Sampaw, sawsaw

There is a funny name-calling between our two opposing political personalities – Bácolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his erstwhile ally, Rep. Anthony Golez.

In the heat of the controversy surrounding public works, a radio commentator called Golez “Congressman Sampaw” to describe, as it were, the overlaying with asphalt of the half-kilometer of concrete road of Lacson Street.

The word “sampaw” means to lay or put something over but the recent incident officially announced by Sen. Koko Pimentel telling the world he and his wife have separated and which national media grabbed for a front page headline involving Rep. Golez’ alleged relationship with the senator’s wife, gave “sampaw” an added meaning.

Leonardia used the word in a meeting with the media, who put it in his mouth making him the culprit.

Anyone who felt alluded to would consider this an attack on his personal and private life. Even if one is a public figure, the insinuation can understandably cause a flare-up and a desire to strike back.

Expectedly, Golez fired back describing Leonardia as “sawsaw” which means to “dip into.” Those who are aware of the events in Bácolod will easily know what the congressman meant. Golez had recently complained that the Leonardia has been poking his fingers into national projects which belong to the turf of the congressman. Golez made an issue of a direct request made to the DPWH.

The reality of political warfare in the Philippines, especially in the local level is name-calling. At the start, the candidates are civil with each other but as the campaign heats up, especially in a close fight, negatively branding the opponent is a fact of life.

In the last election for instance Rep. Monico Puentevella as branded a “kawti”, the street language for thief which in ordinary times, would be libelous. People took that in stride and the brand disappeared.

There is thinking in media that branding the politician with a negative descriptive name makes the issue stick till Election Day and, in some instances they did, so that labeling has become part of the tactics.

There really is nothing wrong about “sampaw” and “sawsaw” if not for the situation they were used. Indeed, Golez had over laid the street with asphalt and Leonardia did intervene in the projects of the congressman. So their accusations are both accurate.

Dr. Carlos Legaspi of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, during lunch on the feast of St. Ezekiel last August 19, suggested that I instead write on “paumpaw” or “pacify” to which Bishop Vicente M. Navarra suggested “ampaw” (gift) to which I replied, is the word I find much better.

Politicians make good use of their “hayo” or nickname as the late Congressman Inocencio “Puwaki” Ferrer. People knew him more by that nickname than his real Christian name. Puwaki means small change, or excess.

So popular was this “bansag” that his son, his junior, used this in this own political campaign. The senior citizens, of course, remembered the name of their late congressman.

The late Alfredo Montelibano, Jr. was well-known as “Bongkoy”, the nickname he gained as a child in the mountain during the war but what it means is unknown although some talks about the tag used to come out in the heat of the political campaign. He did not relish the name so that people preferred not to use it.

The late Mayor Amado Parreño was also popularly known as “Remache” (rivet) and he was known for this bansag than his real name which he took from his father, also a politician.

Filipinos are fond of making up names that they call “bansag” which means “popular name” similar to hayo but bansag took a twist and became the butt of jokes. The name was intended for play and even joust between the two bansag. One may call the bansag of the other as “Tiring” (lost sense) and the other would try to minimize the impact by asking who has an “ariring” (propeller). The joust can become the source entertainment when more people jump into the game with as many bansag as there are participants.

Years back, a foreign scholar asked me why Filipinos tended to shorten their names. Buenaventura was reduced to Tura and Filomeno into Menong.

The fact is that we liked to reduce our names into two syllables that are easily pronounced or remembered. Marcelo becomes Mar for the modern man but it is Celoy for those in the rural areas. When the name is already of two syllables, like Felix, we reduce that into one syllable, Lix nor Fel.

There are traditional hayo, like Pepe for Jose, and Paco for Francisco, or the modern version Joe and Frank. It can be Isko.

So there is really nothing wrong with sampaw and sawsaw, only one’s sense or sensitivity to it.*

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