Today’s Filipino social media is teeming with these words. Millennials, our ‘tatis and totis’, and even the ‘damatans’ are familiar with this trend. But what, exactly, do these mean and why are they so popular these days? How can we be lodis with werpas to become petmalu?
1. Lodi
Photo Credit: imdengerard Facebook
From the context of the Facebook post above, ‘Lodi’ is the reversed form of ‘Idol’. It is used to address celebrities or a familiar person who did something impressive.
2. Petmalu
Photo Credit: imdengerard Facebook
‘Petmalu’ is the reversed form of ‘Malupet’, which in Filipino slang means amazing, incredible, or simply cool.
3. Werpa
Photo Credit: BV Patrol Facebook Page
Based from how PowerPoint was changed to WerpaPoint, ‘Werpa’ is the reverse of ‘Pawer’, which is how some Filipinos pronounce ‘Power’. It is used to give support to someone.
While these three are the top frequently used reverse words nowadays, some other notable slang terms are ‘Orb’ for ‘Bro’, ‘Rapsa’ for ‘Sarap’ or delicious, and ‘Matsala’ for ‘Salamat’ or thanks.
Now that we’ve got the meanings out of the way, why exactly are these so trending today? Where in the world did these terms emerge from?
Root of the Trend
It all started within the Facebook group called What’s Your Ulam, Pare (WYUP). As their description states, they are a group focused on daily food experiences. Members mainly post photos of their food-for-the-day which ranges from picturesque gourmet dishes to plainly silly ones snapped for comedic purposes.
They started seven months ago, but only gained much online traction when the millennial members started to very much appreciate the slang terms used by the older members. Words like lodi, petmalu, and werpa flooded the comments sections. And soon enough, the colloquial words began to spread like wildfire through Filipino social media, like how we see them today.
However, while the trend today is mainly credited to the group, Reddit Philippines’ imaginelyrics begs to differ.
Photo Credit: Reddit
According to the user, the practice of reversing Filipino words has been around since the 90s. In the comments section, another user added that it goes beyond the 90s. And, true enough, the words astig (tigas or badass), ermat/erpat (mater/pater or mother/father), and olats (talo or lose) have been around even before lodi, petmalu, and werpa were trending.
So, now that we know that the Filipino language is a colorful and ever-expanding one, how should we receive this trend?
Some people find it ‘jeje’:
Photo Credit: Twitter/kkesekocchi
Some people make intellectual predictions:
Photo Credit: Twitter/jomiggambe
Some people defend our evolving language:
Photo Credit: Twitter/thatcherjeane
But most of all, even one of the Philippines’ historical figures and one of its National Artists joined in the trend even before it was trending:
Photo Credit: Twitter/TheRainBro
While this lodi, petmalu, and werpa trend is receiving mixed reactions from the netizens – quite a number of which are negative responses – it is important to keep in mind that it is a natural tendency for people to adapt their language. As a study by Luke Strongman points out, identity is created from language to adapt to different situations. This trend is no exception, as some millennials find amusement in expressing themselves through saying these new colloquial terms.
Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on each person. Marcelo H. del Pilar, however, seemed to think it is.
MANILA, Philippines - The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is your 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Champions! Ginebra survived Meralco’s late scary run in the final canto as they sent the Bolts home, 101-96 on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
This is it! Meralco vs Ginebra in a do-or-die game, win or go home! Good sign for Ginebra as they bucketed the first basket followed by a Meralco turnover and a long three pointer from Justin Brownlee.
Ginebra clogged the shaded area to prevent Allen Durham from muscling his way up and limit the Bolts to shoot from the lower percentage angles. Despite the glue-tight defense, Meralco managed to stay close with Ginebra in the early phase of the opening quarter.
Ginebra looked scary in the first period as the Kings drained multiple treys and scored a handful in the paint. In contrast, Meralco started to shoot blanks and committed more turnovers which Ginebra converted into fast break points that lead to 27-19 advantage after the first 12 minutes.
Barangay Ginebra continued to rain threes and block shots as they began the 2nd period. To his dismay, Coach Norman Black immediately called a timeout to stop the bleeding.
In Spite of the timeout, Ginebra still surged and Meralco kept on missing. Worried and anxious, Coach Black burned another time out to find a solution to Ginebra’s unstoppable offensive onslaught.
Reynel Hugnatan ended the scoring dry spell in the 4-minute mark as he sank a floater. However, the Bolts trailed 19 big points with plenty of time remaining before the half ended.
Jared Dillinger was the only brave Bolt who kept on fighting until the 1st half wrapped up as he managed to cut the lead to 15, 52-37. Dillinger unleashed 11 points while veteran Ginebra guard LA Tenorio topped all scorers with 13 at the halftime break.
Allen Durham, this conference’s Best Import might have met his kryptonite. “The Hulk” surprisingly jotted only 6 points as he entered the third. Durham even got blocked multiple times and had butterfingers that cause turnovers.
In the contrary, Ginebra got nothing but all good looks in all sides of the floor whether from the inside or outside. Barangay escalated its lead to 20 with just 2 minutes gone by in the beginning of the 3rd period.
Allen Durham who was an obvious sleeper in the first half completed a dunk and one plus a triple as a retaliation to Ginebra’s scoring barrage. Fact, Allen Durham’s triple at the 8-minute mark was his first in the series after 18 attempts.
LA Tenorio was simply uncontainable in this game. The former Ateneo Eagle already had 21 point with 14 more minutes to go in the ballgame. His fellow alumnus Chris Newsome however, had a bad night with only 4.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2017 Governors Cup Finals MVP: LA “Tenyente” Tenorio! Tenorio finished with game-high 26 points backed-up by Justin Brownlee who had 23. Photo Credit: Philstar
Tenyente Tenorio closed the third with another jump shot for the 81-64 lead.
The Bolts somehow got closer to Ginebra and was able to lower the lead to just a dozen, courtesy of guards Anjo Caram and Baser Amer. But Meralco couldn't really get its momentum. Every time Meralco had a run, it will only be momentarily as Ginebra promptly fired back.
Anjo Caram’s 2 fast break points broke the Ginebra double-digit lead and placed his team behind by just 9 points with over 4 minutes remaining in the game. Coach Tim Cone, bothered by Meralco’s run, requested for a ceasefire to talk things over.
The 2-minute warning was announced by the coliseum barker with Meralco’s hope in winning the crown was slowly dimming as Ginebra’s lead was escalated to double figures anew.
With 71 ticks remaining in the ballgame, Cliff Hodge got fouled out and Ginebra’s lead was 7, 100-93.
Jared Dillinger’s three pointer cut the lead to just 4 with 40 seconds left in the game clock. Meralco posted a 7-0 blitz and saw a tiny chance of upsetting Ginebra.
Meralco had its chance but it was too late. At the final horn, Barangay Ginebra ended the series 4-3 with a nail-biting 101-96 win over the brave Meralco Bolts in front of 54,086 die hard PBA fans.
Watch full video replay.
On behalf of The Summit Express, we congratulate the Barangay Ginebra for winning the 2017 Governors Cup Finals for the 2nd straight. Never Say Die!
