marunong is PHYSICAL ABILITY alam is MENTAL ABILITY

I think you just answered your own question and way to go! Alam - know Alam ko ang pangalan mo. (I know your name.) Marunong - know how Marunong akong mag-Tagalog / magsalita ng Tagalog. (I know how to speak Tagalog.) You could even put them together: Alam mo bang marunong si Rudel magTagalog? (Did you know that Rudel knows how to speak Tagalog?) I hope that helped.

"Marunong" means you know HOW to do a particular skill. Example: 1. Marunong ako maglaro ng tabletennis. (I KNOW HOW to play tabletennis.) 2. Ako ay marunong magbasa ng Korean. (I KNOW HOW to read Korean.) "Alam" mean you KNOW what a particular subject or thing is. Example: 1. Alam kong may ginawa kang mali. (I KNOW you did something wrong.) 2. Bakit alam mo na gusto ko si JJ? (Why do you KNOW I like JJ?) You are already right about it so just keep practicing. ^^