‘Tokhang’ is Sawikaan 2018 Word of the Year

The term “Tokhang” has been chosen as Salita ng Taon at Friday's Sawikaan 2018.

The winning word was announced after deliberation among a group of academics at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

“Tokhang” is the name of the Philippine National Police's anti-drug campaign involving visits to alleged drug personalities at their homes, as part of the Duterte administration's war on drugs, which has drawn international criticism over its rising death toll. The word is a portmanteau of "katok" and "hangyo," the Cebuano word to plead.

“Tokhang,” and its many variations being defended by Mark Angeles at Sawikaan 2018’s final deliberation for word of the year @gmanews pic.twitter.com/0C3MxPaLrF

— M. Claire Layug (@MClaireLayug) October 26, 2018

It was the second time for author and essayist Mark Angeles to fight for the term, which he said mirrors the influence of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drug policy.

From online memes and jingles to "pangontra-tokhang” trinkets being sold along Quiapo streets, Angeles emphasized how “tokhang” has affected popular Filipino culture in many other ways aside from the arrest and death of drug suspects.

National Artist for Literature and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) chairperson Virgilio Almario is confident that the term’s recognition at the Sawikaan would only cultivate its use in Filipino society further, whether it would be regarded as an academic term or not.

"Ginagamit na ito ng mga tao ng labas ng orihinal nitong paggamit. So ibig sabihin, nagiging gano’n na ka-popular,” Almario said.

"Hindi naman mahalaga sa aming ma-regard ang isang salita na academic,”  he added.

"Ang higit na mahalaga sa amin ay naiintindihan ng mga tao kung ano ‘yung kanilang ginagamit.”

“Fake news” trailed behind at second place while “dengvaxia" placed third.

“Foodie”, on the other hand, was the "online favorite" based on the vote on Friday afternoon.

This year's conference was organized this year by the Filipinas Institute of Translation (FIT), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and UP Diliman Information Office (UPDIO). —JST, GMA News