The typical Filipino sentence

The typical sentence in Filipino has a subject (topic) and a predicate (comment about the topic).

The normal order (syntax) of these elements is: subject + predicate.

Predicate           Subject

Tumakbo          si John.           John ran.
Maganda          si Sue.            Sue is pretty.
Docktor           ang bisita.       The guest is a doctor.
Nasa kusina     ang relo.         The clock is in the kitchen.

The subject can be a noun, a pronoun, a demonstrative, an adjective, a verb, or a prepositional phrase. Personal names are marked by si. All other nouns are marked by ang.

Examples:
                          Marker          Personal Noun

1. Ngumiti       si                      Perla.
2. Lumaban     si                      Daniel.
3. Lumundag   si                      Tagpi.
4. Ngumiyaw   si                      Muning.

                          Marker          Non-personal Nouns

1. Ngumiti        ang                    dalaga.
2. Lumaban      ang                    sundalo.
3. Lumundag    ang                     aso.
4. Ngumiyaw    ang                      pusa.
5. Umuunlad     ang                     Maynila.
6. Palabas         ang                    Star Trek.
7. Malungkot    ang                     Noli Me Tangere.

Source:

Ramos, T. & Cena, R. (1990) Modern Tagalog: Grammatical explanations and exercises for non-native speakers. Chapter 2. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.