UNDERSTANDING THE FILIPINOS AND ITS CULTURE
by: Loreta Garrote-Trinidad, R.N.
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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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