BEKIMON: THE BEGINNING OF ITS' CONTROVERSY

The Bekimons have been growing huge because of Fizzer member, Bern Joseph Persia. He's paving a new way for the gay community to enjoy their own form of expressing themselves which straight people from all walks of life that I know of have come to love and live with it. It's hilarious... the Bekimon slang is really hilarious especially when Bern does it.

Creating waves in the local yahoo news last weekend was about the article on Fizzer member's Bern Joseph Persia's Bekimon. Lambasted with all sorts of comments from people, some people have argued that "gayspeak" has been difficult to identify and some are okay with it.

One particular comment that I saw came from an entity (gender not stipulated because of his/her/its name CYNBB) "wasted time for a forum on this “pollution” of the Filipino language"... POLLUTION??? Here's my take on that -

My dear whoever-you-are,

We already have enough air pollution in the Philippines especially Metro Manila. If you so love the air that you breathe enough to interject your seemingly intellectual concern about tarnishing the Filipino language, I do not. One of the ways for me to live comfortably with the sad fact is, the adapting to whatever there is I chance upon that would make me forget that we already live in a harsh world. One in particular is accepting what my other countrymen in the gay community expresses! Gay or straight-speaking Bekimon rocks... it's funny, loving, refreshing, amusing, creative and interesting!

You say "these types of language used by gay mobile users twist and degenerate the Pilipino language and make it trashy and slang"...uhm... I think we all have the freedom to express ourselves in all sorts of forms just like when you write "Pilipino" and I would write it as "Filipino". With that P & F difference, give me a highly intelligent answer as to how the hell we got to have the word Pilipino (which we did use decades ago but others find not acceptable) to Filipino and refer to your words "twist and degenerate". Are the Bekimons or Jejemons at fault? In a nutshell, where is your life? What's wrong with injecting humor and creativity in a language? Why can't you just let other people express themselves in ways that make them happy? Bekimon is an endorphin and endorphins are supposed to make you happy. Perhaps, you lack oxygen in the brain but full of Carbon Monoxide. Tsk...tsk... shame.

If you want to build a group about things that "twist and degenerate" the "Pilipino language" which you so love, why don't you start with this - BRING BACK PILIPINO AND NOT FILIPINO! instead of you being anal on forums / articles about Bekimon and supporters. Get a life and do your straight-wika-texting-mode if you want to!

I personally messaged Bern Joseph in his facebook wall...



As you can see, you can never make this stop now. It's there... it's viral and totally infectious!!! Just like what I messaged Bern, all roads will soon lead towards Bekimon Street! Yeah... you can't do anything... just like Gremlins, dumadami ang Bekimons pag nababasa!!!

Yours,
Jodge Ledesma
Bekimon Lawyer / Beki-lawyering <--- it's a new profession...FYI!

Here's the local yahoo article that stirred and shook the very beings of those who have heard and seen Bekimons:



By Alexander Villafania, loQal.ph

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA — Wititit, Carmi Martin, noselift, anekwabum. Say these to a “bekimon” and he’ll translate these to “no,” “karma,” “I know,” and “whatever.”

Social gay groups have taken the cue from the growing ubiquity of the jejemon phenomena, this time adapting the word “bekimon.”

Most terms in “bekimon” are in fact from the original gay lingo that has been popular for years. However, the fast evolution of gay lingo has led to the creation of many new terms or expansions of existing ones.

During the recent Sawikaan 2010 forum on Filipino communication, University of the Philippines Diliman Linguistics Department Chair Jesus Federico Hernandez said the identification of gay lingo as “bekimon” coincides with the use of “jejemon,” a new communication method that changes the way words are spelled in short messaging service (SMS) and is very popular among certain types of heavy mobile phone users.

Hernandez showed a video to exemplify how “bekimon” language is spoken. The character in the video is clearly speaking in gay lingo and little is understandable in typical Filipino. The video is available on Youtube, along with subtitles translating what the character is saying.

Hernandez explained that gay lingo uses a variety of techniques to create unique new words out of basic Filipino. For example, “tao” (person) becomes “bo-o.” “Asawa” (spouse) becomes “jowa” or “kyowa.”

Sometimes, proper nouns are used to become verbs of adjectives, such as the actress Carmi Martin being used to describe karma. Another actress’s name, Rita Avila, is said to describe a person’s irritation.

But beyond the social reputation and acceptance of “bekimon”, particularly among the urban residents, Hernandez said gay lingo was developed primarily as a tool for gays to communicate their ideas with each other.

A secondary purpose for the creation of gay lingo is a weapon against the religious and social bias against the gay populace; by creating a new method of communication, gays are alienating the rest of society that has persecuted them for so long.

Nevertheless, Hernandez said that the more liberal minded people have started to accept gay lingo for their own purposes, sometimes overtly or unintentionally. In fact, several teachers who attended the the forum shared their experiences with their elementary and high school students. The teachers themselves have started to pick up certain “bekimon” words, incorporating it in their own messages.

Jovy Peregrino, director of the UP Diliman Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, said that the amazing part of “bekimon” is dynamism in enhancing communication among people. While he still believes that learning in school still requires more formal language, the use of “bekimon” should not be restricted.

“I still believe that context is important when using “bekimon.” Teachers and students would be familiar when to use such languages,” Peregrino said.

Amid the academic discussions on “bekimon,” the adaption of the term is already starting to expand online. A Facebook account on “bekimon” has been opened and now has at least 1,700 fans.

Incidentally, the gay and lesbian website Pinoy LGBT cites that the term bekimon was allegedly coined by Bern Josep Persia, the character in video the video that Hernandez showed.

Source: http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/2010/07/30/meet-bekimon-jejemons-new-friend/