LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.
FILIPINO CULTURE
Located between the South China Sea and
Philippine Sea, the Republic of the Philippines
contains a diverse set of landscapes, languages, and
cultures. Various countries - such as Spain, China,
and the United States - have interacted with and
impacted Filipino culture. A sense of national
identity and pride emerged out of struggles for
Philippine independence. However, loyalties remain
foremost with one's family and place of birth. Key
values such fellowship, respect, and acceptance are
found throughout the culture, with many Filipinos
displaying a warming and hospitable demeanor.
Geographic and Linguistic Diversity
The Philippines is made up of over 7,000
islands, of which approximately 2,000are inhabited.
The islands are categorized into three main clusters
- namely Luzon in the north, Visayas in the center,
and Mindanao in the south. The island clusters vary
in terms of cuisine, languages and culture. One of
the main distinctions is in respect to religion. The
population in the northern islands generally identify
as Christian while it is much more common to find
those who identify as Muslim in the southern parts
of the Philippines.
The country is also linguistically diverse,
with eight major languages and over 170 languages
and dialects spoken throughout the inhabited
islands. The official language of the Philippines is
Filipino, which is mainly Tagalog (the dialect from
central and southern Luzon) combined with words
from various other languages. For example, English
is widely spoken throughout the Philippines, and it
is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture of
English and Tagalog (known informally as
'Taglish') in everyday conversations. Depending on
their location, Filipinos may not speak the national
language. As a way to retain their local identities,
many Filipinos will often choose to speak in their
regional languages and dialects. Indeed, it is
common to find Filipinos who are from different
parts of the Philippines conversing in English rather
than in Filipino.
National and Local Identity
Given the diversity of the Philippines, the
unifying element of Filipino culture is a complex
matter. A sense of national identity emerged out of
the long standing struggle for independence. In
contemporary Philippines, many Filipinos are
acutely aware of the colonial history of their
country. For example, José Rizal, a national hero in
the struggle for Philippine independence, is a highly
revered and well-known figure whom many
Filipinos look up to as a role model of a virtuous
person.
However, the sense of a national identity is
fragile, with loyalty residing firstly to their kin
group, province or municipality. The Philippines is
a collectivist society and individuals tend to
understand themselves as a part of a group. For
Filipinos, the interests of the collective often
override the interests of the individual. Filipinos
generally feel a strong sense of pride towards their
group and will celebrate their pride through sharing
stories or facts about their family, barangay
(village) or town.

The long history of contact with Spain and
the United States continues to have a significant
impact on the Filipino identity. One example is the
influence of American standards of beauty, which
are often measured in the Philippines by the
possession of Western physical traits - such as fair
skin and curly hair. Another example is the
prominence of Christian ideology since the
introduction of Christianity by the Spanish. Indeed,
when compared to other countries on the Asian
continent, the Philippines has one of the highest
Christian populations.
Social Interactions and 'Hiya'
Social hierarchy in the Philippines is
determined according to age and social status.
Nearly all Filipinos are taught from an early age
about the importance of the underpinning social
hierarchy. Gestures, terms of address and
communication styles vary depending on who one
interacts with and their relative positions in the
social hierarchy. For example, it is expected that, if
you are referring to someone who is older than you
but within the same generation, you use the terms
kuya for males and ate for females (for example,
'Ate Jess'). Failing to do so is considered highly
disrespectful and a lack of acknowledgment of the
established hierarchy.
Kapwa (fellowship or togetherness) is core
value that explains Filipinos' interpersonal behavior.
The term generally refers to a shared identity
whereby people bond together despite differences in
wealth or social status. Kapwa is related to the
collectivistic nature of Filipino society. It is
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
believed that what is good for one person will be
good for the collective and ought to be shared with
fellow people. Being branded as not having any
kapwa is an insult as it implies that the person does
not belong to a community.
The concept of 'hiya is also one of the
underpinning factors influencing how Filipinos
behave and interact with others. While hiya
translates roughly into English as 'shame' or
'embarrassment', on a deeper level it refers to one's
sense of self, propriety and respect. Filipinos may
be more motivated to succeed by a fear of shame
rather than fear of failing the task at hand. To avoid
experiencing shame, they may try to give face to
those around them through complimenting them and
avoiding direct criticism. Individuals will often try
to be generous and hospitable to avoid hiya and to
maintain kapwa.
Warmth and Acceptance
Filipinos are usually very warm and friendly
people who enjoy conversing with those around
them. It is common to find strangers engaging in
conversation or sharing stories to family, friends or
foreigners about their hometown, family or country.
Filipinos are often expressive and sentimental while
maintaining a light-hearted demeanor. For example,
the word 'hugot ('to pull out') is often used to
describe someone drawing out deep sentimental
memories or experiences. Indeed, Filipinos are
often willing to share stories of their past that may
be considered personal.
Alongside their warming and light-hearted
demeanor, the general approach to life is of

acceptance. 'Bahala na' (come what may) captures
the strong belief among many Filipinos that
whatever may happen is a part of God's will. Any
individual or group success is often attributed to
fate or God rather than efforts. This indicates a
fatalistic attitude throughout society whereby
Filipinos are generally accepting of theirs and
others circumstances. However, this does not mean
Filipinos are passive. Rather, they are hardworking
and will often do their best to help themselves and
their family.
GREETINGS
a) How one greets is determined by the age and
relationship of the people.
b) When greeting strangers, a soft handshake
accompanied with a smile is common
among men. Among women, a smile and a
hand wave is the usual greeting.
c) Close friends and family may accompany a
handshake with a pat on the back. Female
may hug and kiss to greet each other.
d) Typically, people greet each other by saying,
'kumusta kayo' ("how are you?' in Tagalog).
e) If the person you are greeting is older than
you but within the same generation, it is
expected that you will refer to that person as
'kuya' for males and 'ate' for females. These
terms do not have direct translations into
English.
Mano
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
The common gesture used to greet is known
as 'mano', often referred to as 'bless' in English.
Mano is performed as a sign of respect towards
elders and as a way of accepting a blessing from the
elder. It is usually done towards those who are older
by two generations or more. For example, a niece
will perform the mano gesture to her aunt. Similar
to kissing a hand, the person offering a mano will
bow towards the offered hand and press their
forehead on the hand. Sometimes they will ask
'mano po' to the elder in order to ask permission to
perform the gesture. It is usually performed when
visiting an elder or upon entering a house or
gathering. Although the mano gesture is still widely
used, some Filipinos have replaced the gesture with
the 'beso beso' (a cheek to cheek kiss).
RELIGION
The Philippines is unique among its
neighbors in the Southeast Asian region in that the
majority of Filipinos identify as Christian (92.5%).
More specifically, 82.9% of the population identify
as Catholic, 2.8% identify as Evangelical Christian,
2.3% identify as Iglesia ni Kristo and 4.5% identify
with some other Christian denomination. Of the
remaining population, 5.0% identify as Muslim,
1.8% identify with some other religion, 0.6% were
unspecified and 0.1% identify with no religion. The
Catholic Church and state were officially separated
in the 1990s, yet Catholicism still plays a prominent
role in political and societal affairs.
Christianity in the Philippines

There continues to be a process of cultural
adaptation and synthesis of Christianity into the
local culture since the introduction of the religion
into the Philippines. The denomination of
Christianity that became most embedded in Filipino
culture is Catholicism, which was introduced in the
Philippines during the early colonial period by the
Spanish. Catholic ideas continue to inform beliefs
throughout Filipino society such as the sanctity of
life and respect for hierarchy. As a branch of
Christianity, Catholicism believes in the doctrine of
God as the 'Holy Trinity' comprising the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Like most Catholics, many
Filipinos accept the authority of the priesthood and
the Roman Catholic Church, which is led by the
Pope.
For many Filipinos, the time of fiesta' is an
important event within the community. During the
Catholic event of fiesta, the local community comes
together to celebrate the special day of the patron
saint of a town or 'barangay (village). It is a time for
feasting, bonding, and paying homage to the patron
saint. Houses are open to guests and plenty of food
is served. The fiesta nearly always includes a Mass,
but its primary purpose is a social gathering of the
community. On a day-to-day level, Catholic
iconography is evident throughout the Philippines.
Indeed, it is common to find churches and statues of
various saints all throughout the country. Moreover,
many towns and cities are named after saints (for
example, San Miguel ["Saint Michael') located in
Luzon and Santa Catalina ('Saint Catherine'] located
in Visayas).
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
In terms of other Christian denominations,
there is a strong presence of Protestant traditions in
the Philippines, in part due to the United States
colonization of the country. Many teachers from the
United States were Protestants who were
responsible for instituting and controlling the public
education system of the country. As such, they had
a strong influence over the Philippines, particularly
with the dispersing of Protestant attitudes and
beliefs. The Philippines also contains a number of
Indigenous Christian Churches, such as the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente (Independent Philippine
Church) and Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ).
These churches are usually popular among the
marginalized in society who feel disconnected from
the Catholic Church.
Islam in the Philippines
Islam was introduced to the southern
Philippines from neighboring countries in Southeast
Asia, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The religion
rapidly declined as the main monotheistic religion
in the Philippines when the Spanish entered the
country. In present day Philippines, most of the
Muslim population in the Philippines reside in the
southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan.
Contemporary Muslim Filipino communities
are often collectively known as Moros. Most Moros
practice Sunni Islam, while a small minority
practice Shi'a and Ahmadiyya. Like Catholicism,
Islam in the Philippines has absorbed local
elements, such as making offerings to spirits
(diwatas). All Moros tend to share the fundamental

beliefs of Islam, but the specific practices and
rituals vary from one Moro group to another.
FAMILY
Family is considered to be the foundation of
social life for most Filipinos. The nuclear family is
the core family unit; however bonds are often tight
knit among extended family members. Indeed,
people may be encouraged to have a relationship
with their aunts and uncles that is just as strong as
the relationship with their parents. Close familial
relationships often go beyond one's genetic
connections or bloodlines to incorporate distant
relatives, close neighbors or friends. For example, it
is common to hear people refer to distant relatives
or non-relatives with familial terms such as 'tita'
(aunt), 'tito' (uncle), 'lola' (grandmother) and 'lolo'
(grandfather). One instance is when a grandchild
refers to their grandparent's friend or cousin as lola
or lolo.
Filial Piety
Filial piety is an important concept in
Filipino culture. It is understood as essential in
order to maintain the collective face of the family
and to avoid experiencing hiya. Many Filipinos hold
the belief that each family member has several
duties and responsibilities they must uphold.
Observing one's duties and responsibilities is
important in order to correctly respect others and to
ensure harmony among family members. For
example, family members are required to show
respect to their elders at times. The opinions of
younger family members' and children's opinions
are considered to be secondary to their superior.
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
Moreover, those requiring age care are nearly
always taken care of by their children or
grandchildren.
Household Structure and Transnational Families
In a Filipino household, it is common to find
three generations living together. Often,
grandparents play a large role in raising their
grandchildren. Extended family will often live
relatively close to one another and will come
together during large celebrations. It is common to
find families in the Philippines that have some
members who return to their family home during
weekends after spending a week in major cities for
work or study.
Since the 1970s, the Philippines has been
exporting labor abroad, with some members
engaging in paid labor abroad while many remain in
their home town or village. This means that many
Filipino families are spread across the world.
Filipino society has widely adapted to the change in
family structure. Some parents will leave their child
in the Philippines in order to seek labor abroad to
better support their family left behind. In turn, they
will send back remittances to their parents or
siblings who have been given the duty of caring for
the child. It is also common to find aunts, uncles,
and godparents taking care of their nieces, nephews
or godchildren, by sending remittances back to the
Philippines in order to pay for their education.
Those living abroad with left behind
families will attempt to see their family once a year
by returning home to the Philippines during their
break from work in another country. This can be

particularly difficult for those with children or
elderly parents in the Philippines. In order to
support their families in the Philippines, Filipinos
abroad will send a 'balikbayan box, containing
various items such as clothing, household objects
and gifts for their family. In the Australian context,
it can be quite emotionally distressing for some
Filipinos in intercultural marriages to be denied the
opportunity to send remittances home or unable to
visit their family, as they feel they are failing to
uphold their duty towards their family.
Gender Roles
At times, Filipino society is tagged as
patriarchal. This is in part due to machismo
attitudes and the masculine standards of many
Filipino men. However, the Philippines is closer to
exhibiting a matriarchal society. The female
influence is significant throughout the country, with
many women holding senior roles throughout
business and the government. In the household
structure, it is often a matriarch in charge.
Generally, the head of the household is usually the
oldest female, often the grandmother (lola). Income
from family members are often pooled together,
then the matriarch will look after the family
finances.
Dating and Marriage
In the Philippines, dating often comes in
stages, beginning with courtship. Typically, a man
will try to impress a female by courting her. If the
woman considers the man to be a good suitor, they
will continue dating. Individuals have a significant
level of freedom in terms of choosing marriage
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
partners, although the choice of a spouse may be
influenced by the preferences of the family. In some
families, it is expected for the prospective partner to
gain approval of their potential in-laws. However,
in urban areas, dating and marriage practices tend to
be less conservative and are becoming more
influenced by the West.
Expectations and practices of marriage are
heavily shaped by the Catholic Church. Marriage is
understood as a milestone and it is expected that
individuals will one day marry a suitable partner.
Having children out of wedlock is generally
frowned upon in Filipino society. Thus, many
couples will marry prior to giving birth to their
child to avoid social repercussions. Monogamy is
the norm and divorce is both socially stigmatized
and illegal. However, views on marriage are
changing. For example, there is now more
acceptance of a person's choice to remain single if
they wish to be so.
NAMING
Naming Conventions
The history of Spanish and American
colonization in the Philippines has led Filipino
naming conventions to be heavily influenced by
both Spanish and Western practices. Filipino names
follow the Spanish tradition of using both paternal
and maternal surnames, while structuring names
according to the Western name order of first name,
middle name and surname.
a. Filipino naming conventions arrange
names as follows: (personal name(s)]
[mother's paternal family name] [father's

paternal family name). For example,
Jose Mario BELLO PINEDA (male) and
Maria CRUZ SANTOS (female).
b. The personal name' (or 'given name') is
chosen at birth as the individual's
personal identifier.
c. Some people may have two given names
(e.g. Jose Mario), reflecting the Spanish
custom of dual names.
d. The mother's paternal family name (or
maiden name) effectively acts as the
person's 'middle name', while the father's
paternal family name operates as the
person's 'surname'.
e. Both the middle name and surname
names are shared with all other siblings
in a family.
f. Some people may choose to use only the
initial of their mother's maiden name as
their middle name (e.g. Jose Mario B.
PINEDA).
g. The mother's maiden name is a legal
requirement for Filipino passports and
other official documents. Therefore, if a
Filipino is born in another country, their
mother's maiden name will
automatically be applied to their legal
name in the Philippines.
h. Women tend to change their name at
marriage by replacing their maiden
middle name with their maiden surname
and adopting their husband's surname
instead. For example, if Maria CRUZ
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
SANTOS married Jose Mario BELLO
PINEDA, she may be known as Maria
SANTOS PINEDA."
i. The other two legally recognized ways a
woman may adopt a husband's name is
by using her maiden given name and
husband's surname alone (e.g. Maria
PINEDA) or by using the husband's full
name with a prefix indicating that she is
his wife (e.g. "Mrs.").=
j. Some married Filipino women may
choose to hyphenate their maiden
surname with their husband's surname
(e.g. Maria SANTOS-PINEDA). Doing
so allows others to more easily identify
them after marriage and is a common
practice in social or professional settings
(e.g. email communication). However,
this change will not be reflected on legal
documentation.
k. Filipino women are not required to
change their name at marriage and some
may choose to keep their full maiden
name.
l. In some instances, names may be
formatted using the Spanish custom of
adding a 'y' (meaning "and") between
their mother's name and father's name
(e.g. Maria CRUZ Y SANTOS).
However, this custom is generally only
used when writing names in very format
settings (e.g. court documents) or by
some older Filipinos.

Names
a. It is common to carry Spanish given names,
especially those that have a biblical origin.
Some Filipinos may use Spanish translations
of Christian names, such as those of
Catholic saints (e.g. Miguel for Michael).
b. Such biblical names may be drawn from
calendars which have a corresponding
Catholic saint for each month. Parents pick
the name that matches their child's birth
date, and alter it to suit the child's gender
(e.g. Manolito (male) or Manolita (female)).
c. However, traditional Spanish names
unrelated to Catholicism (e.g. Corazon,
Rosario) have become less popular, viewed
as somewhat old fashioned.
d. English given names tend to be most
popular amongst Filipinos today.
e. It is also common to choose names relating
to popular culture. For example, children
may share the same name as a rising
celebrity or popular politician.
f. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority, the most common given names in
2018 were Nathaniel, James, Jacob, Gabriel,
Joshua (male) and Althea, Samantha, Angel,
Angela, Princess (female).
g. There is a trend of altering the standard
spelling of English and Spanish names to
make them more unique. For example, Irene
becomes Airyn, Charlene becomes Charlyn
or Charlin, Janine becomes Johnine, and so
on.
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
h. Given names may also be an adaptation of
Spanish or English names to make them
sound more Filipino. For example, Mariano
becomes Nano; Edwin becomes Aweng;
Roberto becomes, Berting, etc.
i. Some Filipino names have been formed by
reversing the spelling of a Western name.
For example, 'Dranreb' is 'Bernard
backwards.
j. Filipino women who have Maria' as one of
two given names (e.g. Maria Cristina), may
choose to abbreviate it as simply 'Ma.' (e.g.
Ma. Cristina). Some men may do the same
with the name Jose', although this is less
common (e.g. Jose Mario maybe known as
Jo. Mario).
k. It is common for parents to name male
children after their father, adding the suffix
Junior' (abbreviated as Jr.') to distinguish
between the generations.
l. The most common Filipino family names
often have a Spanish origin, e.g. SANTOS,
REYES, CRUZ, BAUTISTA, GARCIA.
m. Some surnames may have the prefix 'de' or
'del' (e.g. DE CASTRO, DEL ROSARIO).
While these prefixes originally meant
literally "from" or "of", they are now
thought as part of a person's full family
name.
n. Filipinos with Chinese ancestry may also
have a surname derived from Chinese family
names, e.g. 'ONG' (WANG), 'TIONG'

(ZANG), 'AUYONG' or 'AWYOUNG'
(YANG).
o. Some people may have surnames derived
from words in their local language or
dialect, such as Tagalog, Visayan (Cebuano
and Hiligaynon), locano, Kapampangan and
Pangasinan. These surnames often describe
a personal characteristic, e.g. 'DIMAYUGA
(Tagalog for 'defiance').
Nicknames
a. Close friends and family tend to refer to one
another by nicknames, rather than the full
first name. People may have multiple
nicknames depending on who is talking to
them.
b. A nickname may be an abbreviation of the
person's name, e.g. Mario become "Mar',
Teresita becomes 'Teri.
c. Longer given names may be shortened in
various ways. For example, Emmanuel can
become Eman, Manual, Manolo, Manny or
Manoy.
d. Some nicknames may be created through
combining letters and syllables of the
person's full name (e.g. Jose Mario Pineda
becomes 'Jomapi or even 'JP).
e. Some people may carry nicknames that were
given to them by family members as
children (e.g. Baby, Girlie).
f. It is common for someone to have a
nickname that is often a repeat of a syllable
from that person's name (e.g. 'Mon Mon' as
the nickname for 'Ramon'). This kind of
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
nickname is more affectionate and reserved
from close family and friends.
g. Other nicknames may be unrelated to the
person's name, chosen for their aesthetic
appeal, sentimental reasons or to describe a
characteristic or event. For example,
someone who is good at playing cards may
be called Joker'.
h. Many Filipinos have English words as their
nicknames, e.g. Peanut, Bambi. These may
be chosen because they relate to certain
themes, such as countries, car trademarks or
popular brand names.
i. In some cases, the meaning of these words
may sound peculiar as a nickname to a
native English-speaker. However, it is not
appropriate to joke about or belittle the
name choice.
Addressing Others
a. Friends of the same age or status may
address one another using the first name or
nickname alone in casual contexts.
However, it is inappropriate to call someone
by a nickname unless you've been invited to
do so.
b. It is most common to address people using
an honorific title that shows politeness and
respect. These titles are context specific and
vary based on people's gender, age and
social relationship to one another. They
usually have familial connotations, such as

'uncle or 'aunt', instead of professional
meanings.
c. One typically addresses an elderly men and
women as 'Lolo' (grandfather) and 'Lola'
(grandmother), while middle-aged older
men and women may be referred to as 'Tito'
(uncle) and 'Tita' (aunt).
d. The terms 'Kuya' (elder brother) and 'Ate'
(elder sister) are used to show respect to any
person slightly older than one's self but of
similar status. This is one of the most
common ways to refer to acquaintances,
colleagues and strangers in daily life (e.g.
shop assistants), as well as siblings and
cousins.
e. Titles may be used with a person's surname,
first name or nickname depending on the
relationship. For example, a Filipino would
likely refer to their aunty using the title 'Tita'
(aunt) followed by the person's nickname.
Some titles may be used without the person's
name, (e.g. simply 'Tita').
f. It is also common to refer to people by their
professional title or job description (e.g.
lawyer, doctor, engineer, teacher).
g. Filipinos rarely use a person full name (i.e.
Jose Mario BELLO PINEDA) unless in very
formal settings. It is more common to drop
the middle name and refer to someone by
their first name and last name (e.g. Jose
Mario PINEDA).
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
h. It is best to address people with dual names
using both their first names if you don't
know them very well (e.g. Jose Mario).
i. The middle name (mother's paternal name)
is rarely used in daily life and conversation.
It is incorrect to address someone by this
name alone.
ETIQUETTE
Basic Etiquette
a. Filipinos tend to dress modestly, especially
when in public.
b. It is expected that the elderly and those of a
higher social status are treated with respect.
c. Given large family sizes and typically small
living quarters, Filipinos are generally not
demanding of privacy. Within one family,
possessions are typically thought to be
communal and shared. Thus, it is expected
to be open about one's possessions and
space.
d. Many Filipinos avoid blasphemy and
cursing as it may cause themselves to lose
face.
e. Filipinos typically have a relaxed approach
towards timekeeping and punctuality. It is
common for Filipinos to arrive an hour or
two hours after the designated time. This is
commonly referred to as 'Filipino time'.
However, Filipinos will observe punctuality
in a formal context such as important
business meetings, appointments or when
visiting the doctor.
Visiting

a. Do not refer to the woman of the house as
'hostess' as this has an alternative meaning in
the Philippines that is offensive.
b. It is common practice to remove one's shoes
before entering someone's home. The host
may offer you slippers to wear inside the
home. Gift Giving
c. Try to accept any refreshments offered.
Refusing them is considered impolite.
d. To display their hospitality, Filipinos will
often use their finest crockery and cutlery
when they have a visitor. It would be polite
to comment on it out of acknowledgement
for their efforts.
e. If there is a visitor, Filipinos are reluctant to
take the last serving of any shared food
served at a meal. DOs and DON'TS
f. If someone is eating and someone walks Dos
past, many Filipinos will offer the person
passing by to stop and eat. However, this is
not a literal offer but rather out of respect.
Eating
a. Nearly all meals are served with rice. If a
meal is not served with rice, it is normally
not considered a main meal but rather a
snack.
b. Many Filipinos eat with their hands or with
a spoon and fork. However, they will often
try their best to accommodate for their
guests by finding suitable cutlery for their
guest.
c. It is considered rude to lean on one's arms
when present at the dinner table.
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
d. Filipinos may allow food to go cold before
eating it as they wish to have all the dishes
present on the table before serving.
e. It is common to leave food at the table just
in case someone else arrives or is hungry
later.
a. Presentation is important, so Filipinos will
take considerable effort to make sure their
gifts are well presented and wrapped.
b. Filipinos will often put a lot of thought into
their gifts and will give sentimental,
thoughtful and/or practical gifts.
c. Gifts are generally not opened when
received. Often one will thank the giver and
set the gift aside.
a. Observe hierarchical relations
determined by age and status. Showing
respect is a core part of Filipino culture
and is often demonstrated through
speech.
b. Show an interest into the wellbeing of
your Filipino counterpart's family. In the
Philippines, family is an important
component in an individual's life.
c. Acknowledge your counterpart's
education and English proficiency.
Many Filipinos are fluent in English.
Avoid talking to them in overly
simplified English as this may be
interpreted as patronizing.

d. Smile when meeting people. Filipinos
are renowned for being joyful people
who try to show warmth where they can.
e. Compliment people's efforts
hospitality. For Filipinos, hospitality is
an essential component of interaction
and they will often go to extreme lengths
to be hospitable to their company.
Don'ts
a. Approach questions about income, standard
of living or things that would often be
considered personal in Australia
sensitivity. These topics are not always
welcomed in discussion. However, it is not
uncommon for Filipinos to ask questions
relating to age, work, and level of education
to ensure they address you correctly in
future interactions.
b. Avoid directly criticizing the Philippines as
a country. This may not be well received
and criticisms from a foreigner may be
interpreted as an insult.
c. Do not publicly display signs of anger,
raising your voice or shouting in front of
those older or superior to you. Any
confrontational or aggressive behavior may
bring hiya (shame or embarrassment),
tarnishing your reputation.
d. Try not to be offended if your Filipino
counterpart makes frank comments about
people's body shape. Unlike in Australia, it
is not considered taboo or rude to make
comments such as, "Oh, you've put on
LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M
weight" or "Do you have a
boyfriend/girlfriend?". Such comments are
not intended to be hurtful, invasive or
and offensive.
COMMUNICATION
Verbal
a. Communication Style: Filipinos will try to
express their opinions and ideas
diplomatically and with humility to avoid
with appearing arrogant. The tone of voice varies
widely by language, dialect and region.
b. Indirect Communication: Filipinos often
communicate indirectly in order to prevent a
loss of face and evoking hiya on either side
of an exchange. They tend to avoid
interrupting others and are more attentive to
posture, expression and tone of voice to
draw meaning. Speech is often ambiguous
and Filipinos may speak in the passive voice
rather than the active to avoid being
perceived as speaking harshly. To find the
underlying meaning, it is common to check
for clarification several times.
c. Refusals: Since many Filipinos try to save
face and avoid hiya in their interactions,
many will be overly polite and seldom give
a flat 'no' or negative response. When
conversing with your Filipino counterpart,
try to focus on hints of hesitation. Listen to
what they say and also pay close attention to
what they don't say.
 LIT 101: FILIPINO CULTURE|MORENO, P.A.M

d. Respect: When speaking to those who are tension. In some circumstances, laughter is
older or of higher status, Filipinos tend to used as an attempt to cover embarrassment.
use the polite forms of speech. At the end of d. Pointing: Filipinos may point to objects by
phrases, sentences or questions, they will puckering their lips and moving their
say 'po' to demonstrate this respect for mouths in the direction they are pointing to.
hierarchy. For example, when conversing e. Gestures: Putting one's hands on their hips
with an elder or someone of higher status, is a sign of anger.
one will say 'salamat po ("thank you po'). f. Beckoning: The common way to beckon
Non-Verbal someone is by gesturing with the hand
a. Physical Contact: Among relatives or facing downwards and waving fingers
friends of the same gender, it is common for towards oneself, the same gesture that would
Filipinos to walk hand in hand or arm in represent 'shooing' in Australia. If a Filipino
arm. This is generally done so as a sign of wants someone's attention, it is common for
affection, friendship or if they are shy and them to make a sound like 'pssst'.
would like someone to accompany them.
Filipinos tend to be modest and conservative Source: https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/filipino-
in their interactions with their significant culture/filipino-culture-
other, and public displays of affection otherconsiderations#filipino-culture-
among couples (such as kissing or hugging) otherconsiderations
is quite uncommon.
b. Personal Space: When interacting with
people they are familiar with, Filipinos tend
to prefer standing at an arm's length from
one another. Around strangers this distance
is farther. However, in public areas like a
market or subway, personal space is often
limited and pushing is common.
c. Laughter: While Filipinos often laugh in
conversations, the meaning of laughter tends
to depend on the situation. At times,
laughing may indicate happiness or pleasure,
while other times it may be used to relieve