Just months after the Jejemon phenomenon rattled, raised eyebrows, and befuddled schools across the country in 2010 – raising fears the use of words with a strange spelling would further weigh down the quality of education - a whole new lingo has evolved in the country.
The gay lingo called “Bekimon” has gone viral and is making its way up the Pinoy pop culture.
"Day, ijugay mo sa refami para lumamig iti ng bonggang-bongga," says the gay-parent to his son as he reports that he wasn't allowed to take the periodical exam after his excuse letter was refused.
That's the first line of a clip titled "Excuse letter for Junakis" that is making waves on YouTube for its revolutionary gay lingo.
"Gay lingo has always been there," says Bern Josep Persia, also known as the wordsmith behind the Bekimon phenomenon on ANC's Headstart on Thursday. "When Jejemon surfaced, we decided to call 'Beki's,' or gay people who talk in gay lingo, the 'Bekimons.'"
While the Jejemon phenomenon prompted Google to call it one of the most-searched words on the Internet, Bekimon brewed in gay circles.
Following an accidental upload in the internet, demand for clips grew, prompting Bern to use technology to spread the lingo.
It has since taken on a life of its own, popularized in YouTube videos and a Facebook fan page.
Bekimon (noun): people who are "hard-core users" of gay language whether they are homosexuals or not
Some examples of Bekimon terms include “jowa” (boyfriend/ girlfriend or spouse), “kalurkey” (kaloka or crazy), “heller” (hello), and “the” (ate or sister).
Junakis, the unseen videographer whom Persia speaks to in his YouTube videos, was responsible for uploading the first Bekimon clip they produced in May.
"May pattern and paggawa ng gay lingo. They use letters k and y as a prefix to the word like bata (child) they use ‘kyota,’ ‘yung mga kyota ay ikyosok na sa kyoob.’ There's j-lo they use j in a word upuan becomes ‘jupuan,’ computer ‘jompyuter’ or laptop ‘joptop,’ or name association like naiimbyerna, nai-iByernadette Sembrano na ako, or Stress Drilon na ako, or na-sestress na ako, haggard na ako," said Persia who is also a regular face on ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda."
He first appeared on "Juanita Banana."
"Filipino gays make it funnier and more flowery so they change the pronunciation of words."
His personal picks include “itey, itech” that means ito (this), “bagella” (bad), “doongpler” and “balaychina” (bahay/ house), “palangganitang butas na kung tawagi'y hula-hoop” (plangak or yes).
Persia admitted that coming up with a dictionary for Bekimon is a tall order.
"It's very hard to make a dictionary using gay lingo, because it’s always been dynamic. There's this word called ‘wis’ which means ‘no.’ Eventually it changed to ‘wit’ and then ‘wititit’ and then to ‘witchells,’ ‘witchkels,’ ‘witchkelibangbang,' ‘witchkelibangbang benikulong summerfresh.’”
Persia said gay lingo reaches back to the days of Markova, when gays used language as a way to speak to each other and insulate themselves to avoid discrimination. He however adds, all actions should be backed with responsibility.
"Katulad ng normal na tao ang pagiging bakla, you have to hold yourself responsible with the things that you do, the things that you say. Ako yung nagpakalat ng Bekimon but in formal communication hindi ko ginagamit yung gay lingo."
Like language, Berns subscribes to free expression even when it comes to the choice of some gays to dress in drag. He considers himself lucky to have grown up accepted by his family.
While his gender was not an issue, Bern who had vitiligo at 12 years of age, the same skin condition as Michael Jackson, had to tolerate name-calling when he was younger until his skin tone evened-out when he was 17.
"It was hard for me to accept that I was not normal. Iba yung hitsura ko sa normal na bata. So I tried to do something , studied hard, worked hard to support my family."
He said he draws inspiration from his mother and his friends who understand and appreciate what he does.
He admitted that his life is made of soap-opera material. Two weeks ago, "Maalaala Mo Kaya" approached him for his story.
Persia is at peace with himself and urged others to contribute to the betterment of the world.
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