FREEZE| A FEW BISDAK EXPRESSIONS

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Hernando O. Castillo

BISDAK is a contraction of bisayang dako – an endearing self-mockery of peoples in the Visayan-speaking regions like Davao.

Foreigners and non-Cebuano speakers may find it hard to comprehend certain Bisdak phrases that are constantly evolving and kept alive in the streets. Here are some of the most common ones that could help the clueless navigate through the babble in Bisdak communities.

SIMBA ko lang, palayo (and its variations) is often heard uttered by a Bisdak to express disapproval on something unpleasant. A solid Duterte supporter, for example, may quip simba ko at the thought of Antonio Trillanes becoming the next president of the Republic of the Philippines. The word simba literally means observing mass. The naughty Bisdak who started the expression must have been referring to making a religious sacrifice to ward off a negative scenario.

WAY simba simply means one who does not go to church and, therefore, perceived to be misbehaving and irreverent. The expression, of course, is wrapped with a humorous intention to point out someone’s un-good stance.

NGANONG mi-enter? is pure Bisdak sarcasm that may be compared to the American way of pointing out stupidity with What were you thinking? This is often used to castigate – directly or indirectly – someone whose hand got caught in a cookie jar, so to speak.

PAG-SYUR oy is a Bisdak’s way of telling someone that there is bull**** going on, something far out and somehow unacceptable as truth. Shut up is another way to translate the expression.