After a deliberation among a group of academics, the term “Tokhang” was chosen as “Salita ng Taon” or Filipino Word of the Year for 2018, which was announced during the “Sawikaan 2018: Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Salita ng Taon” at the University of the Philippines-Diliman on Friday, October 26.
“Tokhang,” an informal term of the Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-illegal drug campaign in Duterte administration, has drawn international criticisms over rising death toll.
Tokhang bested 10 other words or phrases this year: Dengvaxia, DDS, dilawan, fake news, federalismo, foodie, quo warranto, resibo, TRAIN and troll.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), Filipinas Institute of Translation (FIT) and UP chose the entries for word of the year based on popular media lexicon and other submissions.
KWF chairman Virgilio Almario highlighted “tokhang” is a proof that “people were able to digest the word and the violence that came with it.”
“They were even able to laugh at it… by making jokes at it, people would think that it just became part of their lives, and that it would transcend and could be even corrected,” he told The STAR.
