NOW that the Department of Education (DepEd) has called for the intellectualization of regional languages as requirement for multilingual education, let's see how Kapampangan measures up.

"Intellectualizing" a language means expanding its vocabulary and its capacity to articulate every human thought and experience, as well as extending its reach to all areas of scholarship.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

We have to be sure that when Kapampangan becomes a medium of instruction not only in grade school and high school but also in college, there will be enough Kapampangan words to use in medical and nursing schools, for example, or in engineering and business colleges, law schools, etc.

We have to make sure that when students demand Kapampangan explanation for difficult lessons, instructors will have enough Kapampangan words tucked under their belt. They should start retooling themselves with a Kapampangan dictionary to help them translate-if not entire textbooks, at least those difficult words that pop up during class.

Let's start with medical terms.

Teachers, doctors and nurses can always rely on Filipinized terms like "kanser," "dyabetis," "hepataytis," "apendisaytis," etc. but why say "katarak" when we have the indigenous Kapampangan term "bilig" for cataract, or "buklo" for goiter, "balisbis" for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), "bugsuk" for vitiligo, "manguteblan" for constipation, and "batulalangan" for myopia (nearsightedness)?

For diarrhea (loose bowel movement), instead of using the Tagalog word "nagtatae," we can have the whole catalogue of Kapampangan words to choose from: "tagilid," "bulus," "mandaragis," "lalapitpit buldit," and "tilis." "Talam" is the Kapampangan word for an upset stomach.

A tumor is "bukoko," a cyst "bukul," a boil "tigsa," an abscess "bayâ," an open wound "naknak," a contusion "gutul," a mole "kutil," a wart "galugu," a corn "lipak," welts "tagube," scabies "gutli," ringworm "buni," smallpox "bulutung," ingrown nail "tunga," "lipunga" (athlete's foot), mumps "baiki," swollen lymph glands "kulunyayan," ear discharge "tuluk," and pimples "daliwawat." "Nana" is pus while "sayo" is pus with blood.

To describe a fever, we can say "lagnat" but we can be more specific with these terms: "sinat" (slight fever), "ligkig" (shivers), "galunggung" (chills before fever), "galukguk" (chills during fever), and "binat" (relapse). "Balisaso" is urinary tract infection, "lango" is headache, "liyu" is vertigo, and "siging" is loss of consciousness.

A man afflicted with testicular hernia is "mabayag," while a woman with vaginal hernia is "bugalan." Migraine associated with menstruation is "bulanbulan."

A person with conjunctivitis (sore eyes) is "talamuri." A person with intestinal worms is "mabulati" (amoebiasis is "kulapad"). A person who suffers from blowfish poisoning is "mabutiti." Head lice is "kutu" or "kumad", while pubic lice (crab lice) is "tuma."

Harelip is "bungi" or "ngongu," cleft mouth is "simpak." You are "bungal" if you have a missing tooth and "sungal" if all your front teeth are missing.

Bruxism or nocturnal grinding of teeth is "langutngut," while a tingling of the teeth is "linyu." A mouth blister or mouth ulcer is "lasu."

Hepatitis, spleen infection and jaundice are all called "yakyak." The general term for heart ailment is "sawanin."

When a woman is craving for food while infanticipating, she is "mangaliman" or "mamita." On the other hand, abortion is "kikwan." "Taun" is any infant sickness.

Sialorrhea or hypersalivation is "tatalibatab wawa" (referring to bats' mouth-foaming) or "makalpak a lura." Hiccup is "sikut" or "siguk," belching is "tigab," cough is "kuku" (when severe) or "sigma" (when mild). Asthma is "sigasig" while shortness of breath is "pasul." Snoring is "alakak."

"Dusdus" is a scalp disease (characterized by falling hair), "uban" is greying hair, and "kalikubak" is dandruff.

"Lipugdong" is chubbiness, "lubad" is belly fat, "bilbil" is excess fat, "busung" is a swollen belly.

When a man or a woman is sterile, he/she is "baug." When a man is impotent, he is "buguk."

Any deformity is "nawang," but there are very specific terms such as "bukut" (hunchback, humpback), "pingkuk" (club hand), "kikim" (claw hand), "kimo" (crooked fingers), "singkul" or "komang" (twisted arm), "pingko" (club foot), "daklong" (bow legs), "piki" (knock knees), "pakwid" (limp due to a broken hip), and "lumpu" (paralytic). "Dukduk" is a short neck.

"Duling" is cross-eyed, "bulag" is blind, "pipi" is mute, "bingi" is deaf, "tubab" or "maklak" is hard of hearing.