It does not distinguish by gender.
In the English language, there is always a distinction between “he” or “she” when referring to the third person.
In Filipino, regardless of the gender/orientation, it is always “siya.”
In the English language, there is always a distinction between “son” and “daughter.”
In Filipino, regardless of the child’s biology, it is always “anak.”
In the English language, there is always a distinction between “husband” and “wife” when referring to your partner.
In Filipino, regardless of the orientation, it is always “asawa.”
In the English language, there is always a distinction between “brother” and “sister.”
In Filipino, regardless of biology, it is always “kapatid.”
If only our Filipino society can do and enact this respect beyond mere language. And if only the rest of the world can learn the same.
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It views a human being in terms of value. Literally.
In Filipino, the word “mahal” can mean two different things, depending on its usage in a sentence. ”Mahal” can mean expensive, in terms of price. Intriguingly, “mahal” is also the word for love.
Also, in Filipino, the word “mura” has two different meanings as well. “Mura” means cheap or affordable, in terms of price. But it is also the word used either as a verb or an adjective to describe a derogatory remark, as when one curses someone or insults him/her.
Interestingly, what our language seems to connote is that a human being’s value depends on how he or she is treated.
Mahal: Show that person love, and you raise that person’s value; not necessarily in the sense that he or she is now hard to reach or is now high maintenance; it’s simply that humanity is very literally priceless, and has to be looked upon and valued highly, the way rare and fragile things are.
Mura: Insult that person, call him or her by any derogatory remark, and you lower that person’s value, cheapen his existence in every sense of the word. Like that person is someone that can be easily bought or taken, when in fact humanity is so much more than that.
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It recognizes how human beings are inherently interconnected, to the point that you owe your existence to each other.
“Utang na loob” is a phrase that cannot be directly translated, but one that Filipinos instinctively understand. ”Utang” literally means debt, while “loob” literally means inside. This phrase is usually employed when another person has done you a favor, or has done a good deed in which you have benefited, and you now have an “utang na loob” to that person. It’s not simply saying that you owe that person, or that you’re promising to return the deed, for what this phrase connotes is something less tangible but far deeper than simple favors. Something inside of that person now belongs to you, for in doing something good for you s/he has also given you a part of him/herself. And therefore, likewise, what you owe that person, what you should give back, is something that’s a part of you too, deep inside you. A part of that person’s humanity has been given to you, and therefore a part of your own humanity can only be rightfully given to that person someday, when s/he is in need of it.
I’m not even sure if this explanation did that phrase justice. I can only hope that it came very close.
