How a Dating Show Sparked Debate on Speaking English vs. Filipino

Is English a turn-off for you? Aly, a contestant on the online Filipino dating show Pusuan or Laruan with Marion Aunor seems to think so. In an episode now gaining traction possibly because of Grammar Day recently falling on March 4, Aly rejected main bachelor Ian for an interesting reason: language issues. “I’m an Englishera, halata,” said Aly. “I can come off as strong to a lot of people that I try dating. They find me strong, as in nosebleed, I get that a lot, and it doesn’t offend me. But yeah, ‘yun lang. I feel like baka maka-overwhelm ka sa akin. And baka maka-overwhelm ko sa ‘yo kapag straight Tagalog.”

In response, Ian politely shared that he is fluent in both English and Tagalog, as he teaches international students. Aly immediately withdrew her rejection, showing interest.

Filipino netizens were quick to point out everything wrong with Aly’s answer. Many drew attention to how the contestant came off as cringy and patronizing, especially because she spoke in Taglish while claiming to be a fluent English speaker. “Di nmn sya nakaka intimidate,” wrote one X user. “Muka nga syang trying hard, as in matigas dila nya. Mukang self proclaimed ‘englishera.’” “Straight englishera and she said that with the most standard conyo accent with the hard T’s and D’s lmfao,” wrote another X user. “Grabe ang superiority complex parang hindi Pilipino,” commented one user on Reddit. “Lingon-lingon rin (po!) sa pinanggalingan.”

To English or not to English? That has been one of the country’s biggest existential dilemmas since its era of American colonial rule. A majority of the Filipino population still receives a basic education that extensively uses English as its modus operandi, despite recent efforts to promote the use of Tagalog in classrooms. “The centuries of the extensive contact between American English and Filipino language raises questions pertaining to language change and language identity,” wrote academic Orlyn Esquivel in a research paper published by Central Luzon State University. Due to its complicated colonial history, English has long been seen as “the language of prestige” in the Philippines, denoting a Filipino’s education level, geographical origin, and economic status. As a result, some Filipinos may feel “intimidated” when speaking to someone fluent in English, due to the weight of the language’s socioeconomic connotations.

But this doesn’t mean that Filipino has fallen to the wayside. The Philippines’ national language (and all 111 regional variations of it) is strongly intertwined with the Filipino identity. Widely seen as an “expressive” language, Filipino captures nuances and emotions that English often cannot. It is often the language of choice in everyday conversations, whether it’s during casual tsismis sessions or in the humor and drama of pop culture. Although speaking English is sometimes necessary, especially in educational settings that require it, to speak the language casually is sometimes met with teasing and accusations of being too “conyo.”

The English versus Filipino debate has long held a place in the Philippine imagination, with no definitive conclusion or winner in sight. Both languages continue to coexist, each serving its purpose in different contexts. Ultimately, the debate reflects the Philippines’ complex cultural landscape, where language is not just a tool for communication, but also a symbol of one’s national identity.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Philippines has 111 dialects. This is, in fact, referring to the various Filipino languages that span different regions in the country.