Maybe Esperanto would’ve done the trick

BY REGINA BENGCO

DO demons literally come with a global economic crisis?

If one were to listen intently to President Arroyo’s speech before the Congress of Beneficiaries of Government Programs at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila Monday afternoon, one would hear about an "impakto" (evil spirit) from the global crisis which the Arroyo administration has purportedly exorcised at the country’s doorsteps.

It was one of those occasions when Arroyo, who holds a doctorate in economics, attempted to explain to the masses, in Tagalog, the effects of the global crisis and how government fought it.

Unfortunately, the President is poor when it comes to speaking in her national language, and poorer when it comes to translating English words to Tagalog, which come out in literal and hilarious translations.

And so, before the poor beneficiaries of government programs, Arroyo delivered this line: "Ang Pilipinas, sa kabila ng mga hamon ng isang bansang umuunlad pa lamang, ay nakahanda para sa mga PANDAIGDIGANG KASINDAKAN. Mas malala pa sana ang nangyari dito kung hindi natin ginawa ilang taon nakaraan yung mga kailangang reporma sa ekonomiya at kaban ng bayan. Nakapigil itong mga repormang ito, ‘yung papasok sana na IMPAKTO ng pandaigdigang krisis napigil natin siya sa ating PINTUAN."

Say again?

Try translating "pandaigdigang kasindakan" to "global shocks," "impakto" to "impact," and "pintuan" to "front door or doorsteps."

And you will have: "The Philippines, despite the challenges faced by a developing nation, was ready for the global shocks. The effects (of the global crisis) could have been worse if we had not implemented the much-needed reforms on the economy and revenue generation a few years ago. These reforms stopped the impact (or "effects") of the global crisis right on our doorsteps."

Unfortunately, what lingered in the minds of some Palace reporters was the part about the "papasok sana na impakto ng pandaigdigang krisis napigil natin siya sa ating pintuan."

"Impakto" is an evil spirit in Filipino folklore, usually referring to imps, dwarfs, and elves. Arroyo translated "impact" literally when she should have used the word "epekto" or effect.

The English equivalent of the President’s wrong translation or choice of Tagalog words is: "the evil spirit of the global crisis that we prevented from entering our front door."

And according to Arroyo, the global crisis was fought off with her "masusing reporma" or "key reforms." Again, she literally translated "key" for "susi" when the word "masusi" is used to mean "thorough" (as in "masusing imbestigasyon" or "thorough investigation").

The crowd that was listening to her and was especially herded for the occasion apparently missed her message, and the grammatical lapses in her speech that was delivered in Filipino, because they continued to cheer.

Arroyo said because of her "key reforms," the peso remained stable, the investors flocked to the country, and the Philippines’ standing before the international credit ratings agencies improved.

She said compared with most countries in Asia, the Philippine economy fared better during the global crisis and the benefits should be given back to the people because they bore the burden of additional taxes.


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