Pambihira!

Oh, I see you there. You’re bravely trying to stifle a giggle. The muscles near your mouth are now twitching from the force you demand of them trying to silence a huge guffaw threatening to escape. Well, guys, it’s no use. I already know that you find it funny. So, go ahead. You may burst out laughing now.

Oh, and if you’re chuckling right now at the title of this entry, I know now that you’re Filipino.

For those of you who have no idea what this all means, pambihira is actually an expression of annoyance in the Filipino language. This is usually uttered with rolling eyes and, at times, a head scratch or a bang on some table. Great ways to use this little word are after queuing for an hour and finding the clerk on lunch break, that car on the road splashing flood water all over your pristine, white shirt, and finding out your group mate in some project didn’t do his share…again. It’s a pretty common word so you wouldn’t really be hard pressed to find this little linguistic token.

But, well, in linguistics, meaning is derived in two forms: denotation (dictionary meaning) and connotation (its use in a particular statement or situation). As a word, we’ve only discussed the connotation of pambihira. Actually, if you look up that word in a Filipino dictionary, you’d find its definition not to be of irritation or frustration. Its denotation has nothing to do with it at all. Pambihira is actually the Tagalog word for “rare’, as in “Bawat limampung taon lamang lumalabas itong pambihirang bulalakaw.” (This rare comet only appears every fifty years.).

I really have no idea how “rare’ became “Ugh!”. My wannabe linguist brain churns out the theory that perhaps it’s because annoyed people want whatever stupidity that’s currently irritating them to be a rare instance. Perhaps, it’s the secret faith in humanity everyone has that most people are intelligent and wise and that foolishness is rare. Or maybe, it’s the opposite. Maybe it’s a little sigh that how come brains are rare. However it was derived, I kind of like this little colouring of the Filipino language amongst many.

Hey, here’s a great example of that dichotomy.

Two thousand years ago, the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth decided to step down from His throne of majesty and live as a human being. He decided to give up His unlimited power for that time and become, well, bounded as a person. Not just that, but He was pretty much arrested, tried and nailed on a cross for a crime He didn’t commit. Yes, He knew it would happen, but oh wait. He did so willingly. And for what? Well, He did all of that for a bunch of imperfect, ungrateful sinners who probably wouldn’t even willingly recognise Him.

Now, if you were His friend, would you yell “Pambihira ka naman o!”? Yeah, probably you would. And yes, many of His friends did. They thought what was happening to their dear friend was very unfair. What made it worse, though, is that He was willing to do it. Now, if that’s not worthy of a scream of “Pambihira!”, I don’t know what is.

Yet, He did it. Why? It’s pretty simple really. His love for all of those unworthy people was (and still is) pambihira --- rare. In fact, I think only He can ever give a love that powerful, that passionate. I think only He could ever give up everything He had, including his life, in order to give those He loves ---everyone --- something better.

I’d be worthy of a yell of pambihira if I don’t say thank You.