The Paostian Deal

Pete Rahon, a Pinoy currently staying in Korea, believes that "Filipinos are for real multi-lingual..." And I don't think anyone should contest, what with the Po-Opo (Hello po! Kumusta po? Ay, po, opo, ako po nga po 'yun po!), Me-U (Eat n b u? Eat me n rn e!) and the Ishuh a.k.a. Dumb Colegiala (Hello? Like, duh! Ano buh'ng shinabi kuh sha'yuh? 'Di buh shabi kuh you pick me up at 8? Sheven pa lang ah! You're sho shtupid ta-luh-gaaaa-uh!) Movements have taken leads among the Tongues spoken in the Philippines. (No, please don't try to get that last example. It may be strangely enjoyable, but it's fatal especially if you're non-innate.)

What we have, fortunately, is perhaps a new slang for "multi-lingual", courtesy of an online survey. It's smarter and less... rigid and scientific--hip, if the young-in-you likes:

Tagalong. We can't be certain, but perhaps there was no Filipino--or an actual linguist--among the surveyors to check for errors while they were drafting the thing. Or it's simply a misspelled word in an 8-year old survey. Or maybe there was an "expert", only that his knowledge stems from a traumatic experience in exhaustive Pilipino/Tagalog translations:

Désolé.
Patawarin mo ako.

Amigo!
Hoy pare, kumusta? Saan ang inuman? May chiks?

How dare you!
Ang kapal ng mukha mo'ng walanghiyang hayup kaaaaah!

Never forget the h.

One more good thing about the word is that it also connotes a most positive trait among one of the happiest people on Earth: the warm, forever welcoming camaraderie. Tag. Along. Filipinos are highly adaptable on one side and very much open on the other (which is a good thing, IF we're talking about taking in Change to improve lives). This leads to impeccably instant friendship no matter where either sprouted from. Sit with a Filipino for two hours then the only thing that would lack later is a blood compact--and you were only talking about peanut butter. Or Gretchen Barretto. Tag along. Very convenient too, if you think about it: Watch local shows and witness eternal remakes. Go to the local movies and you can occasionally feast on Filipinized Hollywood.

Tagalong. Reality is one smart ass.