Epilepsy in Philippine language and dialects

ABSTRACT

In the Philippines, English and Filipino (standardized Tagalog) are widely used for media and education. “Epilepsy” and “kumbulsyon” are commonly used terms; “epilepsy” carries a negative connotation based on a local unpublished epilepsy knowledge, attitude and perception survey. Several popular dialects have epilepsy names (patol in Cebuano, kuyap in Ilonggo, bontog in Bicolano, kissiw in Ilocano) but most are descriptions of the convulsive attack. Labels for persons with epilepsy also exist (bontogon, kuyapon, epileptic).