Hi Gary, 1) KONG is a conjugated form of two Tagalog words KO and NA KO translates to I or MY NA could be WHICH/ THAT (a word that that connects a noun with an a description or object) Example Formal: Ang alaga ko na aso. (My pet dog) Conversational: Ang alaga kong aso. (My pet dog) 2) KONG could also be the shortened pronounciation for AKONG (from the word AKO NA) AKO means I or ME Example Formal: wala akong pera (I don't have money) Conversational: wala 'kong pera (I don't have money) 3) KUNG on the other hand is a Tagalog word for the English IF. Example: Bibigyan kita ng regalo kung magiging mabait ka. (I will give you a gift if you will be good.) Based on your given phrases, I would have to assume that MunScian is the tagalog word MINSAN. MINSAN and KUNG MINSAN both means SOMETIMES. KUNG MINSAN is often, but now always, used as when hypothetical or unsure of. "kong MunScian estudyante" >>> Kung minsan estudyante (sometimes a/ the student) 'o po kuya Gary, kung MunScian rin" >>> Opo kuya Gary, kung minsan rin (Yes, brother Gary, sometimes too) THEREFORE, based on the context, the right word used in both phrases is KUNG. Hearing KONG used, could be just a pronunciation mistake on the part of the speaker when he means KUNG.

Please continue learning and don't get intimidated. Dedication and diligence is the first step to learning anything. Pronunciations are relatively easy as we only use short vowel sounds and no silent letters. Just pronounce as how you read it. Since you already know Spanish, that would be a good jump start as it has some similarities with Filipino. Italki.com is really useful tool in learning languages especially if you can find a learning buddy whom you can talk and converse with online. Much better if you can meet a Filipino at your place. Filipinos are practically anywhere in the world- and were really friendly and accommodating. It would also be handy if you can secure a copy of an English-Filipino dictionary. Learn few words a day and you won't notice that you've already built a decent Filipino vocabulary. Thank you for taking interest in learning our language! I wish you the best!

im from the Philippines, and i never heard of using that word as praise.

"what are you doing now? = "Ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon?" or "Ano ang iyong ginagawa ngayon?" ANO= what ANG= is/ are (no singular/ plural distinction) GAWA= root word, "do" GINAGAWA= continuous form, "doing" IYO= a tagalog possesive pronoun, "yours" MO= directing the statement to the person you're talking, "you" NGAYON= "now"

if you're asking for the pronounciation, you read it simply as "ka-pag" using short A sound. No A at the end of the word. "kapag" in english means "when" sorry, but i believe eyhak's sample sentence is gramatically wrong.

"iyon ay nakakatawa talaga" or "nakakatawa talaga iyon" "iyon ay sobrang nakakatawa" or "sobrang nakakatawa iyon" "talaga" and "sobra" signify intensity as the word "so"

"tuloy po kayo" = "come in", "come inside", "go ahead" e.g. 1) welcome, come in 2) this way, just go ahead "tuloy" literrally means continue or proceed. "po" is a Filipino polite word/ honorific "kayo" refers to a you and a group of people you're with, "walang anuman" = "it's nothing" e.g. A: Thank you. B: (reply) Welcome/ it's nothing/ don't mind it. "wala" means "nothing" "ano man or anuman" - "whatever" literall translation "whatever it is, it's nothing" "tinatanggap kita" = "i'm accepting you" "tinatanggap" is "accepting" "kita" is reflexive in that it connotes already the subject "I" and referring to the receiver of the action "you"