n the following table, in which is made
the comparison of the three most important languages, the Tagalog,
Visayan, and Pampanga. Since for the sake of brevity the comparison
is made in a few words, whoever is interested can with but slight
labor extend the comparison through many words.

Spanish Malay Tagalog Pampanga Visayan

cielo [i. e., sky] langriet langit banoa laguit
sol [i. e., sun] mata ari arao aldao arlao
luna [i. e., moon] bulam Bouan bulan bulan

Of these languages the two most general are the Tagalog, which is
used through the greater part of the coast and interior of the island
of Manila, and the islands of Lubang and Mindoro; and the Visayan,
which is spoken throughout all the islands of the Pintados. Of the
two without doubt the most courteous, grave, artistic, and elegant
is the Tagalog, for it shares in four qualities of the four greatest
languages in the world, namely, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish:
With the Hebrew, besides the resemblance already noted in the manner
of its vowels and consonants, it has the roots of the vocables and
their hidden and obscure meaning [sus prenezes, y misterios] and some
gutturals; with the Greek, the articles in the declension of nouns, and
in the conjugations the abundance of voices and moods; with the Latin,
the abundance and elegance; with the Spanish, the fine structure,
polish, and courtesy. As a proof of this, Father Pedro Chirino has
inserted in his printed relation of these islands an example in the
prayer of the Ave Maria, [15] as a short and clear instance, with his
explanation, with notes in the following manner. It should be noted
that the father, belonging to a past age, wrote it in the old style,
which has changed here somewhat since then, although not substantially.

THE AVE MARIA IN THE TAGALOG LANGUAGE

Abe Guingoong Maria matoua ca na
Ave Senora Maria alegra tu ya
Hail Lady Mary be joyful thou now

Napopono ca nang gracia
Llena tu de gracia
Full thou of grace

Ang Panginoong Dios na saiyo
El Senor Dios esta contigo
The Lord God is with thee

Bucor cang pinagpala sa babaying lahat
Singular tu bendita entre