VOLU M E 1 ISSU E 1

ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO

13
08 Lexicons you
Cultural 10 should know
04 Distinction Communication Let’s give you some new vocab for
your next conversations

About the Take a look at how Bisaya Gay Lingo

becomes a reflection of a rich culture
and Identity
Cover The relationship actually makes sense

Discover who’s buzzing our cover page!

06 SPECIAL FEATURE
JAN UARY 2022

05 What is 12 Bisaya Gay

personalities
The Gay Lingo? Bisaya and inside!
Authors Start it off with history
Filipino Gay Lingo
Aside from discussing the
NEW YEAR IS SUE

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT

Are there differences? Find out. authors’ analysis of Bisaya
Know more about who are behind Gay Lingo - the core of this
this magical magazine! magazine, we are also showing
you some of the popular Bisaya
gay personalities that are just
as adorable, creative, and
fascinating as our other gay
friends out there!
 uthors
JANUARY 2022 ISSUE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 05

Th e A
Analysis on

Justin Marc P. Cesa

Justin Marc Cesa is a certified #Plantito who is taking up Bachelor
of Science in Development Communication at the University of
the Philippines Los Baños. Aside from being a student, he is also
currently working as a freelance layout and graphics design artist. He
loves Japanese food which makes the land of the rising sun his dream
ASST. PROF. CARSON JEFFREY O. CRUZ destination.
Professor

COMM10: CRITICAL
UNIVERSITY OF THE THE FINAL
PERSPECTIVES IN
PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS PROJECT
COMMUNICATION
Janelle Louise G. Deducin
The geeks who started this mag? Know about them on next page! Hailing from the Queen City of The South, Janelle made her way
to Los Baños to study BS Development Communication in the
University of the Philippines. Aside from being a student, she is also
a volunteer for Save Our Schools Network and publishes fictional
stories online. Janelle likes to get immersed in dystopian universes
like Star Wars and Game of Thrones as a form of escapism.
ABOUT THE COVER
The Cover features Manila
Luzon, a Filipino-American drag
queen who is a proud member
of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Jun Vince B. Dizon
She became an international Jun Vince Dizon spent half of his life in the province and half of it in
superstar after her stint in the the city, where he was inspired to take up a Bachelor of Science in
third season of RuPaul’s Drag Development Communication at the University of the Philippines
Race and the first and fourth Los Baños. Currently on his second year, Vince is a part of UPLB
seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race Perspective as a layout and design staff, and a volunteer leader in his
All Stars. She is well-known for local barangay youth organization in Bicol. The Bicolano also loves
her very glamorous and high graphic designing, learning how to play different sports and musical
fashion statement as well as her instruments, listening to old music, and eating sour food.
silly crossed-eye expressions.
With this, it is without a doubt
that she is very fitting to be
the face of this magazine as

Manila Luzon
she clearly embodies the
characteristics of Culture of
the Bisaya Gay Linggo - Rich,
Fascinating, and Amusing.

This magazine is a collaborative project for COMM 10: Critical

Perspectives in Communication, a GE course in the University
KARL PHILIP MICHAEL WESTERBERG
of the Philippines Los Banos.
 W
06

H A T I S #1
07

Y L I N G O ?
G A What is
Gay Lingo? GLANCING AT THE ROOTS

T
he Gay Lingo in the Philippines has been invented
and used by the Filipino Queer community in as early
as the 1950’s. Its̀ emergence is due to the desire of
homosexuals to be able to manifest heir identites; for
self expression and affirmation. With such diverse cultures and
dialects around the Philippine archipelago, it has likewise bred
a variety of Queer cultures and norms from Gay communities
all around different regions. One of its outcomes is a Visayan,
or Bisaya classification of the Gay Lingo.

This specialized language made them unified without

recognizing it explicitly. They were linked with one common
language and an expression of not just their own self but of the
gay community as a whole. However, this particular language
of gays bears linguistic characteristics that distinguish it
from other languages or sociolect. Their language reflects the
colorful and fun personality and attributes of the members of
their community. Based on a study of Harvey (2000) about the
gay language, questions about ‘how gay men communicate’
fall within the scope of what most people refer to as the study

Davao City’s
of ‘language and sexual identity.’ It has long been observed in

ony o
sociolinguistics that language use, whatever else it does, is an ‘act

Davao C
of identification,’ a mechanism by which people communicate to
one another based on their sexual orientation and expression.

EZ
HERNAND
N A M E : P HILLIP TE flu e n ce r
REAL r, Social Me
dia In
te n t C re a to
Con

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT
 N G O A N D
LI
08

R A L #2
09

ITS C U L T U
T I N C T I O N
D I S Bisaya Gay Lingo
and Its Cultural
Distinction
THE MAGIC OF DIVERSITY

T
he Bisaya Gay Lingo is the sociolect of the gay that means gutom, etc. whereas as in Bisaya, it’s pretty much
community in the country specifically in the Visayas straightforward because it’s only inverted version of existing
region. It is not the same but is also not entirely Bisaya words or sounding similar.
different compared to the gay lingo used in the other
regions of the country. Bisaya Gay Lingo incorporates most of According to Casaba (2008), despite these distinctions and
their terminologies on their own Bisaya dialect. The specification differences from region to region, gays can still comprehend and

’s
Pagadian City
of Visaya Gay Lingo also reflects the culture that they have in communicate with one another in their own language. Another

it a l
their region and also their cultural humor. Most of these words feature is that homosexual language varies depending on who is

Jomie H o s p
have Bisaya roots and are often just inverted or slightly altered speaking, which means that every gay expression or word has a
versions of the root word. The words are also Metaphorical, social class associated with it. Also, other gay people with good
Hyperbolic and Euphemistic. It is used to try and hide the educational background tend to use homosexual language that
insulting, crude, or even offensive nature of some conversations reflects their academic achievements, stressing sophistication
behind sarcasm or the hilarity of the sound of gay lingo when in every gay word they say. There are also gays who use the
used. Nonetheless, the Filipino variant of gay lingo is definitely language to demonstrate their professional credentials. Based
PITAL
ARIA HOS
more complex, as they are based off of Filipino inside jokes, on these instances, it is possible to conclude that gay language E: JOSE M
REAL NAM ontent Crea
tor
cultures, and even popular words/names from international still differs depending on the speaker. YouTube C
pop culture that sound similar to Filipino words, like Tom Jones

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT
IN O M M U N IC
AB O U #T3 C H I P W
S
10 11

R E L A T I O N
AN D I T S I D E N T I T Y
O S E X U A L
O M
Cebu City’s

H A l e m G a r c i a
IG, TW
Perfo rm
IT
in
T
g
E
A
R
rt
:
is
@ THEALEM
t, Host, Con
GARCIA
tent Creato
r

L
anguage, as a component of culture, can be utilized by embraced like how society has become a lot more accepting of
society to promote gender inequality through power the LGBTQIA+ community compared to not so long ago. It is an

What does the Bisaya Gay Lingo and the

dynamics that are both repressive and oppressive. excellent indication of how powerful listening is, and when we
The exsitence of Gay Lingo is just one of the many truly strive to comprehend and care for each other, we unite to
other forms of social resistance. One can infer that generally, make this world less cruel than when we found it.
Swardspeak is a stark reflection of the entire community that
initiated, and primarily uses it--like how any other language Gay Lingo in general tells people about Growing up surrounded by people who are fluent with
Bisaya Gay Lingo and use it in everyday conversation, one of

communication and its relationship with

reflects the lifestyle and traditions of the place and people
it’s from. The main objective of the use and development the writers of this analysis who is also a fluent and frequent
of gay language is to disguise and conceal the meaning of Gay Lingo speaker, Elle, has observed that the Bisaya Gay Lingo

homosexual identity?
communicated messages in communications. is incredibly metaphorical, hyperbolic and euphemistic. The
ridiculousness and hilarity of the sound of the words is utilized
According to Estigoy et. al. (2021), Gay Lingo started out as to hide the insulting, crude, or even offensive nature of some of
a way for gay people to still be able to share their thoughts and the conversations. It can be observed in the lexicon that most of
opinions with others in the same community as well as their the words in Bisaya Gay Lingo are often just inverted or slightly
allies, without being judged or misunderstood by majority of REVEALING CONNECTIONS altered versions of Bisaya root words.
the members of society who were inaccepting of them at the
time that it was first made--then, it was a secret code only to be As a whole, the emergence of the different sociolects just
deciphered by few who truly cared and committed to understand Although in hindsight, we can also substantially reckon manifestation of the struggles of the gay community; how they’ve like the Gay Lingo is a proof of how dynamic language and
their meaning, and by extension, the people who created it. that it was, and still is a way for the queer community to express had to conceal who they are in order to avoid chastisement. communication is. Many other languages have been evolving and
According to Professor Beth Calinawagan of the UP Department themselves unapologetically, to, at a certain extent, strategically developing through the years which also reflects the constantly
of Linguistics in Diliman, “Tago ang pagiging bakla noon. Gay and creatively tell the world that they are unique on thier own But with the way the world has progressed through the evolving society. Nevertheless, using different sociolects, slangs,
lingo was their secret code.” It is, however, a war against the way; that they will not conform to societal norms that were years, Gay Lingo is now being widely used and has become or jargons still adhere to the main purpose of language that is
norm or the status quo. It does not follow any precise form, nor made to cage who they are without really saying it--like hiding not-so-secret anymore. With its consistent presence ever since communicated and understood by a specific group of people
does it adhere to the frameworks seen in other kinds of language. in plain sight. Gay Lingo, in itself, is a form of protest. It is a it was founded, Gay Lingo grew on people, and is now being or community.

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT
H E A G A Y
FF E R E N C BIS A Y
A YA
#4 S Y O U
12 13

N B I S IC O N
WEE T O LE X O W
AY L I N G O
O U L D K N
I N O G A Y SHBisaya Gay lexicons
ILIP ? you should know
LIN G O What is the
Kevs/
difference Tovma
Meaning: [interjection] I don’t know Kever Taler Meaning: [noun] penis

between Bisaya Gay “Tovma ato niya oy, kalit Meaning: [interjection] “Klaro jud kaayo iyang
raman to siyag minaldita.” Conveys ”I don’t care” or taler, bayot, lakra kaayo.”
“I couldn’t care less”

Lingo to Filipino [I don’t know what came into her, she just
suddenly decided to be rude.] “Aw ug nalain siya nak, kever.”
[His penis was really showing, girl,
it pressed through his shorts.]

Gay Lingo? [If she’s upset with me, I couldn’t care less.]

Ngaov
SHEDDING LIGHT
(Inverted & slightly altered version of Boang,
Bisaya)
Ekelz
(Inverted & slightly altered version of Liki,
Meaning: [adjective] Crazy Bisaya, m. shattered, cracked)
“Mura na jud na siya nangaov Meaning: [adjective] Shocking/Appalling

T
[verb] Shocked/Appalled
ana iyang keke ay.”

Talev
he Filipino variant is definitely more complex, as
they are based off of Filipino inside jokes, cultures, “Day, naa ko’y chika, maekelz
[She’s going crazy over that dude.]
and even popular words/names from international jud ka.”
pop culture that sound similar to Filipino words,

Cebu City’s
[Girl, I have gossip, you’ll be shocked.]

Shudi
like Gutom is converted to Tom Jones, etc. whereas as in (Inverted & slightly altered version

o
of Bilat, Bisaya)

c a l s
Bisaya, majority of the vocabulary are pretty straightforwardly

a
Amster/Amsterdam

B
Meaning: [noun] vagina

Jude
inverted from Bisaya words, and if not, is easily decipherable.
The Bisaya variant is more inclined to be euphemistic, as
Meaning: [interjection] Don’t/No/Not/Never “Basta manganak daw lagi
Meaning: [noun] Rich mom
can be observed in the lexicon of this analysis, it has quite gisi-an ang talev.”
a handful of crude and offensive words listed, and definitely “Shudi jud pakigkuyog ana nila, “Nindot man kaay na siya’g gamit kay naa
day, Iain kaay na silag batasan.” [They said when you give birth,
has more of it than the Filipino variant. man na siya’y amsterdam sa gawas.”
. BACALSO they tear up your vagina.]
N A M E: JUDE A
R E A L rapher [Never hang out with them, girl, their attitude [Her stuff are nice because she has a rich
riter, Photog
Biologist, W is unpleasant.] mom who works outside the country.”]

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT
10 10

Efa Yads
(Inverted Version of Day; Bisaya, short for Inday) “Yads, pwede papasa
Analysis on

Meaning: [adjective] Pretty Meaning: [noun] A general term used to call on sa lapis?”
a friend (mostly gay or women) [Sis, can you pass the pencil?]
“Efa lagi ’tong kuyog ni Junjun, day.”
[Junjun’s companion was really pretty, girl.]

Gotch Keke
Yovmae
Meaning: [noun] Tomboy
(Inverted & slightly altered
version of Tog; Bisaya)
Meaning: [noun] Boy/Man/
Guy/Dude; plural: Keks
is a final project for
Meaning: [verb] Sleep “Daghan kaayog keks
“Yovmae lagi kaayo ka’g panamit, gaduwa’g basketball COMM 10: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES IN COMMUNICATION
dae.” “Gotch sah ko, pukawa ko unya.”
sa gawas.”
[You dress like a tomboy, girl.] [I’ll sleep first, wake me up later.]
[There are so many boys
playing basketball outside.]

Lahamsh
ASST. PROF. CARSON JEFFREY O. CRUZ

Datch
Meaning: [noun] Money (Commonly Used:
Evay
Professor

(Inverted & slightly altered version of Mahal; This magazine was crafted to fulfill the final project requirement for the COMM
Dagha’g Datch m. A lot of money) Bisaya, Tagalog) Meaning: [noun] Girl/woman 10 (Critical Perspectives in Communication) course. It centers around how
“Daghan man na’g datch iyang Meaning: [adjective] Expensive “Gwapa kaayng mga communication, culture and identity interweave in our current society by analyzing
ginikanan.” evay sa pageant day.” Bisaya Swardspeak (Gay Lingo) and presenting how it emerged, its distinctions,
“Ayaw na nga bag day oy, lahamshz and how it reflects the continued struggle of the LGBTQIA+ community.
[Her parents have a lot of money.] ra kaayo.” [The women from the pageant
[Girl don’t get that bag, it’s too expensive.] are so pretty.]

Ogovs
This magazine is a collaborative project by

(Inverted & slightly altered

version of Bogo; Bisaya)
Atildamsh JUSTIN MARC P. CESA
@justincesa

(Inverted & slightly altered version of Maldita; Bisaya, Tagalog)

Meaning: [adjective] Stupid JANELLE LOUISE G. DEDUCIN
Meaning: [adjective/noun] Bratty, Naughty, Rude Woman
“Gamaya’s akong score oy, ogovs @ironicallyianna
jud ko.” “Nag inatildamsh nasad siya sa classroom ganina.”
[My score is really low, I really am stupid.] [She acted bratted in the classroom again awhile ago.] &

JUN VINCE B. DIZON

Alalatch
@davnxnt

(Inverted & slightly altered version of Talala;

Bisaya)
Students of
Meaning: [adjective/verb] Daft, Unthinking,
Inattentive, Clumsy UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS
“Ug naa gani ka sa Colon day, di
(Inverted & slightly altered BS Development Communication
pwede mag—alalatach sa imong version of Bayot; Bisaya) “Toyav man ko.”
gidalang bag.” [I’m gay.]
Meaning: [noun] Gay person
[Girl, when you’re in Colon, you can’t be
inattentive with your bag.]
COPYRIGHT 2022

COMM 10 FINAL PROJECT ANALYSIS ON BISAYA GAY LINGO

 Why Bisaya Gay Lingo? Cause...

IT’S MAGICAL!
Take a look at how Bisaya Gay Lingo is starting to take over the conversation! It’s time to reveal
the fascinating history and transformation of a sociolect into an extraordinary language that
continues to bring together cultures and identities now stronger than ever. We’re also excited
for you to see some of the popular Bisaya gay personalities that are now dominating
the media and the internet! Now, unfold the magic!

COPYRIGHT 2022
For educational purposes only. Not for sale.