Reliving "Sariling Wika" with a twist, Street talk: FlipTop

Reliving "Sariling Wika" with a twist,

Street talk: FlipTop

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I’m a bit anxious one time when my nieces and nephews bump words together with rhymes and rhythms. It’s a continuous talk among them, now possessed with hip-hop and rap moves mimicking the legends of the industry Francis M., Andrew E., and the contemporary Gloc 9. The act was quite unbelievable, but it seems to be familiar, to their age ranging from five to twelve years. It’s been 10 minutes witnessing the acts till they ended losing one side that seemed to be stocked with their tongues and no following words to utter. They ended laughing and shameful of the losing team. This keeps me wonder, is it a game thing or an evolving way of conversing among our generation?

 Few days after, one of my older niece and I am watching noontime shows while eating our lunch, which we deserve after a stressful morning class, that into my horror witnessed the familiar act I’ve seen lately. Vice Ganda, a Filipino standup comedian turned host/ TV personality, was the one making the remark. It seemed to be a conversational impromptu between him and the contestants of a noontime talent show. His job of providing comments transformed into an unusual way of speaking which trended among fans and oppositions. Truly that was the same as what my nieces and nephews were doing lately, as duly seconded by my niece. “It is also trending in school. My classmates were battling with each other by way of FlipTop”, she said. “FlipTop? Oh I see,” answered my niece though I’m quite novice with the term.

Terminologies

“FlipTop is a rap battle league that puts two people in a match to have them insult each other with the cleverest punch lines and sharpest rhymes.”, definition based from an article I’ve read, an interview of a main man Anygma behind FlipTop battles, which somehow inspired this article (check out www.fhm.com.ph/entertainment/interviews/article/3376). At first, FlipTop for me was just throwing of punch lines; just make it clear and funny and your opponent will surely lag behind. Till I’ve read more about it and realized it’s a new form of hip-hop/rap music with a kiss of Balagtasan and debate. Like the Balagtasan or an old form of debate in a poetic manner, rhythm is needed when pronouncing words so as shrewdness in answering your opponent. Though some would think FlipTop being a battle sounds negative in a sense that insults were cracked, with all those humility, Filipinos in nature don’t wait of insults loomed around their egos. In FlipTop, we tend to have a response and then ended up as friends still. It’s just a game played which somehow develops your expression.

Emcees were the ones hosting FlipTop battles. They also functioned as the mediator when cats, which were the players, throw punch lines with each other. Emcees were also the ones who pairs up or matches cats. Pairing was democratic in the sense that they freely ask both parties who wants to go first and come up with an agreement. Cats were divided into two parties; parties were solid groups as well, having their freestyle punch lines and written lines for some.

Some TV shows were also inspired by the theme. I’ve once tried to watch Bubble Gang and witnessed a humorous remake of the said battle. They have their emcee Michael V. in his natural comedic, and players as well including Ogie Alcasid as the main cat, Boy Pick up. In the battle, they’ve inserted punch lines or ‘banat’ in Filipino has it in rap/hip-hop style.

FlipTop: The other way around

Most or all, if I’m not mistaken, FlipTop lines were in Filipino and were of a nationalistic genre. Besides, Filipinos were very creative and their creativity touched language as well. In fact, eow powz of the Jejemons and ‘etchos’ of Bekemons were patterned in Filipino and were products of this creativity. Where can you find these abroad? Nowhere unless a ‘kababayan’ speaks of it meters away from you.

This feature article was also part of commemorating August as the ‘Buwan ng Wika”, (National Language Month). It was during my first year in the College since we were last involved in this celebration. One factor for this is that the sole organization that facilitates the activity supposed to be did not make its renewal. Only the High School department was now making the move for its celebration. It was last August 26 when the Laboratory High School celebrates the National Language Month with the theme: “Ang Filipino ay wikang panlahat, ilaw at lakas tungo sa tuwid na landas”, where they highlighted the celebration with the search for Binibining Wika, poster and slogan making contests.

Quite intrigued by a proverb from Dr. Jose P. Rizal, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa amoy ng malansang isda,” I searched, reflected and looked around what’s trending on language till I come up with this article.

FlipTop and the like relive ‘Wikang Filipino’ believe it or not? I’ve solicited insights from faculties and students in the College if it does.

“Yes. In a way na nakikita nating mas dapat mahalin ang ating wika. Nakikita natin ang ating pagkawatak-watak na pwede ring mapagbuklod dahil na rin sa ating wika.  Nagiging parte na ng ating kultura ang pagsulpot ng mga pananalitang ito na kung tawagin ay ‘cultural fad’. Naaappreciate naman natin ang Balagtasan dahil sa FlipTop.”

Mr. Marlon Espidillon

Social Science Instructor

“Oo. Sapagkat dito nabubuo ang mga wika. Nadaragdagan ang mga salitang ating ginagamit. Ipinapakita rin ng wika ang kultura. Sa kabilang banda, ang Jejemon at Bekimon bilang mga salitang balbal, ay may mga katagang di magaganda ang kahulugan na nakakasira sa imahe ng ating wikang pambansa.”

Ms. Arlene Molina

Filipino Instructor

“Hindi. Kasi ang paggamit nito ay tanda ng hindi natin pagtangkilik sa wikang Filipino at lalo pa natin itong nakakalimutan.”

Ma’am Cecile Lapitan

Filipino Instructor

“Hindi. Sapagkat ang wikang ating kinagisnan ay nasisira. Hindi rin naaayon na gamitin ito sa pang-araw-araw na pakikipagtalastasan.”

Daryl Mamaba

President, SSC

Sampol

I’m not able to put the man behind FlipTop in a hot seat and throw away amazing FlipTop lines with him but I would not end up this article without a piece of it. I asked a regular classmate of mine who seemed to adopt this viral way of conversing to make his sample shot.

Ano kamo te?

Mukha kang kamote?

Ay sorry.

Ikaw pala ‘y pretty

Kala ko kasi

Kapatid mo si Chuckie!

Oh..no..no..

Sorry powh

Sa anitong mukhang

Tukow…

Oo, ang ganda mo

Hininga mo lang,

Amoy kuko!

Di makapag-isip nohw?

Normal lang yan

Wala naman talagang

Laman kokote mohw!

Eto ohw, martilyow

Pampukpok sa ulo mohw

Malay mo may bagow

Oh anow?

Walang taow? Walang taow?

Yow!

(And I’m speechless. Courtesy of Buddy Pablo)

Six million views and counting. Another sensation in the World Wide Web that has gone viral in the Country. As years pass, our ‘sariling wika’ might be just a mere street talk. Will this occurrence of a more creative way of conversing change our ‘makatas’? Well, try to speak their way. You will either find yourself speaking like an alien in your own country or speaking like a true-blooded ‘Pinoy’.

Becoming Unbecoming

Becoming Unbecoming

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There’s a big change in stores of today

That you tend to be an alien in May

You know you have them right

Till you ended losing a fight

You remained unmoved, steadfast

Stayed on your way, you’ve been an outcast

Some things were meant to be wilted

Some were meant for a rebirth

Some were to be born and be adopted

Metamorphosed and duly handed

Innovation, from generation to generation

Continuous, minding no restrictions

And you, you’re becoming unbecoming

Won’t you think the world is changing?

You will end up then on your place

Dead without knowing grace

Signos, agad-agad? Hindi ba pwedeng…

Signos, agad-agad? Hindi ba pwedeng…

Okay, first day ng intrams. ‘An early bird catches the worm’ na naman daw at dahil mamasa-masa ang lupa tiyak maraming aanihing uod. July muli ang intrams kaya malaki ang posibilidad na maging basang sisiw ang mga mamamayan ng kolehiyo. Pero sa totoo lang, ‘water proof’ ang tingin sa amin.

Uulitin ko, first day ng intrams at natunghayan muli ang labanan ng mga dilag at mukhang dalag, at ang modern dance competition na mas inabangan. Umpisa pa lang ng programa at may headline na ang publikasyon, thanks to ‘kulibangbang’ na nagbalita lang din sa akin. Naging isyu kasi ang pagiging ‘early bird’ ng mga dekano’t istudyante na maging ako’y nasapul, ouch!

Kinahapunan, itinigil sandali ang mga laro at isiningit ang mass induction na dati-rati’y sa gabi isinasagawa at sa disco natatapos. Pormal ang lahat kahit ang iba’y nangangamo’y pawis na natural lang naman kasi nga intrams.

Bilisan natin ang kwento, tayo’y magtungo sa gist ng lathalang ito. At binagyo nga ang pagpapatuloy ng intrams matapos ang mass induction. Sa likod ako ng gym nagtungo kung saan naroon ang covered court at oval. Soccer lang at basketball ang laro noon. Sa court ko natunghayan ang animo’y signos na pangyayari. Nasa 500 kami sa court kasama na ang mga players na sumuko sa tindi ng ulan.

‘Yung tipong useless ang payong at maging ang pagsilong sa court. Ni hindi nga maaninag ang paligid.

‘Yung tipong halo-halong reaksyon ang lumukob sa court. May mga nagawa pang magpapicture dahil once in a lifetime daw. May beking sinamantala ang siksikan, para nga naman hindi ginawin.

‘Yung tipong pati langit parang studio. Kidlat dito, kidlat doon. At dahil sa takot sa kidlat, yung babae sa harapan ko napagkamalang kidlat ang flash ng camera. Naku po! Kawawa naman siya kung nakunan ng lente sa ganoong itsura.

‘Yung tipong pati ang katabi mo nakikitawa sa iyo at sumasakay sa kalokohan mo. Siya pa nga ang nagbigay ng ideya na i-blog ko raw ang pangyayari. Pangyayaring pati siya nadala. Gulat din pala si thunder sa thunder. Peace mama!

‘Yung tipong nakita mo si kuya na nag-aangrybirds lang sa psp at walang paki sa mga basang sisiw sa paligid.

‘Yung tipong narinig mo at ng karamihan ang pagsigaw ni ate ng “End of the world na!” at pagkontra ni kuya na nagsabing “Whooo sarap! Wala ng uwian to!” (Naku basta ako uuwi). Anyways, ituloy natin ang kamuritang kwento.

‘Yung tipong pati rostrum pinagtaguan. Ang kakagulantang nga lang eh si manong referee iyon. Kitang-kita ko.

‘Yung tipong magagawa pa ng katabi mong kumaway at mag-hi sa mga kaklase mo sa ibabang bleacher na tila ‘long time no see’ lang.

‘Yung tipong hindi lang ikaw ang problemado at atat umuwi. Si resident doctor unti-unting itinago ang cellphone este cellphones sa supot ng yelo at ready ng suungin ang ulan. Pero natakot ata si dok at hinintay rin ang sundong payong.

‘Yung tipong dahil sa pagsupot ni dok ng gadgets eh si klasmeyt nataranta na. Yung digital camera niya isinupot na rin. Hay, at may camera nga siya. Ba’t hindi niya sinabi agad para naman makapag-picture taking din kami. Buti na lang din at hindi. Kagulo ko neh? Kasi nakapagfocus ako sa mga pangyayaring ito.

At nang tumila na ang ulan, aligaga na ang lahat sa pag-uwi. Basa na naman ang shoes. Dahil dito, parang useless lang ang nakaraang pagtawa. Ni hindi naman ako makangiti ngayon. Delubyo na nga ata talaga! Mapapasubo na naman ako sa paglalaba lalo na sa pagpapatuyo. Well, hindi naman talaga tayo water proof eh, sila lang ang may sabi.

Child's Cosplay

Child’s Cosplay

         One more hour and it is wrap up time. But as time keeps shorter and shorter I’m becoming more impatient. If only I could command my teacher to dismiss us early, I wouldn’t be so annoyed like this. You may be asking me why I behave this way. Excited to Playtime? Or am I just uninterested with school? Well, none of those. I’m even a consistent performer at school and not quite engaged to different play activities. It is just that I need to catch my favorite TV series. Those afternoon characters that was so magical to the extent that I myself am controlled by their spell.

            At home I immediately turned on the Television and multitasked while changing clothes and putting my school paraphernalia to their proper places. I heard the opening song of the show that I used to sing along up till the end of its lyrics. My concentration was at its highest degree. I only moved whenever commercials took its time. After the episode, another similar show would follow. Just like with the latter, my attitude was comparable.

As to my age, I’m fascinated with Animes. These Japanese mangas appearance on TV easily catches kids’ attentions like me. Its magical story and unusual context, without hesitation made every child’s imagination somehow come to life.

I do not exclude those educational-themed cartoons to my fascination but Animes were great. Those pocket monsters, ghost fighters, dragon-like flames, card captors, magic knights, etc. (too many to mention) added spice to my childhood years and somehow of my teenage. Yes, THOSE YEARS.

The years I regretted socializing with playmates to watch my pseudo playmates on TV. The years I memorized those songs I didn’t understand. I also, by those years, wear improvised clothes and props as weapons mimicking these characters. I collected stuffs and drew my favorite characters on specialty papers. The years where I did the things I wrote on the first paragraph, where I became a fan.

I bid goodbye to my teenage years a year ago as turn to my twenties. This signaled me to move on, look forward and change things for better. I forgot lots of things I used to do before. Reminiscing was the only way I went back.

One time I was cleaning my room when I found the old posters of mine of Dragon Ball Z, Slam Dunk, Fushigi Yugii, One Piece, Flame of Recca, etc. (uhhh…I can’t help myself but to enumerate and I hope you’re familiar of these). I used to keep them before like treasures but now, they’re only but entwined at the back of my cabinet. This event again gave me flashbacks, and made me teary eyed.

The next day I gave my posters to my niece and then she decided to post them on her room. At a blink of an eye her room was surmounted with magic I couldn’t elucidate. I sighed and smiled. That same day, she called some of her cousins to her room. To my discovery, they draw the characters on their notebooks with pens and colors (that I myself have used to do way back years from now). Well, an enthrallment and trance have transferred. How I wish they’ll appreciate as much as I do. By the way, I have downloaded theme songs of my favorite Animes and I want them to capture their melodies (I just, by now, imagine them enjoying its tune). Ah, just to add, I searched pages of these Animes on Facebook and liked all of them (missing them really).

I also have witnessed how Animes still nowadays made influences to youngsters through being Cosplayers. Unlike mine before of wearing cheap dress and props, they’re now with expensive and more creative costumes. They looked beautiful and fantastic. And to my eyes they made me reminded anew.

For now, new opportunities and obligations became my focus. Finishing my studies and finding a stable job was on my to-do list. I became more fascinated with the real world.

I’m just glad I became a fan and forever will be.

From an unknown idiot

From an unknown idiot

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Hello there my darling

I’m a loner standing still

Whom you know but you don’t regard

My puffing idiot heart

I was once at a trance

Stirred by your luminous charm

So vivid, so jovial was your glance

That was melting me gently, with no harm.

T’was the day of Advent

Thy lure bids farewell, “so long…”

It turned my scared heart into crescent

As you said, “my friend”.

If only I have that courage to tell you

I treasure those days with you

But I got frightened that this feeling

Will create gaps of a million mile.

Too late, this life I blamed has ended

Into mist of sorrow and regret.

I’m carried by the angels

Away from my pity self.

I’m no one but a wanderer

At a distant corner of the mob

Right here where you can’t find

I’m staring, my dearest love.

An Earthly Battle

An Earthly Battle

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I was crowned with authority to bear

The beings that was precious to Him

But in return I was maltreated

By the inhabitants I aided.

Aliens who sucked freely my crop

Leaving me helpless, afterwards hopeless.

My veins felt it so badly,

So as my roots thirsty for the dew

Of the rain that will help me hid

My cry, my pain, my suffering.

And they turned me into ashes

Though I made them the fittest.

So now there’s nothing good I can offer

But the air so impure,

The waters of dying seas.

Consequences from materialistic minds

Who took the glory out of the home

That never doubted to cradle life

Nor been uncertain to keep us alive

Now in a battle for the glory revived.