I Say Tomato You Say…
By: Roxanne Estrellado - Limjoco
We Filipinos have a funny way of changing words, phrases and names even. Blame it on our different dialects, our culture, our ancestors or our hearing. Blame all you want but that’s what makes Pinoys unique. I remember having a dog as a child named, TJ. My Yaya P would always call him, Tay-Jee or Tay-Jay, much to our dog’s confusion. This went on as dogs came in and out of our lives. Our Pekingese, Boogie was called Bowgee. Our Poodle, Freaky was called Fraykee. Our Cocker Spaniel, Whitney was called Wetnee. Haay Yaya! But they all loved her just the same.
My MIL does the same thing to people! Our cousin had a girlfriend named AC. Every time she came for a visit my MIL would call her KC. Once AC couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to correct my MIL, “Tita, AC po.” To which my MIL’s response was, “E gusto ko KC. Bakit ba?!” From then on, no one would dare correct my beautiful MIL should she get all our names wrong.
Living in Tokyo afforded us to live in a small duplex. It was very cute and my Papa would often say how “COOZY” it was. One time, Papa was so excited to give his “pasalubong” for me. He knew how much I loved the singer of Jessie’s Girl. “I bought you the new CD of Rick SPRINGSTEEN!!!” Gee thanks Pa! I miss my Japanese life! Sigh!
Even lyrics to songs are altered. There was this popular song in the 80’s by Taja Seville and our cousin loved singing it, “Love is Potatoes…” It does sound better doesn’t it? So… contagious.
I love these Filipino-isms! My friends and family would often swap our new found vocabulary words and terms. Here are my favorites:
1. Paki-SWIT mo ang electric fan. Mainit!
2. Naku brown out! Kunin mo ang flash NIGHT!
3. Manang, pakikuha naman yung blue kong SHORT. Ayaw ko mag pantalon ngayon.
4. Grabe na ang ubo mo a. Bakit di ka magpa-XTRAY???
5. Habang bata pa kayo, strike while the SUN is hot!
6. Wag kang papatay-patay. Napaka SLOW PUT mo naman.
7. Sarap mag-BAMFIRE dito sa beach! Marshmallow?
8. Ang favorite kong chocolate candy ay yung EMEM (M&M’s)!
9. Ako naman NESSEL (Nestle) Crunch!
10. At dahil Semana Santa, ganito ang maririnig ninyo sa mga lola tuwing nagrorosaryo kami pag Huwebes Santo... HAILY Mary full of grace... blessed is da fruit of DAMON Jesus...
My all time favorite deserves another story…
Another cousin came home from work one night, tired and in need of a drink. He asked the maid to buy a bottle of Super Dry. The maid left in a hurry. Minutes turned into an hour and still no Super Dry. Until finally, looking exhausted, the maid finally arrived. Our cousin asked her what took her so long and before he could even finish his sentence the maid took out of a paper bag what appeared to be a bottle of deodorant. “KOya, ang hErap naman hanapEn Etong SOFERDRY mo!” Ummm… salamat ha!
A man who had a broken jaw went to the ER. Sabi niya HINAPIPIT daw siya ng asawa niya. Doctors were stumped. Salamat sa diyos dumating ang asawa wearing...HAPPY FEET! =) 
