Let's practice Tagalog by role playing. This is a sample conversation between a tourist in the Philippines and the hotel's front desk clerk. The tourist is checking in while at the same time, he asks for a few information about an interesting place to see.

This episode will help you engage in a conversation with a Filipino local.

Tagalog To English

A: Kumusta! Magkano ang rate ng kwarto sa hotel ninyó? (How are you? How much is the rate of a room in your hotel?)

B: Mabuti namán akó Sir. Depende po sa kwarto na kukunin ninyó. Single? Solo po ba kayo o may kasama? (I'm okay sir. It depends on the room that you'll get. Single? Solo or with company?)

A: Single bed lang sa kwarto, paki. (Single bed in the room, please.)

B: Single bed... gustó ninyó po ba may aircon o waláng aircon? (Single bed... do you want a room with aircon, or no aircon?)

A: Iyóng may aircon. (With aricon.)

B: Kung may aircon, ang rate pò ay 2,500 pesos. (With aricon, the rate is 2,500 pesos.)

A: Okay lang. Titigil akó dito ng dalawáng gabí. (That's okay. I'll stay here for two nights.)

B: Sigé pò Sir, bibigyán kitá ng standard room para sa dalawáng gabí. May credit card ka pò? (Okay Sir, I'll give you a standard room for two nights. Do you have a credit card?)

A: Oo... Heto ang credit card ko... Tumatanggáp ba kayó ng Visa? (Yes... Here's my credit card... Do you acceot Visa?)

B: Opò Sir, tumatanggáp kamí ng Visa... Teka lang pò at kukunin ko ang pangalan ninyó. (Yes Sir, we accept Visa... Wait and I'll get your name.)

A: Akó ay English, turistá akó. Saán ba magandáng pumasyál dito? (I'm English, I'm a tourist. Where is the good place to stroll?)

B: A... magandá pò dito sa Tagaytáy Sir. Marami ninyóng mapupuntahán. Una sa lahát dapat makita mo ang Taal Volcano. Pupuntá ka sa Picnic Grove. Magandá ang view ng Taal doón. Isáng park po iyón. (Well... Tagaytay is a beautiful place. There are lots of places to go. First of all, you should see Taal Volcano. You'll go to Picnic Grove. It's where the view of Taal is great. It's a park.)

A: Paanó pumuntá doón? (How to get there?)

B: Pwede kang sumakáy ng public transportation pero bakâ mahirapan ka Sir. Ang rekomendasyón ko po sa iyó ay magpa-reserve kayó ng sasakyán dito sa front desk para mai-schedule ko ang pagpasyál mo doón. (You may take the public transportation but it can be difficult for you Sir. My recommendation for you is to reserve for a car from us, here at the front desk so I may schedule your trip there.)

A: Sigé pò. Paki-book akó, isáng oras mulâ ngayón. Gustó ko apat na oras lang. (Sure. Please book me, in an hour. I want a four hour service.)

B: Waláng problema Sir. Susunduín ka ng driver namin dito sa lobby. (No problem Sir. The driver will pick you up here at the lobby.)

A: Magkano ang ibabayad ko? (How much will I pay?)

B: 1,500 pesos lang pò Sir kapág apat na oras. (1,500 pesos only Sir for four hours.)

A: Ayos lang. Charge mo sa account ko at magbabayad akó sa oras ng checkout. (That's alright. Charge it to my account and I'll pay upon checkout.)