Language lives and changes, collecting new meanings while letting others fade as it grows with its speakers. But what happens when those meanings collide across generations? The recent controversy surrounding ABS-CBN news anchor Alvin Elchico serves as a telling example between evolving language and generational interpretation.

On his morning radio program Gising Pillipinas, Elchico casually dropped the phrase “bembang pa more,” unaware that to many younger generations, specifically Gen Z listeners, that the word bembang had already migrated far from its original meaning. 

Where it once meant “to get scolded,” the word now colloquially refers to sex. This cued the social media backlash. Elchico found himself on the receiving end of comments accusing him of making an inappropriate remark on public radiocast. 

Notably, he stood by his usage, explaining that for his generation, the term did not bear any provocative implication. And he’s not wrong. You can give a word a fresh meaning and usage, but its history is still there and will continue to remain for those who were aware of the definition of its time. 

There is a difference between being outdated and being offensive, and this incident aligns more closely with the former.

This issue isn’t about a tone-deaf reporting or irresponsibility in journalism. It’s about generational semantics. A clash of dictionaries from the past and the present with one word carrying two unique meanings. With slang, borrowed language and colloquial expressions coexisting and rapidly growing with the influence of social media, these terms mutate at a faster speed. 

Digital culture has actively promoted an advocacy for mindful speech. But while it is fair to practice this, it is also necessary to acknowledge context. This does not aim to dismiss the concern of the Gen Z audiences and listeners. In fact, it is commendable that the younger generation consistently seeks responsible usage of freedom in speech. It is a simple reminder that the words we inherit, together with the words we reinvent, both have their place. 

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