Every August, we celebrate Buwan ng Wika, a reminder that our language isn’t just a tool for talking; it’s a vessel for culture, history, and identity. In Filipino, there are words so unique, so packed with meaning, that no single English equivalent can capture them. Lose them, and we lose entire worlds of feeling and tradition. Here are eight treasures worth celebrating this month and keeping alive all year round.
Gigil – That delicious, almost uncontrollable urge to pinch, squeeze, or shake something irresistibly cute—like your pamangkin’s chubby cheeks.
Tampo – The quiet art of sulking, where you wait for the other person to notice and make it up to you. No drama, just dignified pout.
Kilig – Not just “butterflies.” This is the full-on chest flutter, the smile you can’t hide, the tingling glee of seeing your crush or watching a love story unfold.
Bayanihan – Neighbors lifting a whole nipa hut together is the classic image, but it’s really about community, teamwork, and showing up for each other.
Pasalubong – Souvenirs with a soul. Whether it’s dried mangoes from Cebu or a box of polvoron from Manila, it says: “I thought of you.”
Harana – The serenade, old-school romance at its best. Think guitars, moonlight, and the courage to sing your feelings at her window.
Bahala na – Loosely “come what may,” but it’s deeper than that: faith, bravery, and surrender rolled into one, calling on Bathala, the Supreme Being.
Lambing – Tenderness in its purest form; sweet gestures, soft words, the quiet magic that makes you feel loved.
So as we mark Buwan ng Wika, let’s do more than wear Filipiniana or post patriotic quotes. Let’s speak these words, teach them, and pass them on. They’re not just part of our language, they’re part of who we are.
