Istoryahe! Reimagining How Cebuanos Communicate in 1895 and 2025

Have you ever wondered how Cebuanos spoke more than a century ago?

I was looking for resource materials for an article that I was planning to post on this website lately until I stumbled upon an old Cebuano-Spanish dictionary "Arte conpendiado de la lengua Cebuana" by Fray Julián Bermejo.

 

Bermejo was a Spanish missionary of the Order of Saint Augustine who played a significant role in the religious and linguistic development of the Cebuano-speaking regions in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. Best known for his efforts in fortifying coastal towns in southern Cebu against Moro raids, he also contributed to the study of the Cebuano language.

He was instrumental in the creation of this comprehensive Cebuano-Spanish dictionary and grammar guide that aided missionaries in learning the local language for evangelization. His work helped preserve and standardize Cebuano during the colonial era, making it an essential reference for scholars and linguists studying early Cebuano grammar and vocabulary.

Going over the book, I found it fascinating that I could still understand old Cebuano yet find it strange and foreign at the same. Some of the words and sentences all seem familiar as if I'm listening to an old person, I mean really old, talking to me. Yet, something is captivating to see proper grammar and sentence construction that don't require modern loan words and slang. In fact, I can still remember the time when my mother was still alive, she would say a lot of old Cebuano and Spanish words when I was a kid.

With the help of different large-language models  (ChatGPT, You, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, etc.) to analyze every single page, I decided to upload the whole book to create a custom agent that would learn the cultural nuances and historical context of old Cebuano. After that, I decided to let it generate actual conversations that fit certain contexts.

 

The Year 1895

Think about travelling back in time to 1895 and getting to talk to people living in that era. Take note of the unique spelling conventions and the diacritical marks.

 

Here are some examples:

1. Mercadohan (Baratílo ug Daan nga Salapi)

Usa ka mag-uuma, Miguel, mipalit ug isdâ sa usá ka magbabalígya, Rosa, sa merkádo sa Carcar. 

Miguel: Maáyong buntág, Rosa! Naâ cay bugnáw nga isdâ?
(Good morning, Rosa! Do you have fresh fish?)
 

Rosa: Maáyong buntág, Miguel! Oo, bág-o pa kini nga lumáy. Nakúhà pa kini gahapún.
(Good morning, Miguel! Yes, this lumay (freshwater fish) was caught just yesterday.)
 

Miguel: Tagpîla ang duhá ka gátang?
(How much for two gatang (a traditional unit of measurement)?)
 

Rosa: Límà ka cuártôs ang usá ka gátang, apán ihatág co nímô ang duhá ka gátang sa usá ca peséta.
(Five cuartos per gatang, but I'll give you two gatang for one peseta (Spanish coin).)
 

Miguel: Sus, mahál man! Icápulô ca cuártôs ra ang ácóng dalá. Mahímô bang ibaligyâ mô sa anâ?
(Oh, that's expensive! I only have ten cuartos. Can you sell it for that?)
 

Rosa: Dílî mahímô, Miguel. Apán, bisan putlî ang usá ka gátang, ipunô co naláng ang pipîlâ ca isdâ arón macompleto.
(I can’t, Miguel. But I’ll just add a few more fish to the gatang so you get a fair deal.)
 

Miguel: Maáyô! Dághang salámat!
(Great! Thank you very much!)

2. Fraile ug Mag-uuma (Pagsangyaw sa Relihiyon sa Panahon sa Espanyol)

Usa ka fraile, Padre José, naghisgot sa usa ka mag-uuma, Tacio, gawás sa simbáhan sa Sugbo.

Padre José: Tacio, ngánô ba nga walâ ca mitámbong sa mísa ganíha?
(Tacio, why didn’t you attend mass earlier?)
 

Tacio: Pasaylô-a acô, Padre! Ang ácóng ásnô napiláy, ug walâ acô macabiáhê sa lungsód sa sayô.
(Forgive me, Father! My donkey got injured, and I couldn’t travel to town early.)
 

Padre José: Ayáw icálimti ang Sántos nga obligacíon sa Simbahán. Ang Díôs magapadáyun sa pagpánalangín sa mga matinúod-anón.
(Do not forget the Holy obligation to the Church. God continues to bless the faithful.)
 

Tacio: Oo, Padre. Maghímô acô ug pangadýî carón, ug buhatón co ang ácóng penitencía.
(Yes, Father. I will pray now and do my penance.)

3. Pagpanghímangno sa Mananambal (Pagbántay sa Malígnô)

Usa ka tigúwang nga mananambál, Nana Igna, mitambal sa usá ca bátà nga may hilánat sa usá ca lungsód.

Nana Igna: (Nagpamásahe sa bátà) Dúnà ca bay dáutáng gisálidâ, anác? Basín naay malígnô nga miángcón nímô.
(You might have encountered something evil, child. Perhaps a spirit has taken hold of you.)

Inahán: Sus, Nana Igna, palíhúg tabángî ang ácóng anác! Nanambál na ba ca sa mga dáhôn sa alíbhôn ug sabílà?
(Oh, Nana Igna, please help my child! Have you already applied alibhon (a medicinal plant) and sabila (aloe vera)?)

Nana Igna: Oo, apán kinahánglan pa ni ug dághang luôp ug sángkap.
(Yes, but this still needs more incense and healing ingredients.)

Inahán: Hála, buhata na ang tanáng angáy buhatón!
(Please do whatever is necessary!)

Nana Igna: Iampô natô kini sa sántos nga yútà, ug ipáhíd sa íyáng lawás.
(We shall pray over this sacred earth and rub it on his body.)

(Nana Igna begins chanting traditional prayers while applying herbal medicine to the child.)

4. Guardia Civil ug Mangingísdà (Maháy sa Panahon sa Espanyol)

Usa ca guardia civil, Don Carlos, mihunong sa usa ka mangingísdà, Karyo, sa daplín sa dagát arón masuta ang íyáng cédula ug pangutan-ón kung may rebolusyonáryo sa lungsód.

Don Carlos: ¡Oye! ¡Hombre! ¿A dónde vas? ¿Tienes tu cédula personal?
(Hey! Man! Where are you going? Do you have your personal identification certificate?)

Karyo: Oo, Señor, anîâ ang ácóng cédula. Acô usá lamáng ca mangingísdà sa dáplin sa dagát.
(Yes, Señor, here is my cédula (identification certificate). I am just a simple fisherman by the shore.)

Don Carlos: ¿Has visto a algún Indio sospechoso cerca del pueblo?
(Have you seen any suspicious indios (Filipinos) near the town?)

Karyo: Walâ acô nacakita, Señor. Nag-apíl lámang acô sa pamingwít.
(I have not seen anyone, Señor. I am only fishing.)

Don Carlos: ¡Bueno! ¡No olvides pagar tus impuestos al gobierno español!
(Good. Do not forget to pay your taxes to the Spanish government!)

Karyo: Oo, Señor.
(Yes, Señor.)

(Don Carlos walks away, and Karyo breathes a sigh of relief.)

The Year 2025

So what if people of that time travel into the future and listen to how we talk? They will, probably, be outraged at how we changed the grammar and sentence construction of the Cebuano language.

 

How would the same conversations above feel in 2025? You will probably be amused and surprised at the same time.

1. Buying at the Market

A farmer, Miguel, buys fish from a fish vendor, Rosa, at Carbon Market, Cebu City.

Miguel: Oy, maayong buntag, Rosa! Naakay preskong isda?
(Hey, good morning, Rosa! Do you have fresh fish?)

Rosa: Maayong buntag, Miguel! Oo, bag-o pa ni. Gi-deliver lang ganiha buntag.
(Good morning, Miguel! Yes, it's fresh. It was just delivered this morning.)

Miguel: Tagpila ang kilo sa bangus?
(How much per kilo of milkfish?)

Rosa: ₱200 ang usa ka kilo, pero kung duha ka kilo imong paliton, ₱380 nalang.
(₱200 per kilo, but if you buy two kilos, it's only ₱380.)

Miguel: Sus, medyo mahal. Pwede GCash nalang bayad?
(Oh, that's a bit expensive. Can I just pay with GCash?)

Rosa: Oo, walay problema! Hatagi lang ko sa imong number para ma-confirm nako ang payment.
(Yes, no problem! Just give me your number so I can confirm the payment.)

Miguel: Sige, salamat kaayo!
(Alright, thanks a lot!)

2. Conversation Between a Priest and a Farmer

A priest, Father Jose, speaks with a farmer, Tacio, outside a church after Sunday Mass.

Father Jose: Tacio, wala man tika makita sa misa last Sunday. Naa kay lakaw?
(Tacio, I didn’t see you at mass last Sunday. Were you busy?)

Tacio: Pasensya, Padre! Nag-uulan man gud, nya naguba akong motor. Wala ko nakabiyahe.
(Sorry, Father! It was raining, and my motorcycle broke down. I couldn’t travel.)

Father Jose: Sayang. Pero maayo nga nakasimba ka karon. Nindot kaayo ang mensahe sa ebanghelyo, noh?
(That’s unfortunate. But I’m glad you made it today. The gospel message was really meaningful, wasn’t it?)

Tacio: Oo, Padre. Nakatandog jud sa akong kasing-kasing. Mo-try ko ug simba kada Domingo.
(Yes, Father. It really touched my heart. I’ll try to attend mass every Sunday.)

3. Visiting a Traditional Healer

A mother, Maria, brings her sick child to an elderly traditional healer, Nana Igna, in a rural barangay in Cebu.

Maria: Nana Igna, akong anak sige’g hilantan. Dili na mogana ang tambal sa doctor.
(Nana Igna, my child keeps having a fever. The doctor’s medicine isn’t working.)

Nana Igna: Sus, Maria, basin nasagulan na og dili maayong espirito. Dad-a diri kay buhaton nato og luop ug hilot.
(Oh, Maria, maybe he got affected by a bad spirit. Bring him here so we can perform an incense ritual and massage.)

Maria: Pero, Nana, basin kinahanglan jud siya dalhon sa hospital?
(But, Nana, shouldn’t we bring him to the hospital instead?)

Nana Igna: Pwede, pero mas maayo ug masagulan og duha. Mag-ampo ta samtang gitambalan nato siya.
(You can, but it's best to do both. We should pray while treating him traditionally.)

4. Checkpoint by Authorities

A police officer Carlos stops a fisherman Karyo at a checkpoint near the pier in Cebu City.

Carlos: Boss, asa ka padung? Palihug ipakita imong ID.
(Boss, where are you headed? Please show me your ID.)

Karyo: Maayong gabii, Sir. Pauli lang ko gikan sa dagat. Naa ko diri akong QR code para sa akong fisher’s ID.
(Good evening, Sir. I’m just heading home from the sea. I have my fisher’s ID QR code here.)
 

Carlos: Sige, scan lang nako. Unsay dala nimo?
(Alright, I’ll scan it. What are you carrying?)

Karyo: Isda lang, Sir. Wala koy illegal catch.
(Just fish, Sir. I have no illegal catch.)
 

Carlos: Sige, way problema. Amping sa imong biyahe!
(Alright, no problem. Safe travels!)

Karyo: Salamat, Sir!
(Thanks, Sir!)

Evolution of the Cebuano Language

Cebuano has undergone significant changes from 1895 to 2025, shaped by historical events, colonial influences, modernization, and globalization. This transformation can be observed in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and writing style.

 

Below is a comprehensive analysis of these changes:

1. Orthographic Changes (Spelling and Writing System)

a. 1895 Cebuano (Spanish Influence)

Cebuano orthography was heavily influenced by Spanish.
 

Words were written using Spanish spelling conventions:
        "aco" (modern: "ako") – I/me
        "canaco" (modern: "kanako") – for/to me
        "catawo" (modern: "katawhan") – people
        "hica-i" (modern: "hikayi") – avoid
        "y" was used instead of modern "i" in some words.
        "qu" instead of modern "k" (e.g., "quini" → modern "kini")
        "ll" and "ñ" borrowed from Spanish were still in use (e.g., "caballo", "niño").

b. 2025 Cebuano (Modern Filipino Influence)

The modern Cebuano alphabet follows Filipino-based orthography with fewer Spanish conventions:
        "Ako" (instead of "Aco")
        "Kanako" (instead of "Canaco")
        "Katawhan" (instead of "Catawo")
        "Hikayi" (instead of "Hica-i")
        "K" is now used instead of "qu" (e.g., "Kini" instead of "Quini").
        "Ñ" and "ll" are now rarely used except in Spanish-derived words.

Key Shift

• The introduction of the modern Abakada alphabet (developed in the 1930s) and Filipino language influence simplified Cebuano spelling.
• By the mid-20th century, the Spanish-influenced orthography was largely abandoned.
• The Internet, texting, and social media further simplified Cebuano spelling, promoting phonetic writing.

2. Vocabulary Changes (Borrowings and Innovations)

a. Spanish Influence in 1895

Cebuano vocabulary in 1895 was deeply influenced by Spanish due to 333 years of Spanish colonization. Many Spanish words were fully adopted into Cebuano:
        "Cuarto" (modern: kwarto) – room
        "Mesa" – table
        "Zapatos" – shoes
        "Escuela" – school
        "Gobernadorcillo" – small governor/municipal leader
        "Cabayo" (modern: kabayo) – horse

b. American and Modern Filipino Influence in 2025

The American period (1898–1946) introduced many English loanwords, which are now dominant in Cebuano:
        "Kompiyuter" (computer)
        "Taym" (time)
        "Eswela" (from escuela but modernized as "eskwela")
        "Brod" (brother)
        "Teksi" (taxi)
        "Iskul" (school)
        "Prinsipal" (principal)
 

Tagalog/Filipino words have also influenced modern Cebuano:
        "Buwan" (moon/month) – traditionally "bulan"
        "Gamitin" (use) – traditionally "gamiton"
        "Pangarap" (dream/aspiration) – traditionally "damgo"
        "Paalam" (goodbye) – traditionally "babay"

Key Shift

• Cebuano has absorbed many English and Tagalog words due to mass media, OFW culture, and globalization.
• The youth in 2025 code-switch between Cebuano, Filipino, and English much more than in 1895.

3. Pronunciation Changes

a. 1895 Cebuano Pronunciation (Spanish Influence)

Cebuano speakers in 1895 followed Spanish phonetics in some words:
        "Zapatos" (za-PAH-tos) – shoes
        "Cabayo" (ka-BA-yo) – horse
        "Cuarto" (KU-ar-to) – room
        "Gobernador" (go-ber-na-DOR) – governor
 

The soft Spanish "r" was pronounced more frequently.

b. 2025 Cebuano Pronunciation (Modern Shift)

Many Spanish words are now pronounced with harder Filipino-Cebuano accents:
        "Sapatos" (sa-PA-tos)
        "Kabayo" (ka-BA-yo)
        "Kwarto" (KWAR-to)
        "Gobyerno" (go-BYER-no)
 

Modern speakers have a stronger "r" sound and sometimes shorten syllables due to fast speech.

4. Grammar and Sentence Structure

a. 1895 Cebuano (More Formal, Indirect, and Polite)

Conversations were polite and indirect, following Spanish etiquette:
        "¿Dili ba ikaw malipay, Señor?"
        (Are you not happy, sir?)
        "Magpa-uli na ba ikaw, Don Miguel?"
        (Are you going home, Don Miguel?)
        "Hinumdumi ang imong katungdanan sa Dios."
        (Remember your duty to God.)

b. 2025 Cebuano (Casual and Direct)

Modern Cebuano speakers speak more directly and informally:
        "Dili ka malipay, bai?" (You're not happy, bro?)
        "Pauli na ka?" (Going home?)
        "Ayaw kalimti ang imong gimbuhaton sa Ginoo." (Don’t forget your duty to God.)

Key Shift

• Honorifics like "Señor," "Don," and "Doña" are rarely used today except in legal or formal settings.
• Speech is shorter and more direct in modern times.

5. Writing and Communication Style

a. 1895 Writing Style (Highly Formal)

Official documents, letters, and books in 1895 used elaborate sentences with many Spanish phrases:
        "Con el permiso de usted, Señor Gobernador, gusto ko maghatag ug hangyo sa villa."
        (With your permission, Governor, I would like to submit a request for the town.)

b. 2025 Writing Style (Simplified and Digital)

In 2025, Cebuano writing is more concise, digital, and text-based:
        "Gov, naa koy request para sa barangay." (Governor, I have a request for the village.)
 

Texting and social media influence led to abbreviations like:
        "Kumz?" (Kumusta? – How are you?)
        "Lods" (from "idol" – slang for boss, superior, or respected figure)
        "Hahaha, cge2x." (Okay, okay.)

Final Thoughts

The Cebuano language has undergone a lot of changes over the past 130 years, shaped by colonial influences, globalization, and technological advancements. From the Spanish-era formalities of 1895, where people spoke in polite and indirect phrases, to the direct, fast-paced, and digitally-influenced Cebuano of 2025, the way we communicate has evolved drastically.

If a person from the late 19th century were to hear our conversations today, they would likely struggle to understand the modern mix of Cebuano, English, and Filipino words, as well as the casual and text-based expressions we use.

This transformation teaches us several important lessons:

1. Language is a living entity. It adapts to social, political, and technological changes, reflecting the identity of the people who speak it.
2. Cultural heritage must be preserved. While evolution is natural, we must protect core Cebuano words, expressions, and grammar to keep our language distinct and meaningful.
3. Balance modernization with tradition. While borrowing words from other languages is inevitable, we must prioritize Cebuano in formal education, literature, and media to ensure its survival for future generations.
4. Language connects generations. By studying how Cebuano was spoken in the past, we strengthen our understanding of history, respect our ancestors, and ensure that future generations inherit a rich and meaningful linguistic identity.

Preserving the integrity of our language is more than just an academic effort because it has to be a concerted effort from all of us. It should be a firm commitment to our identity, history, and cultural pride.

As we move forward into an increasingly digital and globalized world, let us continue to honor our roots, embrace change wisely, and pass on a strong, vibrant Cebuano language to the next generations.