Mabuhay is a Filipino greeting, usually expressed as Mabuhay!, in the imperative form of life, thus, Live!, from the root word buhay (life).
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Meaning
The phrase carries various meanings including "long live", "may you live", "cheers", "welcome", and "hurrah". It is thus analogous to the Romance language expression “Vive, Viva”, the Hindustani suffix Zindabad, and the Japanese exclamation Banzai.
Usage
The expression is mostly used for toasts during gatherings and parties, and is used as a cry of adulation towards individuals or concepts at rallies and political conferences. A more modern appropriation of the greeting is its use in the local hospitality industry to welcome guests—a practice rooted in a 1993 campaign launched by restaurateur Rod Ongpauco to more uniquely welcome foreign visitors to the Philippines.
Examples
("Long live the Philippines! Long live the Republic!")
("Long live the president!")
("Long live/cheers for the newlyweds!")
Viva
Alternatively, the Spanish equivalent Viva is used in almost exclusively religious contexts, specifically in shouts of praise directed at a patron saint or to God during fiestas and assemblies (e.g., "¡Viva Señor Santo Niño!")