Filipino Lifestyle

Attitudes:

Every country has its differing values and stereotypes, and the Philippines is no exception.
We Filipinos firmly believe that our country has the best values in the world. Although we have
been colonized by several countries, many core values from our ancestors remained intact and are
still honoured to this day. Filipinos are not perfect, but we have great characteristics and qualities
every one of us should be proud of. Below I've listed some of the most well-known positive and
negative traits of Filipinos.

Hospitable. One of the Filipino qualities and attitude that many foreign people love to a Filipino.
They entertain foreign guest with a warm welcome and prepare food and shelter for their guest.

This is one of the most popular qualities of Filipinos. Foreigners who have gone to the
Philippines find themselves falling in love with the warm hospitality they are shown. It's a different
kind of value system, which has existed for thousands of years. Here are some examples of the
hospitality that Filipinos show, not only to foreigners, but also to their fellow citizens:

When a person visits a friend's house, the host greets him or her with a very warm welcome.
The host will immediately let their visitor sit down and will prepare a meal or a snack plus drinks
for the visitor. The host will insist that the friend not leave the house with an empty stomach. A
host will always make sure you had a great time visiting them.

People offer their guest room to visitors if they're going to spend the night.

Meals offered to guests are very special. A host always finds a way to prepare great tasting food
that her visitor wants to eat.

Respect.

This is often observed not just by younger people but also by people of all ages.

Children respect elders by saying "po" and "opo," which mean "yes," when answering their
elders.

Children or young adults also show respect by putting their elders' hands on their foreheads.

Filipinos also show respect at work by making a bow to their employers.

Strong Family Ties and Religions.

Yes. Filipinos value their families so much that they tend to keep families intact through the
generations.
Families go to church and pray together because their religion is important and creates a strong
bond, marking God as the center of their lives.

Families make sure to have quality time together especially after a day's work. Just watching
television or eating a family meal will be valued and prioritized in everybody's schedules.

Generosity and Helpfulness.

Filipinos are generous people. Even when we have very little, we always share with those around
us.

During special occasions such as birthdays or "fiestas" parties when people from other
places visit your home to celebrate with you there are lots of foods specially prepared for everyone!
Friends, family, friends of friends, and even strangers can gather and they are always willing to
share food and help out.

When a neighbour is in trouble, Filipinos are always ready to help them.

Strong Work Ethic.

Yes, we are hardworking people to the point that we are willing to work almost the whole day just
to feed our families. That's how Filipinos are.

One example of a hardworking person is a farmer. They earn so little but they still work very hard
for not much compensation.

Filipinos always find creative ways to earn a living, like creating a small business from their home
where they sell foods or other items for the convenience of their neighbours.

Every country has its differing values and stereotypes, and the Philippines is no exception.
We Filipinos firmly believe that our country has the best values in the world. Although we have
been colonized by several countries, many core values from our ancestors remained intact and are
still honoured to this day. Filipinos are not perfect, but we have great characteristics and qualities
every one of us should be proud of. Below I've listed some of the most well-known positive and
negative traits of Filipinos.

Love and Caring.

This is so true! Filipinos are the sweetest and most loving people in the world. I'm not just
saying this because I'm a Filipino; if you know us well, you will soon figure this out.

Men are so sweet and romantic when it comes to love. They will send their beloved flowers, bring
her to a very romantic place, text her sweet quotes, and tell often how special she is to them.
Filipino women are also romantic and very caring, which often makes foreigners want to marry
them. Women tend to prepare dinner before their husband comes home. They are loving, and value
the relationship, always staying faithful to their husbands. They love deeply and sincerely.

Joy and Humour.

This famous trait is the ability of Filipinos to find humour in everything. It sheds light on the
optimism and positivity of Filipinos in whatever situation they are in so as to remain determined
in going through struggles or challenges. It serves as a coping technique, the same way a child who
has fallen laughs at himself/herself to hide his/her embarrassment.

Flexibility, Adaptability, and Creativity.

Studies show that Filipinos often have an aversion to a set of standardised rules or procedures;
they are known to follow a "natural clock" or organic sense of time doing things in the time they
feel is right. They are present-oriented: which means that one attends to a task or requirement at
the time it is needed and does not worry much about future engagements. This allows the Filipino
to adapt and be flexible in doing the tasks at times not bound to a particular schedule or timeframe.
This allows them think on their feet and be creative in facing whatever challenge or task they have
even when it is already right in front of them.

Faith and Religiosity.

The Philippines is approximately 85 percent Christians (mostly Roman Catholics), 10 percent

Muslim, and 5 percent 'other' religions, including the Taoist-Buddhist religious beliefs of Chinese
and the 'indigenous' Anitism belief of peoples in upland areas that resisted 300 years of Spanish
colonial rule. This is a reflection of the Filipinos' strong faith in God as seen in their various
practices. This includes the numerous church holidays they observe, the customary (and
obligatory) Sunday Mass, the individual's basis of their moral standpoints, the influence of the
Church on the minds, actions, and opinions of the majority, importance of the Sacraments, praying
at almost any possible time of the day, the extreme practices during Holy Week.

Negative Traits of Filipinos:

Fatalism: An attitude of "what goes around, comes around" or "come what may." We have a
tendency to surrender our future to fate. We often accept bad news or circumstances without trying
to stop or change them. This can sometimes be helpful in adversity, but it can also keep us from
finding ways out of situations. Also, constantly expecting the worst can get pretty depressing.
Crab mentality: This is prevalent in politics where people tend to push each other down to clear
the way for their own gain. Politicians, especially, try their best to ruin each other, but this can also
happen among regular people. I think it goes to the point of selfishness.

Humor:

Apart from smiling often, Filipinos also laugh a lot. We make jokes all the time whether
among strangers or friends, in the classroom or at work, about our personal lives or politics.
Popular radio stations air recorded jokes every few minutes, followed by canned laughter. Of
course, there are preferences for different types of humor, but it seems there is a “national humor,”
used to reduce conflict. This was demonstrated in a research on humor by Dr. Maria Rhodora
Ancheta of the Department of Comparative Literature, College of Arts and Letters, University of
the Philippines Diliman. "Ancheta believes that national humor is a potent showcase of 'Filipino-
ness,' and evidence of how Filipinos maneuver within the frames of their local and national
experiences," Gracious Romero writes in an article entitled "Why the Filipino Laughs" on the
website of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development. In her research paper
"The National Humor of the Philippines: Defining Filipino Humor in Contemporary Popular
Culture Forms (Phase 1)," Ancheta analyzed comic strips, comedy films, popular theatrical forms
as well as internet-based animation. Romero notes that "comedy in Filipino pop culture veil the
tactics used to battle the ordinary Filipino's disempowerment in Philippine society." She explains
that citizens can get back at authority using political jokes, which carry Filipino values such as
"hiya" and "loob." Jokes allow people to tackle real problems "in a manner that does not create
tension," anthropologist Dr. Clemente Camposano, director of the Institute of Political Economy
in the University of Asia and the Pacific is quoted in a PCIJ article by Camille De Asis, Ival Lim,
Mark Tare and Angela Poe. Using laughter to survive is common all over the world, according to
Ian Jarrett's article entitled "Laugh Out Loud" in Discovery Channel Magazine. "Laughter seems
to be common across cultures and universally recognizable, but scientists point to a hidden agenda
to the simple act of chuckling," Jarrett writes. Apart from being used to express joy or amusement,
laughter also functions as "social glue," as Dr. Sophie Scott puts it. Scott led a study by the
University College London, which showed that laughter is a universal human vocabulary.
According to Scott, people laugh in order to get closer to each other. "Laughter is social glue that
makes and strengthens our links with other people," Jarrett quotes Scott. In the University College
London study, researcher Dr. Disa Sauter studied the semi-nomadic Himba people in northern
Namibia. Sauter found that despite not being familiar with each other, the two cultures recognized
each other's laughter as mirth. "Laughter is a widespread human trait and expression," Jarrett
quotes Scott. Laughter is also a tool to gain acceptance. English comedian Jimmy Carr says jokes
are a way of telling another person, "I like you and I want you to like me," Jarrett writes. Carr says
sharing jokes gives people a sense of belonging to a particular group. And as shared laughter
indicates acceptance, it can also be used to exclude. Jarrett explains, "This is the difference
between laughing with someone, and laughing at someone."
Family Kinship:

Kinship is the web of social relationships that form an important part of the lives of all humans in
all societies, although its exact meanings even within this discipline are often debated.

Philippine kinship uses the generational system in kinship terminology to define family. It
is one of the more simple classificatory systems of kinship (especially if compared to the complex
English-language kinship system, e.g., cousin). One's genetic relationship or bloodline is often
overridden by the desire to show proper respect that is due in the Philippine culture to age and the
nature of the relationship, which are considered more important.

In it, the literal differences are distinguished by generation, age, and in some cases by gender.
However, non-Filipinos can be confused by apparently similar relationships being handled
verbally differently by the same person, which generally occurs because of the circumstantial
relationship or because some authority is represented by the addressee. Other factors that affect
how a person is addressed are whether the two are familiar with each other, new to each other's
acquaintance, or perhaps involved in a secondary relationship that imparts authority, such as one
person being the supervisor of another at work.

Family ties are very strong in the Philippines and traditionally greater emphasis has been put on
the family than individuals. Families have traditionally been bound together by loyalty, respect
and affection. Family members are expected to follow rules set by the head of the household rather
than pursuing their own individual agenda. Extended families often live together, and often one
child is expected to live with the parents. All children have traditionally inherited property equally
with the house going to the child who took care of the parents.

987 Family Code states that: 1) The husband and wife are obliged to live together, observe mutual
love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support. 2) The husband and wife shall fix
the family domicile. In case of disagreement, the court shall decide. The court may exempt one
spouse from living with the other if the latter should live abroad or there are other valid and
compelling reasons for the exemption. However, such exemption shall not apply if the same is not
compatible with the solidarity of the family. 3) The spouses are jointly responsible for the support
of the family. The expenses for such support and other conjugal obligations shall be paid from the
community property and, in the absence thereof, from the income or fruits of their separate
properties. In case of insufficiency or absence of said income or fruits, such obligations shall be
satisfied from the separate properties.

“You will find that it is common in the country to include the extended members not just the
normal nuclear family. It is not unusual that in a single household it would reach up to ten members
of a family living under the same roof. They value each other’s company, and everyone strives to
provide for the whole and not just for them.
Birth:

Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. In mammals, the process
is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the
fetus at a developmental stage when it is ready to feed and breathe. In some species the offspring
is precocial and can move around almost immediately after birth but in others it is altricial and
completely dependent on parenting. In marsupials, the fetus is born at a very immature stage after
a short gestational period and develops further in its mother's womb's pouch.

“Birth means bringing forth a young one into the world.”

The Report of Birth is a declaration of the person furnishing information on the birth abroad of a
Filipino child. It is important for Filipinos permanently residing abroad to promptly register with
the Consulate the birth of a child in order for such a birth to be registered with the Office of the
Civil Registrar General in Manila.

When a child is born abroad to parents who are both Filipino citizens or to one (1) parent who is a
Filipino citizen, i.e. one who has not been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign country, the child’s
birth must be immediately reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises
jurisdiction over the place of birth.

Ideally, the birth must be reported to the Consulate within twelve (12) months after its occurrence.
When the parents neglect to report the birth within twelve (12) months, the birth may nevertheless
be recorded upon the determination of the consular officer of satisfactory evidence on the
authenticity of the report. In these cases, the person who executed the report shall furnish the
Consulate with an explanation surrounding the delay in reporting the birth.

Birth Certificate

Application made in person by the owner or by his/her representatives will be received at different
Census Serbilis Centers.

Information to be provided for the issuance of Birth Certificate:

-Complete name of the child (first, middle, last)

-Complete name of the father

-Complete maiden name of the mother

-Date of birth (month, day, and year)

-Place of birth (city/municipality, province)

-Whether or not registered late. (If registered late, please state the year when it was registered.
 -Complete name and address of the requesting party

-Relationship to the child

-Number of copies needed

-Purpose of the certification

Courtship:

Courtship is the period of development towards an intimate relationship wherein a couple

get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement, followed by a marriage. A
courtship may be an informal and private matter between two people or may be a public affair, or
a formal arrangement with family approval. Traditionally, in the case of a formal engagement, it
has been perceived that it is the role of a male to actively "court" or "woo" a female, thus
encouraging her to understand him and her receptiveness to a marriage proposal.

Traditional courtship in the Philippines is described as a "far more subdued and indirect"
approach compared to Western or Westernized cultures. It involves "phases" or "stages" inherent
to Philippine society and culture. Evident in courtship in the Philippines is the practice of singing
romantic love songs, reciting poems, writing letters, and gift-giving. This respect extends to the
Filipina's family members. The proper rules and standards in traditional Filipino courtship are set
by Philippine society.

Courtship

We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs. Serenading or Harana in Tagalog is
one of the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions
to a woman. A serenade would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young
lady's house. Normally, he is accompanied by his male friends who act as back-up singers. The
man himself or his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, which provides the background
music to his song.

Often, a Filipino male suitor expresses his interest to a woman in a discreet and friendly manner
in order to avoid being perceived as very "presumptuous or aggressive" or arrogant. Culturally,
another gentlemanly way of seeking the attention of a woman is not to be done by the admirer by
approaching her in the street to casually ask for her address or telephone number. Although having
a series of friendly dates is the normal starting point in the Filipino way of courting, this may also
begin through the process of "teasing", a process of "pairing off" a potential teenage or adult
couple. The teasing is done by peers or friends of the couple being matched. The teasing practice
assists in discerning the actual feelings of the male and the female involved. Traditionally,
a Filipino woman is "shy and secretive" about her feelings for a suitor. On the other hand,
the Filipino man fears rejection by a woman and would like to avoid losing face and
embarrassment. This teasing phase actually helps in circumventing such an embarrassing
predicament because formal courtship has not yet officially started. Furthermore, this "testing
phase" also helps a man who could be "torpe", a Filipino term for a suitor who is shy, "stupid",
and feels cowardly, and is innocent and naïve in how to court a woman. However, this type of
admirer could overcome his shyness and naivety by asking for the help of a "tulay" (Filipino for
"Bridge", whose role is similar to that of the Wingman in Western Cultures), typically a mutual
friend of both the suitor and the admired, or a close friend of both families. The "human bridge"
acts as the suitor's communicator. Through this "human-bridge", the bachelor can also ask
permission to visit the woman at home from the bachelorette's father. As a norm, the couple will
not be left alone with each other during this first home visit, because formal introductions to family
members are done, which may be performed by the "tulay". Informal conversation also takes place.

During the courtship process, a traditional Filipina is expected to play "hard to get", to act as if not
interested, to be not flirty, and show utmost restraint, modesty, shyness, good upbringing, be well-
mannered, demure, and reserved despite having great feelings for her admirer; a behavior
culturally considered appropriate while being courted. This behavior serves as a tool in measuring
the admirer's sincerity and seriousness. The woman can also have as many suitors, from which she
could choose the man that she finally would want to date. Dating couples are expected to be
conservative and not perform public displays of affection for each other. Traditionally, some
courtship may last a number of years before the Filipino woman accepts her suitor as a
boyfriend. Conservativeness, together with repressing emotions and affection, was inherited by
the Filipino woman from the colonial period under the Spaniards, a characteristic referred to as
the Maria Clara attitude.

Marriage:

The word "marriage" derives from Middle English mariage, which first appears in 1250–1300 CE.
This in turn is derived from Old French, marier (to marry), and ultimately Latin, marītāre,
meaning to provide with a husband or wife and marītāri meaning to get married. The
adjective marīt-us -a, -um meaning matrimonial or nuptial could also be used in the masculine
form as a noun for "husband" and in the feminine form for "wife".The related word "matrimony"
derives from the Old French word matremoine, which appears around 1300 CE and ultimately
derives from Latin mātrimōnium, which combines the two concepts: mater meaning "mother" and
the suffix -monium signifying "action, state, or condition".

Filipino weddings are an impressive fusion of modern and historic customs. Traditionally, these
cultural weddings are a celebration of two families coming together rather than just the two
individuals. The strong family influence, alluring attire like the Barong and Filipiniana, and
traditional Tinikling folk dance are just a few unique Filipino wedding customs.

The traditional marriage proposal takes the form of the pamanhikan or pamamanhikan or the
"parental marriage proposal", a formal way of asking the parents of the woman for her hand. The
would-be groom and his parents go to the would-be bride's home, and ask the parents for their
consent. Once the woman's parents accept the proposal, other matters will be discussed during this
meeting including among other things, the wedding plan, the date, and the finances.

FILIPINO WEDDING CEREMONY

There is an assortment of Filipino wedding traditions with a majority of them being drawn from
the Catholic religion. With roughly 80% of Filipinos being Catholic, it has become customary for
Filipino weddings to be held in a Catholic Church where many rituals and readings take place.
Each ritual signifies the important values of marriage and the union of two individuals. This makes
it the most intriguing and sentimental part of a Filipino wedding.

Beyond the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the Filipino wedding includes many more significant
members that have been a part of the couple’s life. Filipino couples often honor these important
guests with the title of Principal Sponsor or Secondary Sponsor. The number of sponsors can vary
from a single couple to multiple couples. During the ceremony, sponsors are invited to join the
bride and groom in the prayers of blessing.

FILIPINO WEDDING RECEPTION TRADITIONS

*Filipino Food

*Filipino Money Dance

*Filipino Folk Dances

This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation in the Filipino community. For
example, the attire used by the groom and bride plays a significant role as these certain attires are
the national dresses. Furthermore, ritual objects are also used until today in a typical Filipino
marriage. The "unity candle" is a ritual object that is used to represent the joining of two families
and entering Christ into their lives as one.

Early times, a tribal priest/priestess would officiate Philippine marriages. The ceremony is usually
held in the tribal priest/priestess' home where he/she would bless them. An indication of an official
marriage was when the bride and groom's necks and hands were bound by a cord or long hairs
being entwined together.

The culture of the Philippines in regards to marriage gives us a certain identity or adds to something
in who we are. The traditions that they hold represent how you follow Philippines' values, beliefs,
customs and their way of life. It also represents a deep relationship with God as you fulfill another
sacrament.

Traditionally the groom’s family pays for the wedding and the grandparents act as the primary
witnesses or sponsors. The bride’s gown is often custom made and both the bride and groom wear
white. It is bad luck for the bride to try on her dress before the wedding day and to wear pearl
jewelry, which is considered a bad omen. The groom wears a sheer, long-sleeve button-up shirt
(barong tagalog) that is worn un-tucked over black pants with a white t-shirt underneath

Collection of rights

-To establish a legal father of a woman's children.

-To establish a legal mother of a man's children.

-To give the husband a monopoly in the wife's sexuality.

-To give the wife a monopoly in the husband's sexuality.

-To give the husband partial or monopolistic rights to the wife's domestic and other labour services.

-To give the wife partial or monopolistic rights to the husband's domestic and other labour services.

-To give the husband partial or total control over property belonging or potentially accruing to the
wife.

-To give the wife partial or total control over property belonging or potentially accruing to the
husband.

-To establish a joint fund of property – a partnership – for the benefit of the children of the
marriage.

-To establish a socially significant 'relationship of affinity' between the husband and his wife's
brothers."

The wedding does not start with the preparations. Before you order your cake or wedding
gown, the potential groom has to do a “pamamanhikan”. In this event, the groom may bring family
members or may alone face the entire family of the potential bride. He then formally asks for her
hand in marriage, usually directly speaking to the father of the bride. When he brings his family
along with him, it is usually not only for a marriage proposal, but also to help lighten up the mood
between the two families. Traditionally, the groom offers a dowry to the bride’s family for taking
care of her since she was little. This is one practice we do not do anymore. It also used to be the
groom’s responsibility to shoulder all the expenses of the wedding. These days though, both parties
can chip in. Part of the Filipino traditions is to always rely on elders. This is why the entourage
usually include Primary Sponsors who are called to witness the wedding ceremony. They are also
to serve as guidance as the couple starts to build their family. People usually pick out men and
women who are as old as or older than their parents.

Superstitions are part of the Filipino traditions, even in these modern times. The bride can
never wear anything but a white gown, because it symbolizes her purity and virginity. The groom
also traditionally wears a barong tagalog, the national male costume.

The bride can be fitted for her wedding gown, but she must never wear it before the
wedding because it is extremely bad luck. The groom must also not see the bride a day before the
wedding for the same reason.

In order for the couple to have luck in their marriage, uncooked rice is thrown as they walk
out of the wedding hall. It is also prohibited for siblings to get married within the same year. This
phenomenon is called sukob, and it brings extremely bad luck. During the wedding reception, the
bride and groom are to set white pigeons to fly in the air, symbolizing peace and driving all the
troubles away.

In older Filipino traditions, the couple must abstain from sex during their wedding night
because it could conceive a problem child. However, this tradition is not practiced anymore, and
couples may now opt to hold their honeymoon abroad.

Finally, bridesmaids can also get luck out of a wedding. A woman who is single who
catches the bride’s bouquet is said to be the next one to get married. A Filipino wedding usually
takes months, if not years to prepare but it is worth all the trouble to celebrate such a special
occasion.

Death:

Wakes

When a person dies in the Philippines, Filipino Catholic people, such as

the Tagalogs, generally hold a wake known as lamay or paglalamay, a vigil that typically lasts for
three to seven nights, but may last longer if the bereaved family is waiting for a relation traveling
from afar. During this time, the cleaned and embalmed corpse is placed in a coffin, and displayed
at the house of deceased or a funeral home. The casket is traditionally surrounded by funeral
lights, a guest registry book, a contribution box, and flowers. Family members, relatives, and
acquaintances participate in the vigil.

Apart from offering condolences, mourners and visitors provide financial donations (abuloy) to
help assuage the funeral and burial expenses. Food and drinks are customarily served by the
bereaved during the night vigil, and typical activities conducted outside or near the vigil area
include engaging in conversation, singing, guitar playing, and gambling – such as playing card
games – to keep mourners awake.

Traditionally, a wake is held in the house of the deceased person, usually for three days to a week,
but it can last longer when a relative who is living very far or from abroad is expected to come for
the burial ceremony. The casket is lighted well and both sides have funeral wreaths. On the top of
the casket, which is covered with glass, is a framed photo of the deceased person. Everyone can
see the dead and pay tribute to him or her. There is a stand with a guest’s book and a pot for
"Abuloy" or financial donations near the casket. The wood cover of the casket, which is open the
whole time, is filled with names of the siblings, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
of the deceased.

During this wake, a nightly prayer, or a 9-day novena, is started before 8 o´clock in the evening.
It is said that evil tries to come to the deceased at 8 pm. So, the prayer usually starts at 7.30 in the
evening and ends after 8. After the prayer, which is led by a "Mangunahay" (a Bisayan dialect term
of a prayer leader), snacks are distributed to the participants and to some who stay awake for the
whole night.

Family members, relatives, and friends take their turn not sleeping and to be near the casket. The
casket should not be left alone. Games like playing cards is one way of staying awake. Outside the
house, a tent with tables and chairs is put up. This is where friends, relatives, and neighbours hold
vigil for the dead while playing cards, board games, and Majong. They play with money and this
money will land later in the donation pot near the casket to be spent on snacks or other burial
expences.

Do's and Don´ts

-We were not allowed to take a bath or comb our hair inside the house where the deceased rested
in the casket. It was said that combing our hair can cause our own deaths, one after the other. There
was no logical reason given to me, but hey, I followed and took a bath somewhere else and combed
my hair while going to the market.

-We were not allowed to sweep the floor. It could cause bad luck. We were allowed to collect the
trash though and wipe the floor with wet cloth. That was strange! Not sweeping, but wiping.

-We were not allowed to eat food with Moringa leaves. They said that eating this food could cause
death in the family, one after the other. Pulling the Moringa leaves means pulling a person to his
grave. Vegetables that climbed like squash were not allowed to be eaten either.

-Red clothes were not allowed for the adults, but were for the kids, as the red color would protect
the kids from seeing the ghost of the dead.
-Candles should stay lit at the altar 24 hours a day until the 40th day after the death. The 40th day
was said to be the last day the spirit of the deceased wanders on earth. This is connected to the
Roman Catholic belief in the ascencion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

-We were not allowed to bring home food served from the wake. It was said that the dead would
not like it and would follow you home.

-We were not allowed to say "thank you" to the visitors who had given "Abuloy" or financial
support, flowers, or prayers. It was said that saying thank you would mean that you are happy to
have dead in your home.

-We were not allowed to accompany the visitors at the door or the gate of our home when we had
the wake. Visitors should just go without saying anything.

-The house and the gate was wide open 24 hours a day when there was a wake. It was frightening
for me as burglars could go inside the house.

-The deceased should carry a broken rosary in his hands. It was said that a broken rosary could
break any curse and could prevent family members from following the dead.

-The deceased should not wear shoes but can have his/her shoes in the casket near their feet. It was
said that the spirit of the dead could still be in the house and not wearing the shoes can hinder us
from hearing the footsteps.

-A metal "bolo" or knife was put in the casket beside the deceased to break any curse.

-Abuloy, aka financial contributions for the deceased, should not be used for anything but the
expenses of the burials and other expenses, like paying the leader of the prayer who comes every
day until the 40th day.

-Leftover food that was carried to the cemetery and distributed to the mourners who accompanied
to the grave should not be brought home. We ended up giving food to the passers-by at the
cemetery.

-We had to walk over an open fire in the cemetery before going back home after the burial. There
was already a basin of water filled with guava leaves. We had to clean our hands in that basin
before going up to the house. The cleaning of the hands was to get rid of the negative spirits coming
with us from the cemetery.

All Souls’ Day

November 2nd is All Souls’ Day in the Philippines and is a day to pay respects to the dead.
All Souls’ Day is different from All Saints’ Day on November 1st, which pays tribute to saints.
During this time, family members clean and decorate their loved ones’ gravesites. Some families
may also visit the graves on October 31st or November 1st. They may say prayers and leave
candles, flowers, food, or other significant items by the gravesites to honor the deceased.

Common Filipino Practices on different Life Events:

Filipino culture is unique compared to other Asian countries, and beliefs apply every day in the
life of the Filipinos and reveal how rich and blessed the culture the people have.

First on the list is Mano Po. When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders
they typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back
the elder's hand lightly on their forehead. It is a way of giving respect to the elders and I believe
that is also a way of receiving blessing to the elders.

Filipinos are one of the most hospitable people you may find anywhere. Foreign visitors in the
country are treated with the utmost respect. This trait is usually seen during fiestas and holidays
where many Filipinos are giving their best to entertain their visitors well.

Having Close Family Ties is also one of their unique traits. It is one of the outstanding cultural
values that Filipinos have. The family takes care of each other and are taught to be loyal to family
and elders by simply obeying their authorities. This is one of the unique characteristics of Filipinos.
Having fondness for family reunions during secular and religious holidays such as Christmas, New
Year’s eve, All Saints’ Day, Holy Week, Fiestas, homecomings, birthdays, weddings, graduations,
baptisms, funerals etc. is evidence that Filipino people valued not only our cultural tradition but
the spirit of our family. As Filipinos, we are blessed to have been brought up with strong family
ties.

Bayanihan

It is the spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. A famous example of
this is the neighbors carrying a hut or house to a new location. People nowadays use it to describe
an outpouring of community spirit-as people give their all to the common good, without expecting
recognition or personal gain.

Christmas in the Philippines is considered as one of the biggest holidays in the archipelago. We
earned the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season with Christmas carols
heard as early as September and lasting until Epiphany, the feast of the Black Nazarene on January
9 or the Feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú on the third Sunday of January.

Fiestas

Every town and city in the Philippines has a fiesta of its own; whatever time of the year it is, there's
sure to be a fiesta going on somewhere.
Fiestas in the Philippines are held to celebrate a patron saint. It is part and parcel of Filipino culture
through good times and bad times, it must go on. The biggest and most elaborate festival of all is
Christmas, a season celebrated with all the pomp and pageantry where the whole country breaks
out in celebrations that can begin long before December.

Living with Parents

Filipinos highly value the presence of family more than anything. Adult children living with their
parents are another Filipino traditional that make them exceptional. Unlike in the United States
where children leave the home after finishing high school or college, many Filipinos continue
living with parents until they get married.

Eating with a Fork and Spoon

One Filipinos identity is that they are eat using a fork and a spoon. The fork is place in the left
hand while the spoon is in the right hand. Fork is used to place or push the food into the spoon
which is held by the right hand.
Since rice is the main staple of the Filipinos at almost every meal, the fork and spoon method is
ideal. It is believe that the use of a spoon and a fork is perfect for the way Southeast Asians prepare
and cook their food. Unlike the Americans who like their meats and other food items in big slabs
and humongous chunks, Southeast Asians generally prepare their dishes in bite-sized pieces-
chopped, minced or ground-thus leaving no real need for a knife.

Eating with Hands (Kamayan)

In addition to the use of the fork and spoon, eating with your hands or kamayan is another common
Filipino tradition. For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the food instead of using utensils.
Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite-sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all
your fingers to gather the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put
it in your mouth using your thumb to gently push the food in.

Balikbayan Boxes

Some Filipinos leave the Philippines to live and work abroad. A balikbayan box is a box of items
sent by the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. The box can be sent or it can be brought
by the sender when they themselves return to the Philippines. Balikbayan boxes come in all
different sizes and dimensions from bulilit (small) to extra-large. It can be filled with almost
anything but it is usually filled with items that cannot be found in the Philippines or items that may
be too expensive for the average person to buy in the Philippines. Common items found in
balikbayan boxes include: clothes, shoes, chocolate, nuts, vitamins, basketballs, coffee and tea,
magazines, shampoo/conditioner, soap, body lotion, etc.
Common Filipino practices at my home:

Filipinos are very religious

In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen images of crosses and other religious
paraphernalia. They go to church every Sunday, or sometimes even twice or three times a week.

Filipinos are very respectful

From the moment they are born into this world, they are already taught how to be respectful by
using these simple catchphrases po and opo, words that end sentences when addressing elders.
They have a culture of pagmamano, which is where they raise the backs of the hands of their elders
to their foreheads as a sign of respect.

Filipinos help one another

More popularly known as bayanihan, Filipinos help one another—without expecting anything in
return—so that undertaking their tasks and responsibilities become much easier. Sometimes this
is called “community spirit.”

Filipinos value traditions and culture

For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their family are important. They usually set aside a
specific day for a certain celebration like festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. And of course,
every gathering is dedicated to keeping up with each other over sumptuous food.

Filipinos love to party

Yes, Filipinos love to hold celebrations and fiestas. Bacolod has its MassKara Festival, Davao has
its Kadayawan Festival, and Marinduque has its Moriones Festival.

Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations ever

Even as early as August, you can hear Christmas songs and jingles being played in the malls or in
the restaurants in the Philippines. The mood becomes festive, with many people shopping and in
good spirits. Christmas celebrations last until around the first or second week of January.

Filipinos love to eat

Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos manage to squeeze in a little meal in between,
too. Whether they eat every hour or every three hours, they savour every bite. Oh, and they do love
going to buffets!
Death

Death in the Philippines is one of the most important occasions in family life. For many Filipinos,
a death of relatives is an opportunity to strengthen ties in the Family. To pay respect and honor the
relationship to the deceased, long lost relatives, friends, and even relatives working abroad are
reunited.

Eating with a Fork and Spoon

One Filipinos identity is that they are eat using a fork and a spoon. The fork is place in the left
hand while the spoon is in the right hand. Fork is used to place or push the food into the spoon
which is held by the right hand.

Eating with Hands (Kamayan)

In addition to the use of the fork and spoon, eating with your hands or kamayan is another common
Filipino tradition. For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the food instead of using utensils.
Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite-sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all
your fingers to gather the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put
it in your mouth using your thumb to gently push the food in.

Hospitable

We would offer them food and most of the times they talked about the life of each other.