The term “Tokhang” has been chosen as Salita ng Taon at Friday’s Sawikaan 2018 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
The winning word was announced after deliberation among a group of academics at the university.
“Tokhang” is the name of the Philippine National Police’s anti-drug campaign involving visits to alleged drug suspects at their homes as part of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, which has drawn international criticism over the rising death toll. The word is a portmanteau of “katok” and “hangyo,” the Cebuano word to plead.
“Fake news” trailed behind at second place while “dengvaxia” placed third.
“Foodie” was the “online favorite” based on the vote on Friday afternoon.
This year’s conference was organized by the Filipinas Institute of Translation, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the UP Diliman Information Office.
The colorful terms that have spread through the internet are among the 11 final entries in consideration for Sawikaan 2018’s Word of the Year.
Language experts were allowed to defend their entries in a final joust before the vote on Friday at University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Among them were author and essayist Mark Angeles, who defended “tokhang,” and language researcher Roy Cagalingan who defended “troll” while wearing a mask.
The 2018 entries include Dengvaxia, DDS Dilawan, Fake news, Federalismo, Foodie, Quo warranto, Resibo, Tokhang, Train and Troll.
