The Filipino's Art of Calling Out Stupidity

I was sipping my morning coffee, scrolling through the news about the latest press conference from Sara Duterte.

Lately, it’s become something of a habit for her—holding these pressers every time a new issue about her wanton spending of the people’s money pops up in the ongoing quad investigation at the lower house.

Woe to me for clicking the comment section, but I couldn’t help it.

In that thread, you could witness die-hard supporters of the embattled VP professing their undying loyalty, some even going as far as declaring her “the best vice president of the Philippines.” And the comments that followed? You guessed it—a rain of “Bobo Ampotah.”

Whether you’re scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, or the comments section of your latest political post, someone’s bound to drop this bomb. It usually comes after a particularly absurd or misinformed opinion—something that makes your brain hurt just reading it.

And while it’s tempting to believe this phrase is reserved for the clueless or uninformed, let’s be honest, we’ve seen it used by every group, from DDS supporters and Marcos loyalists to even the most well-meaning Leni Robredo fans.

But this isn’t new.

Before “Bobo Ampotah” became a go-to phrase online, there was “Ang tanga mo naman.” Or if you grew up in the ‘80s, you might remember the softer yet equally biting “Evaporated milk siguro pina-dede sa’yo ng nanay mo nung baby ka, ano?” Back then, insults had a bit more flair—sure, they were mean, but they had creativity.

Fast forward to today, and instead of upgrading, we’ve downgraded our language to the more direct and cruder “Bobo Ampotah.”

No time for poetic jabs—just hit ‘em hard and fast.

It’s not just an expression reserved for the baklang kanal or the row 4 occupant either.

These days, even an educated primadonna could be caught using it—sometimes in jest, other times in frustration, and always with a side of sarcasm.

Thing is, Filipinos are normally shy, reserved, and non-confrontational, but when it comes to calling someone out? They no longer hold back, especially online, where we are more intrepid.

Whether it’s a stranger, a public figure, or even a friend, the gloves come off, and the phrase “Bobo Ampotah” flies around as easily as a casual greeting.

Social media made it easier.

Back then, you had to wait until recess to tell someone they were stupid.

Now, all it takes is a few keystrokes and a solid internet connection, and bam—“Bobo Ampotah” is unleashed into the digital void.

Social media has turned everyday disagreements into full-on battlegrounds, where the sharpest insults cut through.

And here’s a little online gem: someone posted “I thought AMP meant ‘Ampotah,’ turns out it means ‘Ain’t My Problem!’”

In that moment, the internet took absurdity and just... ran with it. Cue the ROFL reacts.

But here’s the thing: “Bobo Ampotah” doesn’t always mean the person saying it is a genius.

Most of the time, it’s just disbelief.

It’s the only way to respond when you’ve been hit with a statement so absurd that your brain cells take a minute to recover.

Filipinos can be blunt like that. We don’t tiptoe around stupidity—we just call it out.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve downgraded to “Bobo Ampotah”—the verbal equivalent of slapping someone with a truth bomb.

And let’s be real: whether it’s “Tanga Ampotah” or “Bobo Ampotah,” it’s not about proving who’s smarter. It’s more about saying, “How in the world did you come up with that?”

Then there’s Uncle Iroh.

You remember him, right? Zuko’s wise uncle from Avatar: The Last Airbender?

He once said, “Wisdom is a fine wine. It gets better with age. And even though wisdom is trying to chase you, you continue to run away from it.” It’s the most beautiful way of telling someone they’re fucking stupid without actually saying it.

Sound familiar?

Because a lot of the time, “Bobo Ampotah” feels like that.

Wisdom tries to catch up, but people dodge it like they’re in some kind of intellectual parkour, using “Bobo Ampotah” as their weapon of choice.

Instead of engaging in a proper debate or considering another viewpoint, it’s easier to drop the phrase and walk away.

I mean, why waste time arguing when “Bobo Ampotah” gets the job done, right?

That said, using “Bobo Ampotah” doesn’t make you an intellectual heavyweight. It’s more like a shortcut—a way to express, “I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” without diving into a full-blown argument. And that’s the magic of it. Quick. Sharp. Done.

But is it really helping?

Or are we just too tired?

Too tired to correct or share knowledge because we already know that the person is hopeless. Too tired to make an effort when it feels like they wouldn’t listen anyway.

There’s no denying that “Bobo Ampotah” reflects the sarcasm that comes with Filipino humor.

It’s smart-shaming in a way, but it’s also just a coping mechanism—a way for us to laugh off the absurd and move on. Because in Filipino culture, when someone says something that dumb, sometimes laughter is all we’ve got left.

But here’s where it gets tricky.

Are we using phrases like “Bobo Ampotah” to avoid deeper discussions? Or are we just too exhausted to care anymore?

Maybe it’s a bit of both.

And it doesn’t stop with individuals.

The bigger question is: Do we want “Bobo Ampotah” to become part of the Filipino national identity?

What happens when the rest of the world starts associating Filipinos with these sharp, derogatory labels, tossed around so casually online and in everyday conversation? Is this how we want to be known worldwide?

Because if we’re not careful, “Bobo Ampotah” might become more than just an insult—it could become a global reputation. And that’s not something any of us should be proud of.

At the end of the day, while it’s fun to throw around “Bobo Ampotah,” maybe we should also remember that wisdom, no matter how slow, is always chasing us.

And maybe, just maybe, we should let it catch up sometimes.

After all, as fun as it is to use humor to cope with stupidity, it wouldn’t hurt to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves if we’re running from wisdom or just too tired to listen.

Bobo Ampotah may be quick, but wisdom has staying power. And without it, we risk more than just another comment thread.