What are typical traits of Filipinos?

By: Graham Salzer

In my experience here for 3 years, Filipinos have some good aspects and bad aspects, relatively speaking. I know this is a bunch of generalizations, but here it goes:

- Overly polite in many cases, use honorific language such as "Sir" "Ma'am", etc.

- Really like to follow American pop-culture and slang. Some speak in a more "American" way than many real Americans, and I think they get it all from TV.

- Overly sensitive. They get their feelings hurt VERY easily and won't forget about it for a long time. Because they're overly sensitive, they often assume others are overly sensitive, so they go out of their way to avoid hurting people's feelings.

- Like to gossip and spread news. I think the Tagalog word is "chismis". (It’s spelled that way or as tsismis)

- Very religious people and have great respect for religious institutions and traditions.

- They frequently have very large extended families. It seems everyone is someone's cousin and they're all 2nd or 3rd cousins. I feel many Filipinos are familiar with their 2nd or 3rd cousins. I think most Americans seldom know who their distant cousins even are.

- Very family oriented.

- Overall, I think Filipino people are really great and I enjoy living and working here.

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Typical Filipino (XXVII) - Typisch Philippinisch (XXVII): The mother and the family/Die Mutter und die Familie

Kinder sind sehr wichtig in der familienorientierten philippinischen Kultur. Sie stellen das Verbindungsglied zwischen den Familien von Mutter und Vater dar. Die Rolle der Mutter ist die vermutlich wichigste Rolle im Leben einer Filipina. Da sie für Haushalt und Kinder sorgt, befindet sie sich in einer Machtposition. Und diese Macht sollte auch nicht unterschätzt werden, denn die Dynamik der Verwandschaftsverhältnisse stellt nach wie vor die zentrale regelnde Kraft der philippinischen Gesellschaft dar.

Filipinos are raised to demonstrate respect towards their elders; from the moment a child is able to understand, it is essential that they learn to say “po” (sir) and “opo” (yes) when speaking with their elders.  This knowledge of respect is not only expected from children, but from adults as well.  As a person from the Philippines, it is necessary to always use these words when conversing with those that are older.

Within the family, children are expected to exude proper treatment towards their parents and older siblings.  In the Filipino family dynamic, the eldest children are given much more responsibility: looking after their siblings when their parents are not around, for example.  Intolerable behaviours include fighting with parents and/or older siblings as well as speaking with an arrogant tone.  Children who act out this high level of inappropriateness would be reprimanded.  Furthermore, a child living in a Filipino household is required to ask permission before leaving the home.  Once the child has returned, their parents and elder family members anticipate “the kissing of hands” or a “hand-to-forehead” gesture with the words “mano po” which symbolizes an appropriate greeting. 

Unlike the “norm” in Canada where it is expected that a child “leave the nest” at the age of eighteen, Filipino children are not obligated to leave home once they have graduated-unless that is what they choose.  Due to the valued closeness between family members and the respect that they feel for their parents, most children do not start a life of their own until they are about to be wed.  For this reason it is not uncommon to see several generations living under the same roof.  “As Filipinos say, ‘not being able to know a relative is like turning their backs from where they come from’” 

Filipino Quotes on Family

Boholanos: “Ang familia nga nagatanum ug kaayohan nag-ani ug kapalaran; ang nagatanum ugkadautan, nag-ani og lonlon kasakitan”

Meaning: “The family that sows goodness reaps fortune; the one that sows evil reaps suffering”.

*This statement suggests karma in that every action will cause either a positive or negative reaction.

Bicolanos: “An harong man palasyo kun an laog kuwago, marhay pa ang payag na laog tao”

Meaning: A house may be a palace, but if the owner is an owl, better is a hut where the owner is a human being.

*This statement is a powerful reflection of the way that Filipinos value family over economic influences.

The commercial above demonstrates the respect and kindness that Filipinos share with one another, and is a good example of their quote: "The family that sows goodness reaps fortune; the one that sows evil reaps suffering”.

A husband and wife are otherwise known as having a “mag-asawa” status.  It is not until the man and woman have a child that they are blessed with “mag-anak” status.  This stresses the significance on the value of children in the Filipino culture, as a couple is not considered a family until a child is born.  In the Philippines, the more children that a husband produces may lead others to think that he is more masculine than those who have fewer offspring.  On the other hand, a woman may be viewed as though she is finally living up to her potential as a woman, while taking comfort in the thought that a newborn has secured her relationship with her husband.

The Modern Filipino Family: A changing world leads to changing family dynamic.  Parents who leave home to find work abroad must leave their children in the hands of other relatives, causing a shift in authority resulting in differences to how the child interacts with the world around them.

‘Everyone is represented’ — Miss Universe Philippines official delegates

by Jane Kingsu-Cheng, Manila Bulletin

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Miss Universe Philippines organization has proven themselves to be very dedicated and passionate in search of the best delegates to represent our country. This year is not different with the announcement of 100 participants this year.

In their Facebook post, the organization highlighted that there is beauty in diversity. “The Miss Universe Philippines Official Delegates inspire representation in various forms. They are tourism ambassadors who promote their regions. They are the faces of the rich cultural heritage of our nation. Filipinas from the indigenous peoples like the Manobo and Bagobo tribes, mixed races and various ethnicties, everyone is represented. The beauty of the Filipina is as diverse as the natural beauty of the country. We take great pride in that Filipinos all over can look at the phenomenal delegates and be inspired by every single one.”

WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG

So are all of us. You wake up in the morning and open your eyes. One mishap follows the other. And then the radio plays Jason Collett too: "When everything goes wrong".  Accept it, stay calm, and most important, stay motivated during these tough times. Maybe easier said than done. I also had to learn it first and to pull myself up on it every time.

Of course, sometimes life’s rough patches feel like they’re going to last forever. Keep in mind: whether you’re dealing with work-related issues, family problems, or stressful situations, very few problems last for a lifetime. So remind yourself, that things won’t be this bad forever.

When things are going wrong, it’s hard to recognize what is going right. It’s easy to screen out the good things and only focus on the bad things. Remind yourself that some things are going right. Purposely look for the positive, even if it is something very small.

One of the most important things to remember is that you have some control of the situation. Even if you aren’t in complete control of the situation, one thing you can always control is your attitude and reaction. Focus on managing what is within your control.

Asking for help can be hard sometimes. I tried to avoid it as long as I could. Big mistake. Asking for help is one of the best ways to deal with tough situations. Tell people what you need specifically if they offer to help. Don’t be afraid to call on friends and family and ask them for help, whether you need  emotional support or practical help. The present flood victims in Germany and its surroundings are so very thankful for this.

A lack of confidence in handling tough times can add to stress. It happened to me, when Covid-19 changed my life and my business. One of the best things to remember is that you can handle tough situations. Even though you might feel angry, hurt, disappointed, or sad, it won’t kill you. You can get through it.

No matter how bad a situation is, it’s almost certain that something good will come out of it. At the very least, it’s likely that you will learn a life lesson. Perhaps you learn not to repeat the same mistake in the future or maybe you move on from a bad situation and find something better. Look for the one good thing that can result when bad things happen.

Many cannot get used to the idea that there are many things that aren’t within your control. You can’t change the past, another person’s behavior, or a loved one’s health issues. Don’t waste time trying to force others to change or trying to make things be different if it isn’t within your control. Investing time and energy into trying to do things you can’t will cause you to feel helpless and exhausted. Acceptance is one of the best ways to establish resilience.

Remember this: one of the things to remember when you’re facing difficulties, is that you’ve handled problems in the past. Don’t overlook past difficulties that you’ve dealt with successfully. Remind yourself of all the past problems you’ve overcome and you’ll gain confidence in dealing with the current issues.

Besides everything: think about yourself too. When everything seems to be going wrong, take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, get some exercise, eat healthy, and spend some time doing leisure activities. When you’re taking better care of yourself you’ll be better equipped to deal with your problems.

Everything is temporary, even everything which goes wrong. Happiness is a result of your approach to life, not what happens to you.

Sometimes we need to take one step, then another. Even if they're just baby steps, keep moving. Rather than focusing on the worst case, think instead of what else is possible. Look for the lesson. Challenging situations can often teach us what we have left to learn. Keep a positive attitude by remaining focused on solutions, skills, and strengths.Start small. Spend time with the people who support you.

.Maybe, together with the light at the end of the tunnel: choose one big goal to work on in order to make a lasting change.

"If anything can go wrong, it will..." This tongue-in-cheek principle, known as Murphy's Law, is cited by economists, sports teams, and big politicians. Human nature somehow guarantees that nothing turns out quite the way it's supposed to.