STUPID FILIPINO NAMES

One time my aunt who is based here in the US, came home to the Philippines for a much-needed vacation with her family. She introduced her 6 year old son, Ralph  (my youngest 1st degree cousin, now 17 and who was born in the Philippines , raised in the US since he was 1 year old) to us; his family and relatives. My aunt took his hands and gestured toward each one and announced each name, “ Ralph, this is Bingbing , Tata, Nenen, Keken, Popo, Jingjing, Chong-chong and Pingping…your cousins.” As soon as the introduction was over,without any restraint, my cousin Ralph shamelessly blurted, “What stupid Filipino names have you got!”

Everyone broke different reactions. Some snickered, some chuckled, some just kept silent and some laughed like there was nothing ever heard. As for me, I was petrified. Probably, I think what Ralph said was true. Most of my friends fondly call me Bingbing. I don’t know why I got that name; though my real given name is not. My parents told me they just wanted to call me by that nickname. They said it sounded “lovable” then. My brother Popo is really Peter Paul. I remember we wanted to call him PP (from his initials) but it sounded like “pipi”(mute) and we wouldn’t wish him to grow up sucking up all air  or grunting for words.

When I came to the US, I realized nobody is called by a name that sounds like “sounds” or which one syllable is repetitiously pronounced. When I tried to introduce myself as Bingbing to Americans, I always get that surreptitious glare matched with that “proverbial” annoying question, “Why are you named Bingbing?” or “Is that really your name?” Mind you, hearing these for the nth time is absolutely exasperating that I wanted to yell, “So what’s your problem with my name?” I hate to tell that I was conjuring more images of stoning these stupid people right smack off their faces. (But in the end, I relented to changing my name thus most people here in the US know me by the name of Viviene). There was even one friend of mine here whose nickname is Bangbang and is constantly barraged by Americans with this, "Why were you named after the sounds of a gun?" She said she wanted to really shoot them to death. In the Philippines, it is common for people to have nicknames like Jekjek, Dingdong, Pongpong, Kaka, Tingting, Toktok, Bebet and some more. (Gosh, I wish no parent would ever wish to call a child P_kp_k or Pokpok). How I wonder what their parents were thinking.

It is also very familiar to hear names that may really sound absurd but we actually go all though calling him or her by that name because that’s how he /she is really called. Take for instance, the names, “Balot, Pahak, Upaw, Nignig, Buknoy, Takak, Abog or even Dugong. Some of their names have histories and some have little facts about why they were called as such. My friend Jena is fondly called by kin as “Upaw” because when she was a kid, she was literally bald.

In the US, parents are constantly advised not to give silly, meaningless or strange nicknames to their children because they deem that their children would grow up to be insecure, imbalanced and socio-neurotic adults. Parenting magazines are stressing that using silly nicknames as demeaning, harsh and irresponsible.

But in our country, there is a diverse gamut of nicknames that amaze or stump everyone who is not knowledgeable of our culture. I had read in a local magazine article written by an American expatriate years ago that he finds this “Filipino nicknaming” arcane and a bit odd. And I think he is right.

But you know what? I believe that we Filipinos somehow don’t see these names as effacing or demeaning to our selves. Much in the same manner, we find it more pleasant and amusing rather than crazy or disdainful to our psyches. I believe that this is one of our ways of bringing light in a discouraging world. Our humor is laughing at ourselves in a situation that most of us find difficult to change or to resolve. Beset with an avalanche of storms and everyday troubles, we, Filipinos eye the faintest light among the darkest clouds because of our innate sense of humor. Our abilities to perpetually laugh at every moment make us sane and less-stressed to keep paced at each motion and turn of the world.

Our nicknames reflect the way we are able to take things lightly and not be miserable or anxious about anything. They may be “stupid Filipino names” however they may be reminders to others how we were endeared to their minds or to their hearts. Or they may be actually sound ridiculous but at least these “stupid Filipino names” enable to mirror us to the world with jive and juke.

Afterall, these are only terms of endearment. Terms of affection. What makes us endearing to our friends and folks would never really matter to anyone else outside our society. The most important thing is we are loved and we are cherished. People from other cultures would find these nicknames ridiculous. Or we may never fully understand this kind of “tradition” of choosing nicknames but at least we know how not to be uptight, learn to laugh, let live and have fun.

So go ahead and call my Filipino name stupid and I wouldn’t care.

Comments

[Filipino-Life-Abroad]

Hi, were the same as mine my sister also is bingbing.

Just reading around here...

see you around if you like we can exchanges links too. Just give me a buzzz at my paged. thanks for leaving me a message at blogcatalog.

[Aidan]

to me, that's a cute name for a child. to your hubby, that's an attractive name. :)

[White shadow]

The article almost killed me. I have relatives with doorbell names! Bo, Bin, Ban, Pong, Pin, Dong. We have a nasty habit of alliterative names. People don't use a lot of creativity in naming their kids. Someone should have told my parents that...because you said name writing quiz, and I thought: well, even if I did spell my name right, my teachers would have thought it was a typo.

[Beck]

^_^ Lmao!! hey love ur post hun! ^_^

keep writing.. ;)

[tiff k]

Well I actually think that these nicknames are just normal. I mean if I were an African woman, I'd also think that John or Nate or whatever normal name is weird if my name is Ramotswe or something. It's just a cultural thing. It isn't entirely stupid. Americans just think that way because it's unheard of and maybe refers to something stupid in English language.

It's not stupid at all =) hehe.

[Mel]

Hi Bingkee,

This is a hysterical article. I needed a good laugh this morning.

Thanks,

[Plastic Mancunian]

Excellent.

I'm surprised that in America there is a feeling that being called a silly name will somehow make you feel neurotic and are harsh and demeaning. I have been called all manner of cruel (yet funny) names in my life - I thrive on that. I also return the favour.

As I have said before, I think that there feeling that sometimes Americans take themselves too seriously - that is an example.

I say enjoy a name - the sillier the better.

This is why I picked "Plastic Mancunian" for myself - can't get much sillier than that.

Anyway - enjoy your name! It's fantastic

:-)

Cheers

PM

[johnlazy]

wow! my nickname is dondon hehehehehehehe

[Ane Fallarme]

my sister-in-law's name is Vivienne, what a coincidence right? :) anyway, giving silly nicknames is a unique filipino trait, it just shows how witty we filipinos are because we are able to make sense of words/names and associate it with people, thus our silly nick names... btw, have you noticed almost all filipino families have an uncle named boy and is often called uncle/tito boy? :) funny right? :) that's tatak pinoy for you... :)

[janejane]

It goes to show that Filipinos are truly creative. :)

[jlois]

Filipino nicknames may be stupid to those who don't grew up to the philippines and to those who don't know the Filipino culture. Perhaps they should go to Thailand, and they will find some of common names there like this "Titiporn, Kittiporn, jataporn", these names are names of my colleagues back then when I still working in Thailand. I wonder what will be their reaction with those names. hehehe :)

[xgenesis007]

My real name is Genesis. My friends call me Gin, or Gin-gin. My lovely granma calls me Din-din. My family calls me Kuya. I wouldn't mind and care if it sounds ridiculous to others and true enough it is an endearment so I'll take the positive side of it - an endearment.

Thanks for sharing :D

[Joyoz]

Hahaha...stupid nicknames..whatta laugh here...My folks used to called me Nenen and celen when I was little but Joy really exist. I just don't like the way they pronounced it. Kaya nga naging stupid ang nicknames eh kasi pabagsak kung banggitin minsan sa Pinas. HAPPY HALLOWEEN BING..HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU HERE.

[Melinda]

Hi Bingkee--

Nice to be back, visiting your blog, after returning from my vacation. I loved this story and it really made me smile. You know, I love YOUR name--a 'binky' is something that gives us comfort (a pacifier is often called a binky in U.S. society) and I feel your blog is a comfortable place to be!

I have traveled all over the world--and have heard every kind of name imaginable! I suppose that people in deep Sahara Africa might think some of our U.S. names are pretty strange. As they say, the view is always different--depending on where you stand!

Take care,

Melinda

[Mara]

My parents (especially my Dad) calls me Potpot till I was like 16 or something then it suddenly just became Pot. Those 3 letters doesn't even appear in my WHOLE real name. Seriously. Hahaha! But they just call me that if they're making lambing (thank God!).

[Lateralus]

I may think it different and on occasion I catch myself laughing at names, but I have also laughed at many stupid American names as well. What one word means here like a child saying dingdong here they are referring to private parts , so of course I laughed when I heard someone had that nickname, but in their world dingdong does not mean what it does here so I understand. My girlfriends name is Gerfel and I had never heard the name before I met her, and thought itdifferent, not strange or stupid. She then told me that it isn't a name of her language, but name her parents created from using half of her mother and fathers name. Her fathers name is German and I forget what her mothers name is as she always calls her mom but it starts with fel. I googled that name and there are gerfels on many different continents, many in South America and some in Italy. What a contrast, huh? There are funny and stupid names in every language and it is all about where you are raised the language you speak.

[Rochelle]

hahaha you got me laughing there with those names.but true, those names are very common here in the Philippines.Oh,I might as well mention my nickname - Arot.LOL!sounds silly,right? But i love it.I haven't heard I had a (nick)namesake,lol!never did it affect my psyche too.but only my closest friends,elem and high school teachers and relatives call me by that name.it's my way of identifying who's calling me.those who call me by my first name Rochelle are casual friends while those who call me by Shelly (my other nick) are my friends from the broadcasting industry.