"WHAT's the English translation of  ‘pang-ilan ka sa magkakapatid’?” Ask any bilingual or multilingual student this question, and they might laugh at the linguistic trap or pause to figure out how to bridge the gap. These moments reveal more than the quirks of translation; they show how deeply identity is rooted in the words we speak.

This is why we celebrate Buwan ng Wika every August: to honor our national and regional languages as core pillars of our identity. Language does more than express our thoughts; it also reveals the world we believe we inhabit. Every word that leaves our mouths does not simply describe reality; it also shapes the way we understand it. 

Without language, we lose not only words but also the means to understand our experiences, culture, and the people around us.

Little Misunderstandings, A Story to Tell

At SBCA, different voices, cultures, and backgrounds converge to form the Bedan community. Students, staff, and education personnel bring their own languages and ways of speaking, creating moments of confusion, humor, and discovery along the way.

As such, these communication barriers have become part of daily life. They may appear subtle, hilarious, or even insightful. 

For Cyrill Mendoza, a Guidance Associate at Counseling and Career Development Services (CCDS) and Personality Enrichment Program (PEP) 1 and 2 Facilitator from Taal, Batangas, regional words sometimes have to be rephrased for better understanding. “One time in the office, I was telling a story and naturally used the word ‘guyam,’” she recalled. When she finished the story, Cyrill was met with silence and confusion, prompting her to explain that in Batangas, “guyam” means “ant.” She further recalled a memorable moment when she accidentally told her class to “pasahe,” meaning to pass their papers, and “parine,” meaning “come here.”

For Jholhaimen Dimaporo (IV-BSBA HRM), a multilingual student who speaks Maranao, Ilonggo, Bisaya, Chavacano, and Tagalog, linguistic diversity can also lead to hilarious and memorable misunderstandings. According to Jholhaimen, “While trying to explain the linguistic difference, I got carried away and started explaining it in Bisaya instead of Tagalog, which made everyone laugh even more.” Rather than seeing these moments as barriers, Jholhaimen sees them as opportunities to build confidence and bridge cultural gaps on campus.

Students like Gaea Geroso (III-BAIS APS) and international student Kim Changjun (IV-BSLM) have also experienced the challenges and humor that come with linguistic differences. According to Gaea, who was raised in both Bacolod and Muntinlupa, her voice often feels caught between two worlds. “When I’m in Bacolod, people tell me that my Ilonggo has a Tagalog accent, and in Muntinlupa, my friends tell me that my Tagalog sometimes slips and has an Ilonggo accent,” she shared. In response, she consciously slows down her speech whenever her words get momentarily tangled.

During his early days at SBCA, Kim was careful when pronouncing certain English words. Because Korean lacks the long “ee” vowel sound, he had to pay particular attention to words like “sheet.” Changjun added, “To not get misunderstood, I used to pronounce ‘ee’ longer than it should be.” Nevertheless, Changjun shared that whenever he encounters a local slang word he does not understand, his classmates kindly explain it to him without judgment, often switching languages entirely to make him feel comfortable. 

Bridges Over Barriers

These linguistic gaps do not necessarily push Bedans apart. Instead, they can become bridges to understanding, respect, and connection.

According to Althea Lepiten (I-BECED), an athlete student and member of the SBCA Women’s Volleyball Team (WVBT), learning words from her teammates became a bridge to understanding. “Alongside, it made me feel respectful and considerate because communication is about making the other person feel comfortable.” Althea also shared that Taglish, as the primary language of the SBCA makes it sound inherently friendly and their expressions are lively, emphasizing that even as students blend various languages, they maintain a kind-hearted nature and a shared joy in laughing with one another.

This underlying sense of unity and mutual respect is also evident in Kim’s experience. He consciously adjusted the way he speaks to improve his accent and vocabulary, making him feel “more understood and less of a language and cultural difference.” Kim also described SBCA’s communication style as “creative, inclusive, and respectful,” noting that Bedans never hesitate to switch languages for others and “give no shame for not understanding them.”
For Jholhaimen, he thinks that the campus culture is naturally filled with vibrant, candid, colorful slang, and lighthearted humor. “This playful usage of language reflects how comfortably and authentically students express themselves around their peers,” he said.

So, the next time you are asked to translate an expression deeply rooted in Filipino language and culture, don’t be too quick to search for a perfect translation. Some words carry meanings that only make sense in their original context. Instead, be lost in translation, and let this meaningful linguistic puzzle connect you—not just to another language, but to another speaker, culture, story, and identity.