“MUSTA ka?” is the most common term or greeting among Filipinos. It’s an ordinary word, but it connotes more than its intention. It could be a simple hello to a prying eye.

“Musta ka?”

If you are sick, it could mean “I hope you are well” or “Tell me your real condition.” It could be one way of saying, “I am thinking of you,” or “I am worried about you.”

If out of the blue, it could refer to the last topic you have discussed. It could mean, “Can you remember?”

“Musta ka?”

If you pass by, it could be a typical greeting or a way of telling you you are noticed.

If you only met a person and received a text message, it could be a sign that your first meeting and conversation is not the last. It’s telling you, “Can we meet again?”

If you owe something, it’s a subtle way of telling you to pay your obligation. It means “Magbayad ka na please!”

“Musta ka?”

For two close friends, it means “I miss you,” “I am here for you,” “I care about you,” or “I am just here when you need me”.

For two strangers, it becomes the first word to start a conversation.

For members of the family, it could mean “Tell me your activities today” or simply “What happened today?”

For a person secretly in love, it’s an obscure way of saying “I am thinking of you” or “I love you.”

“Musta ka?”

For Marites (Mare, ano ang latest?) and Tolits (Tol, ito ang latest?), it means “Tell me more”. It is always the start of more gossiping.

For ordinary people in the streets, it could be “Can you survive for another day?” or “Kaya pa?”

More often, “Musta ka?” could be the start of something beautiful. It builds friendship and trust. It creates memories worth lasting.

Sometimes, when you have nothing to say but want to say something, you just casually say, “Musta ka.” Not a question, just a phrase. But it’s the beginning.

Sometimes, too, “Musta ka?” becomes so ordinary that the phrase becomes an alibi to avoid more serious conversation.

Words are so powerful that sometimes it changes the course of our life. Can you remember a moment when someone said “Musta ka?” and it transformed into something significant in your

life?

Sometimes the little moments are the ones worth remembering and lasting. The simple acts are the start of something big.

So, when somebody says “Musta ka?”, feel the intention rather than the word. Who knows, it could be the paint to color your world.

“Musta ka?’