As a filipino living in the philippines, I can say that our culture has made a great and complex history. There are a lot of cultures from different countries that brings influence and contribute to the customs and traditions of the Filipinos. Filipino culture is indeed a unique culture compared to other Asian countries, and beliefs that may apply in everyday life of the filipinos, and we can also be revealed how rich and blessed we are in our culture and all the people around the Philippines. So now, let's have some review of the most popular Filipino traditions and try to find the similarities that bind us Filipinos to each other.
1. Mano Po
The First Filipino Values on the list is "Mano Po". This is a common Filipino value that we should do to our parents and especially to our grandparents. In "Mano Po" every child young people greet or say goodbyes to their elders they typically do this one, just by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand also. In these Filipino values, it is a way of giving respect to our elders and I do believe also that it is a way of receiving blessings from them. Also, the word "Mano" is coming from the Spanish word "hand" while the word "Po" is used at the end of the sentence when addressing an elder or superiors.
2. Being Hospitable
Filipinos also are known to be hospitable because foreign visitors are treated with the utmost respect. We can usually see this on fiestas and holidays. This is to give the best to entertain foreign visitors as well. It is amazing to see that even the simplest home along the road opens its home to rangers or some people who show them kindness too. For Filipinos, to serve other people, they simply give honor by showing true friendship. Filipino hospitality is a trait that no one can't take away from them.
3. Having close family ties
Having close family ties is also one of the unique traits. One of the outstanding cultural that Filipino values must have; a family takes care of each other and taught one another to be loyal to family and respecting elders by obeying simple rules and regulations. One of the unique characteristics is having reunions with relatives during holidays like Christmas, New Year's Eve, All Saint's Day, Holy Week, and many other occasions. There is much evidence that Filipino people valued not only the cultural tradition but the spirit of a Filipino family. And also, Filipinos are blessed to be brought up with strong family ties.
4. Bayanihan
Other traits of being a Filipino are Bayanihan. It is a spirit of communal unity or effort of the people in a certain community to achieve a particular goal within the community. One of the famous examples is, the neighborhood is carrying a hut or nipa house to a new location, it describes the outpouring of community spirit to help and reach out to their neighbors without expecting in return.
5. Courting
We Filipinos also are romantic in showing we love to a person, especially to the girls. Filipino men would love to serenade or "harana" in Tagalog to impress and catch the heart of a woman. It is one of the courtship traits of a man if you love the woman. Serenade required the young man to sing in front of the house of a young lady and normally, he is accompanied by his male friends who stand to be the back-up singers
The man himself or his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, which provides the background music to his song. As the music starts to play, the young man should sing of course and they have to wait until the young lady will open a window for them and listen to the young man, it's for the girl if she will invite the suitor to enter the house, give food and chat after the song. The suitor would not expect if he has a chance on the girl or they can talk in private so that the young man can express his affection towards the young lady. It would be better if the girl's parents would be entertained by the young man's friend.
6. Religious
The Philippines also is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific. Filipinos are known to be religious, and always coming to church to reflect and pray for the guidance and health of their family. One example is the Black Nazarene because of the love, devotion, and faith put by every Filipinos every time they attend the feast of the Black Nazarene. Just by touching the face of it, they said that it creates a miracle if you have faith in God. Filipinos also believe that if you have a strong faith and devotion it might lead to a better life and guidance to face challenges in life.
7. Superstitious
Superstitious beliefs have grown in the Philippines. Many beliefs have come from different places in the Philippines and our ancestors are always reminding the young generations from doing something whether it is good or bad.
It came from the part of our culture, it also derives from influences of the customs, traditions, and culture that dictated us to what explain certain phenomena or just to scare people. Some also practiced it, because
These beliefs are part of our culture, for one derives their beliefs from the influences of what their customs, traditions, and culture have dictated to explain certain phenomena or to scare people. Some are practiced primarily because Filipinos believe that there is nothing to lose if they will comply with these beliefs.
8. Food/Popular Cuisines
The Philippines is considered the melting pot of Asia. The rich medley of Chinese, Malay, Spanish, Mexican, American, and Indian cooking is noticed in Philippine cuisine. Eating out is one of the favorite Filipino past times. A typical Pinoy diet consists of most of six meals a day; breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner, and again a midnight snack before going to sleep. Rice is a staple in the Filipino diet and is usually eaten together with other dishes. Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks and knives. Some also eat with their hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood.
Other popular dishes brought from Spanish and Southeast Asian influences include afritada, Asado, chorizo, empanadas, mani (roasted peanuts), passive (fish or pork, cooked in vinegar and water with some spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (bread rolls), Pescado Frito (fried or grilled fish), sisig, torta(omelet), Kare-Kare (oxtail stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang (tamarind soup with a variety of pork, fish, or prawns). Some delicacies eaten by some Filipinos may seem unappetizing to the Western palate include balut (boiled egg with a fertilized duckling inside), longanisa (sweet sausage), and dinuguan (soup made from pork blood).
9. Popular Snack and desserts
Popular snacks and desserts such as chicharron (deep-fried pork or chicken skin), halo-halo (crushed ice with evaporated milk, flan, and sliced tropical fruit),puto (white rice cakes), bibingka (rice cake with butter or margarine, and salted eggs), ensaymada (a sweet roll with grated cheese on top), polvoron (powder candy), and chocolate (chocolate) are usually eaten outside the three main meals. Popular Philippine beverages include San Miguel Beer, Tanduay Rhum, coconut arrack, and tuba.
Every province has it's specialty and tastes vary in each region. In Bicol, for example, foods are generally spicier than elsewhere in the Philippines. Patis, suka, Toyo, bagoong, and banana catsup are the most common condiments found in Filipino homes and restaurants. Western fast-food chains such as McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a common sight in the country.
A roasted pig known as the Lechón is one of the Philippines ' most popular dishes.
10. Sacred Marriage
Sacred If we say marriage it is a sacred union of men and women after a period of courtship and engagement to each other. Marriage is a sacrament between two people who love each other. For many Filipinos, we believe that the Eternal quality of dedication to God pervades a truly sacred marriage.
11. Death
Death in the Philippines is one of the most important occasions for family life. Because there are many Filipinos that, the death of a relative or a family member, is an opportunity to strengthen their family ties. To show respect or to pay respect and honor the relationship to the deceased person by that, all the relatives of the family, friends, or even workmates are reunited.
The Philippines is the home of some unique death rituals that are partly religious and mostly superstitious that you did not encounter in your whole life. The mourning and the weeping are still present these days, but a happy and welcoming atmosphere would usually envelop the place to help the deceased person on his journey to the afterlife.
So now, after the death of a person, there is what we called nine days. In these nine days, there must have novena prayers and masses offered up to the deceased person, although the beginning of the so-called "Siyam na araw" in Tagalog. After that, the 40-day mourning period follows.