Havey or Waley? The top 11 buzzwords for 2011

It was a year of Corona and beauty queen crowns, a time for TROs and TTs. For the past 365 days, we have seen our leaders flash a Duterte finger and seek “all-out justice,” while we learned how to dougie and sipped on milk tea. As we look back, check out this list of new expressions we created, old terms we refashioned, and ultimately, words that buzzed in 2011.      11. Tsunami Walk – Shamcey’s signature strut   The world mourned when a deadly tsunami hit Japan early this year. When a Filipina beauty brought her trademark “tsunami walk” to the Miss Universe pageant last September, the world was captivated. This year, reigning Miss Universe third-runner up Shamcey Supsup got everybody talking about the way she sashayed on-stage with her middle body gracefully swaying similar to the ocean’s giant waves.    10. Wagas! – a new way of expressing the superlative   From being the Filipino translation for “pure,” this word was given an entirely new meaning this year. In the past, we described something over-the-top with the words “over,” “exag,” or “bonggang bongga.” In 2011, “wagas” is the term to use—yes, even on not-so-pure things. For instance, if you want to taunt someone who is overly made up, you can tell her: “Kung maka-lipstick at foundation ka naman, wagas! Very clown lang.”   9. Dougie – 2011 dance craze that has nothing to do with “man’s best friend”   This year, when someone asks you to do the “dougie,” that person is not asking you to pet an animal. No, it doesn’t mean anything sexual too. He or she is just asking you to perform the hip-hop dance craze that hit Filipinos this year. Popularized in the United States last year, this dance requires moving the shoulder back and forth, and passing the hand near the hair. Aside from these basic steps, you can do your own moves, and groove to your own variation of the “Dougie.”   8. Havey/Waley – stylized way of expressing approval/disapproval   If Filipinos could change the “like” and “unlike” buttons on Facebook this year, they would definitely replace them with the words “havey” and “waley.” These words are used in evaluating just about anything, but more commonly, jokes cracked by another person. (Read: funny = havey, corny = waley)   7. Unkabogable – unbeatable, unconquerable, unsurpassable   Popularized by comedian Vice Ganda, this expression comes from the root word “kabog,” which means “beat.” Add the prefix “un-” then the suffix “-able,” and you produce the 2011 way of describing something that is for the books. For example, if you want to describe the world’s largest crocodile, you say: “Lolong is so unkabogable. NatGeo level na ang haba niya.”   6. Cyberbullying – online way of ganging up on people   In the age of Web 2.0, bullies do not just exist in schools anymore. They have also conquered the world of social networking sites. In 2011, we have found a name for their game: cyberbullying. Beware: they are out to harass people for the littlest things—from driving through a flooded street to partying with the President in the middle of a storm. Always remember to think before you click.   5. Milk Tea – 2011 reincarnation of the humble sago drink   This year, the choice is no longer just coffee, tea or milk. Yes, you can already have milk and tea at the same time in a soothing mix, with some sago (fancy name: pearl or bubble) at the bottom. The milk tea fad has definitely gotten everyone sipping inside establishments named with every available “tea” word in the dictionary (e.g. Universitea, Serenitea, Infinitea).   4. Angry Birds – our cute yet grumpy feathered friends   Catholic bishops may have qualms about their temper, but we all fell in love with these digital creatures this year. We adore them almost anywhere: on our iPad smashing bricks and wood, on cupcakes and balloons, and yes, even printed on underwear. Undoubtedly, we were all mad about the Angry Birds in 2011.   3. Azkals – athletes who kicked football into popularity in the Philippines   For years, sports just meant basketball and boxing for Filipinos. In 2011, however, a team named after stray dogs showed us that football can be exciting too, especially when you got some really good-looking players representing your country. Now, the whole country is following the Azkals’ every game, not to mention their scores of endorsements and their kicking love lives.   2. Planking – cool way of playing dead   Who would have thought that lying flat on your face while completely motionless could be so much fun? This year, we planked almost anywhere: at our homes, on campus, inside public transportation and yes, even on the streets during protest actions. Not even a proposal to outlaw planking stopped us from lying face down in the weirdest, wackiest places imaginable.   1. Trending – 2011 way of gauging the talk of the town   In 2011, more and more Filipinos discovered the power of Twitter, and utilized it to discuss the hottest issues—from controversial bills to a lawyer’s balls. In a time of tweets and hash tags, Twitter’s trending topics (TTs) became a reliable gauge of the public’s pulse. Indeed, this year, you’re not famous until you’re trending. – KG/HS, GMA News