The “Ave Maria” in the Harayan tongue

    Maliag cao Maria nabota cao can gracia
    Rejoice thou Mary, full thou of grace.

    An atun guinoon Dios dian canimo. 
    He our Lord God is with thee,

Capin     icao  sa    manga babai nga tanan,
fortunate thou  among women        all;

ig  capin     naman ang imon bata nga si Jesus
and fortunate also  he  thy  son     Jesus.

    Santa Maria inang can Dios
    [Holy Mary], mother of God,

igampo        mo       cami nga   macasasala
let us be favored by thee, us    the   sinners,

    caraon, ig cum mamatai cami.
    now and when shall die we.

    Amen, Jesus.

The “Ave Maria” in the Bissayan tongue

Maghimaya ca   Maria  napono ca   sa gracia
Rejoice,  thou Mary,  full   thou of grace;

An   guinoon Dios anaa canimo.
the  Lord    God  is    with thee.

Guirayeg ca    uyamot  sa    babaihun tanan
Exalted  thou   much    among women    all,

ug  guirayeg man   an  imon anac Jesus.
and exalted  also  he   thy  son  Jesus.

    Santa Maria inahan sa Dios,
    Holy Mary, mother of God,

iguiampo            mo    cami macasasala onia
let us be interceded for by thee, us    sinners,   now

    ug sa amun camatai.  Amen, Jesus.
    and in our death.

It has been my object in giving this slight illustration of the difference between these three languages—­aside from its singularity and novelty, which may furnish some pleasure—­to make evident the ease and clearness of the languages and their words and pronunciations, which render them very easy, or at least not difficult to learn.  Some of their idioms and transpositions, which are different from our own, must be accepted as they stand, as Father Joseph de Acosta says very well when writing on this matter, (De procur. sal. lib. 4, cap. 9.); but if they are once acquired, and one is accustomed to the sound of them, they do not render the language difficult, but rather make it easy and graceful.  But since I have mentioned the courtesy and politeness of the Tagalos, and of their tongue, it will be well, before proceeding further, to speak more at length concerning it, for it is so noble and pleasing a moral virtue.

Of the civilities, terms of courtesy, and good breeding among the Filipinos.  Chapter XVI.

The Filipinos are not so ceremonious in their actions as are the Chinese and Japonese; yet they have their politeness and good breeding, especially the Tagalos, who are very civil and courteous in word and action.  Upon meeting one another, they practice our custom of uncovering the head—­not that they used hats, caps, or bonnets; but they wore a piece of cloth like a towel, some three or four palmos long, which they wound around the head in becoming fashion, like