They didn’t have English dictionaries then, but today, every household has one. But very few Filipinos use it.

Take, for instance, television. Listen to how the newscasters mispronounce or stumble over the names of countries, cities, leaders of the world. Then, there are those who take it upon themselves to pronounce as they see chic – emphasizing ZZ in word where there are none – Spezzcializzazzion. Dictionaries are everywhere. Check if it’s pronounced as Z or S.

The same with definitions. All, especially those in broadcast media, should be aware of the specific meanings of word before they make it part of their vocabulary; before the misused word becomes a habit.

Of late, the headlines have noted the use – or misuse – of the word "bitch." Some in broadcast media define the word simply as a female dog. Not quite.

My household has a pet dog. She is home-bound. Our pet is not allowed out to fare for herself – she is not allowed to hangout and socialize in the streets. She is led on a leash when outdoors. In the contemporary usage, our dog cannot be referred to as a bitch. No one calls our pet a bitch. She called Doggie, or Brownie, or Sweetheart. The nomenclature bitch is inconsistent with her persona, her lifestyle.

While a bitch in fact is a female dog, but when referred to a human, according to Merriam-Webster, a bitch is "a lewd, immoral, malicious, spiteful woman." A bitch has this connotation of immorality from the fact that a bitch (female dog) is always out in the streets, popping her cork for every gratification received, especially from every bulldog that comes along.

If Albay Governor Jose Salceda had been smarter, he would have first looked at a dictionary before using the word "bitch" in describing his country’s president, to whom he is heavily beholden. He used a word whose profound meaning he did not know.

Calling a woman a bitch is a no-no. If anyone calls you a bitch, sue him for defamation of character.

And while we’re on the subject of name-calling, there is Romulo Neri. Is Neri a person who goes around cursing people? Does Neri go around everyday calling people "evil"? Has Neri called so many people "evil" that he no longer remembers who and when, and whether GMA is among his colleagues he refers to as evil?

There are individuals who are prone to name-calling. It is part of their vocabulary and upbringing. Tangle with him and you receive his "demonyo ka" or some damning expression. These people, Neri among them, can no longer remember those that he had called "evil" along the way.

But ethical people do not go around cussing and damning and swearing at others. On those rare occasions that ethical people are pushed to cuss, they remember the incident vividly, for a long time nursing the guilt, cannot forget, and ultimately apologizes to the recipient of his fury.

Unbelievable that Romulo Neri is unable to remember that he called his President GMA "evil."

"I am sorry. I really cannot remember if I ever called President Arroyo ‘evil’. I do not remember if I ever referred to her as evil. I really cannot remember. I have no recollection. Call the president evil? I don’t remember."