Hilarity ensues when Carmina and Patch chat about Pinoy expressions that can only come from a people as colorful and creative as Filipinos. Listen in and just perhaps, you'll pick up a new language!
Hilarity ensues when Carmina and Patch chat about Pinoy expressions that can only come from a people as colorful and creative as Filipinos. Listen in and just perhaps, you'll pick up a new language!
Welcome to FilTrip, a podcast where we explore everything fun, weird, and in between about the Philippines. And now a quick shout out. Check out Manila Candle. Manila Candle features Filipino inspired scents like Tagaytay, Palawan, Ube Halaya and Buco and Mango. They also have fun ones like Ay Nako and Bahala Ka Sa Buhay Mo.
Patch:
Enjoy their car fresheners, wax melts and merchandise to visit manilacandle.com and take a trip to the Philippines through their scents.
Carmina:
Back to our show.
Patch:
Today's trip is a culture trip where we explore the Philippines' customs and way of life. This episode is about popular pinoy expressions.
Carmina:
Patch, why do you think we have so many unique, interesting and funny expressions in the Philippines?
Patch:
Linguistics instructor Vincent Christopher Santiago said, the process of creating slang is not new for us and it's always existed in the dynamic nature of languages.
Carmina:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>.
Patch:
So I guess that's the technical reason behind slang, right? And many of our Filipino slang, I think we tend to take English words and we move the letters around to make it a different word.
Carmina:
I think we've mentioned in the past we have over a hundred languages in the Philippines, and they're a blend of many other languages from Austonesean origins plus loan words from English like you said, but also Spanish, Chinese, even Indonesian, Malay, and other Sanskrit influence from pre-colonial times. And then in terms of making things our own, once we've blended things together,<laugh> is part of a theory called Language Drift Theory. It's when there's an unconscious change in a natural language in a particular area over the years, they start very small and then the population continually varies it until it becomes acceptable in that society. What's funny though is that we often change the meanings of the words from the original. I think that's what you were saying before too, right?
Patch:
I was also kind of curious, uh, why does it happen according to the same instructor, there's three reasons. The first reason is veiling. We have a desire to hide or conceal the topic of conversation. That's how it starts.
Carmina:
Ah, yeah.
Patch:
And the second is group identification.
Carmina:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>.
Patch:
Starts from the young ones. So they identify with like whether this is a Gen Z or gen Y expression, et cetera. Generational,
Carmina:
Uuhhuh,<affirmative>.
Patch:
And then the third reason of course is technology and advancement. It's very common to say JK for just kidding, or TBH, to be honest, et cetera. So all of those reasons lead to why we have expressions and slang, words, et cetera.
Carmina:
What's funny though is that we often do change the meanings of words from the original. So for example, when I was learning Spanish, I found out that many quote unquote Spanish words that we use in the Philippines are not used in the same way in Spain.
Patch:
Oh, right.<laugh>. I can think of one right away.
Carmina:
Example.
Patch:
Leche.
Carmina:
Yes, leche. In Spanish, it means literally milk. But in Tagalog it's a swear word.
Patch:
Why did it become a swear word? Do you think moms didn't want to curse in front of the kids?
Carmina:
I found an explanation. Apparently the origins are from a Spanish profanity, me cago and leche. Literally meaning I defecate in the milk.
Patch:
<laugh>.
Carmina:
I don't think that still explains to me why. But another one that I just wanted to mention was the word siguro, which in Spanish means for sure.
Patch:
Right.
Carmina:
And in Tagalog, it's the opposite, right? When we say seguro it's like maybe.
Patch:
It's doubtful,<laugh>.
Carmina:
Exactly. So when you're in Spain, be careful about the words that you think you know the meaning of. And the other thing that I just also wanted to mention about languages, colonize nations develop a what's called a portmanteau of languages, meaning the blending of sounds and meanings of two other words or languages. So an easy example in English is brunch, right? It's a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch. In the context of what we're talking about, it's Taglish or T agalog and English. And we apparently executed a series of changes in the English language, i n intonation meaning, and context that only we Filipinos understand, because we've infused it with our social, cultural, and historical experiences. So should we talk about examples of what we found?
Patch:
Of course.
Carmina:
Course, there's two broad categories.<laugh>. One is hugot lines?
Patch:
<laugh>
Carmina:
Have you heard of who g ot l ines?
Patch:
<laugh>? Well, I've heard of hugot, but I'm not sure exactly what it means.
Carmina:
This was such a hard concept for me to grasp literally hugot means to draw or pull something out.
Patch:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>.
Carmina:
And it was apparently popularized by a romcom titled,"That Thing Called Tadhana," Tadhana meaning fate. In 2014, which is a story about unrequited love. There were lines in that movie that became a trend called hugot lines, which captured very intense and deep emotions undergone by the characters. So given that background, I think the best way we can describe hugot li nes i n E nglish are veiled comments or insinuations or words with very deep emotional undertones. It's meant to draw out emotions or feelings that are so deep within and are meant to pull them out.
Patch:
<laugh>. Oh my. Okay.
Carmina:
Do you want an example?
Patch:
Yes, please.
Carmina:
This one should resonate with you because it's about math and love<laugh>. So here it is. I'm gonna say it in Tagalog first, and I'm gonna translate it in English. Now, I should warn our listeners who don't understand Tagalog fully. Sometimes the meaning gets lost in translation, but we're gonna try our best. So in Tagalog"Ang crush ay parang math problem, kung hindi mo makuha titigan mo na lang."
Patch:
<laugh>.
Carmina:
So in English, it's"having a crush on someone is like a difficult math problem. If you don't get it, just stare at it."
Patch:
<laugh>,<laugh>.
Carmina:
So that's obviously describing someone who's so in love with someone else, but that love is unrequited. So you're just content looking at that person every day.<laugh> do. Does it like conjure feelings within you Patch?
Patch:
Yes. Yes.<laugh>, I'm upset right now.
Carmina:
<laugh>. I have another one. I just have to say it.
Patch:
Okay.
Carmina:
Ang pag-ibig mo ay parang Calculus, may limit.
Patch:
<laugh>
Carmina:
In English. Your love is like calculus. It has a limit.
Patch:
<laugh>.
Carmina:
Last, last, last. This. I know it is cringey, but I went down this rabbit hole and I couldn't stop. Ang pag-ibig ko ay parang pie, it goes on forever.
Patch:
<laugh>
Carmina:
In English. My love is like pie. It goes on forever.
Patch:
<laugh>.
Carmina:
So given that, I don't know if you're gonna be able to, but can you come up with a hugot line.
Patch:
<laugh>? I can't come up with a hugot line on my own<laugh>, so I'm gonna have to Google it. Wait, there's an expression.
Carmina:
So to our listeners are<laugh> Patchot Googled something and now can't stop laughing. Now I can't wait to hear what you found.
Patch:
<laugh> Nacolombia. Akala mo sa iyo siya, pero hindi.
Carmina:
<laugh>. How do you translate this? Oh, I know you've been Colombianed.
Patch:
<laugh>, right?
Carmina:
You thought it was yours, but it's not.
Patch:
Do you know why it's Nacolombia<laugh>. Oh, you do?
Carmina:
That's what Steve Harvey mistakenly said that Miss Universe was Colombia. But it's actually Miss Philippines.
Patch:
Correct. Carmina, I have one. Okay, so I'm gonna have to spell it out. Feel free to write it down.
Carmina:
Okay.
Patch:
J-u-i-c-e. What does that spell?
Carmina:
Juice.
Patch:
Okay, second word. C-o-l-o-r-e-d.
Carmina:
Colored.
Patch:
Okay. So what are the two words combined?
Carmina:
Juice colored.
Patch:
Do you know what that means?
Carmina:
No?
Patch:
Oh my God.
Carmina:
Ah,<laugh>,
Patch:
< laugh>.
Carmina:
Wait, is this part of Bekenese or Bekemon? Have you heard of that?
Patch:
<laugh>? No, I was cracking up when I read it. I was-- juice colored? Diyos ko Lord!
Carmina:
Diyos Ko Lord! I think this might be part of the language that's called Bekemon or Bekenese.
Patch:
What is that?
Carmina:
I found out that this is considered a language now, and it's really what we knew in our generation as Sward speak. Sward being an English lone word that was used in the Philippines during the seventies and eighties, meaning gay.
Patch:
Ah, okay.
Carmina:
Are you kind of getting an inkling about why Becky?
Patch:
No, I mean, I'm thinking it's Becky, but why Becky? As opposed to Karen? I guess.<laugh>.
Carmina:
Well, no, so I found this out. Becky is another way of saying bakla.
Patch:
Oh.
Carmina:
Bakla is how we call gays in the Philippines. And bakla is actually a portmanteau, or a combination of babae and lalake now becomes Becky<laugh> because it's a little bit more, you know, posh. Right?
Patch:
Okay.
Carmina:
So Bekemon or Bekenese is a language to describe people who are hardcore users of gay language, whether or not they are homosexuals. And in fact, some of our friends and some of my other friends in another friend group are so used to using this, that when we're on a group chat, I really have no clue what they're talking about.<laugh>?
Patch:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>.
Carmina:
I actually have to ask for the meaning. So I think Juice Colored is one of them, because in Bekemon there's a lot of things that sound like that.
Patch:
Do you have an example?
Carmina:
Yes. So, okay, B ekenese has elements of Tagalog, English, Spanish, and some form of, of Japanese e ven. And sometimes they also use celebrity names or brands with different meanings than the original. Okay, so here's one that's easy. Ang T okyo.
Patch:
Okay, so sleepy.
Carmina:
That's right. Tokyo is a reference to Japan, but antok is just the Tagalog word for sleepy. But why would you just say I'm sleepy or inaantok ako when it's so boring. You can just say ang Tokyo<laugh>. Right? Here's another one. Like just one words besh, meaning best friend.
Patch:
Right? Why were you not impressed that I knew what besh meant? Oh, I'm kind of offended.
Carmina:
I guess, because I didn't even realize that was like Bekemon or Bekenese.
Patch:
Oh, okay. Oh, sorry.
Carmina:
It's used a lot, right? Besh?
Patch:
Right? Yeah. Okay,
Carmina:
Here's another one. Whatouch or anech.
Patch:
What? Okay. Whatouch does that mean? Don't touch me.
Carmina:
Well, no, you already said it. You said what? It's, it's literally what?<laugh>, Whatouch is a more exciting way to say what? And anech is just a play on the Tagalog word ano, meaning what?
Patch:
Oh my gosh. Yeah. We're gonna need a dictionary for this<laugh>.
Carmina:
Here's a more complicated one, Patch using celebrities.
Patch:
Okay,
Carmina:
So one is stress drillon.
Patch:
<laugh>.
Carmina:
So this one came from the name of a Filipino journalist named Ces Drillon. And it's not really that she's known for being stressed out. Her name just matches the sentiment, right? And then there's this other expression, Hagardo Versoza.
Patch:
<laugh>
Carmina:
From this Filipino actor's name Gardo Versoza. And again, it's not that he looks haggard, it's just that you know, they're borrowing his name to make the expression more exciting. And so to borrow from an article I read, hagardo versoza is usually how you look when you are stress drillon.
Patch:
<laugh>. Wait, I think I came across one. I mean, I don't know if it's Bekenese, but it sounds like it's Bekenese.
Carmina:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>
Patch:
Gandara Park.
Carmina:
Yes it is Bekenese<laugh>. Explain what it means.
Patch:
<laugh>. So ganda means beautiful.
Carmina:
Mm-hmm.<affirmative>.
Patch:
And there's a Korean idol whose celebrity career started in the Philippines. Her name is Sandara Park.
Carmina:
Mm-hmm<affirmative>,
Patch:
That's Beknese for beautiful like Sandara Park.
Carmina:
So there's so many more Patch Bekense and Bekemon. And I'm going to link a few YouTube videos that really show people who are fluent in it. And I'm telling you, it's like being in another planet. So like I said earlier, this is not only used by the LGBTQ community. A lot of people use it because it's fun. It shows support for the community and it's also also a way for people to have a sense of unity across all genders.
Patch:
In one of our group chat with our friends, somebody had mentioned Marites,
Carmina:
Yes. Someone was asking, what does Karen mean? Cuz Karen has a specific meaning here in the US. And then someone else said, oh, what about Marites? Cuz that is a specific reference in the Philippines.
Patch:
I was wondering why Marites right? So apparently it's because it's a combination of which is a term we use for girl< laugh>, right? Yeah. Mare, it ang latest or mare, here's the latest. So Marites. But then our friend, bless her heart, sent us a list of names and their meanings. Mar isol<l a ugh> ma reng, taga solsol. Which is someone who is someone who is, what?
Carmina:
Uh, someone who piles on or something like that.
Patch:
Marietta, mare, ito pa.
Carmina:
Uhhuh<laugh>,
Patch:
Which is girl, here's more.
Carmina:
<laugh>.
Patch:
This one is close to my heart. Marissa, mare, may isa pa.
Carmina:
Here's one more. How about your name Maripaz, mare, pasa muna chica, which means, hey, give me the tea. Which is always what you say,<laugh>. If people listen to the old episodes. This is always how you ask for tea.
Patch:
This is scary, accurate.
Carmina:
It's
Patch:
Okay. Carmina, we are talking about Tagalog expressions, but what about American expressions that Filipinos have bungled?
Carmina:
<laugh>. Those are good ones. Go!
Patch:
Bungled or made our own.
Carmina:
So is that people heard it wrong and so now they started saying these?
Patch:
Yeah, I guess so. Whatever you say so.
Carmina:
Okay,<laugh>,
Patch:
We can go on and on. I can, I can't take it anymore of this<laugh>.
Carmina:
So Patch, we can go on and on and we can find so much more. That really illustrates how Filipinos are so creative and hilarious, but we have to end somewhere. So I guess this is it.
Patch:
<laugh>? Yes.
Carmina:
Because of our rich history, because of the influences of our pre-colonial past and colonizers, we were able to combine all of these things that make our language and our expressions truly colorful.
Patch:
With that Carmina, babush!
Carmina:
O siya siya.
Patch:
Ingat! Thanks for listening to FilTrip with Carmina and Patch. Support FilTrip through Patreon or PayPal, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever all podcasts are downloaded.
Carmina:
Thanks to FilTrip sponsor, Solepack, a functional shoe accessory bag. Visit thesolepack.com for more details.