Pliti Ya!

Today, I saw this infographic in Facebook which reminded me of something that happened in Cebu.

When I was in Cebu earlier this year, I rode a jeepney going to Osmeña circle. It was my first time in a packed jeepney in Cebu and I was hearing everyone using a Cebuano phrase that sounded like "plitiha" to pass their fare payment to the driver.

When I went to Cebu in 2024, I did encounter the same situation but I used the word "palihug". I'm not sure but maybe nobody uses that term in Cebu inside the jeepney.

Hearing nobody else using "palihug" and everyone saying "plitiha", I texted my friend about it but she did not know what phrase I was hearing. Anyway, I think someone passed my fare to the driver without me having to say anything. 

It was not until the next morning when I found out what the phrase I misheard was. When I met with my friend and her husband for coffee, the husband told me that it was "pliti kuya" or "pliti ya". 

I already knew that I was mishearing the phrase inside the jeepney which was why I felt very awkward about saying it. 

I think what I was hearing was "pliti ya" but shortened to "pliti-a" and people tend to add an H in these instances.

I think this is similar as in Chavacano when the H in the Spanish word almohada (which is silent) is pronounced like in English or even Tagalog where the H in the Spanish word harina is also pronounced in the same manner.