Noong isang linggo, dumaan ako sa botika para bumili ng gamot.

Noong is a past-time marker that often means when, during, or at in a past context.

• noong = at that past time / when
• isang linggo = one week

Together, Noong isang linggo is a natural Filipino time expression meaning last week or one week ago, depending on context. In this sentence, it is understood as last week.

In everyday speech, many speakers say Nung isang linggo, which is just a more colloquial pronunciation/spelling of Noong isang linggo.

It can mean either, but here it clearly means week.

Why?

• isang linggo = one week
• Linggo by itself can also mean Sunday

Context tells you which one is intended:

• noong isang linggo = last week
• noong Linggo = on Sunday

Capitalization can also help in writing, though not everyone is perfectly consistent with it.

Dumaan comes from the root daan, which is related to path, way, or passing.

In this sentence, dumaan means something like:

• passed by
• went by
• stopped by

So dumaan ako sa botika is very natural for I stopped by the pharmacy or I passed by the pharmacy.

A useful nuance: dumaan often suggests that the place was a stop along the way, or not necessarily the speaker’s main destination.

Because Filipino commonly uses verb-first word order.

So:

• Dumaan ako = literally Passed by I, but naturally I stopped by / I passed by

This is normal Filipino sentence structure. English usually puts the subject first, but Filipino often starts with the verb.

If you move ako earlier, the sentence either becomes unnatural or needs a different structure for emphasis.

Sa is a very common marker for location or direction. It can mean:

• at
• in
• to
• on

depending on the sentence.

Here, sa botika means at the pharmacy or to the pharmacy.

With dumaan, the combination dumaan sa + place means to pass by / stop by a place.

So:

• dumaan sa botika = stopped by the pharmacy

Botika means pharmacy or drugstore.

Yes, it is basically the same kind of place as parmasya, but:

• botika is very common in everyday speech
• parmasya also exists, but may sound a bit more formal or less common depending on the speaker and region

So botika is a very useful everyday word to know.

This is a purpose phrase.

• para = for / in order to / so that
• bumili = buy / to buy
• ng gamot = medicine / medicines

So para bumili ng gamot means:

• to buy medicine
• in order to buy medicine

It explains why the speaker stopped by the pharmacy.

Yes, that is a very common learner question.

For many -um- verbs in Filipino, the form used after words like para, gusto, puwede, etc. often looks the same as the completed form.

So although bumili can mean bought in other contexts, here after para it works more like to buy.

Important point: Filipino does not have a separate infinitive form like English to buy. Instead, it often uses a verb form that looks like a regular conjugated form.

So in this sentence:

• dumaan gives the main completed action
• para bumili expresses purpose: to buy

Because the subject is already understood.

The sentence already says:

• dumaan ako = I stopped by

So in para bumili ng gamot, the understood subject is still I.

Filipino often leaves out repeated subjects when they are obvious from context. That makes the sentence sound natural and efficient.

If you forced another subject in there, it would usually sound unnecessary or awkward.

Here, ng marks the direct object of the verb.

The thing being bought is gamot, so:

• bumili ng gamot = bought / buy medicine

This ng is very common with verbs when the object is not the focus of the sentence.

Also, gamot does not have to be strictly singular. Filipino nouns usually do not change form for singular vs. plural, so gamot can mean:

• medicine
• some medicine
• medicines

The exact meaning depends on context.

Strictly speaking, it clearly says the speaker stopped by the pharmacy for the purpose of buying medicine.

The phrase para bumili ng gamot gives the intention or purpose. Just like in English, that does not automatically guarantee the action was completed.

Compare:

• I stopped by the pharmacy to buy medicine.

That strongly suggests the purpose, but it does not absolutely prove the purchase happened.

So the Filipino sentence mainly states:

• the speaker stopped by the pharmacy
• the reason was to buy medicine

This is a very normal and natural order:

• Noong isang linggo, = time expression first
• dumaan ako sa botika = main action
• para bumili ng gamot = purpose

Filipino often places time expressions at the beginning of the sentence, especially when setting the scene.

You could rearrange parts in some contexts, but this version is clear, natural, and common.