VISAYAN SWARDSPEAK: The Language of a Gay Community in the Philippines

Author(s): Donn Hart and Harriett Hart

Source: Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , 1990, Vol.
5, No. 2 (1990), pp. 27-49
Published by: Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University on behalf of Northern
Illinois University and its Center for Southeast Asian Studies

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40860309

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 VISAYAN SWARDSPEAK:
The Language of a Gay Community in the Philip

Donn and Harriett Hart

This is a limited study of swardspeak conducted during the

year 1979 and the summer of 1982, just prior to the death of the
senior author, Donn V. Hart.1 There have been only a limited
number of studies of the homosexual scene in the Philippines, most
of which have been conducted in Manila. The senior author's study
of homosexuality in a village in southern Negros Oriental provides
an excellent background for this study (Hart 1968).
This research was conducted and this argot collected in Cebu
City, which is the second largest city in the Philippines, and in
Dumaguete City, which is much smaller and is the capital of Negro
Oriental. Cebuano is the language spoken in both cities.
In Cebu City ten informants were used, ranging in age from 20
to 32. Some were students, others were beauticians and government
employees. These ten then passed out the vocabulary to twenty-
five others, checking the argot for variations and popularity. The
argot was constantly being revised and recirculated again and
again. Eight informants were used in Dumaguete City, checking
with another twenty informants in the same manner. Only those
words that the authors felt had been sufficiently checked for
meaning and popularity were included in the study. John Wolff's A
Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan was used to check spelling and
meaning.
The vocabulary is presented with the meaning of the words
and phrases, as the informants understood them, along with the
root words in Cebuano, Tagalog, or Spanish.
Many informants believed the argot came mostly from
Spanish and Tagalog. However, over half of the root words were
Cebuano, with English being the second largest source for words. In
Reyes 1977 study of Tagalog swardspeak he indicates that most of
his vocabulary came from the Taglish (a combination of Tagalog
and English) translation of the play The Boys in the Band. Only a

1 Earlier versions of this paper were given at the Philippine Studies Group
meeting in 1984 at the University of Michigan and on February 10, 1989, in
the Southeast Asia Friday Lecture Series at Northern Illinois University.
We wish to thank Lina Davide Ong for her suggestions and careful
reading of this paper.

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few words in this vocabulary are from the play. Taglish is not
spoken as widely in Cebu and Dumaguete cities as it is in Manila.
Cebuano is the largest of the Visayan languages in terms of the
number of speakers and is the language spoken in the research
areas. English and some Tagalog (the national language) are
spoken.
Bay ut or sissy (Wolff 1972) is the general term used by
Cebuano speakers for a male homosexual. Bay ut refers to all male
homosexuals, transvestites, and effeminates. Of more recent origin
is the word sward for a male homosexual. Although it was thor-
oughly investigated, its origin was never established. It seems to
have appeared in the language in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Pontenela does not mention sward, but uses bay ut in her 1979 thesis
on Dumaguete homosexuals. Sward is, however, used today in the
male homosexual argot of Dumaguete City. Sward is used with the
same meaning as bayut, but usually denotes those bayut who con-
sider themselves to be upper class, educated, and refined.
Bayuts, some informants said, are visually different from
swards, more swishy, dress more colorfully, wear more cosmetics
and generally advertise their bayut-ness. A social stratification
appears, then, to exist between sward and bayut. A sward can asso-
ciate with a bayut fairly easily but not vice versa; swards are
upper class and bayuts are lower class. The lakin-on (tomboy, see
Wolff 1972), or female homosexual, does not associate with either.
Pimps and prostitutes are even lower class than bayut and lakin-on.
A number of informants felt that cliques existed, where professional
groups of swards only associated within their own group, that is
actor with actor, beauty shop owners with each other. They all,
however, use swardspeak.
Most Visayans are lenient and indulgent of local homosexu-
als. A homosexual may provoke a smile, is sometimes teased by
children and young males, and is generally thought to be funny but
not ridiculous or unusual. A homosexual is not subject to arrest or
harassment by police or government officials. There are no laws
against homosexuality in the Philippines. A very low level of anx-
iety exists toward homosexuals on the part of Visayan Filipinos.
They are usually not openly criticized, nor are they seen as danger-
ous or as criminals. The Philippines, then, is probably one of the
major contemporary cultures most tolerant of homosexuals, espe-
cially the high visibility of the transvestite (Whitam 1986 and
Hart 1968).

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 Visayans will readily discuss homosexuals with you,
pointing out known ones and others who are not publicly known.
Asking about homosexual rights and organizations in the
Philippines will get you the following answer: we don't need orga-
nizations, we have no problems.
In Cebu and Dumaguete cities the male homosexual, particu-
larly the transvestite, is usually most visible in beauty shops,
dress-making shops, interior decorating and the entertainment
industry. In Cebu City homosexuals are the proprietors of some of
the most reputable beauty salons and fashion shops. In Manila, it
is said, they dominate the entertainment industry. One needs to
learn swardspeak in order to fully participate in the entertainment
and high fashion industries. At San Carlos University, homosex-
ual students study in many areas: commerce, architecture, and so on.
However, those students readily admit that most male homosexu-
als pursue vocational courses such as cosmetology and hair science.
Visayan swardspeak is not a restrictive argot. Although it is
said to be secretive, it is understood by many outsiders. There are
several reasons why swardspeak is understood beyond the homo-
sexual community. Film, radio, and television stars find it neces-
sary to learn swardspeak, whether they are homosexuals or not,
because it is so widely spoken by the large number of homosexuals in
the entertainment industry. It is not uncommon to find a lead actor
in a television, radio, or film production playing a homosexual
character. Fashion models are urged by the designers to become
proficient in swardspeak. And those who are regular customers of
the designers and beauty salons understand some swardspeak.
Although a gre^t many words come directly from Cebuano,
Spanish, English, or Tagalog, they are given a different meaning or
a shade of meaning from the root word. Take for example, hombre,
Spanish for man, means pick up in swardspeak; "chapter," English,
means ugly or ordinary, as the chapters of a book are ordinary or
short. Or swards play on words, such as pumpiang, Tagalog, means
(crashing) cymbals, and refers to two swards playing with each
other's penises.
While informants say there are rules, it is difficult to see a
clear pattern other than those normally used in Cebuano: p is
changed to f, b to v, and e to i. Sward informants said this gives a
more exaggerated feminine sound; words are changed to sound more
feminine or like baby talk (see, for example, Fefita Farufaru in the
glossary below).

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 Most of the words and phrases in the argot have to do with
the sex act: uring is sodomy; "sixty-nine" is fellatio; bio means blow
and blow job; and "s and d" or singin in dansin or "suck and drink."
Salsal and dukduk are to masturbate as well as "ring the bell" from
a Tagalog version of a popular American song.
There are a number of words for penis that come from English
and Spanish. From Spanish comes grande, which means a large
penis. From English, "Pepsi" refers to a large-sized penis; "bam-
boo" is penis; and "flower" means genitalia. All the words for penis
refer to a large penis, except "lower do" and "upper do" (from
musical scales) mean small and large penis, respectively.
Regular words in Cebuano are changed by adding a prefix or a
sound, such as paluyug ug bungut, meaning to rub the pubic area in
foreplay. This phrase is derived from two Cebuano words, bungut,
meaning beard and luyug, to rub. The "pa" sound is added for a soft-
ening effect. Another example is mubag-id meaning to rub a man's
crotch, which comes from the Cebuano word bag-id, to rub back and
forth.
A commonly used suffix is "-ing." Uring or sometimes uring-
uring are sward words for sodomy. Their root is urus, to sizzle or to
sizzle with sex urges. This is further feminized into urisiting, with
the same meaning.
Kiduy, anal intercourse, takes the root word kiyud, meaning
to thrust the lower part of the body forward, and reverses the last
syllable yud to duy. Hab-habin, meaning fellatio, is from the
Cebuano word hab-hab, a derogatory expression meaning people
who eat like pigs, with an "-in" added.
Swardspeak contains a great many words that are compounds,
alliterations, or double entendres. "AC/DC," meaning a heterosex-
ual, is from English alternating/direct current. English "Asian
fever" is an ugly sward, because it is thought that a Caucasian is
better than an Asian. English "double blade" is a bisexual; "tra-la-
la" is fellatio; "ha-la-la" is sexual intercourse between men and
women; bayu-bayu is to masturbate, from Cebuano bayu, meaning to
beat to a pulp; "seventh heaven" is to have an orgasm. "Famas
Award" is having sex with a partner others have tried and failed
with- the Famas Award is like the American Oscar. "W. N." is a
whole night of sex; "D. D. Q." is dinner, disco, and Queensland.
Queensland is a hotel in Cebu that favors male homosexuals.
Almost all of swardspeak is terms of reference. There are a
few terms of address; these are terms of endearment that are nor-

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mally used by Cebuanos in their daily activities. There are also
some greetings and exclamations.
A number of words or phrases are used to refer to a male
homosexual. They range from the general term bayut, sward, bakla
to references meaning shy, shameless, rich, sexy. Interestingly,
queer, gay, and faggot are taken from English, but are considered to
be words used by the lower class, but not to the point of being
derogatory. Kay a means rich, star, talented; kapal means
shameless; and kalat means scatterbrain. A shy sward is a "Maria
Clara/' derived from the shy, retiring heroine in Rizal's novel.
The opposite is a "Rita Gomez" who is a sexy Philippine movie
star. A "Donna Summer" is a sexy sward because of the American
singer's sexy songs.
There are a few words for an unrevealed male homosexual.
The use of the American term "C. Q." or closet queen is considered
derogatory. It also has the meaning "to smell of mothballs" -
referring to the custom of using mothballs when storing clothing in a
closet. The general term for a latent homosexual is buking, from
Cebuano buku, which means to reveal one's character.
Physical attributes is also a large category. A few words are
from English, such as "Body by Fisher" for a superb physique;
"Clyde," meaning ugly, is from the name of the orangutan in a Clint
Eastwood movie. Biyu is probably from English, beauty. T. L. na T.
L. is a coined phrase meaning sexually attractive and is from the
Tagalog song "True Love."
There are a few terms for boyfriend or lover. Bana refers to a
partner, derived from Cebuano bana (husband). From English comes
"type" or "steady," meaning an excellent partner. Coined words are
ifik, a handsome body, from English effect and Cebuano ipiktu
(effect).
In spite of any shortcomings, this study will give some insight
into the subculture of gays and some clues for further research.
Several excellent studies have been made of swardspeak in the
Manila area and we are fortunate to have the work of Dr. Frederick
Whitam on the subculture in Cebu City. Native Visayan and
Tagalog speakers and linguists need to analyze words and phrases
more extensively than has been done. The authors' own study still
contains about a hundred more terms not included here. More
research is needed into the relationship of Visayan subculture of
the sward and bayut as well as Tagalog. The method by which
words are coined should have further study.

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 The following glossary of collected terms has been arranged
conceptually to allow those who do not know the languages used to
gain an easier grasp of the development of the sward speak jargon.

Vocabulary

Designations, Names for Homosexuals

AC/DC is a bisexual, from English alternating and direct current.

Alanganin is a male homosexual. Tagalog, meaning in-between,

half-way. From Cebuano ang-ang, half cooked.

Bana is a male homosexual's partner, regardless of duration or rela-

tionship. From Cebuano bana, husband.

Baget is a young male who has just reached puberty. From Cebuano
bag-u, new or novice. From Tagalog, underworld word for novice.

Baki is a bisexual. From Cebuano bald, frog, referring to a frog who

lives both on land and in the sea.

Bakla is a male homosexual. From Tagalog bakla, slang for

binabae, a male homosexual.

Barakita is a male homosexual who associates with heterosexuals

to copy their manners. From Tagalog barako, manly man, he-man,
fearless.

Batâ is a male homosexual's boyfriend. From Tagalog bata, girl,

girlfriend, sweetheart, or mistress.

Bayut is a male homosexual. From Cebuano bayut, sissy, male

homosexual.

Binabae is a male homosexual. From Cebuano bayi, female animal

or plant; binabayi, cock with hen's feathers. From Tagalog
binabae, effeminate, womanish.

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Birdig dugo is a male homosexual. From Cebuano and Spanish
berdi, green, dirty, off -color, and dugu, blood, dugu sa laid, semen.
Implies male homosexual has "dirt/' or "off-color" blood.

Bugaw is a pimp, heterosexual male or female. From Cebuano

bugaw, to act as a pimp. Swards often spell the word.

Bukiz means to reveal one's homosexuality. From Cebuano buku, to

reveal someone's character, to be found out.

Buking means someone finds out one is a sward. Same derivation as

above.

C. B. is a call boy or male prostitute. From English call boy. Also

said to be derived from the initials of the Central Bank of the
Philippines.

C. Q. is a latent homosexual. From English closet queen.

Carioca is a male homosexual. Said to be from a Tagalog movie in

which a famous Filipino plays a homosexual. Also possibly from
the dance Carioca in the American movie Flying Down to Rio.

Dang or ding is an effeminate male homosexual. From Cebuano

dangs, fairy, homosexual who acts effeminate. Used by
homosexuals in addressing one another.

Double blade is a bisexual. From English double-edged razor blade.

Faggot is a male homosexual. From English faggot. The word is

used to mean a lower-class sward.

Fefita Farufaru is a male homosexual who uses drugs. This is a

coined word. From Cebuano, Pepita Paruparu; Pepita, a girl's name
and paruparu being a butterfly. (Note the change of consonants
from p to f for a feminine effect in swarkspeak.)

F. O. T. G. is a call boy. Also a way of saying "superb!" Also the

initials of an American film Food of the Gods.

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Gay is a male homosexual. From English gay. This refers to a
lower-class sward.

Gitay-an refers to an old, worn-out male homosexual. From

Cebuano taya, meaning rusty.

Gunu is a female prostitute. From Cebuano gunu, a small fish from

the sea that spoils easily and is often sold at a low price.

Gurang is a male sward or a male partner who is old. From Waray

gurang, meaning an old person.

Hagip means to seek a male partner. From Tagalog hagip, to bump

into someone purposely, like a hawk snatching a chicken.

Half-half is a male homosexual. From English half and half,

meaning half male, half female.

Hombre means a male homosexual, a handsome male, a pick up.

From Spanish hombre, man.

Kub-hayang is a bisexual. From Cebuano kub, turn over and

hayang, to turn up.

Kwaknit is a male homosexual. From Cebuano kwaknit, bat. Bats

"cruise" at night looking for fresh meat.

Lakin-on is a lesbian. From Cebuano lakin-on, meaning manly or

tomboy.

Lalaki is a male homosexual's boyfriend. From Cebuano lalaki,

man, male or common-law husband.

Leon is the father of a male homosexual. Taglish from the name of

the father in the play The Boys in the Band.

Lola is a male homosexual who is over 35. From Cebuano loia,

grandmother or an older female.

Love na love is a lover, from the title of a popular song.

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Ma'am is a male homosexual school teacher. From English madam
or ma'am, often used as a term of address to a teacher.

Madame is an old male homosexual. From English.

Madrilina is a male homosexual who is very effeminate, with a

delicate physique. From Cebuano madri, nun. From Spanish madre,
mother.

Mag-umbre means to be masculine. From Spanish hombre, man.

Mama is a male homosexual who is 35 years or older. From English.

Manaye is an old homosexual. Cebuano manay, a term of address

for a female older than speaker.

Maricone is a male homosexual. From Spanish maricón, homosex-

ual, sodomite.

Mining is a very effeminate male homosexual. From Cebuano

mining, a term of endearment.

Nini is a term of endearment for a male homosexual. From Cebuano

nini, an affectionate appellation for girls.

Queen is a male homosexual, usually implies leadership. From

English.

Queer is a male homosexual. A lower class term, usually indicates

one is devious. From English.

Soledad is the mother of a male homosexual. Taglish and is the

name of the mother in the play The Boys in the Band.

Sarizva is a teenage male who is still a virgin. From Tagalog

sariwa, fresh.

Sikat is a male homosexual who stands out among others. From

Cebuano sikat, cocky, showing off.

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Sister is a term of endearment used by male homosexuals to address
each other. From English.

Sward is a male homosexual. The origin is unknown, probably

coined.

Taratitat is a male prostitute. This is a coined word.

Tomboy is a lesbian. From English.

Tig is an errand boy. From Cebuano tig-, a prefix added to many

Cebuano verbs that refer to action. As a noun it means one who
usually does something.

True Blue is a heterosexual, a straight. From English true blue,

meaning honest, loyal, straight.

Tsuwariwarizva is an entourage of loud, noisy homosexuals. From a

record by the Platters in which the sound "chu-chu-wa" can be
heard in the background.

Sex Organs

Alas dose is an erect penis. From Spanish alas dose, twelve

o'clock.

Alas seis is a very long penis. From Spanish alas seis, six o'clock.
Both refer to the position of the penis inside shorts, up or down like
the hands of a clock.

Bamboo means penis. From English.

Batuta means penis. From both Tagalog and Cebuano batuta, baton.
In Cebuano, it is slang for penis.

Bukobar means penis. From both Tagalog and Cebuano bukobar, a

cylindrically shaped, young coconut milk-flavored popsicle.
(Presumably a comparison being made between young coconut milk
and semen.)

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Bumba is an erect penis. From Cebuano bumba, an erotic show. It is
Cebuano slang for intercourse.

Bungut means pubic hair. From bungut, beard or mustache.

Dala means a penis or vagina. Cebuano dala, humorous term for

penis or vagina. Also means to bring or carry a load.

Dakota is a male with a big penis. From English; Dakota is

believed to be a large U.S. state. Possibly related to Cebuano daku,
large.

Grande means an unusually large penis. From Spanish.

Higher do means a big penis. From English, refers to higher "do" on

the musical scale.

Lata is the female genitalia. From Cebuano lata, soft, spoiled

fruit. The word has a coarse meaning indicating too much use, so
the woman has become spoiled or rotten.

Lower do is a small penis. From English, referring to lower "do" on

the musical scale.

Minnesota is a large penis. From English; Minnesota is considered

to be a large U.S. State.

Nota means penis. From Cebuano nuta, musical notes. From

Spanish nota, note.

Pedia or Pepsi refers to a large penis. From English, comparing the

penis to a large-sized bottle of Pepsi.

Regs is a regular-sized penis. From English regular.

Uluk is a circumcised penis. From Cebuano uluk, penis.

Sex Acts, Sexual Activity

Abortion means ejaculation. From English.

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Bag-id is sexual intercourse between male homosexuals. From
Cebuano bag-id, to rub back and forth, as rubbing one's penis over a
partner's body.

Bantilya Murilla is to masturbate. From Cebuano baiil, to beat or

whip eggs, to cream.

Bayli is anal intercourse. From Cebuano bayli, to dance.

Bayu-bayu means to masturbate. From Cebuano bayu, to beat to a

pulp.

Bicycle means male-male or male-female intercourse. From

English; a parallel is made to pumping on a bicycle.

Bio, blow is fellatio. From English blow job.

Brocha is licking a partner's body during sex. From Spanish brocha,

painter's brush.

Datung is money paid for sexual favors. From Cebuano tung, a rake-
off, bribe.

Dap-a Ako Dung is a heterosexual male who engages in receptive

intercourse. From Cebuano dopa, to lie on the stomach.

Do or Do Kido is anal intercourse with a male homosexual. This is

a coined word.

Dinsin is anal intercourse. From English dance. It refers to dances

where one swings one's hips.

Drink means to swallow the semen during fellatio. From English.

Dukduk is to masturbate. From Cebuano dukduk, to pound some-

thing repeatedly.

Eighty-eight is oral sex between two male homosexuals. From

English, "I (eight/ate) you, you (eight/ate) me."

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Fara-fara means to cruise for a male sex partner, to stroll in colorful
attire. This is a coined word.

French Connection is oral sex. From the English title of the movie.

G amisi is sodomy. From Greek gamos, wedding; gamisi, sexual

intercourse.

Geography means to cruise for a male sex partner. From English.

Greek is anal intercourse. From the belief that this is the favorite
sexual act of many Greeks.

Hab-habin is fellatio. From Cebuano hab-hab, the way pigs eat.

Hala-hala is to obtain young men for sexual purposes. From

Tagalog hala, go ahead, a warning.

Ha-la-la is sexual intercourse between man and woman. Probably

derived from English.

Ichus is usually used to describe male homosexuals who try to

attract attention by talking loudly. From Cebuano itsus, sexual
intercourse.

Ifiting is intrafemoral intercourse. From Cebuano ipit, jam, wedged

in between two things.

lyut is oral, anal or intrafemoral intercourse. From Cebuano iyut, to

have sexual intercourse.

Kiduy is anal intercourse. From Cebuano kiyud, to thrust the lower

part of the body forward as a male does during intercourse.

Kufus or Kufing-kufing is fellatio. From Cebuano kupa, goblet. The

cup is the symbol of the mouth; there is also a goblet design on
Spanish tarot cards.

Lablus is the sex act done by male homosexuals. This is a coined

word.

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Ladlad means to show off, to cruise for a sex partner. From Cebuano
ladlad, to spread for display, to cast a fish net.

Law ay effect is anal intercourse in which saliva is used instead of a

lubricant. From Cebuano laway, saliva.

Lechon de leche is the sex act by three male homosexuals involving

fellatio and anal intercourse. From Spanish lechon, Cebuano litsun,
roast pig. The pig is roasted over a pit on a spit that runs from
mouth to anus. Leche is Spanish for milk.

Makabihahi sa ikapitung langit is to have sex, to have a sex part-

ner who is very satisfying. From Tagalog, meaning to go to seventh
heaven.

Malaca is to masturbate. From Spanish.

Mangumpisal is fellatio. From Tagalog mangumpisal, to confess.

During fellatio one partner may kneel in front of the other.

Mubag-id is to rub a man's crotch. From Cebuano, to rub back and

forth, to brush against.

Musaka sa langit is to check into a motel for sex. From Cebuano

langit, heaven, joy, happiness.

Paak is fellatio. From Cebuano paak, bite.

Palubut is sodomy. From Cebuano lubut, anus, rump.

Piano is a sward who "plays" (with) a partner prior to the sex act.
From English.

Ring the bell is to masturbate. From a popular song.

Salsal to masturbate. From Tagalog.

Singin in Dinsin (S and D) is fellatio and anal intercourse. From

English singing and dancing. A singer uses microphone in hand
while singing.

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Sixty-nine is fellatio and cunnilingus. From English.

Seventh heaven is to have an orgasm. From English.

S. T. is a short time, referring to the sex act. From English.

Steady is a partner of a male homosexual. From English.

Suck and Drink (S & D) means swallowing of the semen during

fellatio. From English.

Supsup is fellatio. From Cebuano supsup, suck, "suck someone off."

Tindug means erection. From Cebuano tindug, stand, cause some-

thing to stand.

Tra-la-la is fellatio. From English.

Tsupa is fellatio. From Cebuano tsupa, to "suck off" (coarse, slang).

Tsupun de tnatnay is fellatio. From Cebuano tsupun, rubber nipple or

pacifier; mamay is a wet nurse.

UPA is anal intercourse. From Cebuano upa, mating of fowls. A

crude word.

Urus is sodomy. From Cebuano urus, to sizzle with sex urges.

Urusiting is sodomy. This is an effeminized form of urus.

Warn war a is to cruise in search of a partner. From Cebuano warn,

to flail out.

W. N. is a whole night of sex. From English.

Characteristics, Appearance, and Behavior

Affect means beautiful. From English.

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Agi or Agui is a friendly term of greeting to another male homosex-
ual. From Hongo agi, soft, effeminate, to be with feminine manners
and talk with a feminine voice.

Asian fever is an ugly male. From English. On the whole,

Occidentals (whites) are considered physically attractive and
better built than Asians.

Aswang look is a male homosexual with heavy make-up. Cebuano

aswang, means a human with supernatural powers, a witch.

Award means to hit or punch someone. From English, and is used

ironically with the opposite meaning.

Bagting refers to someone able to score homosexually. From

Cebuano bagting, to make something ring; to make coins ring when
money is asked for sex.

Bangag means to be high on drugs or alcohol. From Taglish, and is

from the play The Boys in the Band.

Bangils is someone high on drugs so as to be a willing sex partner.

Cebuano bangil, to eat (or food is taken) before drinking.

Baylirina is an excessively demure male homosexual. From

Cebuano baylirina, a dancer, a woman fond of dancing.

Beauty can mean ugly or handsome depending on intonation. From

English.

Beauty way means ugly. From English and Cebuano way or wala,
nothing.

Bigaun is a flirtatious or coquettish male homosexual. From

Cebuano biga, great sexual desire; bigaun, oversexed.

Body by Fisher means a superb male physique. From English.

Biyu is a handsome male. From English beauty.

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Biglang appear means a sudden appearance, an unexpected person.
From Tagalog bigla, sudden or abrupt.

Bongga is an attractive, eye-catching, or popular male homosexual.

This is a coined word.

B. V. means to be busy. Taglish from the play The Boys in the

Band.

Chapter means simpleton, ordinary, ugly. From English. Since a

chapter is short and only part of a book, it is ordinary and incom-
plete. This term can be insulting and connotes lowness of social
status.

Clyde means ugly. From English. Clyde was the name of the
orangutan in the Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way But
Loose.

Crossed over is to give up a habit. From Taglish play The Boys in

the Band.

Donna Summer is a male homosexual who flirts or acts "like an

animal in heat/' After the popular American singer known for her
sexy songs.

D. D. Q. stands for dinner, disco, and Queensland. Queensland is a

hotel in Cebu that favors male homosexuals.

Drama is one who has everything, a superstar who demands atten-

tion; also meaning to put on an act, to pretend, to mislead. From
English.

Escapades means to go far away, to fantasize. From English.

Fashion show is a beauty contest involving swards.

Forty-eight years is said when one has waited a long time for a
person. From English.

Gamitis means small. From Cebuano gamay, small in size, amount,

and number.

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Gilkuno is a male homosexual who acts effeminately, one who
looks masculine but feels feminine. Often used sarcastically. Gil,
from English girl, and kuno, from Cebuano kuno, to belittle
someone's accomplishments.

Ifik is a male who has a nice body and is immensely satisfying.

From English effect and Cebuano ipiktu, effect.

Igat is a flirtatious or coquettish homosexual. From Cebuano igat,

flirtatious, lacking in feminine modesty.

Imbyirna is a person with a bad temper. From Cebuano imbyirnu,

winter and Spanish invierno, winter.

Istariray is a person who stands out in a crowd, a person with a

superstar complex. From Cebuano istaring, a star in films, impor-
tant.

Kabayung mula is an ugly male homosexual. From Cebuano kabayu,

horse; kabayu-un, horse-like; mula, a reddish-brown colored horse.

Kalabaran means foolish. From Cebuano labad, headache, a

mentally disturbed person.

Kalat is a scatterbrain. From Cebuano kalat, to be scattered, act in

a confused manner and Tagalog kalat, things scattered around.

Kalat ug dilim is when a sward goes to a new place and begins to

seek partners. From Tagalog kalat, scatter around and dilim, dark.

Kalag is a thin or skinny male homosexual. From Cebuano kalag,

ghost or soul.

Kapmuks is a shameless person. From Tagalog kapal, thick and

mukha, face.

Kay a is a rich homosexual, one who boasts. From Tagalog kaya,

within one's ability and maykaya, having the means to spend
whatever one likes.

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Kiyitni means flowery, extravagant, expensive. Taglish from the
play The Boys in the Band.

Kuritis kuru means to play along, keep listening. A coined word.

Lafang means food or to eat. This is a coined word.

Lafanggira is a heavy eater, a glutton. A coined word.

Langit unta means we could have been lovers. From Cebuano langit,
heaven, sky and unta, should not be the case.

Lupad means to go or to leave. From Cebuano lupad, to fly away, go

somewhere. A humorous expression.

Ma-ar means wealthy, extravagant. Ma- is a Cebuano prefix

meaning full of; ar refers to the "r" in the English word rich.

Mag-kiss is to be on good terms with someone. From English kiss.

Magladlad na kapa is to come out of the closet, admit one is a male

homosexual. From Cebuano ladlad, to unfold or unfurl and kapa,
cape.

Mama Rosa refers to the act of giving. From a Tagalog television

program, Damayan, which publicizes the plight of the needy.
Damay means joining or helping.

Mangtas is a witch, clever, cunning at getting partners; From

Cebuano mangtas, cruel, fierce beast.

Maria Clara is a shy retiring sward. From the character, the

demure Maria Clara, in Rizal's novel.

Mataray is to be shrill or bitchy. Taglish from the play The Boys

in the Band.

Murag bau is a slowpoke. From Cebuano murag, it seems and bau, a

land or fresh-water turtle.

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Nakalist means to jot down in one's memory. From Cebuano lista, a
list.

Nubisyada is a green horn, an amateur, a new prostitute. From

Spanish noviciado, novice, apprentice.

Pagit is a willing sex partner, but waiting to be asked. From

Cebuano prefix pa-, meaning to, and English get.

P amp am is a male homosexual who acts like a prostitute. From

Cebuano patnpam, a slang word for prostitute.

Papil means role. From Cebuano papil, a role in a play.

Patutsada means gimmick. This is a coined word.

Prucupiu or prucupian is an ugly person. From an ugly chararcter in

comic magazines.

Pugi is handsome. From Cebuano pugi; Tagalog pogi, good-looking

man.

Pulubi si mama ngayon is one sward joking with another sw

paying excessively for sex. This is a Tagalog expression th
lates literally "Mother is poor now/'

Putaching is a bitch. From Cebuano puta, whore. This is a

word.

Research is one sward trying to find out about another. From

English.

R. H. na R. H. means really handsome or really hard. This is a

coined word.

Rita Gomez is a haughty male homosexual. She is a popular

Philippine movie star.

Santa Cruzan means to act decently. This is the name of a Filipino

religious festival.

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Star is one who stands out among male homosexuals; also, a five
peso bill. A star has five points or skills. From English.

Syunggul means crazy. From Cebuano kwanggul, stupid, lacking in

common sense.

Talbog is when a deal falls through; to upstage, to oversha

From Tagalog talbog, rebounding, bouncing.

Ta-la-la means high society. From the British phrase l

T. L. na T. L. means to be sexually attractive, "hot" for a m

From a popular song with the title "True Love." This song
banned in public. It is also said to be related to Tagalog tal
libog, to be hot for someone.

Tubarats means very cheap. From Cebuano baratu, a low p

with the syllables juggled.

T. Y. means no charge, free. From English thank you.

Type is to like someone; an ideal boyfriend. From English

Wa dungga gidakdak ko sa piyer is a worn-out or over-use

homosexual. From Cebuano wa, none, and dakdak, to fall d
one's rump. This is an expression used to tease an old hom

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