pare.

pare [noun] – masculine; a word usually used to connote a relationship; can be used for male friends or male colleagues; shortened form of kumpare, referring to your child’s godfather in Philippine context; from the Spanish compadre; with emerging popularity among the not-so-straight-guys to pretend to be oh-so-straight.

It’s funny how some guys (let’s deter using the term ‘men/man’ for ambiguity’s sake) exploit the term during social functions, i.e., during simple parties and human interaction. It wouldn’t be so funny if the guy who’s using it can hide their not-so-straightness very well. But if you wear the invisible sign all over you body, well, that’s the time it becomes weird and annoying.

I don’t have a problem in having friends belonging to the various classifications of gender. My problem comes when one is in deep denial that he himself feels awkward. It’s like Pare , s’an na kayo, pare ? Pero, teka pare pa-Manila ako eh. Ok lang ba pare kung blah blah blah pare . Putang ina.

I say pare if you’re more comfortable with your affricate words – those that starts with ‘ch-‘ like choz, chorva, chuchu, churibells, chever, etc – then by all means use it. You can even use ‘bonggang-bongga’ every now and then. Keri lang. It’s not like we’re going to crucify you for being real pare .