What Does ‘Abunas’ Mean for Queer Filipino Creatives?
Step into a crowded Manila art fair, and you might overhear a burst of laughter, “Ay, abunas yarn!” It’s a word that has leapt from the shadows of queer corners into the bright, creative heart of the Filipino LGBT+ scene. But what does “abunas” really mean, and why does it make queer artists light up with recognition and pride?
“Abunas”, quick, clever, and a little mysterious, belongs to the ever-evolving language of swardspeak, or “gay lingo.” This colorful Taglish argot has, for decades, woven itself through conversations among Filipino LGBT+ folk. It’s more than a code. It’s an embrace, a wink, and at times, a shield from a world that can be both dazzling and dangerous. According to Wikipedia’s entry on Swardspeak, this dynamic tongue borrows from Tagalog, English, Spanish, and more, giving old words new sparkle and inventing fresh ones “to react to popular trends and create alternatives to a strictly defined lifestyle.”
‘Abunas’ in Creative Circles
For queer artists and creatives, words like “abunas” aren’t just slang, they’re tiny acts of self-making. Picture a painter from Cebu slipping the word into a mural title, or a Manila spoken word poet channeling its playful defiance onstage. “Abunas” conjures up images of abundance, extra-ness, spillage, of giving a little more flair, drama, or love than society sometimes expects. Among friends it can mean “OA” (over-acting) or “bongga” (fabulous), but always with affection. The point isn’t just the word, but what it represents: the power of language to signal belonging, resilience, creativity, and, sometimes, joyful rebellion (Queer Artists Speak Out, BluPrint).
Swardspeak: Both Armor and Invitation
Historically, swardspeak let queer Filipinos find, celebrate, and protect each other in industries where queerness was “tolerated, not celebrated.” Now, as queer creatives take center stage, from makeup artists shaping celebrities on magazine covers to DJs at queer-friendly safe spaces, the language has become a badge of communal pride (Queer Creatives in the Philippine Beauty Industry, Allure PH).
“Language is a sanctuary,” says one young digital illustrator. “When I hear someone say abunas, I know I’m home.”
The Power of Naming
To be a queer Filipino creative in 2025 is to be part of a movement where language both marks difference and creates family. “Abunas” is more than a punchline, it’s a call to live, love, and make art abundantly, even when the world tries to trim you down. So here’s to speaking and living abunas, out loud and together!
Kwentuhan tayo, what’s your favorite swardspeak? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
