EXPLAINER: Why Filipinos say ‘Mine’ before something is even theirs

It’s simply our way of making sure we don’t miss out.

If Filipinos had a national catchphrase this decade, it’s probably “Mine.”

While it’s become the ultimate jowa flex on social media, “Mine” has also come to mean something else: calling dibs on that cute dress, an out-of-print first-edition novel, or a discounted smartphone before someone else gets to it.

But the “Mine” culture didn’t begin with e-commerce or live selling. Long before we started typing “Mine” in the comments, Filipinos had already been finding ways to claim the things they wanted: the last piece of bagnet on the table, the empty seat beside the window, the unassuming item at the tiangge.

Even when we don’t say it, “Mine” screams through our actions. And when we do, we say it in other ways: “Akin,” “First,” “Dibs,” “Reserved.”

“Mine” isn’t just a word for possession. It’s our shorthand for staking a claim on something we don’t want to miss. Barkadas claim shotgun on a road trip, siblings fight over pasalubong, and colleagues call dibs on the room with the best view during a team building. More than ownership, it’s about making sure something valuable doesn’t pass you by.

We bring that same instinct to shopping, too.

We compare prices across three apps before checking out. We stack as many vouchers as we can. We look for free shipping before placing an order. And when there’s a discount or a freebie, we instinctively ask: “How?”

If there’s something extra to be had, we want it. That’s the same instinct behind “Mine”: the satisfaction of securing something for ourselves, whether it’s an object, a good deal, or simply a little more value. We want to get the most out of what we have, to make everything sulit.

And sometimes, that extra comes simply from paying for the things we already buy: cashback.

If everyday spending can give us something back, isn’t that another reason to say “Mine”? That’s the idea behind the Maya Card, which gives 1% cashback when paying in-store or online anywhere in the country.

Users can earn cashback even on a ₱1 purchase, up to ₱3,000 per user per month, until March 31, 2027.

Maybe the next barkada food trip comes with a little pag-aagawan of its own. Even when the bill is KKB, someone might be quick to say “Mine” and pay first, knowing everyone can settle their share later.

After all, if there’s more value to get out of money we’re already spending, we want to claim it. The deal, the rewards, the cashback? Mine!

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