| PINOY ANG DATING |
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| 1. Respect and Courtesy. Kissing of the elders' hands. We respect our elders very much. Younger people kiss the hands of the elders (parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.) as a sign of respect. But this has someone evolved to just taking the elder's hand and touching the back of the palm to our forehead. Po and Opo. These are courteous words that we affix when talking with elder people. Kuya and Ate. These are what we call our elder brother (Kuya) and elder sister (Ate). The differ depending on the dialects spoken. |
| 2. On Family. Pinoys are very family oriented. Unlike in other cultures where one leaves his home to gain independence, Pinoys stay close to their families as much as possible. Most often than not Filipinos don't leave their homes unless they get married. Sometimes married couples still live in their parents' home...lol. Filipino husbands/ fathers provide for the family. They give most of their salaries to their wives for budgeting. The wives/ mothers usually stay at home to take care of the family. But because times have changed, most wives still keep their careers but makes it certain that their families are still their main priority. |
| 3. Hospitality. Filipinos are known for being hospitable. You will always be given a warm welcome when you come visit. In the province of Marinduque, they hold a ceremony called Putungan to welcome visitors, locals and foreigners alike. From the tagalog word putong which means head dress they welcome people by putting native head dresses on them and perform native songs and dances. In a smaller setting, when you visit a Filipino home, the first thing that you'll hear from the host (after the hi's and hello's, of course) is "have you eaten?" or "let's eat!" |
| 4. Hygiene. We love bathing and shower so much that we bathe twice a day (on the average). It doesn't matter if the climate is cold. During summer, it could be thrice or even four times. And because of this, constant changing of clothes is also necessary. It's not an exaggeration. Now imagine how many bars of soap, bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste an average Filipino family consumes. Not to mention the amount of laundry we have during weekends. ;) |
| 5. Humor. This is one thing that I think all Filipinos would never lack! They say that Pinoys have weird sense of humor. Well, this is probably because we see humor in everything. Even in the most depressing state most of us can still see the lighter side of the problem and laugh about it. But that doesn't mean we don't take things seriously. But it is proven that laughter is a good way of curing depression. Even in the littlest of things we see something to joke and laugh about. And don't worry cos we always laugh at our own expense. But if you find yourself being offended by a Pinoy friend's joke, don't worry, it's not intended to be offensive. Your friend may be fooling around and doing what one of the things that we Pinoys do best: laughing! |
| 6. Procrastination. Now this is an irritating, bad habit. Why put off for tomorrow the things that can be done today? But then again, there's the challenge of cramming and pressure. We sure love the adrenalin rush in beating the deadline....lol! |
| 7. On Friendship. We value friendship so much and we love to please our friends. If you have a Pinoy friend you can count on his loyalty and honesty. Don't worry, he's got your back! Friendship that comes from the heart, that's what we give. |
| 8. Siesta. A fifteen minute (or more) nap recharges anyone who takes it. Just try not to snore so you won't wake the others! ;) |
| 9. Food. Now this is my favorite! Have you ever tried any Pinoy dish? Then check this out: Lutong bahay (home cooking). We have Sinigang na Hipon,Adobo, Kare-kare, Lumpia, etc. Mouthwatering, that's the best description. If you try these and lots more, you'll find yourself forgetting everything, even your name. Bagoong and Tuyo. Bagoong or shrimp paste is perfect when you pair it with green mangoes. But I have to warn you, it smells baaaaaaad, looks yucky, but tastes soooo good. Tuyo or dried salted fish perfect for porridge. Street food. Squidballs, fishballs, sago gulaman, nothing can beat those. We also have dirty ice cream...nope, it's not dirty but it only comes in a different packaging...peddled in the streets in a cart. You can get 5 flavors in one cone too! Balut or duck's embryo. The best thing about this is when you crack the eggshell and take out the baby duckie inside and eat it! Sounds gross, huh? But let me tell you that this is delicious and nutritious as well. |
| 11. Fiesta. Non stop celebration every month, in different parts of the country. A very good display of the Filipino culture. |
| There are lots of customs that separate each country from the others. Here are some Filipino customs and practices that are genuinely Pinoy. Read on: |
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| Mouthwatering Filipino dishes!!! |