UNDERSTANDING THE FILIPINOS
AND ITS CULTURE

by: Loreta Garrote-Trinidad, R.N.

 


[Page 7]



COMMON FILIPINO CUSTOMS:


  • HIGHLY RELIGIOUS YET SIMULTANEOUSLY HIGHLY SUPERSTITIOUS (PALM READING, FORTUNE TELLING, FAITH-HEALING IS COMMON AND ACCEPTABLE).

  • MUSIC AND DANCING ARE POPULAR PASTIMES.

  • FREQUENT FIESTAS (RELIGIOUS) AND ANY EXCUSE FOR GET-TOGETHERS (BIRTHDAYS, DEATH ANNIVERSARIES, BAPTISMAL, JOB PROMOTIONS, BON VOYAGE, HOUSE BLESSINGS, ETC.).

  • COMMON GREETINGS (GOOD EVENING, ETC.), AN ACKNOWLEDGING NOD, HUGGING BETWEEN FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, TRADITIONAL PRACTICE: YOUNGER MEMBER BOWS AND TAKES THE RIGHT HAND OF THE ELDER RELATIVE GENTLY TOWARDS THE FOREHEAD WITH REVERENCE, SAYING "MANO PO" OR GREETING.

  • YOUNGER PEOPLE MUST ADDRESS THE ELDERS WITH SUCH PREFIX AS "TIYO" (UNCLE), "TIYA" (AUNT), "ALING.." (OLDER FEMALE), "MANG.."(OLDER MALE), MA'AM OR SIR INSTEAD OF CALLING ONE BY FIRST NAME ONLY.

  • CHILDREN ASSUME THE MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME AS THEIR MIDDLE NAME. TRADITIONAL FOR MARRIED WOMAN TO REPLACE HER MAIDEN NAME AS HER MIDDLE NAME.

  • DIVORCE IS NOT RECOGNIZED IN THE COUNTRY. LEGAL SEPARATION IS ALLOWED IN CASES OF ADULTERY OR MURDER ATTEMPT ON SPOUSE.

  • EACH CHILD RECEIVES 2 OR MORE GODPARENTS AT BAPTISM OR CHRISTENING. "COMPADRE" SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT.

  • WOMEN HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS WITH MEN SINCE PRE-HISPANIC TIME.

  • COMMON FOR ADULT CHILDREN TO LIVE WITH PARENTS. THREE GENERATIONS LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF IS TYPICAL. ADULT CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AND/ OR TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS.

  • PREFERENCE OF BODY LANGUAGE RATHER THAN WORDS. SILENCE AND PAUSES OFTEN CONVEY MESSAGES.

  • ACCEPTABLE FOR FEMALES TO HOLD HANDS AND MALES TO WALK WITH ARMS ON EACH OTHER'S SHOULDER. PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN SAME SEXES DOES NOT SUGGEST HOMOSEXUALITY.

  • "TEASING" IS ACCEPTABLE BETWEEN CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.

  • EVERYONE HAS ONE OR MORE NICKNAME.

  • CRYING IN MEN IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.

  • TO AVOID OFFENDING OTHERS, WILL SAY "MAYBE" OR "I DON'T KNOW" WHEN THEY REALLY MEAN "NO" OR "I CAN'T."

  • CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS UNTIL JANUARY 6th.

  • BLACK OR WHITE ARE MOURNING COLORS, WIDOW OR ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS ESPECIALLY WOMEN WEARS THESE COLORS FOR ONE YEAR.

  • WILL AVOID ASKING QUESTIONS EVEN IF THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

  • HOMOSEXUAL MEN ARE ACCEPTABLE AS DRAG QUEENS, HAIRDRESSERS, ENTERTAINERS, DANCE INSTRUCTORS, ETC.


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