr. George T. Shoens,
American teacher among the Bisayans. He had made a collection of some
fifty Bisayan riddles and presented a brief paper regarding them at
the Anthropological Conference held at Baguio, under my direction, on
May 12-14, 1908. My own collection was begun among Ilocano of Union
Province from whom about two hundred examples were secured. Others
were later secured from Pangasinan, Gaddang, Pampangan, Bisayan and
Tagal sources. My informants have chiefly been school-boys, who spoke
a little English; they wrote the text of riddle and answer in their
native tongue and then we went over them carefully together to make
an English translation and to get at the meaning. Many Filipinos
know how to read and write their native language, although few have
had actual instruction in doing so. There is no question that errors
and inconsistencies exist in the spelling of these riddles, due to
this lack of instruction and to the fact that the texts have been
written by many different persons. I am myself not acquainted with
any Malay language. I have tried to secure uniformity in spelling
within the limits of each language but have no doubt overlooked many
inconsistencies. The indulgence of competent critics is asked. It has
been our intention throughout to adhere to the _old_ orthography. Thus
the initial _qu_ and the final _ao_ have been preferred.