A Foreigner's Guide To Filipino "HUGOT" Lines

Filipinos are romantic people. Every now and then Filipinos will utter a phrase in either English or in the Philippine language that depicts how Filipinos feel at the moment that it's overly cheesy or dramatic.

"Hugot" pronounced as who-goat means pull-out, is like an emotional reverse pick-up line or quote. It is intended as a joke or pun put together as a statement based on experiences, things or situations especially based on LOVE. Filipinos often use hugot lines as an ice-breaker, to liven up a crowd or to simply express a feeling that wouldn't look too awkward to the romantic interest.

Below are some hugot lines in English:

Here are original Hugot Lines in Filipino translated in English:

Our love is like facebook, you can like, you can comment, but it should not be shared.

Love is like our mucus, why do you keep on pulling it back when it's better to let go?

Love is like coffee, if you neglect it, it gets cold.

If true love waits; where is the waiting area so I can wait for you?

Are you a phone charger? Because I don't know where to get my power except from you.

They say love is like a cigarette, I ask why was it invented in the first place if pain is all I get from it in the end?

Dear Crush, I wish you are rain and I am the earth so that whatever you do, you will always end up with me.

Love is just like boxing, even if you haven't started it yet, you must be ready to get hurt.

Love is like a fart, no matter what you do, you can't hide it. And when you express how you feel, everyone will smell and recognize it, even if you won't admit it.

Anybody can create a hugot line, as long as it sounds funny and true. It should be emotional like it painfully strikes the heart. Most hugot lines are metaphors, likening things to feelings and experiences.

There are thousands of hugot lines and every Filipino identifies with all these. It will always be part of the Filipino's romantic and creative culture. We take hardships or heartbreaks and twist it in jokes to make life easier. Hugot lines gives a sense of reality, based on painful romantic experiences or advices from the pains of life in which they made to give light of or used just for fun. If expressed with a dramatic approach, the more laughter it gets from others.

Filipinos believe that it is all about balance, love and life is hard but it's not all that bad either, so why not have a laugh about it?

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