FILIPINO

TRADITIONS
PAGMAMANO

• Practiced as a sign of respect to

elders, pagmamano is one of the
oldest and most notable Filipino
tradition there is. Mano means hand
in Spanish, fittingly so as
pagmamano is the action of placing
the back of an elder ’s hand on your
forehead as a sign of respect. The
elder in return says “God bless you”
hence why the act is also often
referred to as “bless”.
TABI TABI PO
• Being that we’re a very superstitious
nation and that we believe in a
number of spiritual beings and
mythical creatures, many of us were
taught as kids to say “tabi po” or
“tabi-tabi po” when passing by a
huge tree, an anthill or termite
mound, or even a dark ally. This is to
ask permission to the spirits and
mythical creatures that you’re
passing by and so they can avoid
you.
Chicken Blood On Your Birthday

• This is a tradition that was more commonly

done in the province. During someone’s
birthday, the whole household i s usually
busy preparing a big meal to celebrate. As
tradition goes, the birthday celebrant will
be anointed with fresh chicken blood by an
elder on their forehead. This is a way of
blessing the person, as well as ward off
any bad luck. This is similar to the idea of a
sacrifice for prosperity, and the chicken is
usually served along with the birthday meal.
BAYANIHAN

• Back in the days where land titles weren’t a

thing, people in the provinces simply built a
hut on a small piece of land that they
claimed as their own. They ether farmed on
the land or went to town to work while their
wives stayed to care for their children. If
they wanted to move, they took their whol e
house with them since it was mainly made
with light material like bamboo and palm.
Bayanihan is the act of the whole
neighborhood getting together and helping
to move the house to the new location .
PANLILIGAW (HARANA)

• Harana is a traditional form of

courtship where in the man would
sing and woo woman outside her
window at night. An acoustic guitar
was used and Spanish-influenced
songs were sung. It’s not uncommon
for the man to bring his friends along,
or even the best singer or haranista
in town, to help.
Thank you