If you’re interested in Philippine politics, you’ve likely come across the term SWOH on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, and even Reddit, where Filipino “mamaru” (know-it-all) individuals discuss a wide range of topics.

But what exactly does SWOH mean or stand for?

When someone includes this term in their social media posts or comments, it’s clear from the context that they’re referring to someone who should not be named. It indeed sounds like “he/she who must not be named.”

A quick Google search reveals that SWOH refers to someone named Sara, and Google is quite efficient at providing the information you need.

In essence, SWOH has two variations, depending on recent events or circumstances. Originally, SWOH meant “Sara Without H,” with the “h” being a blank that you can fill in.

This reference is to none other than the former Davao mayor and now Vice President, Sara Duterte.

However, politically engaged individuals in the Philippines prefer to interpret it as “Sara Without Heart,” a direct and somewhat harsh criticism. But what exactly do they mean by that, and when did this acronym become part of the Philippine political lexicon?

After conducting some research, I found that this acronym first emerged on the World Wide Web in 2021, on Twitter, of course!

A quick search in the Google archives reveals that SWOH was first posted on Twitter on November 10, 2021, by an account named DAVAOMIGRANT (@nabunturanguy).

To his credit, DAVAOMIGRANT shared a screenshot of a Rappler story with the tweet: “More on the saga of the PIO of Sara without H! Umaalingasaw na ang BAHO ni SWOH!”

The Rappler news story covered a drug raid in Davao, and for some reason, the name of then Davao mayor Sara Duterte was mentioned.

Certainly, this wasn’t the first time SWOH was used or mentioned; it’s just that, according to Google, it was the first time it was posted online. It’s safe to assume that it initially began as a local term in Davao- most likely spread through word of mouth- to refer to a powerful figure like the daughter of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sara Duterte is indeed known for her tough and confrontational behavior. In 2011, she gained widespread attention when, as mayor, she physically confronted- meaning, punched- a court sheriff during a demolition operation, directly disregarding the constitutional principle of the separation of powers. Notably, Sara is also a lawyer, like her father.

The use of SWOH on social media became more prominent in 2022 when Sara was elected Vice President.

A few days after the national election results were declared, the term SWOH found its way into the popular website urbandictionary.com.

If you now search for the term on Google, this Urban Dictionary entry will be at the top of the list.

The entry reads: “This means ‘Sara Without Honesty.’ It slightly alludes to her name not being spelled the typical Filipino way (Sarah) and also refers to one of her interviews in which she stated that ‘honesty is not needed for elected officials.'” It was first posted on May 20, 2022, by a user named  yyooimu.

It’s worth noting that the meaning of the term appears to have been recently edited, leading to the two variations: “Without Heart” and now “Without Honesty.”

The latter arises from a recent scandal involving the Vice President’s secretive and, as some critics allege, corruption-tainted confidential funds.

Sara Duterte has become increasingly defiant amidst an ongoing investigation into her suspicious and, according to some critics, corruption-riddled intelligence or confidential funds. To defend her access to these funds, she has even attacked those who question her use of these funds, labeling them as state enemies and as threats to peace and order.

Filipinos are known for their clever posts and humorous memes. As a result, some have devised playful variations on SWOH, with some sharing “SWOHpang,” while others opt for “Fiona SWOH” in their posts.

And thus, the “Sara without honesty” variation emerged. Indeed, it’s always interesting in these parts, and we wouldn’t want to call our country “PWOF”—”Philippines Without Fun.”