padrino system

From Tagalog padrino (“godfather”) + system, alluding to the compadrazgo system practiced by Filipino families.

The Padrino System. The padrino plays an Important role in the Filipino family system. A padrino or godfather and a madrina or godmother for the child are chosen by the parents. A godparent should have several qualities. He should be of ...

1969, Benicio T. Catapusan, Flora E. Diaz-Catapusan, Philippine Problems:

At least 70% of the respondents acknowledged the existence of the "padrino system" in the company. This padrino or compadre system is a Filipino value which is very common.

1988, Tomas Quintin D. Andres, Negotiating by Filipino Values:

The padrino system came into extensive play, although corruption in government was minimal. During this period the padrino system became a source of strength for survival: from the perspective of the Filipino people it became an instrument […]

2005, Warayuth Sriwarakuel, Cultural Traditions and Contemporary Challenges in Southeast Asia: Hindu and Buddhist, CRVP, →ISBN, page 296:

(Philippines, Philippine politics) corruption involving patronage, nepotism and favoritism, especially in politics and government


Filipino time

What is time? What is "Filipino" time? How can we manage "Filipino" time? Time is a succession of moments with a starting point and an ending point. Thus when we say that the working time is eight hours, it can mean that the work starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m. This is the western concept of time. It is horizontal.

1985, Tomas Quintin D. Andres, Management by Filipino Values: a Sequel to «Understanding Filipino Values», Cellar Book Shop, →ISBN, page 181:

Another issue that may arise in counseling or psychotherapy is the notion of “Filipino time.” Filipino Americans may have a different time orientation from the general American population and often may arrive late to appointments and meetings.

2011, Kevin L. Nadal, Filipino American Psychology: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 242:

(Philippines, sometimes derogatory, slang) A notional system of time which others sometimes derogatorily ascribe to Filipinos, and which they sometimes jocularly ascribe to themselves, to account for their supposed tendency to be leisurely, not rigorous about scheduling, and often tardy.


girl rented overnight

en-noun

girl rented overnight (plural girls rented overnight)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-girl rented overnight.wav

A backronym of GRO. The word rented is translated from Cebuano abang (“to rent”), which can also mean “to hire a prostitute”.

Then there are GROs. That stands for Guest Relation Officer, although some people suggest that it also stands for Girls Rented Overnight.

2013, Bernard Howell, Beyond the Pearled Horizon, Xlibris, self-published, page 54:

(chiefly Philippines, humorous slang, offensive) A bargirl.


kudyapi

kudyapis (plural)
kudiyapi, kutyapi, kutiyapi (alternative)

From Tagalog kudyapi, Hiligaynon kudyapi and Cebuano kudyapi.


poblacion

From Spanish población, from Late Latin populātiō, populātiōnis, from Latin populus (“people”). Doublet of population.

(Philippines) A town center, or the barangay where one is located.

poblacion

a town center, or the barangay where one is located


paltik

(Philippines) A crude homemade firearm, often made using scrap metal.


North Cotabato

(Philippines, colloquial) The province of Cotabato.


Hukbalahap

(Philippines, historical) A Filipino guerrilla movement that fought against the Japanese during World War II and lasted until the Magsaysay administration.


panciteria

panciterias (plural)
pansiteria (alternative)

From Philippine Spanish pancitería. Compare Tagalog pansiterya.

(Philippines) A restaurant that serves pancit noodles.


Lumad

The Mindanao Lumad are non-Muslim groups throughout the island, while in the Cordillera of northern Luzon there are roughly one million indigenous inhabitants belonging to seven major and several minor ethnolinguistic groups.

1998, G. Sidney Silliman, Lela Garner Noble, Organizing for Democracy: Ngos, Civil Society, and the Philippine State, University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, page 138:

Any of the indigenous non-Muslim peoples of Mindanao in the Philippines.


BFP

Bureau of Fire Protection
w:Bureau of Fire Protection

(Philippines) Initialism of Bureau of Fire Protection.


INC

The Aglipayan Church is next with 12%; while the rest of the population is divided into different Protestant sects, the INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) and other denominations.

1987, Miguela Gonzalez Yap, The making of Cory, Cellar Book Shop:

The INC, as it’s known, is headquartered in the Philippines, where church members are accused of financial irregularities, kidnapping and even the murder of a Canadian man.

2018, “Church of Secrets”, in The Fifth Estate, CBC News, retrieved 2018-11-09:

(Philippines, Christianity) Initialism of Iglesia ni Cristo.


Nawasa

(Philippines, historical) Alternative form of NAWASA (“National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority”).


DPWH

w:Department of Public Works and Highways

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Public Works and Highways.

DAR

executive departments of the Philippines


EJK

EJK (countable and uncountable, plural EJKs)

(chiefly Philippines) Initialism of extrajudicial killing.


OFW

Overseas Filipino workers, known as O.F.W.s, are also returning to the country to earn crypto as M.F.W.s, or metaverse Filipino workers.

2024 March 18, Eli Tan, Jes Aznar, “What Meltdown? Crypto Comes Roaring Back in the Philippines.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Overseas Filipino Worker
w:Overseas Filipino Worker

(Philippines) Initialism of Overseas Filipino Worker.


Imperial Manila

1994, Philippines. Congress (1987- ). Senate, Journal of the Senate
So when it suits this vested interest in Imperial Manila, we liberalize. When it does not suit them because it will compete with their cars, we do not liberalize until 1998.

(Philippines, chiefly derogatory) Metro Manila and its surroundings, as generally described in the other provinces in the Philippines.


NCCA

w:National Commission for Culture and the Arts

(Philippines) Initialism of National Commission for Culture and the Arts.


DECS

(Philippines, historical) Acronym of Department of Education, Culture, and Sports.


DOLE

w:Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines)

(Philippines) Acronym of Department of Labor and Employment.


NCIP

w:National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

(Philippines) Initialism of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.


BJMP

w:Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

(Philippines) Initialism of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.


PAGASA

w:Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(Philippines) Acronym of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the national weather service agency of the Philippines.


ARMM

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao#English

(Philippines, historical) Initialism of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.


NDCC

w:National Disaster Coordinating Council

(Philippines) Initialism of National Disaster Coordinating Council, a disaster response agency superseded by the NDRRMC.


NDRRMC

w:National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

(Philippines) Initialism of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.


taraquito

From Spanish taraquito, from Tagalog talakitok.

Caranx ignobilis
Caranx ignobilis#Translingual

(Philippines) The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis)


tambiolo

tambiolos (plural)
tambola (alternative)

Borrowed from Philippine Spanish tambiolo, from tambo + -i- + Italian -olo. See also Spanish tómbola, which is also from Italian tombola. Compare Tagalog tambiyolo.

bor+

The lottery during the time of José Rizal used the traditional manually operated tambiolo where numbers were drawn for the winning combinations.

2010 November 30, Perseus Echeminada, “Rizal a lottery winner in 1892”, in The Philippine Star, retrieved 2020-06-25:

A few days ago, the Manila police raided one such bingo game in the Blumentritt area. The police grabbed pieces of evidence, such as the tambiolo from which the winning numbers are taken, and cards, in the process of which there was a scuffle and the uniform of a policeman and the T-shirt of a Sangguniang Kabataan chair were torn.

2013 February 19, Neal H. Cruz, “Is bingo an illegal numbers game or not?”, in Philippine Daily Inquirer, retrieved 2020-06-25:

(Philippines, gambling) A fish bowl or barrel-shaped container where balls used in a raffle or a lottery are placed. In the case of a raffle, tickets may also be used. Can be made out of wire, glass, clear plastic, etc. Often has a handle, which, when rotated, mixes up the balls or tickets.

The “tambiolo land reform” in the Cojuangco- and Aquino-owned Hacienda Luisita sugar estate is a fraud and the fact that the lawyer of the estate is defending the process is sufficient proof that former Agrarian Reform secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes was conniving with the landowners.

2016 July 5, Sandy Araneta, “‘Tambiolo land reform’ slammed”, in The Manila Standard, retrieved 2020-06-25:

Through a dubious “tambiolo” method, 5,718 Certificates of Land Ownership (CLOA) were distributed to farmers.

2016, Arnisson Andre Ortega, “The Business of Building a Nation”, in Neoliberalizing Spaces in the Philippines: Suburbanization, Transnational Migration, and Dispossession, Lexington Books (Rowman & Littlefield), →ISBN, page 61:

(Philippines, chiefly political) A system by which the government gives out assets, such as land, supposedly at random, but which some feel is actually rigged.


camantigue

From Spanish camantigue, from Tagalog or Cebuano kamantigi.

Impatiens balsamina
Impatiens balsamina#Translingual

(Philippines) garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina)


gulami

Borrowed from Hokkien 牛腩麵 /牛腩面 (gû-lám mī, “beef belly noodles”).

(Philippines, chiefly Davao) beef belly (either ox tripe, tenderloin, or offal) and noodles soup (usually tangy/savory and spicy) with beef shanks or flanks


West Philippine Sea

the West Philippine Sea (canonical)
WPS (alternative)

to pursue economic activity in the West Philippine Sea, the portion of South China Sea that is within the country's exclusive economic zone.

2019 September 13, Patricia Lourdes Viray, “West Philippine Sea joint exploration not a done deal — Palace”, in Philippine Star:

(Philippines, strictly) eastern portion of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippine government to be part of its exclusive economic zone.

Names and wordings are a big deal in the South China Sea (SCS), also known as the “West Philippine Sea” in Manila and "East Sea" in Ho Chi Minh.

2019 April 28, Jay Hilotin, “Would a nuclear war erupt over South China Sea dispute?”, in Gulf News:

(Philippines, loosely) Synonym of South China Sea.


five-six

From the high interest rate given, i.e. when ₱5 is borrowed, ₱6 must be returned.

One of their most notorious loan arrangements is the "five-six” scheme, that is, for every five pesos borrowed, six must be returned. Usually daily payment is demanded from the first day of the loan, although sometimes payment falls due at the ...

1991, Dimitri A. Germidis, Denis Kessler, Rachel Meghir, Financial Systems and Development: What Role for the Formal and Informal Financial Sectors?, OECD:

Hapless citizens borrow money from five-six money lenders, e.g. borrowing five thousand and returning six within a month or even a week.

2005, Maria Lourdes S. Bautista, Linguistic Society of the Philippines, Linguistics and language education in the Philippines and beyond: a festschrift in honor of Ma. Lourdes S. Bautista:

Despite their number and their assimilationist proclivities, Filipino Punjabis are sometimes pejoratively called 'five-six Indians'.

2006, Brij V. Lal, Peter Reeves, Rajesh Rai, The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora:

Hapless citizens borrow money from five-six money lenders ('borrowing at high rates of interest', i.e. borrowing five thousand and returning six ... ).

2010, Andy Kirkpatrick, The Routledge Handbook of World Englishes, Routledge, →ISBN, page 253:

(Philippines, informal) A moneylending scheme stereotypically associated with Indian nationals, especially Punjabis, in the Philippines.


sincamas

From Philippine Spanish síncamas, from Early Modern Spanish jícamas, plural of jícama (“jicama”), from Classical Nahuatl xīcama, apocopic form of xīcamatl.

The crop of sugar cane is sufficiently good, while that of sincamas, squash, melons, sitao, and oranges is fair.

1909, Jose Algue, Miguel Selga, The Government of the Philippine Islands Weather Bureau Manila Central Observatory:

The edible root of the sincamas has approximately the same shape as does the turnip.

1946, United States. War Department, Army Recipes, page 379:

Also, the fleshy root of sincamas which were on sale in market stalls in Bícol were small and fibrous.

1976, The Philippine Journal of Coconut Studies - Volumes 1-5, page 180:

(Philippines, archaic) Alternative form of singkamas.


blocktimer

Meanwhile, Aga is expected to sit as a judge in a talent show to be produced for TV5 by another blocktimer.

2020 October 18, Marinel Cruz, “Top Kapamilya stars allowed to headline TV5 shows to address oversupply of talents after ABS-CBN closure”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), inquirer.net:

(Philippines) A broadcaster selling blocks of airtime for use by others.


blocktime

(Philippines) The units of air time sold by a broadcaster sold for use by another entity, often an advertiser or politician.


SAF

Special Action Force
w:Special Action Force

(Philippines, law enforcement) Initialism of Special Action Force.


PRA

(Philippines) Initialism of Philippine Reclamation Authority.

(Philippines) Initialism of Philippine Retirement Authority.


PPA

Philippine Ports Authority
w:Philippine Ports Authority

(Philippines) Initialism of Philippine Ports Authority


camisa de chino

en-noun

camisa de chino (plural camisa de chinos)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-camisa de chino.wav

From Spanish camisa de chino. Cognate with Tagalog kamisa tsino.

(Philippines) a thin cotton collarless cuffless shirt with a few buttons extending a short distance below the neckline (either sleeveless or sleeved, ascribed to Chinese laborers during and before the Spanish colonial era of the Philippines)


pekpek shorts

She ran her gaze sharply over her sister's designer pekpek shorts and leggings, her layered silver and gold chains. 'You're doing alright, plus you don't have the responsibility of kids.'

2017, Dreda Say Mitchell, Blood Daughter: Flesh and Blood Series Book Three, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN:

(Philippines, slang) Extremely short shorts, worn by women, that exposes the buttocks.


habal-habal

habal-habal (plural habal-habals or habal-habal)

habal-habals (plural)
habal-habal (plural)
habel-habel (alternative)

(Philippines) A motorcycle taxi, particularly a small motorcycle modified to carry up to six passengers and cargo.


Asian utility vehicle

Asian utility vehicle (plural Asian utility vehicles)

Asian utility vehicles (plural)
AUV (alternative)

sport utility vehicle
sport utility vehicle

(chiefly Philippines, automotive) A light four-wheel vehicle based on sport utility vehicles. created for commercial usage.


captain ball

captain ball (countable and uncountable, plural captain balls)


vulcanizing shop

vulcanizing shop (plural vulcanizing shops)


Liberal Party

(Philippines) Liberal Party (Philippines)


hotsilog

hotsilogs (plural)
hot-silog (alternative)
Hotdog Silog (alternative)
Hotdog silog (alternative)
hotdog silog (alternative)
Hot Dog Silog (alternative)
Hot dog silog (alternative)
hot dog silog (alternative)

(Philippines) a meal of hot dog with fried rice and fried egg


balikbayan box

balikbayan box (countable and uncountable, plural balikbayan boxes)

(Philippines) A carton shipped or brought to the Philippines from another country by a Filipino who has been living overseas, a balikbayan, typically containing items such as foods, clothing, toys, and household products.


BARMM

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao#English

(Philippines) Acronym of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.


topnotcher

topnotchers (plural)
tapnatser (alternative)

(Philippines, dated in the US) Alternative form of top-notcher.


angkong

From Tagalog angkong, from Hokkien 俺公 (án-kong, “paternal grandfather”).

der

Were you surprised when your parents remained calm when you told them about your grades? When you failed your midterms, I went to your house and apologized. Granted that your angkong hit me with his cane, which I guess I deserved. I didn't want you to be less of who you were before you met me.

2017, Ariesa Jane Domingo, Better Than Fiction, Summit Publishing Company Inc., page 91:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino) paternal grandfather; paternal grandpa

After Angkong was buried, a Chinese altar, with the accompanying table for making offerings, was purchased and installed in the dining room. His portrait and altar faced the dining table, and from then on, the altar would be the focal point of family life.

2017, Ari C. Dy, “Introduction”, in Chinese Buddhism in Catholic Philippines: Syncretism as Identity, Anvil Publishing, Inc.:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino) term of address for one's paternal grandfather


lauriat

→ Tagalog: loryat

/ˈlaʊ̯.ɾɪɐt̪̚/

Ultimately from Philippine Hokkien 鬧熱 /闹热 (lāu-lia̍t, “bustling; filled with activity”), with semantic shift and slight phonological change due to /l/~/ɾ/ allophony in Hokkien.

bor

(Philippines) A special Chinese banquet with many courses and dishes (especially as served in the Philippines).


commandancy

From Spanish comandancia. Compare English comandancia.

(Philippines, history) A comandancia; a commandery.


BIR

w:Bureau of Internal Revenue (Philippines)

(Philippines, accounting) Initialism of Bureau of Internal Revenue (Philippines).


ADU

(Philippines) Initialism of Adamson University.


BPI

Bank of the Philippine Islands
w:Bank of the Philippine Islands

(Philippines, banking) Initialism of Bank of the Philippine Islands.


polonchay

From Hokkien 菠倫菜 /菠伦菜 (po͘-lûn-chhài, “spinach”).

polunchay (alternative)
polon chay (alternative)
polon chai (alternative)
polun chai (alternative)


Dutertenomics

(Philippines, neologism) The socioeconomic policies of former president Rodrigo Duterte that were significantly focused on the development of infrastructure and industry.


McDo

→ Tagalog: McDo

(Philippines, colloquial, informal) McDonald's


COMSEC

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Committee Secretary.


juridical act

(civil law, Louisiana, Philippines) Any conduct by a person intended to create, modify, transfer, preserve, or extinguish a right, obligation, or legal relationship.

retshandel

volitional act intended to bring about legal effects


cyberlibel

cyber-libel (alternative)
cyber libel (alternative)

The news website Rappler, Ressa, its executive editor, and former researcher and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr were accused of cyberlibel over a story that alleged links between a businessman and a top judge.

2020 June 15, Maria Ressa, “Journalist Maria Ressa found guilty of 'cyberlibel' in Philippines”, in The Guardian:

(Philippines, Internet, law) The act or crime of making a defamatory statement (libel) about someone on the Internet; such a statement.


CAAP

w:Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

(Philippines) Acronym of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.


MSU

Mindanao State University
w:Mindanao State University

(Philippines) Initialism of Mindanao State University.


matse

(Philippines) Alternative form of mache (“glutinous rice balls flavoured with coconut and pandan”).


kakanin

en-noun

kakanin (countable and uncountable, plural kakanins or kakanin)

(Philippines) Any of various dessert rice cakes.


nipa hut

(Philippines) A kind of stilt house indigenous to the cultures of the Philippines.


RCEP

(East Asia, trade, law, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand) Abbreviation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

East Asia; trade; Southeast Asia; East Asia; trade; Southeast Asia


red-tagging

(Philippines, Philippine politics) The ad hominem practice of branding, naming or accusing individuals or organizations critical or not fully supportive of the government's position as communists, leftists, subversives or terrorists in an attempt to discredit or suppress them.


liempo

liempo (usually uncountable, plural liempos)


kiamoy

kiamuy (alternative)
kiam muy (alternative)

(Philippines) A snack made from salted dried plums.


champoy

/t͡ʃɐmˈpoɪ̯/

From Cantonese 陳皮梅 /陈皮梅 (can⁴ pei⁴ mui⁴⁻²), introduced as a genericized trademark romanized as "CHAN PUI MUI" as printed on preserved prune packaging. Compare Tagalog tsampoy.

(Philippines) A snack made from preserved yangmei or sometimes tamarind.


agsam

(Philippines) The plant Lygodium circinnatum, a large fern.


gumihan

(Philippines) The tropical evergreen tree Artocarpus sericicarpus.


NSO

(Philippines) Initialism of National Statistics Office.


sagala

(Philippines) A girl taking part in the Santacruzan pageant on the last day of the Flores de Mayo festival.


kalipaya

(Philippines) Palaquium luzoniense, a sapotaceous plant.


macaasim

macaasim (countable and uncountable, plural macaasims)

Any of various hardwood trees of the Philippines.


bansalague

Mimusops elengi
Mimusops elengi#Translingual

(Philippines) The wood of the tree Mimusops elengi.


JBC

Judicial and Bar Council
w:Judicial and Bar Council

(Philippines) Initialism of Judicial and Bar Council.


ISU

Isabela State University
w:Isabela State University

(Philippines) Initialism of Isabela State University.


kiampong

From Tagalog kiyampong, from Hokkien 鹹飯 /咸饭 (kiâm-pn̄g).

(Philippines) glutinous rice dish in the Philippines


AFAM

AFAMs (plural)
afam (alternative)
Afam (alternative)

Possibly an initialism of A Foreigner Around Manila.

(Philippines, chiefly gay slang, women's speech) a foreigner in the Philippines (usually male)


HUMSS

(Philippines, education) Abbreviation of humanities and social sciences.


cuapao

cuapaos (plural)
cuapao (plural)
kuapao (alternative)
gua bao (alternative Taiwan)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-cuapao.wav

From Hokkien 割包 (koah-pau). Compare Tagalog kuwapaw.

(Philippines) A Chinese Filipino snack food consisting of a slice of asado/char siu meat and other condiments sandwiched between flat steamed mantou bread


hofan

(Philippines) A flat rice noodle, commonly used in Cantonese cuisine.


kikiam

From Tagalog kikiam or Spanish que-quian, from Hokkien, possibly 雞 /鸡 (ke / koe, “chicken”) + 繭 /茧 (kián, “cocoon”) or 鹹 /咸 (kiâm, “viand; rice topping”). See also kiampong, tawkiam, Hokkien 鹹飯 /咸饭 (kiâm-pn̄g) and Taiwanese Hokkien 雞卷 /鸡卷 (koe-kńg), 肉繭 /肉茧, 肉繭仔 /肉茧仔, 繭仔 /茧仔, Cebuano ngohiong, Cebuano tempura, Singaporean and Malaysian English ngoh hiang.
 Manuel (1948) also notes that the first syllable implies "chicken", but the chief ingredient more often used these days is now pork.

quekiam (alternative)
que kiam (alternative)
que-kiam (alternative)
Qui Quiam (alternative)

Add shrimp, liver, and kikiam; cook until half-done. Set aside.

2014, Yummy: Filipino Favorites 2, Summit Publishing Company Inc., page 18:

(Philippines) steamed and pan-fried elongated beancurd rolls over meatloaves of meat (usually ground pork) and vegetables, served as streetfood snack or dish topping

Malaysian English
Singaporean English
Taiwanese Hokkien
en:Ngo hiang


Kaoka

(Philippines) Gaojia opera (a type of Chinese opera originating in Quanzhou, Fujian)


hototay

Borrowed from Cantonese 好到底 (hou² dou³ dai², “good to the last drop”, literally “good till the bottom”), according to Manuel (1948). Compare Tagalog hototay.

bor+

(Philippines) Chinese soup of Cantonese origin typically made of chicken breast, carrots, peas, poached eggs, etc.


hao siao

From Hokkien 嘐潲 (hau-siâu, “fake”). Compare Tagalog hawsyaw.

hao-siao (alternative)
haosiao (alternative)

A Malacañang spokeswoman on Friday said the Bureau of Customs will not tolerate the involvement of media practitioners and "hao siao" (fake) journalists in smuggling, if true.

2011 September 23, Willard Cheng, Palace: Customs won't tolerate 'hao siao' journalists, ABS-CBN News:

On a list prepared by the BOC’s public information and assistance division and posted at the main Customs gate were the names of nearly 100 media people, including some said to be hao-siao.

2013 June 4, Jerry E. Esplanada, Who’s ‘hao-siao’ or legit journalist? BOC confused, Philippine Daily Inquirer:

15th Congress House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said that there is a lot of resistance against FOI because of the fear it may be used by “hao-siao” or illegitimate media members to ruin politicians (Garcia, 2012).

2018, Ronald U. Mendoza, Edsel L. Beja, Jr., Julio C. Teehankee, Antonio G. M. La Vina, Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, editors, Building Inclusive Democracies In Asean, World Scientific:

(Philippines, journalism, derogatory) pseudojournalists, not employed by a reputable news organization but who pass themselves off as journalists in order to cash in on the payoffs and bribes from news sources, particularly during elections.


hao siao

en-adj

hao siao (comparative more hao siao, superlative most hao siao)

more hao siao (comparative)
most hao siao (superlative)
hao-siao (alternative)
haosiao (alternative)

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) bogus; phony; fake


Ahiya

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) respectful honorific used before a name for the eldest brother

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial, informal) respectful honorific used before a name for an elder brother: Brother

Looked up to this guy since I was a kid! Thanks for being an inspiration to me and to others as well, Ahiya @chris_tiu17! And congratulations for a successful basketball career!...

2019, Aedrianne Acar, “READ: Jeron Teng pays tribute to his 'idol' Chris Tiu”, in GMA Entertainment, GMA Network, archived from the original on 2021-12-28:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial, informal) respectful honorific used before a name for a young male senior (usually within the Chinese Filipino community): Mister; Brother


unli

unli load

unli rice

unli calls

(Philippines) all-you-can-eat; all-you-can-drink (of a specific food or drink)


school division

en-noun

school division (plural school divisions)

The system of Free Schools may also be commended upon the ground of its tendency to promote unity and mutual affection among the inhabitants of each school division.

1851, E. Ryerson, Annual Report of the Normal, Model and Common Schools in Upper Canada for the Year 1850, Toronto: Lovell and Gibson, page 204:

(Canada, Philippines, Virginia, historically Ceylon) An administrative unit responsible for public primary and secondary schools in a particular locality; the area under the jurisdiction of such an administrative unit.


hakaw

Borrowed from Cantonese 蝦餃 /虾饺 (haa¹ gaau²). Compare Tagalog hakaw.

bor+

King Chef (2F Main Mall, 0932 323 1871) serves healthy food and authentic Cantonese cuisine in a fine dining setup. For Father's Day, treat the whole family to its dim sum platters! It has a roasted platter which includes soyed chicken, roast duck, barbecued pork asado, fried five-spice roll, and soyed cucumber with century egg. Another option is the steamed dim sum platter, where you can devour a spread of hakaw, pork & shrimp siomai, Japanese siomai, beancurd roll, and Taosi spareribs.

2022 June 18, “Go on a Binondo food trip this Father's Day at Lucky Chinatown”, in Manila Bulletin, Manila: Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-06-22:

(Philippines) a traditional Cantonese shrimp dumpling


TVL

(Philippines, education) Initialism of technical-vocational livelihood, a track in senior high school.


long title

(law, Commonwealth, US, Philippines) The formal, official title of an act (or other piece of legislation); such titles are rarely (if ever) used in practice, and in some cases consist of hundreds of words.

Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021


guama

From Hokkien 外媽 /外妈 (gōa-má, “maternal grandmother”). Compare Tagalog guwama.

bor

"Your family, friends, and connections are your real treasure." says my guama 外婆 (in Hokkien) or grandmother, Hermiña. I was only around six years of age when she said it. Yet I still hear it in my ears now and then. That and the quote, "Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are." from the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

2022, Casey Huang, Move on Quick: How to Get Your Life Back and Never Break Your Heart Again, Cazh Enterprise, page 155:

This adobo dish is perfect because it uses three of the most important ingredients for replenishment: black sesame oil, ginger and black chicken. It not only recharges the qi but also satisfies the appetite as it is very delicious. That's why we always ask our maternal grandmother Guama Susanna to make it for us even if nobody in the family has given birth. And whenever she does, I go on a rice binge. Yes, it is that tasty.

2014, Jin Perez, Susanna Ng Ting, “Chicken in Chinese Wine and Black Sesame Oil - Chinese-style Black Chicken Adobo”, in Angelo Comsti, The Filipino Family Cookbook: Recipes and stories from our home kitchen, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Cuisine, page 60:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) maternal grandmother; maternal grandma


yehey

Possibly from a blend of yey + hey or a blend of yeah + yey.

Yehey The Philippines At Your Fingertips!!

1997, Danilo Arao, The Electronic Trail: Computer-assisted Research and Reporting in the Philippines, page 73:

“Yehey!” LenLen starts shouting. I pay no attention to her.

2016, HEAT: A Southeast Asian Urban Anthology, →ISBN:

(Philippines) Used to express joy or elation.


steak commando

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-steak commando.wav

Some observers' jaundiced view that Aquino has done little to change the basic political climate are buttressed by the legions of "steak commandos" (a derisive Manila word for comfortable Filipinos self-exiled in the US during the Marcos years) flocking home since February 1986.

1987 January 22, James Clad, “The 5th Column”, in Far Eastern Economic Review, volume 135, number 4, Hong Kong: Far Eastern Economic Review Limited, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 32, column 3:

By the summer of 1983, people were calling Ninoy "a steak commando" who was having a good time in the States while his countrymen were suffering, recalled former Senator Francisco Rodrigo.

2000, Peter Ackerman, Jack DuVall, A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict, New York, N.Y.: Palgrave, →ISBN, page 376:

He might have sounded to some like a steak commando, urging compatriots to fight while he slugged his beer in California.

2006, Journal of the Geological Society of the Philippines, volume 61, number 1, page 61:

The response signed by the Filipino diplomat noticeably focused on poisoning the well, calling Manglapus a "discredited politician," a "steak commando" and a "political has-been."

2022 August 21, Larah Vinda Del Mundo, “How Marcos suppressed the truth behind Ninoy Aquino's assassination”, in VERA Files, archived from the original on 2023-06-09:

(Philippines, derogatory) Someone who advocates for conflict and radical action while themselves living in relative peace and luxury.


tahure

Tokua and tahure factories

1926, Report of the Philippine Health Service, Manila, →OCLC, page 22:

Articles to which affixed: Soy, peanut oil, tahure, toqua, peanut, salted pepino and vinegar.

1945 October, “Publication of Trade-Marks”, in Official Gazette, volume 41, number 7, Manila: National Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 719:

Foods with high sodium content (not allowed or limited in high blood pressure): […] beans with added salt such as tausi, tahure, misu; […]

1979, Sugar News, volume 55, Manila, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 43, column 2:

In culinary arts, the Chinese taught Filipinos how to roast the pig, how to brew tea, to prepare dishes of lumpia, pansit, misua, tampoy, ukoy, use appetizer tahure, toyo, keko, how to cultivate petsay, bataw, kinsay, and other vegetables.

1988, Antonio del Castillo y Tuazon, Princess Urduja, Queen of the Orient Seas: Before and After Her Time, in the Political Orbit of the Shri-vi-ja-ya and Madjapahit Maritime Empire (A Pre-Hispanic History of the Philippines), Lingayen, Pangasinan, →OCLC, page 101:

Bing Escano-Garrido told me that her mother was famous in Cebu for her pancit molo and that her secret was a small amount of tahure [fermented soybean paste] in the broth.

2012, Amy Besa, Romy Dorotan, “Pancit Molo”, in Memories of Philippine Kitchens: Stories and Recipes from Far and Near, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Treasured Family Recipes), page 176, column 2:

In a medium low heat, sauté garlic, ginger onion in olive oil. Add mashed tahure.

2017 February 16 – March 15, Fercibal Robles Brown, “Bangus En Tocho”, in Diaryo Filipino, volume 7, number 10, Toronto, Ont., page 18, column 5:

2 pcs tahure or salted soy bean cubes (It's like salt/soy sauce cured tofu) […] In a bowl, combine ground pork, garlic, kusay or chives, and tahure or salted soybean-tofu cubes.

2019 July 6–12, “Pancit Molo”, in Weekend Balita, volume XXVIII, number 27, Los Angeles, Calif., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 22, columns 1–2:

3 ounces tahure fermented bean curd, mashed […] Once the onion softens, add vinegar, tahure and tausi.

2022 March 7–13, “Tochong Bangus”, in Mindanao Examiner, Mindanao, →OCLC, page 9, columns 3–4:

(Philippines) Cake of salted fermented bean curd.


hollow block

See hollow + block, due to the hollow centers or cores that may be built into the production of these blocks to reduce weight.

(Philippines) A lightweight building block made from cinders and concrete.


samalamig

(Philippines) Any of the various kinds of sweet chilled Filipino beverages, such as chilled fruit juice or other flavors like chocolate, coffee, sweet corn, etc., usually mixed with shredded jelly and/or sago pearls or tapioca pearls


PUV

(Philippines, road transport)
Initialism of public utility vehicle.

public utility vehicle
public utility vehicle#English

(Philippines, road transport)
Initialism of public utility van.

public utility van
public utility van#English


PHC

Philippine Heart Center
w:Philippine Heart Center

(Philippines, healthcare) Initialism of Philippine Heart Center.


agoho

DENR entomologists recall that beetle infestation of the agohos is similar to another which killed thousands of pine trees in Benguet in 1981.

1989, The Philippine Lumberman, volume 35:

Casuarina equisetifolia
Casuarina equisetifolia#Translingual

(Philippines) The tree Casuarina equisetifolia.


BGC

Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City#English

(Philippines) Initialism of Bonifacio Global City.


ACR

Alien Certificate of Registration#English

(Philippines) Initialism of Alien Certificate of Registration.


kinder one

(Philippines) The first year of kindergarten, the period in school that comes after nursery and before prep or elementary.


kinder two

(Philippines) The second year of kindergarten, the period in school that comes after nursery and before prep or elementary.


kinder 1

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of kinder one.


kinder 2

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of kinder two.


tinola

en-noun

tinola (usually uncountable, plural tinolas)

It is a gala day for the adult male Filipino. He goes to mass, thence to his dinner of tinola, a soup and a stew of chicken in one, and then to the cock fight.

1901 December 15, “The Day in the Philippines: There Is a Mass in the Morning, Cock Fighting and Gambling the Rest of the Day”, in St. Louis Post-Dispatch, volume 54, number 116, St. Louis, Mo., →ISSN, →OCLC, “Sunday Post-Dispatch Magazine” section:

[…] Neal, was very sick and debilitated. I asked the kitchen staff to make a chicken tinola with lots of ginger, green papaya, chile, and malunggay leaves; within a few hours Neal was back on his feet.

2012, Amy Besa, Romy Dorotan, “Chicken Tinola”, in Memories of Philippine Kitchens: Stories and Recipes from Far and Near, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Treasured Family Recipes), page 165, column 3:

While tinola is the Cebuano sinigang, a mildly sour, clear broth fish soup flavored with tomatoes and onions only, nilarang is the way of cooking fish by simmering it with garlic, onions, ginger, and tausi or fermented black soy beans.

2014 November, Claude Tayag, Mary Ann Quioc, “Tinola at nilarang: Two kinds of fish soup”, in Linamnam: Eating One’s Way Around the Philippines, 2nd edition, Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing, →ISBN, “Central & Eastern Visayas” section, page 173:

The papayas I allowed to grow for future tinolas and achara.

2020 September 8, Paulo Alcazaren, “Quarantine gardens”, in The Philippine Star, Manila, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-10-17:

Once, Marikit smelled the enchanting fragrance of tinola from an open window.

2022, Caris Avendaño Cruz, “The Impossible Bottle”, in Marikit and the Ocean of Stars, New York, N.Y.: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, →ISBN:

A Filipino soup traditionally cooked with chicken or fish, wedges of papaya or chayote or both, and leaves of the siling labuyo chili pepper in broth flavored with ginger, onions, and fish sauce, and usually served as a main course with white rice.


reelectionist

(Philippines, politics) A candidate for reelection.


re-electionist

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of reelectionist.


SRA

Sugar Regulatory Administration
w:Sugar Regulatory Administration

(Philippines) Initialism of Sugar Regulatory Administration.


BSHM

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science#English

hospitality management
hospitality management#English

(Philippines) Initialism of Bachelor of Science in hospitality management.


BSHRM

(Philippines) Initialism of Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management.


MRR

Manila Railroad Company
w:Manila Railroad Company

(Philippines, historical) Initialism of Manila Railroad Company.


pancit canton

From Philippine Spanish pancit cantón, where Philippine Spanish pancit is from Hokkien, while Spanish Cantón is ultimately from Mandarin 廣東 /广东 (Guǎngdōng), possibly via Portuguese Cantão.

(Philippines) A Filipino dish of stir-fried egg noodles with meat, vegetables, soy sauce and other seasonings.


MMDA

w:Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

(Philippines) Initialism of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.


ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University
w:Ateneo de Manila University

(Philippines) Initialism of Ateneo de Manila University.


DLSU

De La Salle University
w:De La Salle University

(Philippines) Initialism of De La Salle University.


LTFRB

w:Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

(Philippines) Initialism of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.


PUJ

public utility jeepney
public utility jeepney#English

(Philippines, road transport) Initialism of public utility jeepney.


xerox machine

(Philippines, India, dated in Canada, US) A photocopier.


Queen City of the South

(Philippines) Nickname for Cebu City: a major city in Cebu Province, Philippines.


shobe

tlb

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial)

shobes (plural)
siobe (alternative)
shob (alternative slang)
shobs (alternative slang)

Borrowed from Hokkien 小妹 (sió-bē, “younger sister; youngest sister”).

bor+

(informal) a younger sister; little sister


BSEd

Secondary Education
secondary education#English

(Philippines) Initialism of Bachelor in Secondary Education.


Pob.

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Poblacion.


mamsir

(Philippines) A respectful term of address to an adult, especially if their name is unknown.


Jaruda

Jarudas (plural)
Haruda (alternative)
Haruta (alternative)

Borrowed from Japanese 春田 (Haruda), possibly through Spanish.


JaDine

(Philippines, slang) The couple and loveteam consisting of actor James Reid and actress and singer Nadine Lustre.


misua

From Hokkien 麵線 /面线 (mī-soàⁿ). Compare Tagalog miswa, Malay misoa, Indonesian misoa.

mee sua (alternative)
meesua (alternative)
miswa (alternative)

(Philippines) Misua; a very thin variety of salted Chinese noodles made from wheat flour.


pungapung

(Philippines) elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius).


ice ice water

(Philippines, playground games) A variation of freeze tag.


carne norte

From Spanish carne (“meat”) + Spanish norte (“north”), likely referring to Spanish norteamericano (“North American”) as in "North American meat" since it was brought in during the early 20th century in American colonial times. Compare Tagalog karne norte. Polistico (2017) mentions that it was probably a brand name.


buko juice

en-noun

buko juice (countable and uncountable, plural buko juices)

buko juices (plural)
buco juice (alternative)


maya bird

Eurasian tree sparrow
Eurasian tree sparrow

Passer montanus
Passer montanus#Translingual

(Philippines) Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus)

(Philippines) chestnut munia (Lonchura atricapilla)


next next

next next week

next next minute

the following minute after the next minute

next next hour

next next day

next next month

next next year

next next Christmas

(Philippines) Relating to the following time after the subsequent time.


conyo

Possibly from Spanish coño (“cunt; pussy”) or Spanish de nuevo cuño (“(of a person) who has recently entered a profession, union or social class.”). Compare Tagalog konyo.

noncog

(Philippines, slang) person who belongs to a wealthy or well off predominantly English-speaking family

(Philippines, slang) wealthy Anglophone person, often raised or living in a subdivision village (gated community)


conyo

en-adj

conyo (comparative more conyo, superlative most conyo)

more conyo (comparative)
most conyo (superlative)
coño (alternative)

(Philippines, slang) predominantly Anglophone and seemingly wealthy


Conyo

From Spanish coño (“cunt”). Compare Spanish acuñar (a- + cuño + -ar), Tagalog Konyo.

Coño (alternative)
Coño English (alternative)
Conyo English (alternative)
Conyo talk (alternative)
Conyo speak (alternative)

(Philippines, linguistics) a colloquial variety of Philippine English usually spoken by upper-class Anglophone Filipinos incorporating some Tagalog lexis


coupon bond

(Philippines) Bond paper (usually letter-size (8.5 in x 11 in) or 8.5 in x 13 in).


cutex

→ Tagalog: kyutiks


tuck out

en-verb

tuck out (third-person singular simple present tucks out, present participle tucking out, simple past and past participle tucked out)

tucks out (present singular third-person)
tucking out (participle present)
tucked out (participle past)
tucked out (past)

He tucked out his polo (dress shirt) but not his undershirt.

(transitive, Philippines) to untuck clothes (such as a shirt or topcloths)


AdMU

(Philippines) Initialism of Ateneo de Manila University.


motorized banca

en-noun

motorized banca (plural motorized bancas)

motorized bancas (plural)
motor banca (alternative)

(Philippines, nautical) a banca with an engine; a motorboat


pogi point

(Philippines, idiomatic, slang, chiefly in the plural) A brownie point earned by a man who curries favor with a female courtship partner or her parents.


kanto boy

Originally from Japanese 官庁 (kanchō, “government office”) + boy, borrowed in during WW2 according to Potet (2016), but the former eventually got replaced with Tagalog kanto (“corner, especially of two streets”).


PAWS

Philippine Animal Welfare Society
w:Philippine Animal Welfare Society

(Philippines) Initialism of Philippine Animal Welfare Society.


CHR

w:Commission on Human Rights (Philippines)

(Philippines) Initialism of Commission on Human Rights (Philippines).


birthday noodle

en-noun

birthday noodle (plural birthday noodles)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-birthday noodle.wav

(Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, chiefly in the plural) A Chinese yi mein noodle of a kind eaten on birthdays to celebrate a long life.


kiamchay

From Hokkien 鹹菜 /咸菜 (kiâm-chhài, literally “salted vegetable”).

bor

kiam-chay (alternative)
kiam chai (alternative)
kiam chye (alternative)

Brassica juncea
Brassica juncea#Translingual

(Philippines) salted / pickled Chinese mustard greens (Brassica juncea)


kuchay

Borrowed from Hokkien 韭菜 (kú-chhài, “garlic chives”).

kutchay (alternative)
kuchai (alternative)
kutsay (alternative)
koo chye (alternative Singapore)

Allium tuberosum
Allium tuberosum#Translingual

(Philippines) garlic chives; Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum)


kinchay

Borrowed from Hokkien 芹菜 (khîn-chhài, “celery”).

kinchai (alternative)
kintsay (alternative)

Apium graveolens
Apium graveolens#Translingual

(Philippines) Chinese celery ("varieties of Apium graveolens, sometimes called Apium graveolens var. secalinum")


ber month

From the common last syllable of September, October, November, December, which ultimately derives from Latin -ber + month, due to the yearly lead-up towards Christmas in December that service sector establishments in the Philippines typically prepare months early for.

(Philippines, chiefly in the plural) any of the months of September, October, November, and December


Kiong Hee Huat Chai

/kɪˌoŋ ˌhi ˌhuɐt ˈt͡ʃaɪ̯/

From Hokkien 恭喜發財 /恭喜发财 (Kiong-hí hoat-châi). Compare Tagalog Kiong Hee Huat Tsai.

Kiong Hee Huat Chay (alternative)
Kiong Hee Huat Tsai (alternative)
Kiong Hee Huat Tsay (alternative)
Kiong Hi Huat Chai (alternative)
Kiong Hi Huat Chay (alternative)
Kiong Hi Huat Tsai (alternative)
Kiong Hi Huat Tsay (alternative)
Kiong Hee Hwat Tsai (alternative)
Kiong Hee Hwat Tsay (alternative)


Kung Hei Fat Choi

/kʊŋ ˌheɪ ˌfat ˈt͡ʃoɪ̯/

From Cantonese 恭喜發財 /恭喜发财 (gung¹ hei² faat³ coi⁴). Compare Tagalog Kung Hey Fat Tsoy.

Kung Hei Fat Choy (alternative)
Kung Hey Fat Choi (alternative)
Kung Hey Fat Choy (alternative)
Kung Hei Fat Tsoi (alternative)
Kung Hei Fat Tsoy (alternative)
Kong Hei Fat Choi (alternative)
Kong Hei Fat Choy (alternative)
Kong Hey Fat Choi (alternative)
Kong Hey Fat Choy (alternative)
Kong Hei Fat Tsoi (alternative)
Kong Hei Fat Tsoy (alternative)

(Hong Kong, Philippines) Happy Chinese New Year


oyster cake

(Philippines) An oyster omelette (a Chinese oyster dish, cooked in an omelette, originating from Southern Fujian)


kanto girl

From kanto boy, but the latter term was replaced with girl as a female equivalent, whereas the former term was originally from Japanese 官庁(かんちょう) (kanchō, “government office”), borrowed in the Philippines during WW2 according to Potet (2016), but it was eventually replaced with Tagalog kanto (“corner, especially of two streets”), which was reinterpreted to refer to an "office corner".


kanto lingo

From Tagalog kanto (“street corner”) + lingo. See also Tagalog salitang-kalye.

(Philippines, slang) Street talk; street slang.


conyo boy

conyo boys (plural)
coño boy (alternative)
konyo boy (alternative)

From Tagalog konyo (“affluent Anglophone person”) + boy.

compound

(Philippines, slang) A male person who belongs to a wealthy or well off predominantly English-speaking family

Coordinate term: conyo girl

(Philippines, slang) A wealthy male Anglophone person, often raised or living in a subdivision village (gated community)


conyo boy

From Spanish coño (“cunt; pussy”) + boy or Spanish de nuevo cuño (“(of a person) who has recently entered a profession, union or social class.”) + boy.

(Philippines, dated, slang) A Spanish mestizo.


conyo girl

conyo girls (plural)
coño girl (alternative)
konyo girl (alternative)

From Tagalog konyo (“affluent Anglophone person”) + girl.

(Philippines, slang) A female person who belongs to a wealthy or well off predominantly English-speaking family.

Coordinate term: conyo boy

(Philippines, slang) A wealthy female Anglophone person, often raised or living in a subdivision village (gated community).


conyo girl

From Spanish coño (“cunt; pussy”) + girl or Spanish de nuevo cuño (“(of a person) who has recently entered a profession, union or social class.”) + girl.

(Philippines, dated, slang) A Spanish mestiza.


Fookien

From the Postal Romanization of the Nanking court dialect Mandarin 福建 (Fújiàn), from before the modern palatalization of /k/ to /tɕ/. See also Foochow, Fooching, Soochow. Compare Spanish Fokien.

(Philippines) Alternative form of Fukien.


guakong

guakongs (plural)
gua kong (alternative)

From Hokkien 外公 (gōa-kong, “maternal grandfather”). Compare Tagalog guwakong.

bor

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) maternal grandfather; maternal grandpa.

...they would put together the business, then Francis would marry his fiancée and have children and at last he, Hilario Ong Tian Puy—Ah Puy to his kin and closest friends—would be a true grandfather, not just guakong to his daughters' children...

2006, Charlson Ong, Banyaga: A Song of War, Anvil Publishing, Inc., page 292:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) term of address for one's maternal grandfather


Japanese cake

(Philippines) imagawayaki but of a smaller serving size and are usually filled with cheese slices.


Original Pilipino Music

(Philippines, music) any musical composition created by a Filipino, whether the lyrics be in Filipino, English, or in any other language or dialect of the Philippines

Music of the Philippines#Original Pilipino Music (OPM)


real estate agent

en-noun

real estate agent (plural real estate agents)

real estate agents (plural)
real-estate agent (alternative)

(US, Canada, Australia, Philippines) An individual or company that acts in the sale, lease or maintenance of land, property, real estate, etc. for another.


Quezonin

He encouraged interested and concerned Quezonins to coordinate with the DENR Ofﬁces nearest to them:...

2015, 8,588 hectares forest plantation to be established in Quezon in 2015, Pinoy Parazzi, pages 8

(Philippines) An inhabitant from Quezon province.


Quezonin

2021, DOLE, private companies give Quezonin child laborers a merrier Christmas, Opinyon.net, headline:

(Philippines) Of, or pertaining to Quezon province


Quezonian

(Philippines) A native or inhabitant from Quezon province.


Quezonian

en-adj

Quezonian (comparative more Quezonian, superlative most Quezonian)

more Quezonian (comparative)
most Quezonian (superlative)

(Philippines) Of or pertaining to the Quezon province or its people and culture.

Quezonin

of, or pertaining to Quezon province or its people and culture

(Philippines) Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Manuel Quezon.


Tayabasin

From Tagalog Tayabasin, from Tayabas + -in.

(Philippines) A native or inhabitant of Tayabas, Quezon.

(Philippines, dated) A native or inhabitant of Quezon.


Tayabasin

(Philippines) Of, or pertaining to Tayabas, Quezon.

(Philippines, dated) Of, or pertaining to Quezon.

(Philippines) Tagalog dialect spoken in Quezon.


Tayabense

From Tagalog Tayabense, from Spanish tayabense, from Tayabas + -ense.

(Philippines, archaic) A native or inhabitant of Quezon.


Tayabense

(Philippines, archaic) Of, or pertaining to Quezon.


TODA

en-proper noun

TODA (countable and uncountable, plural TODAs)

Tricycle Operators & Drivers Association#English

(Philippines, road transport) Initialism of Tricycle Operators & Drivers Association.


ferson

Alteration of English person. From the early 2020s.

(Philippines, slang, neologism) oneself; referring in the first person


marakapas

(Philippines) The tropical forest tree Pterocymbium tinctorium.


PTV

People's Television Network
w:People's Television Network

(Philippines) Abbreviation of People's Television Network.


lanciao

Borrowed from Hokkien 𡳞鳥 /𡳞鸟 (lǎn-chiáu, “penis”). Compare Cebuano lansyaw. Doublet of lanjiao.

(Philippines, chiefly Cebu) a stew of cattle genitals


IBP

Integrated Bar of the Philippines
w:Integrated Bar of the Philippines

(Philippines) Initialism of Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Interim Batasang Pambansa
w:Interim Batasang Pambansa

(historical, Philippines) Initialism of Interim Batasang Pambansa.


minus-one

(Philippines, music) instrumental where vocals have been removed; backing track


fiscalizer

(Philippines) Someone who politically holds an authority to account.


Oslo paper

en-noun

Oslo paper (countable and uncountable, plural Oslo papers)

(Philippines) Thicker rough-textured bond paper (usually sized 9 inches by 12 inches or 229mm by 305mm).


MMFF

Metro Manila Film Festival
w:Metro Manila Film Festival

(Philippines, film) Initialism of Metro Manila Film Festival.


Fil-Chi

en-adjective

Fil-Chi (comparative more Fil-Chi, superlative most Fil-Chi)

more Fil-Chi (comparative)
most Fil-Chi (superlative)
FilChi (alternative)
Filchi (alternative)
filchi (alternative)
Fil-chi (alternative)
fil-chi (alternative)

(Philippines) Acronym of Filipino-Chinese.


kaishao

kaishaos (plural)
kai shao (alternative)
kai-shao (alternative)
kaysiao (alternative)
kaisiao (alternative)
kaixiao (alternative)

Borrowed from Hokkien 介紹 /介绍 (kài-siāu, “to introduce; to recommend”).

bor+

"Should I be the one to bring up what happened in church? Should I even mention it? If I act like it wasn't a big deal, maybe Pa will tell Auntie Queenie that kaishaos don't work on me. But what if my silence signals to them that I was totally fine with it?

2023, Mae Coyiuto, Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, page 80:

Her mother has already met two ladies specializing in the "介紹 kaishao business." They brought her custom bounded books with peoples' information on them.

2022, Casey Huang, Move on Quick: How to Get Your Life Back and Never Break Your Heart Again, page 111:

Our guest was a boy named Gary Cheng, and he met Achi through a kai-shao arranged by father and Gary's father. "Kai-shao" wasn't listed in the dictionary, but mother explained that it was like a blind date. I thought that meant Gary was blind, but mother said it meant that the people going on the date had never met each other before, because it was arranged by mutual friends or family instead.

2012, Erin Chupeco, “Ho-We”, in Charles Tan, editor, Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology, Maple Shade, New Jersey: Lethe Press, Inc., page 21:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino) matchmaking; a romantic arrangement to set up a date between two people


kaishao

en-verb

kaishao (third-person singular simple present kaishaos, present participle kaishaoing, simple past and past participle kaishaoed)

kaishaos (present singular third-person)
kaishaoing (participle present)
kaishaoed (participle past)
kaishaoed (past)
kai shao (alternative)
kai-shao (alternative)
kaysiao (alternative)
kaisiao (alternative)
kaixiao (alternative)

"There might be a small... slight chance that we're getting set up." I sigh. "But I didn't ask for this," I quickly clarify. "Auntie Queenie was weirded out that I didn't have guy friends for the roses in my debut, and she brought up wanting to kaishao me with someone. So you're, like, the kaishao boy." His judgy eyebrow is on full blast. "Kaishao boy?" "They basically used church as an excuse for ambush matchmaking."

2023, Mae Coyiuto, Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, pages 74–75:

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino) to matchmake; to set up; to introduce a possible romantic partner


toyomansi

Borrowed from Tagalog toyomansi, a blend of toyo + kalamansi.

(Philippines) soy sauce mixed with calamansi juice


half-half

(Hong Kong, Philippines) fifty-fifty; half and half


monthsary

“It's…our monthsary?” / “Is that a question?” / “Of course not!” / She covered her mouth with her hand so I wouldn't see her laugh. “It's not our monthsary.”

2018 [2017], KenDaniel [Kenneth Olanday], The Conspiration of the Universe, Mandaluyong City: Summit Books, →ISBN, page 189:

(chiefly Philippines, informal) Synonym of monthiversary.


(Philippines, law enforcement) Abbreviation of jail officer, grade one (“prison guard”) The lowest grade of jail officers, the entry level jail officer.


YDT

Youth Development Training
Youth Development Training#English

(Philippines, historical) Initialism of Youth Development Training.


GAS

(Philippines, education) Acronym of general academic strand, a strand under the academic track in senior high school.


Auroran

(Philippines) An inhabitant from Aurora province.


Auroran

(Philippines) Of or pertaining to the Aurora province or its people and culture.


Aurorahin

From Tagalog Aurorahin, from Aurora + -hin.

(Philippines) A native or inhabitant of San Francisco, Quezon.


Aurorahin

(Philippines) Of, or pertaining to San Francisco, Quezon.


Sampalukin

From Tagalog Sampalukin, from Sampaloc + -in.

(Philippines) A native or inhabitant of Sampaloc, Quezon.


Sampalukin

(Philippines) Of, or pertaining to Sampaloc, Quezon.


pabebe wave

Borrowed from Tagalog pabebe + wave. First attested in 2015.

(Philippines) A handwaving gesture imitating certain beauty pageant contestants, which in turn is seen as resembling the stereotypical handwave gesture of a baby.


shookt

en-adj

shookt (comparative more shookt, superlative most shookt)

more shookt (comparative)
most shookt (superlative)

From shook + -t. Compare shooketh, shooked.

(Philippines, humorous, slang) Shaken up; rattled; shocked or surprised.


VCM

(Philippines) Initialism of vote-counting machine.


balbacua

Borrowed from Cebuano balbakuwa, from Spanish barbacoa (“slow-cooked meat on an open fire”) (whence also barbecue), from Taíno barbakoa (“framework of sticks”), the raised wooden structure the natives used to either sleep on or cure meat. The dish was likely named due to the similarity in the length of time in cooking and the tenderness of the meat. Compare Cebuano balbakuwa and Tagalog balbakwa.

der

balbacoa (alternative)
balbakoa (alternative)
balbakua (alternative)
balbakwa (alternative)

(Philippines) A Filipino stew of beef slow-cooked until tender, especially in the cuisine of Visayas and Mindanao.


socmed

Pacquiao, who is currently in the United States for his upcoming fight with welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., said he is determined to hold the socmed trolls accountable for spreading lies about him hoping that this would empower more Filipinos to rise up against the irresponsible and reckless use of the social media.

2021 August 4, Javier Joe Ismael, “Pacquiao asks PNP to probe socmed trolls”, in The Manila Times, archived from the original on 2021-08-07:

Hanis, 27, made a statement on her socmed account which implied that Indian music maestro AR Rahman's concert at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil "must be smelly".

2023 February 9, Jugjet Singh, “Hanis to lose her perks for racial slur”, in The Straits Times, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-02-12:

As of yesterday, one can already read socmed posts on taking hours to traverse short stretches of highways north and south.

2023 April 11, Nigel Paul Villarete, “Cebu's worsening traffic congestion”, in The Philippine Star, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-07-17:

(Philippines, Singapore) Abbreviation of social media.


mungo bean

com+

Tagalog <i class="Latn mention" lang="tl">munggo</i>


shoti

tlb

(Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial)

shotis (plural)
sioti (alternative)
shot (alternative slang)
shots (alternative slang)

Borrowed from Hokkien 小弟 (sió-tǐ, “younger brother; youngest brother”).

bor+

‘SAY HI TO SEVI’ ❤ LOOK: A week after Kryz and Slater Young's second child was born, the couple finally has a name for their shoti. Say hi to Sevi, skyfam! ❤

2022 May 29, Immae Lachica, “Say hello to Skyfam’s second child, Sevi!”, in Cebu Daily News (CDN Digital) by INQUIRER.net, Cebu City:

(informal) a younger brother; little brother


technical sergeant

en-noun

technical sergeant (plural technical sergeants)

non-commissioned officer
non-commissioned officer

(Philippines) A non-commissioned officer ranking above staff sergeant and below master sergeant.


taosi

Other dishes include Super Bowl of China favorites like the deep-fried cuttlefish with spicy salt, yang chow fried rice, birthday noodles, Hunan tofu, crispy shrimp with sweet and sour sauce, fish fillet with taosi sauce, and more.

2009 March 12, “Tito Rey opens meat shop”, in The Philippine Star, Manila: Philstar Global Corp, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-09-21:

King Chef (2F Main Mall, 0932 323 1871) serves healthy food and authentic Cantonese cuisine in a fine dining setup. For Father's Day, treat the whole family to its dim sum platters! It has a roasted platter which includes soyed chicken, roast duck, barbecued pork asado, fried five-spice roll, and soyed cucumber with century egg. Another option is the steamed dim sum platter, where you can devour a spread of hakaw, pork & shrimp siomai, Japanese siomai, beancurd roll, and Taosi spareribs.

2022 June 18, “Go on a Binondo food trip this Father's Day at Lucky Chinatown”, in Manila Bulletin, Manila: Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-06-22:

Then there are the Filipino, Vietnamese, and Cambodian dishes (taosi, tàu xì, and seang, respectively) similar to douchi that frequently contain seasonings that alter the taste.

2023 August 31, Claire Redden, “Douchi, The Fermented Soybeans That Pack An Umami Punch In Any Dish”, in Tasting Table, archived from the original on 2023-09-21:

(Philippines, China) A fermented black soybean sauce.


Pinoy step

(basketball, Philippines) A basketball move in which an offensive player picks up their dribble, does a pump fake, then proceeds to drive with the last two remaining legal steps to make an actual shot.


double-dead meat

(Philippines) Meat taken from an animal that has died of disease.


APH

Abra Provincial Hospital
w:Abra Provincial Hospital

(Philippines) Initialism of Abra Provincial Hospital.


NAPOLCOM

w:National Police Commission (Philippines)

(Philippines) Abbreviation of National Police Commission.


NAWASA

→ Tagalog: NAWASA

w:National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority

(Philippines, historical) Acronym of National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority.


red mongo

red monggo (alternative)
red munggo (alternative)
red mungo (alternative)


first year

first year (countable and uncountable, plural first years)

first years (plural)
first-year (alternative)
1st year (alternative)

(uncountable, Philippines, education, historical) The first year of high school; seventh grade (now grade 7 of junior high school).


ampao

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of ampaw.


SONA

w:State of the Nation Address (Philippines)

(Philippines) Acronym of State of the Nation Address.


flying voter

(Philippines) A voter who is registered in more than one voting precinct, usually one who has failed to transfer or cancel voter registration after a change of residence.


SALN

w:statement of assets, liabilities and net worth

(Philippines, accounting) Acronym of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.


SUC

w:state university and college (Philippines)

(Philippines, education) Initialism of state university and college.


GOCC

government-owned and controlled corporation#English

state-owned enterprise
state-owned enterprise

(Philippines, business) Initialism of government-owned and controlled corporation (“state-owned enterprises of the Philippines”).


DOTr

w:Department of Transportation (Philippines)

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Department of Transportation.


TUCP

w:Trade Union Congress of the Philippines

(Philippines, labour) Initialism of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, a trade union in the Philippines


MTRCB

w:Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

(Philippines, film, television) Initialism of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.


AMLC

Anti-Money Laundering Council
w:Anti–Money Laundering Council

(Philippines) Acronym of Anti-Money Laundering Council


PCGG

w:Presidential Commission on Good Government

(Philippines) Initialism of Presidential Commission on Good Government.


chori burger

(Philippines) A hamburger made with a chorizo patty instead of beef.


kainginero

(Philippines) Alternative form of cainginero.


cainginero

caingineros (plural)
kainginero (alternative)

(Philippines) One who clears land using slash-and-burn techniques.


sore eyes

(Philippines, pathology) conjunctivitis; pinkeye


Build, Build, Build

People would often ask - what is Build, Build, Build? it Is a springboard, a chance to turn a dream of connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao into a reality. It means connecting 81 provinces, 146 cities, and 1,489 municipalities.

2021 March 26, Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, “10 things to know about the plan to connect Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao”, in Manila Bulletin:

In the past six years, the Filipino people have seen and experienced the impact of the Philippines' Golden Age of Infrastructure. The Build, Build, Build program of the government resulted in the creation of hundreds of ports, thousands of roads and bridges, and millions of jobs. As the country welcomes a new administration, it is important to keep the momentum going by uniting behind this advocacy and bringing it to new heights not only for us but also for the generations to come.

2022 July 14, Mark Villar, “Bill proposes 30-year timeline for infrastructure projects”, in Business World:

(Philippines, neologism) Any of the various infrastructure policies and programs in the Philippines implemented during the Administration of Rodrigo Duterte.


stock knowledge

(Philippines) retained information in one's mind despite not studying


warfreak

warfreaks (plural)
war freak (alternative)

(Philippines, slang) A belligerent person, usually one who picks arguments or fights


backrider

(Philippines) A pillion rider; a person who rides on the back of a motorcycle


Eid'l Fitr

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of Eid al-Fitr.


Eid'l Adha

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of Eid al-Adha.


Asec

(Philippines) Abbreviation of assistant secretary.


Bajo de Masinloc

From Spanish Bajo de Masinloc, named after Masinloc, a town in Zambales, Philippines.


Malacañang

From Spanish Malacañán, from Tagalog mamalakayahan, from mamalakaya+han, ultimately from lakaya. A common folk etymology is it was derived from Tagalog may lakan diyan. The final -g was added to the name during the American colonial era (1898-1946).

(Philippines, Philippine politics, metonymic) the Philippine presidency and its administration; the Philippine government


backride

en-verb

backride (third-person singular simple present backrides, present participle backriding, simple past backrode, past participle backridden)

backrides (present singular third-person)
backriding (participle present)
backrode (past)
backridden (participle past)

(Philippines) To travel on the back seat of a motorcycle


backriding

en-noun

backriding (countable and uncountable, plural backridings)

(Philippines) the act of riding on the back of a motorcycle; pillioning


CAFGU

Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit
w:Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit

(Philippines, military) Acronym of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.


CAFGU

(Philippines, military) A member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.


IPOPHIL

w:Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines

(Philippines) Acronym of Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.


PMAer

(Philippines, informal) A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy.


BFAR

w:Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

(Philippines) Acronym of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.


OWWA

w:Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

(Philippines) Acronym of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.


community quarantine

community quarantine (plural community quarantines)

(Philippines) Any of the series of quarantines and cordon sanitaire measures that were imposed by the Philippine government to control the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines


maki mi

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-maki mi.wav

Borrowed from Hokkien 肉羹麵 /肉羹面 (mah-kiⁿ mī).

bor+

maki mi soup (alternative)
maki-mi (alternative)
maki mee (alternative)

(Philippines) Chinese Filipino thick soup of pork tenderloin, with noodles


nido soup

en-noun

nido soup (countable and uncountable, plural nido soups)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nido soup.wav

From Tagalog nido (“edible bird's nest”) + soup. Tagalog nido itself is from Spanish nido (“nest”). See also El Nido in Palawan, where the edible bird's nest is historically harvested from by a Busyador.

compound

edible bird's nest
edible bird's nest#English

(Philippines) bird's nest soup (Chinese soup made from edible bird's nest)


ice scramble

en-noun

ice scramble (countable and uncountable, plural ice scrambles)

→ Tagalog: iskrambol

(Philippines) ice scramble (Filipino shaved ice dessert with banana extract, sugar, evaporated milk or condensed milk, topped with a variety of ingredients)


kiat-kiat

kiat-kiat (countable and uncountable, plural kiat-kiats)

kiat-kiats (plural)
Kiat Kiat (alternative)
Kiat kiat (alternative)
kiat kiat (alternative)
KiatKiat (alternative)
Kiatkiat (alternative)
kiatkiat (alternative)
Kiat-Kiat (alternative)
Kiat-kiat (alternative)
kiet kiet (alternative)

Borrowed from Hokkien. See Hokkien 結結 /结结 (kiat-kiat, “to combine; to fuse; to bear (fruit)”), 桔/橘 (kiat) as in 桔仔/橘仔 (kiat-á, “tangerine; mandarin orange”), 傑傑 /杰杰 (kia̍t-kia̍t, “outstanding; remarkable; clever”), 結果 /结果 (kiat-kó, “to bear fruit”), etc.

ncog

(Philippines) a small hybrid variety of citrus fruit, similar to a small ponkan, clementine, tangerine, mandarin orange, orange, etc.


walkalator

(US, India, Philippines, Malaysia) A moving walkway (a slow conveyor belt that transports people horizontally or on an incline in a similar manner to an escalator.)


blocktiming

(Philippines) The act or practice of a broadcaster selling blocks of airtime for use by others.


sureball

en-adj

sureball (comparative more sureball, superlative most sureball)

more sureball (comparative)
most sureball (superlative)
sure-ball (alternative)

From sure + ball, usually said in basketball games.

(Philippines, slang) sure; certain; guaranteed; sure-fire


hey Joe

[ˌhɛɪ̯ ˈd͡ʒoʊ̯]

See Hey and Joe as in G.I. Joe or average Joe. As part of leftover street slang speech from WW2 times to call out to random American G.I.s (soldiers) in the Philippines.

Hey, Joe! What's up, man?! Up here!

Hey, white (American) dude! How are you?! High five!

"Hey, Joe, you like snake?" "Hey, Joe, welcome to Tondo!" "Hey, Joe, what's your name?" It's the phrase that greets every foreign guy in the Philippines on a daily basis. And perhaps nobody personifies the meaning of this moniker better than Ted Lerner, an American whose popular, freewheeling column, "Hey, Joe," has been entertaining readers in the Philippines and overseas for nearly 15 years. In "Hey, Joe," Ted presents a collection of his best Manila stories, a kaleidoscope of funny and bizarre incidents, offbeat characters and keen observations dished up by a wide-eyed foreigner living in a city exploding with life, unfathomable urban chaos and a story around every corner. Readers will hitch a ride with the author and spend a night at the cock fights - the Philippines' violent and gentlemanly national pastime. Walk through bustling, colorful markets that turn the senses on full blast. Experience the harrowing thrill of riding a bicycle through some of the world's worst and wildest traffic. Visit a secretive girlie-bar reserved mainly for foreigners. […]

1999, Ted Lerner, Hey, Joe: A Slice of the City, an American in Manila--, Book of Dreams, →ISBN:

[…] The game actually helped me graduate from “Hey Joe” to “Hey Mike.” Along with the jeepney, another remnant left over from the Second World War was "Hey Joe." Filipino kids, from the time they could speak through their teenage years called any white male stranger walking down the road either “Hey Joe” or “Kano, Kano.” American soldiers in the war were referred to as “G.I. Joes.” In 1970, twenty-five years after it ended, all unknown white males were still “Hey Joe.” It did not matter if one was Swedish, German, English, Italian, or Greek, it was “Hey Joe” or “Kano.” With basketball, at least in the region where we lived, for me it was now “Hey Mike.” Today, in 2007, the “Hey Joe” greeting no longer seems to be in vogue. It has not been passed on to the new generation of youngsters. A white stranger can walk around without causing any stir at all. […]

2007, Michael S. Gerber, Sweet Teeth and Loose Bowels: The Adventures of an International Aid Worker, Troubador Publishing Ltd, →ISBN, page 46:

[…] As a foreigner in the Philippines, one is downright conspicuous. If from the West, whether because one is usually taller than the average Filipino, or whiter, and has a “long nose”, the foreigner stands out and will attract a lot of attention, especially in the provincial areas. During the Second World War American troops were stationed in the Philippines. The individual American forces conscript was referred to as 'G.I. Joe' and the name seems to have stuck, with every foreigner visiting the Philippines likely at one time or another being greeted with a Filipino calling out “Hey Joe” as he haplessly walks by. Then he wonders if he does in fact know this Filipino who is calling out to him, and perhaps got his name mixed up. The foreigner could simply reply with a “Hey Jose” if one felt so inclined. For some foreigners this “Hey Joe” greeting is considered a term of endearment, a friendly greeting, and a welcome. For other foreigners it is considered impolite and offensive. In addition to “Hi Joe!” or “Hey Joe!” one also is subject to other questions, asked in a fake American accent, such as “What's up, man?”, or some other banal question that attempts to typify American conversation. I have traveled to many parts of the Philippines and am amazed at how widespread this custom of calling out to foreigners is. […]

2012, Duncan Alexander McKenzie, The Unlucky Country: The Republic of the Philippines in the 21st Century, BalboaPress, →ISBN, page 13:

(Philippines, informal) An expression to catch the attention of a white male Caucasian foreigner in the Philippines, especially white male Americans and historically American soldiers in the Philippines during WW2


CTTO

(Philippines, Internet slang) Initialism of credits to the owner (posted on social media to disclaim any copyright on posted material belonging to another).


dog show

(Philippines, slang) Satirical mockery; making fun of a person, their behaviour, or circumstances.


RMAF

Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
w:Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation

(Philippines) Initialism of Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.


OCW

Overseas Contract Worker
w:Overseas Filipino Worker

(Philippines, historical) Initialism of Overseas Contract Worker.


EDCA

w:Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

(Philippines, US, politics, military) Acronym of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (a mutual defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States).


ABS-CBN

(Philippines, broadcasting) Initialism of Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network.


promodizer

promodizers (plural)
promodiser (alternative)

(Philippines) a merchandiser who promotes products


GSIS

Government Service Insurance System
w:Government Service Insurance System

(Philippines) Initialism of Government Service Insurance System.


red egg

(Philippines) salted eggs with shells dyed magenta


jogging pants

(Canada, Philippines) track pants; sweatpants


frat man

(Philippines, somewhat derogatory) frat boy


Meralco

Manila Electric Company
w:Manila Electric Company

(Philippines) Initialism of Manila Electric Company.


TESDA

w:Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

(Philippines) Acronym of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.


NGCP

w:National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

(Philippines) Initialism of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.


PAGCOR

w:Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation

(Philippines) Acronym of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.


POGO

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator
w:Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator

(Philippines) Acronym of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator.


jeep girl

(Philippines, historical, derogatory) Filipino women who dated American soldiers riding in American jeeps during the Second World War


NSTP

National Service Training Program
w:National Service Training Program

(Philippines) Initialism of National Service Training Program, a Philippine civic education program.


DHSUD

w:Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.


DSWD

w:Department of Social Welfare and Development

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Social Welfare and Development.


blue seal

→ Tagalog: blusil

See blue + seal. From the blue seal import duty sticker labels on cigarette packs.

(Philippines) An imported version of a locally produced cigarette that is usually untaxed.


DepEd

Department of Education
w:Department of Education (Philippines)

(Philippines, education) Abbreviation of Department of Education.


PELCO

Pampanga Electric Corporation
Pampanga Electric Corporation#English

(Philippines) Initialism of Pampanga Electric Corporation.


IATF-EID

w:Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

(Philippines) Initialism of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.


en-noun

government-owned and controlled corporation (plural government-owned and controlled corporations)

state-owned enterprise
state-owned enterprise

(Philippines, business) state-owned enterprise


class adviser

class advisers (plural)
class advisor (alternative)

(Philippines, education) the teacher in charge of a specific section in a certain school level where the students for each class in a certain school year or semester does not typically change per class


despedida party

despedida party (plural despedida parties)


Filipino-Chinese

From Filipino (adjective) + Chinese (adjective).

com

Chinese-Filipino (alternative)
Fil-Chi (alternative abbreviation acronym acronym)

(Philippines) Of or pertaining to Chinese Filipino people, culture, or the languages characteristic of them.


DOH

Department of Health
w:Department of Health (Philippines)

(Philippines, healthcare) Initialism of Department of Health.


CEDC

w:Clark Electric Distribution Corporation

(Philippines) Initialism of Clark Electric Distribution Corporation.


hold-departure order

en-noun

hold-departure order (plural hold-departure orders)

hold-departure orders (plural)
HDO (alternative abbreviation)

(Philippines) criminal travel injunction


HDO

hold-departure order
hold-departure order#English

(Philippines) Initialism of hold-departure order.


necrological service

necrological service (plural necrological services)

First noted in writing in the Taglish elegy of Filipino poet V.I.S. de Veyra for English-language Filipino poet Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta titled Requiem Para Kay Ophie (Dimalanta)---Makata, Kritiko ng Wika which mentions "necrological service" among other Philippine English words and phrases.

(Philippines) memorial service (an obituary or pre-burial event consisting of eulogies and songs, especially over a deceased celebrity or public figure)


trouser pants

From trouser + pants. Coined in 2022 to refer to slacks often used for casual wear, rather than in formal occasions or in school/office.


PX goods

From PX (“Post Exchange of the U.S. Military”) + goods, due to the initially illegal import trade in the then-US military bases in the Philippines, particularly Pampanga's Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in Subic Bay. Its illicit trade died out when trade was liberalized around the 1990s, opening the door for legal freeport zones in Clark and Subic Bay for more legalized imported goods in duty-free stores and supermarkets instead.

compound

(Philippines) An import-restricted imported grocery item.

Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone

Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone


PX store

From PX (“Post Exchange of the U.S. Military”) + store, due to the initially illegal import trade in the then-US military bases in the Philippines, particularly Pampanga's Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in Subic Bay. Its illicit trade died out when trade was liberalized around the 1990s, opening the door for legal freeport zones in Clark and Subic Bay for more legalized imported goods in duty-free stores and supermarkets instead.

(Philippines) a store that sells import-restricted imported grocery items


Guy and Pip

(Philippines, slang) The loveteam of Filipino actors Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III.


NegOr

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Negros Oriental.


via-satellite

(Philippines) satellite-fed foreign shows delayed by several minutes or hours in contrast to live television broadcasts


center island

(Philippines) a barrier or structure on the median strip dividing opposing lanes of a road (typically lined with plants, trees, streetlights, and/or pillars supporting road or railway overpasses/flyovers)


12 NN

Abbreviation of 12 noon, modelled after AM and PM.


12 MN

Abbreviation of 12 midnight, modelled after AM and PM.


person deprived of liberty

en-noun

person deprived of liberty (plural persons deprived of liberty)

persons deprived of liberty (plural)
PDL (alternative abbreviation)

(international law, chiefly Philippines) convicted prisoner; incarceree


motornap

en-verb

motornap (third-person singular simple present motornaps, present participle motornapping or motornaping, simple past and past participle motornapped or motornaped)

motornaps (present singular third-person)
motornapping (participle present)
motornaping (participle present)
motornapped (participle past)
motornapped (past)
motornaped (participle past)
motornaped (past)

(Philippines, transitive) to steal a motorcycle


LGU

A special challenge is posed by local government units (LGUs) and the country’s decentralized governance system. An estimated $85 billion is required to fund preliminary LGU adaptation requirements.

2021 October 21, Department of Finance Philippines, “Philippines Goes Green”, in CNN:

After the Commission approves a route and any appropriate design engineering is completed, the Applicants will work with LGUs to obtain any of the following approvals, if necessary.

2024 August 19, “LAKETOWN 115-kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT IN CARVER COUNTY, MN”, in Great River Energy, page 27:

(Philippines, US, government) Initialism of local government unit.


OFB

Overseas Filipino Bank
w:Overseas Filipino Bank

(Philippines, banking) Initialism of Overseas Filipino Bank.


CIAC

w:Clark International Airport Corporation

(Philippines) Initialism of Clark International Airport Corporation.


elimination round

en-noun

elimination round (plural elimination rounds)

(Philippines) group stage or regular season


informal settler

informal settler (plural informal settlers)


EDSA

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
w:Epifanio de los Santos Avenue

Acronym of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.


pistolized

(chiefly Philippines, firearms) with shoulder stock removed and replaced with a pistol grip on a long gun (such as a shotgun or carbine)


STAR

Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
w:Southern Tagalog Arterial Road

(Philippines) Acronym of Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.


charter change

(Philippines, politics) constitutional reform


second year

second year (countable and uncountable, plural second years)

second years (plural)
2nd year (alternative)

(Philippines, education, historical, uncountable) the second year of high school; eight grade (now grade 8 of junior high school)


third year

third year (countable and uncountable, plural third years)

third years (plural)
3rd year (alternative)

(Philippines, education, historical, uncountable) the third year of high school; ninth grade (now grade 9 of junior high school)


fourth year

fourth year (countable and uncountable, plural fourth years)

fourth years (plural)
4th year (alternative)

(Philippines, education, historical, uncountable) the fourth year of high school; tenth grade (now grade 10 of junior high school)


JS prom

(Philippines) a high school prom; a formal ballroom event for junior high school and/or senior high school students


magic sugar

(Philippines, organic chemistry) sodium cyclamate


OB-Gyne

(Philippines) Alternative form of OB-GYN.


Hokaglish

tlb

(Philippines, chiefly Chinese Filipino, linguistics)

a colloquial multilingual variety of the English language that trilingually or bilingually incorporates Hokkien and Tagalog lexis (akin to Conyo)


Bislish

(Philippines, linguistics) an informal bilingual variety of the Cebuano language that incorporates English lexis

(Philippines, linguistics, by extension) an informal bilingual variety of any Visayan language, such as Hiligaynon, etc, that incorporates English lexis


Bislish

(Philippines, uncountable) A particular instance of Bislish


Swardspeak

(Philippines, linguistics) A form of Taglish gayspeak slang in Tagalog used by homosexual people in the Philippines, with elements from English, Spanish, Japanese, Hokkien, and other popular languages and pop culture icons.


NLEX

North Luzon Expressway
w:North Luzon Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of North Luzon Expressway.


SLEX

South Luzon Expressway
w:South Luzon Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of South Luzon Expressway.


SCTEX

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
w:Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.


TPLEX

Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway
w:Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.


CLLEX

Central Luzon Link Expressway
w:Central Luzon Link Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Central Luzon Link Expressway.


bedspacing

(Philippines) lodgment (the act of using a bed in a private home, often rented out by the month.)


integrated school

en-noun

integrated school (plural integrated schools)

(Philippines, education) school with both elementary school and high school students


emergency parking bay

emergency parking bay (plural emergency parking bays)

(Philippines) A paved area at the side of a highway designated for drivers to stop in, for emergency parking, or where vehicles can wait, with larger lay-bys possibly having facilities like food vendors or public telephones.


PHLPost

Philippine Postal Corporation
w:Philippine Postal Corporation

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Philippine Postal Corporation.


POGO hub

POGO hubs (plural)
Pogo hub (alternative)

(Philippines) An establishment run by POGOs.


hotdog pillow

From the pillow's resemblance to a hot dog (type of sausage).

(Philippines) Synonym of bolster pillow.


MCX

[ˌʔɛːm.sɪ ˈʔɛks]

Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway
w:Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway

(Philippines) Initialism of Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway.


Skyway

Approximately 240,000 vehicles per day use the existing six-lane South Superhighway, of which 30 percent are projected to switch to the Skyway.

1999 May 10, Chiaki Kuranami, Bruce P. Winston, Jeffrey J. Sriver, Masayoshi Iwasaki, Shigeru Iwama, “Asian Toll Road Development Program: Review of Recent Toll Road Experience in Selected Countries and Preliminary Tool Kit for Toll Road Development”, in The World Bank, retrieved 2024-06-20, page 114:

On January 10, 2002, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed, in behalf of public respondent TRB, Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Judge Ranada, a "Consolidated Comment"[15] contending that: (1) the TRB has the exclusive jurisdiction over all matters relating to toll rates; (2) Resolution No. 2001-89 covers both the Skyway and the at-grade level of the South Luzon Expressway as provided under the STOA; (3) that while Resolution No. 2001-89 does not mention any factual basis to justify its issuance, however, it does not mean that TRB's finding of facts is not supported by evidence; and (4) petitioner Padua cannot assail the validity of the STOA because he is not a party thereto.

2002 October 14, Supreme Court, “G.R. No. 141949 & 151108”, in LawPhil, retrieved 2024-06-20:

One person was killed while two others were hurt after an armored van fell from the Skyway in Makati City during rush hour yesterday.

2007 January 25, Rhodina Villanueva, “Armored van falls from Skyway”, in Philstar, retrieved 2024-06-20:

Metro Manila Skyway
w:Metro Manila Skyway

(Philippines) Ellipsis of Metro Manila Skyway.


third lieutenant

third lieutenant (plural third lieutenants)

third lieutenants (plural)
3rd lieutenant (alternative)

(Philippines, military, historical) The lowest commissioned officer grade of the American colonial gendarmerie, an organization which existed from 1901 through 1942. The American colonial army also had this grade from 1935 through 1942. Similar to the American colonial army, the Spanish army in 1898 had a rank structure with four company grade officer ranks: captain; first lieutenant; second lieutenant; and ensign or alférez. In contrast, the Philippine army in July 1898, like the present Philippine army, had three company grade officer ranks: captain, first lieutenant, and second lieutenant.


traffic lead

(Philippines, law enforcement) unarmed traffic police


CCLEX

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway
w:Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.


NAIAX

w:Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway.


PHIVOLCS

w:Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

(Philippines) Acronym of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.


motor banca

From motor + banca, where the latter itself is from Tagalog bangka.

(Philippines, nautical) Synonym of motorized banca.


owner-type jeepney

owner-type jeepney (plural owner-type jeepneys)

(Philippines) a Jeep meant for private use (designed as a smaller, lighter version of the jeepney, similar to the original US military Jeep and its non-military derivative)


fire marshall

(US, Philippines) Alternative spelling of fire marshal.


barangay captain

barangay captain (plural barangay captains)

From barangay + captain, with the former from Tagalog barangay.

(Philippines, government) leader of a barangay


barangay chairman

barangay chairman (plural barangay chairmans)

barangay captain
barangay captain#English

(Philippines, government) Synonym of barangay captain.


bed spacing

(Philippines) Alternative form of bedspacing.


Christmas Capital of the Philippines

en-proper noun

the Christmas Capital of the Philippines

After the Giant Lantern festivals held every Christmas in the capital of the province, San Fernando.

(Philippines, chiefly Pampanga) A nickname for Pampanga.


Japinoy

(Philippines, informal) Japanese Filipino (a Filipino with Japanese descent, usually one of mixed descent, especially one who identifies as such.)


Panagbenga

Borrowed from Kankanaey Panagbenga, from panagbenga.

(Philippines) a month-long annual festival in Baguio held every February.


fish kropeck

(Philippines) prawn crackers made with fish


Culinary Capital of the Philippines

the Culinary Capital of the Philippines (canonical)


CALAX

Cavite-Laguna Expressway
w:Cavite-Laguna Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Cavite-Laguna Expressway.


CAVITEX

Manila-Cavite Expressway
w:Manila-Cavite Expressway

(Philippines) Abbreviation of Manila-Cavite Expressway.


SFEX

Subic Freeport Expressway
w:Subic Freeport Expressway

(Philippines) Acronym of Subic Freeport Expressway.


comp shop

(Philippines, colloquial) Clipping of computer shop.


GMRC

(Philippines) Initialism of good manners and right conduct.


Redemptorist Church

(Philippines) National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help


national road

(Philippines) A major non-tolled highway maintained by the national government.


fabcon

fabric conditioner
fabric conditioner#English

(Philippines) Clipping of fabric conditioner.


minor subject

(Philippines, education) elective subject


fabric conditioner

en-noun

fabric conditioner (countable and uncountable, plural fabric conditioners)

fabric conditioners (plural)
fabcon (alternative Philippines clipping)

(British, Philippines) Synonym of fabric softener.


fiscal office

(Philippines, law) A public prosecutor’s office.


number coding

number-coding (alternative)
coding (alternative)

(Philippines, law enforcement) A policy in some urban areas where vehicles with plate numbers ending in a particular number are barred from using the main streets on a particular pre-assigned day to reduce traffic.


Mickey Mouse money

(Philippines, historical) The paper currency used during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.


dollar-speaking

(Philippines, colloquial) primarily Anglophone


behest loan

(Philippines) A loan granted to an individual or corporation at the sole behest of an authoritative government official


meat dealer

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-meat dealer.wav

(Philippines, prostitution) A pimp or an escort service.


up and down house

up and down house (plural up and down houses)

(Philippines, construction) A two-storey house


DOST

w:Department of Science and Technology (Philippines)

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Science and Technology.


Escoda

Named after a Filipina national heroine Josefa Llanes Escoda.


Usec

(Philippines, government) Abbreviation of undersecretary.


Solgen

solicitor general
solicitor general#English

(Philippines, law) Abbreviation of solicitor general.


guinit helmet

(Philippines, historical) a pith helmet made from coconut fiber (used by soldiers serving in the Philippine Army from 1935 through 1942)


zipper lane

(Philippines) A temporary highway lane (usually demarcated with traffic cones) on the opposite side wherein vehicles going forward can bypass traffic, thereby making vehicles counterflow on the opposite side.


DENR

DENR entomologists recall that beetle infestation of the agohos is similar to another which killed thousands of pine trees in Benguet in 1981.

1989, The Philippine Lumberman, volume 35:

w:Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Environment and Natural Resources.


DMW

Department of Migrant Workers
w:Department of Migrant Workers

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Migrant Workers.


Don Bosco

w:Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati

(Philippines) Ellipsis of Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati.


antibac

(Philippines, Malaysia) Clipping of antibacterial.


squammy

en-adj

squammy (comparative squammier, superlative squammiest)

squammier (comparative)
squammiest (superlative)
skwammy (alternative Philippines slang)

From squamous + -y, where -ous was elided to extract the root. The reduplicated ⟨m⟩ is akin to runny, brimmy, etc. The Philippine slang sense is a semantic loan from Tagalog iskuwater, itself from Philippine English squatter (“poor vagrant; illegal informal settler”) due to resemblance of the first syllable. Compare Tagalog iskuwami.

ncog

(Philippines, colloquial, slang) trashy; classless; unrefined; crass; uncultured; vulgar; uncouth (lacking refinement)


touch the body

Synonym of dodgeball (the game of dodging balls)


GenSan

/ˈd͡ʒɛn̪.sɐn̪/

General Santos City
w:General Santos City

(Philippines) Abbreviation of General Santos City.


agawan base

team game whose main objective is to touch the base of the opposition without getting tagged


washington

tlb

(playground games, Philippines, chiefly Baguio)


NCMF

w:National Commission on Muslim Filipinos

(Philippines) Initialism of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.


noy-noying

(Philippines) Alternative spelling of noynoying.


beef salpicao

en-noun

beef salpicao (plural beef salpicaos or beef salpicao)

beef salpicaos (plural)
beef salpicao (plural)

From beef + Philippine Spanish salpicao, the latter term is a Philippine Spanish pronunciation spelling form of Spanish salpicado (“sprinkled”), past participle of salpicar (“to sprinkle”). Compare Tagalog salpikaw.

(Philippines) A Filipino dish of grilled beef (sirloin or ribeye) cubes sprinkled with grounded black pepper and minced garlic


DBM

Department of Budget and Management
w:Department of Budget and Management

(Philippines) Initialism of Department of Budget and Management.


Chinese mestizo

Chinese mestizo (plural Chinese mestizos)

Chinese mestizos (plural)
Chinese Mestizo (alternative)

See Chinese + mestizo (“mixed”). Calque of Spanish mestizo chino or mestizo de sangley.

Coordinate term: Chinese mestiza (female)

(Philippines, historical) A person of mixed ethnic Chinese Filipino and Austronesian Filipino ancestry.


Mestizo de Sangley

Mestizo de Sangley (plural Mestizos de Sangley)

Mestizos de Sangley (plural)
mestizo de sangley (alternative)
mestizo de Sangley (alternative)

From Philippine Spanish mestizo de sangley, from mestizo (“mixed”) + de (“of”) + sangley (“Chinese”).

com

Coordinate term: Mestiza de Sangley (female)

(Philippines, historical, dated) A person of mixed ethnic Chinese Filipino and Austronesian Filipino ancestry (especially during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines).


power interruption

en-noun

power interruption (plural power interruptions)


pad paper

pad paper (usually uncountable, plural pad papers)

(Philippines) writing pad; notepad (of various sizes, usually bound on top with a cardboard cover)


SLU

Saint Louis University
w:Saint Louis University (Philippines)

(Philippines) Initialism of Saint Louis University.


eselyu

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(Philippines, chiefly Baguio, colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of SLU.


Uste

(Philippines) Pronunciation spelling of UST.


public utility vehicle

public utility vehicle (plural public utility vehicles)

public utility vehicles (plural)
PUV (alternative)

(Philippines, road transport) a vehicle that does public transport


public utility van

public utility van (plural public utility vans)

public utility vans (plural)
PUV (alternative)

(Philippines, road transport) a van that does public transport


public utility jeepney

public utility jeepney (plural public utility jeepneys)

public utility jeepneys (plural)
PUJ (alternative)

(Philippines, road transport) a jeepney that does public transport


PUB

public utility bus
public utility bus#English

(Philippines, road transport) Initialism of public utility bus.


public utility bus

public utility bus (plural public utility buses)

public utility buses (plural)
PUB (alternative)

(Philippines, road transport) a bus that does public transport


infairness

(US, Philippines) Alternative form of in fairness.


Erap

(Philippines, Philippine politics) Jose Marcelo Ejercito, also known as Joseph Estrada, 13ᵗʰ President of the Philippines


ocular inspection

ocular inspection (plural ocular inspections)

(Philippines) A visual inspection of a place using the naked eye.