GIEU Maui

Kumusta, Mga Kaibigan

This is a common greeting from someone who is about to join a group. It means, in English, "How are you, friends?"

Kumusta is a word of greeting used anywhere in the Philippines and by any Filipino all over the world. It came from the Spanish greeting "Como esta?".

A brief historical note to explain the Spanish language origin of many Filipino words is in order here.

The Philippine archipelago was a Spanish colony until 1898. Las Islas Filipinas was the name given by Spain to the 7,100 islands in the Pacific in the 16th century. In December 10, 1898, these islands became a colony of the United States of America by virtue of the Treaty of Paris and the payment of $20M to the Spanish government. In 1899, Philippine Islands became the new name by which these islands in Southeast Asia became known around the world. Sometimes it was referred to as Islands by immigrants to the US. Later particularly after July 4, 1946 when it ceased to be a US colony, it became Republic of the Philippines or Philippines.

Most common Greetings

Here are the most common words used as Greetings in Ilocano, Filipino, Hawaiian and Cebuano:

Kumusta in Ilocano, Filipino and Cebuano. This came from the Spanish greeting : Como esta?

Aloha in Hawaiian. This word is used both to mean Hello and Goodbye.

Maraming salamat

Here are the words to say Thank you in Ilocano, Filipino (Tagalog), Hawaiian and Cebuano:

Dios ti Agngina and Agyamanak (Ilocano)
Maraming Salamat (Filipino, Tagalog)
Mahalo (Hawaiian)
Daghan Salamat (Cebuano)

Dios ti Agngina is literally translated as God thanks you. Agyamanak is simply I am grateful. This last word could be made plural with Agyamankami. This means we are grateful.

Titles

NOTES:
-associated with arrival of Americans to Philippines
-particularly professional titles
-even if not formally pass professional exams