Learn Hardcore Filipino: Bakit wala pa silang sagot sa mensahe ko sa telepono? - Why do they still not have an answer to my message on the phone?

Pa means “yet/still.” Wala by itself means “there is no / doesn’t have.” So wala pa means “there is still no / not yet.” Without pa (e.g., Wala silang sagot), you’re just stating a lack; with pa, you imply you expect an answer later.

Wala pa siya. = He/She isn’t here yet.
Wala na siya. = He/She is gone already.

Why use wala instead of hindi?

Use wala to negate existence or possession; use hindi to negate verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses.

Wala pa silang sagot. = They still have no answer. (no existing answer)
Hindi pa sila sumasagot. = They still aren’t answering. (negating the action)

Why is it silang and not just sila or nila?

The linker -ng attaches to the pronoun before the noun in may/meron/wala constructions. Here, silang links sila to sagot.

Pattern: Wala akong pera. / Meron ka bang tanong? / Wala pa silang sagot.
Sila is the nominative form (“they”). Nila is genitive (“by them/their”), e.g., sagot nila = “their answer.”

What does sagot mean here, and how is it different from sumagot or sagutin?

Sagot is a noun: “answer/reply.”
Verbs from the same root:

sumagot/sumasagot/sasagot (actor-focus): “to answer (someone), to respond”
sagutin/sinasagot/sasagutin (object-focus): “to answer (something)” Examples:
Hindi pa sila sumasagot (sa mensahe ko). = They still aren’t replying.
Hindi pa nila sinasagot ang mensahe ko. = They still aren’t answering my message.

Why is it sagot sa mensahe ko and not sagot ng mensahe ko?

With sagot, sa marks the target/topic: “answer to the message.”
Ng would mean “answer of my message,” which doesn’t make sense here. If you want to say “my answer,” you’d say sagot ko, or “Maria’s answer” = sagot ni Maria.

What does sa mean in sa mensahe ko and sa telepono?

Sa is a general preposition. In sagot sa mensahe ko, it marks the target (“answer to my message”). In sa telepono, it marks the medium (“by phone/on the phone”).

Other media: sa email, sa text, sa chat

Does sa telepono describe the message or the answer? How can I make it clearer?

As written, it’s ambiguous. It could mean “to my phone message” or “by phone.” To disambiguate:

If the message was on the phone: ...sagot sa mensaheng iniwan ko sa telepono.
If you want an answer by phone: ...sagot sa mensahe ko, sa telepono sana.
If it was a text: ...sagot sa text ko.

Can I say Bakit hindi pa sila sumasagot sa mensahe ko? What’s the difference?

Yes. It’s very natural.

Wala pa silang sagot... highlights the absence of a reply as a “thing.”
Hindi pa sila sumasagot... highlights the action of replying.
Both convey “They haven’t replied yet,” with a slight difference in focus.

How would I ask the yes/no version “Have they answered yet?”

May sagot na ba sila?
To tie it to your message: May sagot na ba sila sa mensahe ko (sa telepono)?
Verb-based: Sumagot na ba sila? (Have they answered?)

Where should pa go? Could I put it after sila?

Clitics like pa typically come right after the first element of the clause. Here, wala is first, so wala pa is correct. Don’t say wala sila pa or wala silang pa sagot.

With another clitic: Wala pa rin silang sagot. = They still don’t have an answer.

Can I add ba? For example, Bakit ba wala pa...?

Ba is the yes/no question particle; it’s not needed with bakit. Bakit ba... is used for emphasis or exasperation: “Why on earth…?”

Neutral: Bakit wala pa silang sagot...?
Exasperated: Bakit ba wala pa silang sagot...?

Why mensahe ko and not aking mensahe? Are both correct?

Both are correct. Mensahe ko (noun + enclitic pronoun) is the most common in speech. Aking mensahe (possessive before the noun) is more formal or emphatic.

Could I use everyday words like “text” or “chat” instead of mensahe?

Yes, and that’s often more natural in conversation.

Bakit wala pa silang sagot sa text ko?
Bakit hindi pa sila nagre-reply sa chat ko?
Bakit wala pa silang sagot sa voicemail ko?