ablo’

alternatively: abo’

The claim that an American language scholars  Jason William Lobel, ("Angry Register of the Bikol Languages of the Philippines", 2005) that certain Bikol words, such as Boie’nen "abo'" or "ablo'", as "angry word“ appears to be related to a broader context of language suppression and cultural erasure in the Philippines during the Spanish and American colonial periods.

Historical Context:

- The Spanish colonization of the Philippines led to the imposition of Spanish language and culture, resulting in the suppression of native languages and customs. This is evident in the creation of the Vocabulario de la Lengua Bicol, which aimed to impose the standardized use of the Naga-Bilol language for the entire Ambo’s Camarines that encompass Buhi.\

• The American colonial period further complicated the linguistic landscape, with English becoming a dominant language and influencing the development of Philippine literature and culture.

*Linguistic Diversity in the Philippines:*

- The Philippines is home to numerous languages and dialects, including Boie’nen, Bikol, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon, among others.\

• These languages have rich literary traditions, including epics, poems, and proverbs that reflect the cultural heritage of their respective regions.² ³

*Language Ownership and Identity:*

- The concept of language ownership and identity is complex in multilingual societies like the Philippines, where different languages coexist and influence one another.\

• Research on language ownership and identity highlights the need to understand the fine-grained differences in language use and perception among different communities.⁴