'Lobat' picked as word of the year in UP language conference

Lobat has been declared word of the year during the recent Sawikaan 2006: Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Salita ng Taon, an annual language conference sponsored by the Filipinas Institute of Translation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Blas F. Ople Foundation. Sawikaan tracks the development of Filipino as a national language by picking out new words or phrases that became popular in the preceding year. Proposed in an article by Prof. Jelson E. Capilos of Ateneo de Manila University, lobat was chosen by the conference participants as the top word in a list that included Botox, toxic, spa, and Orocan. The first runnerup — Botox — was proposed by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, a physician and award-winning author. The second runnerup — toxic was proposed by Michael Andrada, an instructor from the University of the Philippines. Lobat made it as top choice because conference participants found Capilo's article interesting with a startling conclusion — that Filipinos nowadays are much like the cellular phones that rely so much on batteries that get discharged quickly. Filipinos go lobat because of personal, social, and global pressures. Botox, a brand name of a neurotoxin — botulinum toxin A — produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It may be poison, but it's the stuff injected into the faces of the beauty-conscious to smooth out wrinkles. It's popular among many Filipinos who can afford the expensive treatment. Toxic refers to periods when operators in call centers receive a barrage of calls. Or it can be used as a tag to any irksome person, thing, or experience. Spa is where you need to go when you go lobat because things at the office have gone toxic. Orocan, brand name of a popular line of plastic products, refers to hypocrites and liars. The lone entry from Mindanao, kudkod refers to Internet chatting, particularly the kind that aims to find a potential mate. Among the word of the year entries are chacha, bird flu, meningococcemia, karir, and payreted. Now on its third year, Sawikaan is held at the University of the Philippines in celebration of Buwan ng Wika (Language Month). It is attended by teachers, linguists, and students who come from all over the country. - GMANews.TV