FORDA YEAR-ENDER | Five most popular words in the Philippines in 2022

December 28, 2022 , 07:58 PM

By Paolo Mariano

(December 28, 2022) – Another year is coming to a close. Which begs the question: How well-mannered were you?

The year 2022 was anything but uneventful. As expected, the national elections dominated the inexhaustible news cycle and the mean streets of social media, giving birth to colorful characters, quotable quotes, and mind-enriching memes. The entire circus alone could adequately sum up 2022.

But just like in the past, several words/phrases also defined the year, expanding yet again the ever-flexible vernacular of Filipinos. For 2022, Merriam-Webster chose “gaslighting” as the Word of the Year. But in the Philippines, it feels like that’s been going on even way before 2022.

Yeah, we get it, ga-graduate ang taon, but the point is need pa ba ng year-ender?

5. Forda ferson

Fressured to include this by a ferson, “forda ferson” entered the Filifino lexicon in the latter fart of the year. Ufon deef research at the New York Fublic Library, the fhrase originated from the most defendable flatform of intellectual discourse: TikTok. Chrishanna Luisa Olavidez Austria, while noticeably drunk, fosted a video of her and candidly uttered “forda” and “ferson.” Clearly, the genesis is equal to the Creation of Man.

@chrishannaluisaSFGDVBHGSd♬ original sound – Forda Ferson – IG: _FordaFerson

In case you’re still ferflexed, “forda” is furely a bastardized version of “for the” and “ferson” is “person.” The fhrase’s meaning is that it doesn’t have any. Forda fhilosofhical ang ferson.

4. Estetik

Much like the highly profound etymology of “forda ferson,” “estetik” is merely a Tagalized version of “aesthetic.” Yes, the creativity puts Nick Joaquin to shame. The meaning is the same too. But perhaps, it’s more aesthetical when someone spells it as “estetik.” After all, apparently, almost every single thing now is estetik. It’s the 2022 version of “Hypebeast!”

the design is very philippines????? kanto estetik pic.twitter.com/prq4XdRm7H

— drew saw svt | see u next itzy (@ryujoycart) October 10, 2022

Your latest #OOTD (probably that polo shirt from Uniqlo)? Estetik. A black-and-white IG Story of a torn-down building? Estetik. The new photo (finally!) of Manila Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David? Estetik. We all find beauty in different things. Except for corruption. That’s not estetik.

3. Vroom, vroom, skrrt, skrrt

Arguably no other trend dominated TikTok this year than Nik Makino’s rap song “Moon,” especially its chorus. No matter how you feel about it—catchy or cringe-y—it was a national hit. The particular phrase “vroom, vroom, skrrt, skrrt,” which mimics the sound of a speeding car, became a favorite.

@rambocorpuzpascio #galit ♬ MOON – Nik Makino

Countless videos, memes, and captions were born out of it, with celebrities and influencers joining in on the fun. This proved again that Filipinos will ride on any trend. Vroom, vroom, skrrt, skrrt eventually hit a dead end, so hopefully, in 2023, it will permanently go to the, um, moon.

2. Fact check

While fact check is as old as the myth of Tallano Gold, it only became part of the vocabulary of Filipinos during the height of the campaign season. With the barrage of disinformation online, media outlets fact-checked erroneous claims to ensure that the truth wouldn’t get skewed or muddled.

Unfortunately, many still failed to grasp the concept even though the facts were presented to them—highlighting the ugly reality of confirmation bias. According to Pulse Asia, 90% of Filipinos agree that fake news is a problem. However, Social Weather Stations learned that only 51% of Filipinos can spot fake news.

1. Unity

The dictionary defines “unity” as the state of being one or a whole or totality combining all its parts. In the Philippines, it means a blanket term regurgitated like a broken record to earn votes and return to power.

The generic message of unity espoused by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. during the campaign period resonated with many—31 million many. While the idea is normally laudable, it felt like an empty rhetoric. A convenient come-on for Filipinos to forget the atrocities of the Marcos family. Today, the country continues to struggle. Anong 2023, please be good to me? Unity lang!

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