Mind Your P's and F's

A&B's great great grandmother, Doña Conchita Abella Diaz

Okay, time for some clarification...maybe.

The Philippines, with a "P", was named for King Felipe II, of Spain, that's Felipe with an "F". Okay, "Philippines" with a P is English. But the English name for the natives of the Philippines, is "Filipino", with an "F". Are you with me, so far?

In Tagalog, the natives call themselves, "PILIPINO", with a "P" and the country is called "PILIPINAS", with a "P". Wow! Finally, consistency! Ah and yes, please change that final "O" in all of the above, to an "A" in the case of a female (PilipinA, FilipinA.)

Filipinos, or PILIPINOS, like to call themselves "Pinoy" (pea-noy rhymes with boy): slang, but acceptable, and not derogatory at all, actually a term of endearment; in fact, shorter, easier to say and type (although great great grandma would shudder and disown you if you called her this.) And don't get confused, if one day he calls himself "Noy-pi." It's just the reverse of Pinoy, we like to do that. Still don't know why.

And since Pinoys love nicknames, the country has a nickname, of course, and it is 'Pinas. Uh-huh. That is spelled "apostrophe-P-i-n-a-s". Still with me?

Finally, that national language, that many like to call Filipino (the language, not the person)? Well, it's really called TAGALOG. But if you learn it in school, in the Philippines, the subject is called PILIPINO. Confused yet? So am I.

One day, if you haven't yet, you will meet a Pinoy, who, because of the Filipino dialect that he predominantly speaks (not Tagalog, something else), will mix-up his F's and P's, as in "It's a slif op the tongue", and he can't help it! At which point, you are allowed to call that person a "Pinoy" or a "Filipino", or a "Pilipino", or easier yet, just call him "my prend", uh, I mean "MY FRIEND."