mahal kita

(muh-hahl kee-tah) - Filipino transliteration for the expression “I love you”.

When was the last time you said “I love you.” ?

And mind you, I’m not referring to the three words that you just throw around when your drunk or happy or… I’m talking about that “I love you” you took so long to practice saying because you really wanted it to be meaningful and special. The “I love you” you hesitated to say out loud because you know it will change your life.

You know, that kind of “I . LOVE . YOU” that’s both heavy and light. 

In English, we say: I - love - you. Notice how the action word “love” is sandwhiched between two independent pronouns “I” and “You”. It acknowledges that there are two separate beings existing - both attempting to carry/embrace/protect/share this “love”. And as “love” happens/grows/develops, the “I” remains an “I”, and the “You” a “You” . No one actually loses anything. But who’s got time to say three words these days, right? Why not drop them pronouns. and just say “Love you”. Go figure what happens next.

Meanwhile, in Filipino, we say: Mahal - kita, pronounced as muh-hahl kee-tah.

The first word - “mahal” translates to “love”, and the second word “kita” translates to a contraction of the pronouns “I” and “you”.

“Mahal” can be derived from the Arabic word “mahall” which means “place” or “palace”; while “kita” is derived from the Malay pronouns referring to both “I” and “my”, and “us” and “our”. Using these particular etymologies - we discover that the first possible connotation of “Mahal kita” can be - “My palace.” - i.e. to declare yourself as royalty, and the object of your love as your home.

And if we pursue the same derivation further, we may also find that word “mahal” also refers to something/someone of high-value (as in halaga,), and the word “kita” also refers to the ability to see. So to say “Mahal kita”, is almost like saying “nakikita ko halaga mo” - i.e. “I can see your worth”.

But more than the connotative permutations that “Mahal kita” brings - I think what is more inspiring, and heart touching is the amalgamation that occurred with the word “kita”. It seems to be the contracted form of “ako” - “I”, and “tayo” - “us”.

Compared to the separate and independence of “I” and “you” in “I love you” ;  with “kita” - there is no longer an “I” separate or independent from a “You” - but an “I” (ako) moving towards a “You”, in hopes of making an “us” (tayo). Thus, “kita” not only acknowledges a relationship, but refers to the relationship itself.

In a time where the concept of “love” has become trifled - I find comfort knowing that I can say “Mahal kita.” - two seemingly simple Filipino words, but words that literally illustrate Love coming first, and bring forth a transformation between individuals. Two words that when you say will affirm a sense od home, personal worth and hope.