Different Terms of Endearment

My husband's first name is Henry James.  He is called Henry at work, James by his college and high school friends, Jimboy by close family friends, and Toto by a few relatives.  I call him Dong.  It is something I picked up after we got married and it is not a problem since we live in the United States but it can be when we travel back home to Cebu.  The term Dong refers to a younger male, normally a service worker so when I call out to my husband, the driver or the sales clerk within earshot normally is the one who responds.  I just say, "Not you, I am talking to my Dong", which often elicits a smile.

I am not sure if it is only Filipinos who have a tendency to give nicknames to their children.  My older sister is Maria Theresa (Tessa), I am Maria Lourdes (Ludette), next in line is Maria Fatima (Aimee), followed by Maria Cristina (Cristy or Tina nowadays), and lastly Maria Angeles (Mariles).  Our youngest was also known by the general population of Sacred Heart School for Boys where my late mother taught as Pangga (meaning to care or to love) when she was a child.  Take heed, only a very select few can still call her that since she absolutely dislikes it.  After all, she is a grown woman with three children.  We never did get into the habit of calling our elder siblings "Ate" which is something that Filipinos do to show respect.  

Leaving the Philippines at a young age gave me the privilege of getting to know a group of people who became like family and continue to provide support even when we see each other only every few years.  There are two in particular whom I both call Tuy.  The term is an abbreviation for a certain part of anatomy with which they are very well endowed.    Tuy One is also sometimes referred to as Queen.... just because she is.  Tuy Two was my flat mate for four years and we call each other "Pangit", meaning ugly.  Take note the adjective goes both ways.  We call her husband, who lived in Hongkong for a few years "Pangyao" which means friend in Cantonese because he is one to all.  Our other flat mate, answers to Haze, Tikya, or Gigi.  I cannot recall why she is called the last one.  Regardless of the name by which we are called, the most important thing is that we do respond.  The rest of my Induction 10 sisters are simply called "Sho" which is a slang term for friend  but the bonds are set in cement.  They come through in my moments of need.

There was a period of time when I would call my mother "Mamsa".  I don't know where I picked that up and she played along, signing the bottom of my birthday and Christmas cards with that word.  One of my sisters called her "Mommy Yeow"; I don't know where she picked that up either.

It seems to me that we like to give those for whom we care, special terms of endearment.  We may be the only ones who get the inside joke but "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."