Mabuhay Explained

Mabuhay is a Filipino greeting, usually expressed as Filipino; Pilipino: Mabuhay!, which means "long live!". The term is also occasionally used for toasts during celebrations to mean "cheers". It is similar to the Hawaiʻian expression "aloha".^[1] It is used in the local hospitality industry to welcome guests, a practice rooted in a 1993 campaign launched by restaurateur Rod Ongpauco to more uniquely welcome foreign visitors to the Philippines.^[2]

Mabuhay is also the name of the inflight magazine published by flag-carrier, Philippine Airlines, as well as its frequent-flyer program.

Historical

The word itself has been recorded as a salutation at least early as 1930, when General Douglas MacArthur was sent off amid shouts of “Mabuhay!”^[3] In 1941, the Rotarian noted local chapters using it in conveying well wishes to the service organisation.^[4] In February 1973, a big cloth sign saying “Mabuhay, Maj. Bob Peel”^[5] welcomed released North Vietnam prisoner-of-war, U.S. airman Robert D. Peel, as he stopped by the country as part of Operation Homecoming.^[6]

Current usage

The word is otherwise used in its more traditional form as a cheer, especially during celebrations in a variety of contexts:

• “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Repúblika!”
  (“Long live the Philippines! Long live the Republic!”)
• “Mabuhay ang Pangulo!”
  (“Long live the President!”)
• “Mabuhay ang bagong kasál!”
  (“Long live the newlyweds!”)

Viva

The Spanish equivalent Viva is a special use case, as it is today almost always found in religious contexts. It is specifically part of acclamations directed to a patron saint or God during community feast days and assemblies (e.g., “¡Viva, Señor Santo Niño!” “¡Viva, Poóng Jesús Nazareno!”)

Cognates

A number of other Philippine languages have phrases that are cognates of “Mabuhay”. The Bisayan languages, for example, use the term "Mabuhi",^[7] while Kapampangans have the phrase "Luid ka".^[8]

See also

• Ad multos annos
• Aloha
• Culture of the Philippines
• Filipino language
• Huzzah
  • Hip hip hooray
• Kia Ora
• Merdeka
• Sto lat
• Tagalog language
• Talofa
• Ten thousand years
• The king is dead, long live the king!

Notes and References

1. Book: Lee . Jonathan H. X. . Southeast Asian Diaspora in the United States: Memories and Visions, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow . October 16, 2014 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 978-1-4438-6979-9 . 37 . March 9, 2022 . en.
2. News: Luna, Luis . Welcome Rotonda to have new name . . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation . May 13, 1995 . January 9, 2015 .
3. News: General Macarthur was given a tremendous send-off... He left amid shouts of 'Mabuhay', the tagalog equivalent of 'viva'. . Oxford English Dictionary . Kingsport (Tennessee) Times . September 19, 1930 . June 1, 2024 .
4. News: So, as we were wont to say out there, 'Mabuhay Rotary', meaning not only 'Good-by', but 'May good fortune attend Rotary.' . Oxford English Dictionary . Rotarian . April 1941 . June 1, 2024 .
5. News: Mrs. Adrian gave the major a big cloth sign which said 'Mabuhay, Maj. Bob Peel.' . Oxford English Dictionary . Press-Courier (Oxnard, California) . February 17, 1973 . June 1, 2024 .
6. Web site: 17 September 2024 . Robert D. Peel . 17 September 2024 . Veteran Tributes . English . Lt Peel served as an F-105 pilot with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB from May 1, 1965, until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while on temporary duty to Southeast Asia on May 31, 1965. After spending 2,815 days in captivity, Maj Peel was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973..
7. News: Jarque Loop . Honey . Mabuhi Cebu, Mabuhay Philippines, Viva España! . . July 21, 2011 . August 31, 2022.
8. News: De Jesus . Andrea . 'Luid Ka, Pampanga!' starts airing on CLTV36 . . May 28, 2015 . April 23, 2023.