I want my son to call me 'Tatay'
By silentwill
@silentwill (1685)
Philippines
October 31, 2012 12:44pm CST
Before our son was born aside from his name, I was already thinking what I'd want him to call me. It's becoming more and more common here in our country that we use the English words to refer to our parents: mom, mommy, mama, dad, daddy, papa etc. "Daddy" was eventually the one we have chosen. I thought it sounds nice and true enough having my step-son call me daddy felt great.
But now I realize I want my son to call me something else. I want him to simply call me Tatay, the Filipino word for father. It is perhaps more used by poorer Filipino families, but even some poor Filipino father now may be called a daddy. I feel that it is more appropriate for because I am a probinsyano and regardless of our father's link to a one of the country's wealthiest, our own family lives a simple life. And as some of you may remember, I'd love to continue living that way.
I can't wait to hear the words 'tatay' to refer to me. It's what we called our father. And it's what my baby will call me...
3 people like this
19 responses
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
1 Nov 12
I am not a dad yet so I dont know what will my future son or daughter will call me. AT this moment though I am not ready yet. I have to be rich first before I decided to spawn my seeds and multiply a clan.I have to be practical first.
1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
I guess you don't believe in the end of the world later this year. 
It's an inside joke among my friends that most of us had a baby this year because we want to catch up before the world ends.
It's understandable that you want to have the best for your kids that is why you wanna get rich first before thinking about having one. I myself though, do not have any mbition to be rich. I just want a simple life and that's how I'd like to raise my kids.
It's an inside joke among my friends that most of us had a baby this year because we want to catch up before the world ends.
It's understandable that you want to have the best for your kids that is why you wanna get rich first before thinking about having one. I myself though, do not have any mbition to be rich. I just want a simple life and that's how I'd like to raise my kids.1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Did any of his predictions come true?
Hmmm retiring to be able to homeschool your kids? Sounds like a great idea! I hope though that you do reach that goal early on. Hard to be a new father when you turn 60.
Hmmm retiring to be able to homeschool your kids? Sounds like a great idea! I hope though that you do reach that goal early on. Hard to be a new father when you turn 60.1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
1 Nov 12
John Titor from 2036 s able to time travel back to our time so I guess we are safe in 2012...( am such a nerd to believe John Titor exist....Nah I am just wishfully thinking)
I do have plans spawning little Junior Whiskers soon but its not yet the time.I want to be rich enough to homeschool them. I am the type of person who will retire once I became a dad because I will homeschool my kids.
I do have plans spawning little Junior Whiskers soon but its not yet the time.I want to be rich enough to homeschool them. I am the type of person who will retire once I became a dad because I will homeschool my kids.1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
16 Nov 12
Maybe it's still common in more rural areas but in our Barrio it is not. Parents are mommy and daddy or mama and papa now. The fact that you said it's cool to be called tatay already gives an impression it is not common anymore doesn't it?
1 person likes this
@angelkarah050182 (4980)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Oh, how sweet... I guess it's good to be called "tatay." I used to call my father "daddy" and my mother "mommy." However, when I was younger, when I talked to my friends, I usually call them "nanay and "tatay." You're right. Most of the rich people use mom, mommy, dad and daddy. When we use them with other people, it's like we're showing off. I hope your baby will call you "tatay." Thanks for sharing and happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
When I was a kid yeah it sounded to me like showing off when I hear kids from our province call their parents mommy and daddy. But now I don't think so, it's just become really more common. But I don't know maybe in more secluded areas than our province there are still more tatays out there or there are called by their native dialects.
1 person likes this
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
1 Nov 12
well you can talk to your son and inform him to call you in such a way for sure,that is good
1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
My son is only a month old so it'll take a while before he starts calling me. If you meant my step-son I'm not sure if it's still a good idea to change how he calls me because he's gotten used to calling me daddy ____ and I've gotten used to hearing it from him.
1 person likes this
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
I also wanted to be called tatay when I become a father. Sounds more family and endearing to me. We used to call our father Dad cause it was what we have used to and grown up to. But we used to call our grandparents not lolo and lola but Nanay and Tatay.
1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
It just feels different to be called in English. 'Tatay' sounds more natural and yes endearing.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
That is true. We should be proud to use them because it's from our own language. It's really a shame that it's being replaced with English terms now.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
31 Oct 12
There are still couples who prefer to be called that way "tatay and nanay".
My kids call me "mama" which I prefer myself my kids to address.
I guess in this modern time, you are among the rare parents who preferred to be called "tatay" and I admire you for that
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Yes. I think it's becoming rare to be called 'nanay' or 'tatay' these days. Even in our neighborhood in the province parents are mommyand daddy or mama and papa.
@gaiza12 (4884)
• Philippines
31 Oct 12
You remind me of my bf. He said to me before that he also would want to be called Tatay. He is also a "probinsyano" or a boy who grew up in the province and calls his dad tatay. I call his dad tatay as well. I told him why not papa, I am a city girl and I really don't like the sound of tatay. But, now, I'm thinking that it is a good name to call my bf if we ever get to have kids. It's really not bad hearing it, not at all 
1 person likes this
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Hi gaiza12, thank you for sharing! Yes it sounds sweet actually. We call out dad 'tatay' or 'tay' for short and I think it sounds more affectionate.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
I see noting wrong with that. I think that it is a way of being humble, too being among a well-known family in the country.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
It's just a matter of preference. Yes it is more humble-sounding and for me more affectionate too.
@maurya83 (923)
• India
1 Nov 12
Thats sweet, I dont know much about your culture but i really appreciate your spirit :) I belong to a very simple Indian family, we used to call my let father "babuji" and he really loved being addressed in this way. I never asked my hubby that how will he like to be addressed..actually it didn't come in my mind before reading your post..but i can say he will not prefer to being addressed 'babuji' or 'pitaji' or something like that outside the house.:)
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
I'd like to stick to my roots and also stick to our native language. Tatay I think is still more common than Ama, Itang, Itay or Tatang (the latter was what my mom's father was called), but it siunds more affectionate for me, I guess because I remember my own father with it.
@Clickston2 (39)
• Kenya
1 Nov 12
Children while growing up imitate the environment. I think if you get everybody around to refer to you frequently as "Tatay" it could just work.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
That's correct. So my wife and myself will need to call me 'tatay' in front of him to imitate it. I'm not sure if my step son can call me that anymore, he's now used to calling me daddy followed by my name.
@franseman (516)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
The proper language has nothing to do with a simple or wealthy lifestyle. Tagalog IS the Philippine language and unfortunately English is now very common. For me that's a good thing because I'm a foreigner hehehehehe. But I also noticed that many people don't speak English too well. The well known nose bleed.
But I guess you're very right when you want your kid to call you Tatay. And he is anak.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
English has become very common with those who live in the city. In lots of provinces people struggle with their English specially those parents who were not able to afford to (finish) their studies. That's where the gap comes into play. Those who can afford are exposed to English and embraces the term mommy and daddy. To the poor it's unusual since they probably don't understand the language at all.
1 person likes this
@Sindelle (824)
• United States
1 Nov 12
Well I hope he learns that word quickly so he might put a big smile on your face. While you've stated that is normally used my less fortunate families it also at least to me (American) comes off as a little more traditional. For that reason I like it too.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
He's only a month old so it's gonna take a while before I hear my baby call me that. Yes it is more traditional and it fits me and my background.
@kardashianjenner (13)
•
1 Nov 12
It's kinda sweet actually but very rare nowadays.
we call our lolo "tatay".
Yea, i've also noticed that. i know some who call their father (a tricycle driver), "daddy".
But I think Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legazpi's adorable twins call them "nanay at tatay", very endearing :)
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Wow never heard of that before. If that's true I think it's very admirable for someone on their stature to be vocal about bejng called nanay and tatay. It shows their love for our own language and the terms sound even more humble.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71659)
• United States
1 Nov 12
If you mostly speak the native language I dont see a reason to call you an english name. I think it is up to you what you have your son call you. Any name sounds good I think as long as it means the same thing. I call my mom mother most of the time. But usually I call my father dad. I dont know why lol.
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
I don't know why it became more common to be called mommy or daddy even for families who barely speaks English.
Well my wife is called mama by her son and our baby will be calling her that for sure. I won't be papa but 'tatay' instead.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Dec 12
hi silentwill that has a musical sound.,I have noticed some of the Filipino
words have musical sounds. I am from the US and am an American so am m ore
familiar with Daddy, Dad or father but I think that TayTay has a nice ring to
it and you will burst with pride being called a taytay
@chiwasaki (4694)
• Philippines
2 Dec 12
I also noticed that Daddy is becoming more and more common nowadays. Its weird but I want my future children to call me Love instead. I call my boyfriend as Love or Love Love. Even my friends are used calling us Love. So I guess it will be cute of my kid will call my future husband Love Love. =)
@jhustinian (612)
• Philippines
16 Feb 13
I agree that it's more frequently used by poor families...but I still do think that Tatay, Nanay, Ama and Ina sound more like it came from deep love for the parents. I call my mother and my late father, Nanay and Tatay too. And even though I know that it is not usually used by rich families, and I'm the only one in my circle of friends who call my parents that way, I really don't feel ashamed, I actually feel proud of it. To me, calling my parents in those terms is more like an endearment.
I hope your child will feel the same ways as I about calling his/her parents that way. :D
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
1 Nov 12
Wow I've never heard of a foreigner being called 'tatay' really unusual but it's great he thinks it sounds sweet.
