Do you talk to your kids in Filipino?

America is home for almost 20 years now. Some friends and relatives in the Philippines asked me on Facebook yesterday if my kids understand Bisaya. I guess they read the status I posted about Belen (Nativity set). Some Filipino friends that we met when we first arrived here couldn't believe that my kids still speak and understand the dialect.

We speak Bisaya at home. We also send text messages and emails in Bisaya. The kids cringe if we talk to them in English. Filipino is only spoken when the mister and I talk about the kids or topics that we don't want them to know. (Read an example here.) But the young lady understands more Filipino now. She learned it from her friends in the university that still speaks the language fluently.

Back when she was still in middle school, I was talking on the phone with my sister-in-law in California about a secret topic. Okay! I'll admit it---it was chismis (gossip). Hehehe.

"Marj, nandito ang malaking batang babae. Nakikinig." (Marj, the big girl is here. Listening.)

She came in my bedroom for a cuddle. Then, she got angry with me. Stood up, and...

"MA, DI KO LAKI. DI KO BAYOT! BAJE KO! GIRRRRRL!!!" (Ma, I am not a boy. I am not gay! I am a girl! Girrrrrl!!!)

 ...and she left the room. Hehehe.

For my English speaking readers, malaki means big, large or huge. In Filipino, boy or male is lalaki, and in Bisaya it's laki.

It's not safe anymore to speak Filipino when the young lady is around, and especially that she has an extremely strong alliance with the boy. They don't keep secrets with each other.

Filipino is frequently use with the mister during Christmas season. We use terms that aren't similar to Bisaya words. Example...

"Jay, wala pa tayong nabiling aginaldo para sa ating unica hija. Malapit na ang pagsapit ng Pasko. Ano kaya ang para sa kanya? "Sapin sa paa" na may takong? Bagong damit?Aklat? Mga kwaderno galing ng bansang Hapon?" (Jay, we still haven't bought a gift for our only girl. Christmas is almost here. What will be for her? Shoes with heels? New dress? Book? Notebooks from Japan?)

For secret topics, Filipino is out. I guess speaking in Bisaya gay lingo will be a choice now.

"Edoosh abash, Yeyj! Makatubash ang mga atabs. A-an ang ibyang ug ang yamag nga kiki jumujuminaw sa sala!" (Jay, don't say it. The kids can understand. The girl and the little boy are in the living room listening. 

Plus, there is no Google translate for gay lingo. Bwihihihi!

As the popular saying goes, "If there's a will, there's a way!"

Until next post. Have a great weekend. Stay warm, and I heart you for stopping by.