MANILA, Philippines - First of all, a lesson. Ikaw Na: 1. (adj.) used as a term of flattery in moments of greatness (see Solenn Heusaff); 2. (adj.) an attack of mockery (see self-absorbed, pretentious).
Words have powerful cultural aftershocks. They dictate periods in time and have triggered significant events in world history. Ancient people developed language that unified communication among tribe members that eventually bridged barriers across the great seas. It can also spark societal shifts, as Rizal’s El Filibusterismo prompted the 1898 revolution that freed the Filipinos from the clutches of 333 years of Spanish occupation. Now, in the 21st century, instead of flying cars and floating houses, is mankind’s newest invention: Becky language.
Banking on the wit and humor of the fabulous “beckies,” gay lingo has added a whole new dimension to the Filipino language. It has incorporated pop culture, intellectual wordplay and double meanings into a whole new language, one that even has its own dictionary. Although some conservatives call it a bastardization of our formal code, it can’t be denied that it has assimilated its way into society and has slowly crept into the mainstream consciousness of people. No longer is it just a language for the fabulous beckies, it has tipped over, spreading to all corners of the country; no one has been spared. We have become a people sprinkled with glitter.
Usually sprouting from random, sometimes sexually-charged (aminin!) and kalerkey minds of our intelligent and beautiful beckies, it is commendable how the most unassuming things can be related to the most random ideas, given a different meaning and seen in a whole new light. It’s a gift. The history, the intelligence and the creativity behind these words is what makes it stick, even beyond the laughter and the smiles.
All By Accident
Growing up and seeing life unfold inside the walls of a Jesuit fortress, I wasn’t exposed to much “fabulosity” and “fierceness” as Kimora Lee and Tyra would say. Instead, we had uniforms, Latin songs and an educational curriculum that is said to be the best in the country. We were taught discipline, how to be a “man for others” and well-versed in both English and Filipino. It really wasn’t until after college that I really got to wrap my fingers around the culture of becky in its entirety. It is more complex than just being gay and liking another guy. It’s a way of life. It is a different world all on its own.
I never knew our basic translation classes in grade school would merit my accidentally contributing something to society. No, I didn’t invent Post-its or Pop Tarts; I accidentally started the “You already” phenomenon. Strong ng claim, I know.
Let us go back to Ground Zero, where everything began. It was a random Monday night at Opus; drinks had been served and everyone was doing their own dance version of
“The Douggie.” Getting lost in the sea of stories that were being shared, I told my friend Maxx how Joey, a common friend, had translated the famed “May ganun” to “There’s like that,” a rather more “effect” or swanky way of saying it. Much to her amusement, she went on to ask me to translate “Ikaw na.” At the top of my head, I blurted out the two words that changed the face of history (delusional, I know): “You already!” And that, boys and girls, is the etymology of that famous phrase heard on random street corners and kanto parlors the world over.
The Law Of The Few
“The 80/20 Principle is the idea that in any situation roughly 80 percent of the ‘work’ will be done by 20 percent of the participants.” –Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point
From that night on, “You already” spread like wildfire. From actually first publishing it on my BBM, Twitter, and Facebook accounts, it branched out to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It was overwhelming hearing street vendors and random passersby say it. I felt like a proud Filipino.
Although I claim that it started with me, it is due to other people, my friends, that it got promulgated. The extent of their reach and the “six degrees of separation” concept has been made more powerful with the advent of the Internet. Connectors, mavens and salesmen: Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point discusses the three types of agents who push change or “the three rules of epidemics.” It said that there are some who have the power to bind people, some who have the reputation and some who have the right tools of persuasion. Turns out Gladwell forgot to discuss the holistic type: the celebrity.
It is with hesitation that I write this article but for the sake of writing an article on the etymology of a word, here is an attached graph of some of the first wave of people in the intricate spider web of networks that I have imparted “You already” with.
Second Wave
“Oo, sige na nga, eh di, ikaw na. Sa’yo na ang corona!” (Well then, fine, it’s you already. Here’s the crown!)
As much as my heart skips a beat whenever I hear someone on television or on the streets blurt out “You already,” may it be to praise or mock someone, I don’t really take pride in inventing this word phenomenon. Everyone is entitled to use it or to claim that it started from him or her. What sets me apart is I get to write about it. The point being is words aren’t just words and its power has the ability to push for change. “You already” may or may not have originated with me, on that random Monday night in Opus, but it sure has gone on to a more important purpose: to unify the Filipinos, gay or straight, with this new phrase to share.