I have to live in Dumaguete to hear this word or expression. It probably is a word known in Cebu and the northern Mindanao provinces of Misamis Oriental (where I lived till I was 11) and Misamis Occidental, but not in the way Dumagueteños use it.
The closest meaning of madahan (accent on first syllable) was shared with me by the late Rev. Dr. Lourdino Yuzon (who preached excellent sermons in Cebuano and English) who said it means “(it) is possible” or “(it) can be done.”
The root word dahan is rarely used by itself; it needs the prefix ma to mean anything specific. Thus, it may be used in the interrogative mode: Madahan ba na? (Can that be done?) Or declarative mode: Oo, madahan kaayo. (Yes, it can be done well/easily.”)
In Dumaguete, the word madahan is used to express incredulousness (disbelief or skepticism), or disapproval, or disagreement. As, for example, in the following situations:
A very loud motorcycle barrels deafeningly down the street. Madahan!
The radio announces a house robbery by a trusted houseboy. Madahan!
Junior’s third grading period grades are all F’s. Madahan!
The driver and the labandera of the neighbor eloped last night. Madahan!
An acquaintance decides to confront her husband’s mistress. Madahan!
Bongbong Marcos may win in May. Madahan!
Our tone of voice when using the word reveals what we mean to say. When Madahan is uttered emphatically with the voice rising slightly on the last syllable, it expresses disbelief. When it’s said with a smile, it expresses playfulness or teasing. Anger is expressed when the word is uttered in a uniformly strong tone for the three syllables, with an added word or phrase after Madahan, as in Madahan pud ka!
Incorporating madahan into our language is so unconsciously done that Dumaguete old-timers who left to live abroad and have returned never forgot the word as an expression, even if they stored it only in their memory, to be dug up and used again in their interaction with old friends upon their return here.
Indeed, we are able to express various degrees of feelings and reactions to social interactions and happenings with just this one word, madahan. But such an economic word, known in a few places only, cannot rival the more widely known kuan (whatcha ma-call, what’s this?) that stands for anything, that’s used in the whole country.
And that’s another story.
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