Robin’s take on language

ILIGAN City ― There’s this report about this number 1 senator by the name of Robinhood that during the sessions of this current senate, he’s having an “earbleed.” Why? Because of language concerns. For the proceedings in the said body is in English, what else?

Oh, but I thought that English only causes “nosebleed1” And now there’s an “earbleed?” Maybe before long, we will have a “mouth bleed.” Well, I’m only “jokening.”

Joking aside, all this particular “like” of ours in English has become somewhat like a “love story.” For we tend to associate English with intelligence. Because if one is good in English, you’re considered, bright, as in intelligent. So we tend to use them practically in all meetings, gatherings, formal sessions, etc.

In other words, we put a big premium on said language. So, Padilla said that with his “earbleed” comes his dictionary. So that he could understand what the plenary session is all about.

And he says it is only after the sessions when he has talked with the other senators that he “somewhat” understands what that was all about.

Poor Robin. Poor, poor Robin. Although he’s kind of right. Maybe in the wrong way? Not necessarily. For there are some advocates of our native language say that we shouldn’t be that passionate about this language. Which I think is bordering on obsession.

Other countries, like say, for example, Japan don’t really think that much of English. In fact, I came across two engineers in Cagayan de Oro City who I thought were “nosebleeding” in English. Those two engineers, by the way, were sent to CDO to help establish then a manufacturing company there called the Pilipinas Kao. Which then had the initial name of “Ako Kao,” if my memory serves me right.

And I didn’t think that learning English was so much a priority for them in Japan. Because the Pinoy who was with them tried hard to explain to them what “cock fighting” meant. You know, this kind of “fighting” that is very “liked” by us Pinoys. To the point that some men involved in the “sabong” were kidnapped.

Now, I think I’m straying a little bit. The Pinoy who was with these two engineers explained in kind of “carabao English” complete with action. “Cockfighting” the Pinoy interpreted said, complete with action as in two clenched fists bumped together. “Boy chicken, boy chicken, fight!” And he bumped his two fists in front of him several times.

And the Japanese understood as they smiled and moved their heads in some gesture of understanding.

I’m not a fan of PBBM. But his SONA was made not in pure English but interspersed with Pilipino and I think that’s good.

And here in this city, there are some sectors that advocate the use of our language here which is Cebuano.

For instance, a lawyer said that in the middle of a court hearing, it occurred to him that the judge spoke Cebuano, the lawyers spoke Cebuano, and the witnesses spoke Cebuano. “But why are all court trials conducted in English?” He said in one of his speeches about an organization that advocates the use of “Bisaya” which is called “Ludabi” or “Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya.”

And regarding court trials which involve English that has to be interpreted in some portions by an interpreter, because one of the parties involved must not get some “nosebleed” the accusation to the accused was “committing robbery in the band.”

The interpreter said: “Ikaw gisumbong sa sala nga pagpanulis, kauban ang banda!”

That’s what we term in jest in Cebuano as “nalubog ang kutaw.”

And wait, about this Robin Padilla thing, who came as tops in the last elections, somebody texted in a popular radio program. “Huwag esmolin si Robin Padilla. For he will be our next President!”

Hi hi hi. I could almost hear some people laughing. But this ain’t no laughing matter, really!

(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)