pulahan

Cebuano

Etymology

From pula +‎ -han, after their use of red robes.

Noun

pulahan

1. (historical, often capitalized) a member of a religious group in the Visayas that followed a syncretic form of Catholicism, mixed with ancient Filipino animist beliefs before the Philippine Revolution

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /pulaˈhan/ [pʊ.lɐˈhan̪]
• Rhymes: -an
• Syllabification: pu‧la‧han

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Cebuano pulahan, after their use of red robes.

Alternative forms

• Pulahan
• Pulajanes

Noun

pulahán (Baybayin spelling ᜉᜓᜎᜑᜈ᜔)

1. (historical, often capitalized) a member of a religious group in the Visayas that followed a syncretic form of Catholicism, mixed with ancient Filipino animist beliefs before the Philippine Revolution
   • 1990, Loren Legarda, Roy C. Iglesias, PEP talk: the book:

     Bata pa lamang ay sumapi na siya sa mga Pulahan — isang armadong grupo laban sa administrasyong kolonyal. Nakilala siya bilang manggagamot at guro.

     When he was young, he joined the Pulahan — an armed group against the colonial administration. He was known as a doctor and a teacher.

Derived terms

• pulahanes

 

Etymology 2

From pula +‎ -han, from the association of red to communism and socialism. First used against the Hukbalahap.

Noun

pulahán (Baybayin spelling ᜉᜓᜎᜑᜈ᜔)

1. (politics, derogatory) red; commie; leftist

   Synonyms: komunista, makakaliwa, sosyalista

   • 1992, Dante G. Guevarra, Unyonismo sa Pilipinas:

     Inakusahan ng mga grupong maka-kaliwa ang mga "dilawan" ng pagdaragdag ng mga delegado sa listahan, habang pinaratangan naman ng huli ang mga "pulahan" ng panggugulo sa bulwagan ng kumbensyon.

     The left-wing groups accused the Liberals of adding delegates to the list, while the latter accused the reds of rioting in the convention center.

   • 1997, Amado V. Hernandez, Magkabilang Mukha Ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda, University of Philippines Press, →ISBN:

     Mga pulahan sa talaang itim. Sa isang salita, lahat ng unyong manggagawa ng mga company union, lahat ng naghahangad na mabago ang mga progresibo at rebolusyonaryo.

     Commies in the blacklist. In short, all labor unions of company unions, [and] anyone wishing to change how progressives and revolutionaries are viewed.

Coordinate terms

• dilawan

Further reading

• “pulahan”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018