Why I Can’t Say This in English: Discovering Our Loob as Filipinos (Filipino Episode)
What if some of our most profound feelings, instincts, and ways of being… have no English equivalent?
In this episode, I explore the uniquely Filipino concept of loob—a word that goes beyond "inside," and into the very depths of our personhood. Together, we’ll journey through words like pakikiramdam, utang na loob, bahala na, and kapwa. Terms often misunderstood, often mistranslated, yet intimately woven into how we see ourselves and others.
We’ll also talk about what it means to be called “mahiyain,” “too emotional,” or “non-confrontational, ”and how these outsider labels miss the complexity of our inner world. At the heart of it all is a burning question:
What does it really mean to speak in your own language?
🗣 Note: This episode is spoken entirely in Filipino, in celebration of Buwan ng Wika and in honor of our shared loob as a people.
If this resonates with you, let me know! I'd love to create more episodes in Filipino and continue exploring the language of our loob together.
This isn’t just a lesson in words.
It’s a soft invitation to return to something deeper.
To the soul of who we are when we are not trying to explain ourselves in someone else’s tongue.
If this episode made you pause, reflect, or think twice about the words we carry and the language that carries us, I’d love for you to stay connected with the LilWeird Universe.
Here, we dig deep into the stories and meanings that don’t always translate and that’s the magic. You can support the podcast, explore more curious content, and help keep this little world growing, glowing, and wonderfully weird.
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Thank you for listening and for keeping wonder alive.
Stay curious. Keep your wonder close. 🌙✨
A gentle note:
This episode of LilWeird Podcast is a blend of researched facts, folklore, personal reflection, and creative storytelling. While efforts were made to ensure accuracy, this episode is intended for curious exploration, not as a scientific or academic resource. Listener discretion is encouraged when interpreting historical or cultural content.
References and suggested readings:
Enriquez, V. G. (1992).https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1026123W/From_Colonial_to_Liberation_Psychology University of the Philippines Press.
Covar, P. R. (1998). https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15733347-larangan National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
