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    About the 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.

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    About the 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.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    76K views3 pages

    Philippine Units of Measurements

    Uploaded by

    FVPA
    About the 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.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 3

    1

    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 Foreign equivalent Philippine Foreign equivalent


    measuring (estimate) measuring (estimate)
    units units

    piranggot ½ inch dakot 10 grams


    sandamak 4 inches guhit 100 grams
    dangkal 8 inches kagitna ½ kilo
    talampakan 12 inches gatang 1 kilo
    bisig 16 inches chimanta 6 kilos
    dipa 68 inches kaban 25 kilos

    VOLUME TIME

    Philippine Foreign equivalent Philippine Foreign equivalent


    measuring (estimate) measuring (estimate)
    units units

    salok 80 ml kisapmata 0.5 second


    saro 250 ml saglit 1 second
    mangkok 400 ml sandali 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.
    2

    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-malayan-
    heritage.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

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