I often hear the word Panggalatok from my mom when she refers to Pangasinan’s people and language but while watching TV, I caught Edu Manazano side commenting that to call a Pangasinense a Panggalatok is deragatory and insulting. I never bothered to get the bottom of this simply because I thought that everything my mom says is right but tonight I just googled it for curiosity’s sake. And tonight I finally understood why, from this website: http://aropangasinan.blogspot.com/2011/02/pangalatok-is-insulting-and-derogatory.html it clearly explains why.
“Saray totoo ya manaayam ed Pangasinan, sikara so Pangasinense anggan antoy salita ra: Pangasinan, Iloco, Bolinao, Zambal, Kapampangan, Bisaya, Ibaloi, Kan-kaney tanaromni. Aman so “Pangalatok” et “derogatory” tan “insulting”, makaderal na kagalangan ed sakey ya too no tawagen moy ontan.
The people who lives in Pangasinan are called Pangasinense regardless of the language they speak. Pangasinense, Ilocano, Bolinaoan, Zambal, Kapampangan, Bisaya, Ibaloi, Kan-kaney tanaromni(sorry this word I do not understand). Calling someone a Panggalatok is derogatory and insulting to ones dignity and self-respect.
Nanlapo tan ya termino nen saman ya panaon nen mangkokolkol iray Ilocano tan Pangasinense lapor ag natalusan na saray Ilocano so salitan Pangasinan. Say intawag da ed saray Pangasinenese ya mansalitay Pangasinan et “Kasla kayo nga agtogkik nga manok no agsasao” (You are like chicken with a bad flu when talking)= Pangasinan +kasla+ togkik +manok= Panga-la-tok!”
A quick history to better understand the above paragraph, during the early 1900s there was a widespread Ilocano migration happened. They moved to Central Luzon, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Zambales etc. Right now, Pangasinan is “divided” into two, divided in terms of language, Ilocano is the prevalent language in the eastern side and Pangasinense is spoken mostly on the western side. Now, back to the paragraph.
That term originated when the Pangasinenses and Ilocanos mock each other. The Ilocanos understood the Pangasinense’s language but the Pangasinan’s side couldn’t understand Ilocano so they mock the Pangasinenses “Kasla kayo nga agtogkik nga manok no agsasao” (You are like chicken with a bad flu when talking)= Pangasinan +kasla+ togkik +manok= Panga-la-tok!”
Say imbales na saray Pangasinense ed saray Ilocano met et: “Sicayo ya Ilocano agyo amtay mampuniti no milaban, kapara kayoy asilok ya otot, mangkogtokogtot” (Ilocanos don’t know how to box; they jump like frightened rats)= Ilocano +kogtot + otot = Ilokogtot!”
The Pangasinenses counter the insult with another insult, “Sicayo ya Ilocano agyo amtay mampuniti no milaban, kapara kayoy asilok ya otot, mangkogtokogtot” (Ilocanos don’t know how to box; they jump like frightened rats)= Ilocano +kogtot + otot = Ilokogtot!”
So now we know. If you hear someone still use this word please correct them, the next time I hear my mom say this I will correct her. 😀
*If you have any corrections, reactions feel free to comment. I am no expert of the language and it makes me smile to know that I am gradually improving, hahaha 😀
Dancing with my two left feet 