Philippines

Filipinos are sensitive people. Insincerity is easily detected and can ruin a relationship. Individualism is less important than the family. A family member often sacrifices personal goals or desires to help the family or another family member. Filipinos generally have a more relaxed view of time and may not always begin meetings or appointments promptly. Gratitude and saving face are paramount to Filipinos. Fatalism is a common attitude. Success may also be attributed to fate rather than ability or effort.

Unlike other Asian countries where women tend to be more subservient, women in the Philippines have had high societal positions since pre-colonial times. Since sexual equality exists, businesses are more accepting of women performing business. This attitude is apparent with the current Philippine president. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the second woman to hold this esteemed position. Corazon Aquino was the first female president and held the position from 1986-1992).

Filipinos are simple people who are content with having enough money to put food on the table. They strive to earn only as much as they need. This is called “isang kahig, isang tuka,” which means working and spending all of the money that you earn and not being able to save some for an emergency or the future.

English is commonly used in urban areas, and normal English greetings are acceptable. The common greeting for acquaintances and friends is Komusta, which loosely translates in English as “where are you going/what are you doing.” People are taught to show respect to each other.

People greet each other in English or Tagalog, since Filipinos are bilingual (many speak Filipino--which is the relatively new “breed” of Tagalog--it is a mixture of old “Tagalog” words, plus some Filipinized Spanish/English words, or Visayan, & English). During the day, people greet each other Good Morning/Magandang Umaga (which translates to beautiful morning/day). Using the term “po” when speaking to someone older is considered courteous so that Magandang Umaga would be Magandang Umaga Po. Good morning / Magandang umaga (with or without “po”), Good afternoon / Magandang tanghali (with or without “po”), Good evening / Magandang gabi (with or without “po”).

It is “warmer” to greet someone in Tagalog or whatever dialect they speak. It is like greeting a family member.

To call someone over one would call the person by their first name, some (which is considered rude) say “psst” or "hoy”, which is like “hey”. When referring to older people, one uses the term lola (grandma), lolo (grandpa) or when referring to strangers, one uses the term "manang" (for an older woman) and manong (for an older man).

Beckoning is done by waving all fingers with the palm facing down. It is also customary for Filipinos to use a lot of hand and facial gestures to communicate. Filipinos will point to an object by shifting their eyes toward it or pursing their lips and pointing with their mouth, not their hands. Filipinos often greet each other with an "eyebrow" flash, quickly lifting the eyebrows. In their communication, speaking politely is as essential as talking with a gentle tone. Arguing is not acceptable, along with public criticism. To recognize an elder's presence (usually someone at least 15 years older), there is this gesture called "mano"; like "kissing the hand"; in English, it is to momentarily place one's forehead (by bowing) on the back of an older person's hand. One usually says “mano po” when doing this. This is done when greeting older people: grandparents, godparents, uncles & aunts. When dining, leaving some food on your plate indicates that your host has provided you with enough food. You may be asked to participate in group singing sessions when you are being entertained during business times.

Hospitality is important to Filipinos. Guests are made to feel at ease and should, in turn, be tactful and sincere. The word “hostess” should not be used when referring to the woman of the house. Filipinos attach great importance to personal and family honor. If possible, criticism should be avoided. As with many Asian countries, removal of shoes is customary when entering someone's home. By doing this, the visitors show their respect for the family and their home, as well as show basic courtesy.

When guests leave, it is ethical for them to say “thank you.” Women hug and/or kiss each other on the cheek when greeting each other hello or saying goodbye; this is referred to as a “beso.”

People in the Philippines love to socialize. A colloquial term for going out is “gimik”. This is when people go out at night on weekends to meet up with peers, in which case they wear their “Gimik outfits” (whatever is “in”).

As elsewhere in the world, clothing trends in the Philippines have somewhat conformed to Western standards, with a few exceptions. Women generally wear Western-style dresses or wraparound skirts with blouses. Traditional clothing is generally worn on special occasions and by very few ethnic minorities. This would include the Barong Tagalog, which is worn with a shirt inside for men. Then for women, there is the “baro at saya”or “baro't saya”

Other clothes include “pambahay” or “pang-bahay” wear (bahay means house), or clothes that one wears at home. A typical pambahay would be a loose-fitting garment for women that some refer to as “bestida” This would be a one-piece clothing that is either sleeveless/sleeved, & extends down to the knee area, sometimes longer (kind of like this dress but 2-3 sizes bigger and is worn with rubber 'slippers' or flip flops, which are un or de-glamorized Havaianas. They are called tsinelas. Men usually wear a pair of shorts & a shirt or shorts & sando at home & “tsinelas” too. Some women prefer to wear sleeveless cotton tops and shorts when staying in.

Rice is the staple food in the Filipino diet. It is prepared in a variety of tasty ways and is often included in desserts as well as main meals. The primary source of protein is fish, which is accompanied by a variety of vegetables and tropical fruits.

A typical family eats 3-4 times a day. Breakfast, lunch, (some have “merienda”, which usually consists of desserts called “kakanin” which are made of sticky rice, sugar, coconut milk, etc., or some light snacks such as rice porridge or pansit--noodles) & dinner. Some eat twice a day (brunch, dinner). The “traditional” eat rice with every meal. A typical Filipino meal consists of rice and a “viand” which usually has some type of meat like

beef/chicken/pork or fish in some soup mixed with veggies. Filipinos love sauces, too. Usually there's fish sauce (“patis”), soy sauce (“toyo”), vinegar (”suka“)

Standard mealtimes would be around 8-10 for breakfast, 12-2 for lunch, 3-4 for merienda, and 6-9 pm for dinner.

Conversation is casual during meals. The best way for a guest to compliment a meal is to eat heartily. A small portion is left on the plate to indicate the person has had enough to eat.

Rice is the staple food in the Filipino diet. The primary source of protein is fish, which is accompanied by a variety of vegetables and tropical fruits.

A typical family eats three to four times a day. Breakfast, lunch, (some have “merienda”, which usually consists of desserts called “kakanin” which are made of sticky rice, sugar, coconut milk, etc., or some light snacks such as rice porridge or pansit--noodles) & dinner. Some eat twice a day (brunch, dinner). A "traditional" person eats rice at every meal. A typical Filipino meal consists of rice and a “viand” which usually has some type of meat like

beef/chicken/pork or fish in some soup mixed with veggies. Filipinos love sauces, too. Usually there's fish sauce (“patis”), soy sauce (“toyo”), vinegar (”suka“).

Standard mealtimes is around 8-10 AM for breakfast, 12-2 PM for lunch, for merienda, and 6-9 PM for dinner.

The average Filipino family is large, often with four or more children. Professionally and otherwise, Filipino women generally enjoy equality with men. Family ties are significant to Filipinos and usually influence many aspects of their lives. Filipino family members tend to feel free to call on one another for financial assistance. The borrower is then expected to help other family members when in a position to do so.

In urban areas, dating habits are similar to Western styles. Group dating begins in the early teens. The groom and his family are obligated to pay for the wedding ceremony and feast.

Teenagers form peer groups called barkadas, a kind of friendship club that is essential to their lives. Each barkada is either all male or all female. Members develop their slang and go almost everywhere together.

Filipinos enthusiastic about games such mahjongg, a Chinese game played with 144 tiles. Chess, checkers, dama (a type of darts), and dominos are also very popular and often played on street corners. Kali, a martial art indigenous to the Philippines, was originally developed for defense and partly based on skill with a wavy-edged sword. According to legend, when Ferdinand Magellan, the first Spanish visitor, arrived in 1524, islanders opposed him using kali swords and were killed by their leader, Lapu Lapu-now, considered a folk hero. Modern kali practitioners use weapons such as sticks and knives.

Children play sipa, patintero, luksong tinik, piko, “jack stone”, rock paper scissors, bahay-bahayan, lutu-lutuan which is played at home/in the streets/in their communities. The wealthier children have electronic toys that they play with on televisions and also play chess, badminton, tennis, and swimming.

Children do different things before school, depending on their family status and location. For example, children in rural areas get up and care for their animals before school. In the lower-middle class and upper classes, children must take a bath and have breakfast before going to school. Sometimes, lower-income families send their children to school without eating breakfast. Other lower-income families have rice with canned sardines, dried fish, or noodles. Families with a higher income tend to have meat, fish, or fried eggs for breakfast.

Most children in the rural area walk to school.  Some take the jeepney (a Philippines bus seating about a dozen passengers) or the tricycle (motorcycles with a sidecar). Only a few families have their transportation. Families are responsible for ensuring their children attend school, but the school does not provide this service.

Except for schools in remote, mountainous areas, the Philippines has essential resources such as books, paper, and desks. Some of the modern equipment is either donated by the government or by foreign-assisted programs. Private schools have much better facilities than public schools. Problems in the schools include a lack of updated technology and a lack of teacher training. Some teachers are not motivated because their salaries are at the poverty level. The most severe problem is the lack of classrooms. Some classes are held under the trees, or the classes are so full that children are sitting on floors.

School usually starts at 7:30 A.M., with the first recess around 9:30. Lunch is generally at 11:30. The children typically go home to eat lunch. Those children whose homes are far from school bring a packed lunch of rice and a viand. Classes resume again around 1:00 P.M. and end around 4:00 P.M. In a public school ratio, the student-teacher would be 45:1. For private schools, it is less. After school, some children play around the school grounds or in the plaza. Additionally, going to computer stations and playing computer games is becoming a trend. Most children go directly home and watch TV. Somebody at home, like a mom or a relative, always stays with the family to watch the children. Very few attend private lessons such as piano, ballet, or taekwondo because of the cost of such classes. A child starts grade one at 6-7 years old and then finishes grade 6 at around 12. The main subjects taught at the primary level include English (grammar and literature), Filipino (grammar and literature), science, math, values, social studies (History, etc), P.E., and home economics. Private schools also have computer classes. English subjects are taught from pre-school to college. In addition, exposure to media provides children with enough English to be familiar with the language but not to master it.