Why do Filipinos love ‘sawsawan’ or dipping sauce?

 

Ghemma Marie

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SouthEast AsianWed

Not only Filipinos I guess. I also noticed this about Indonesian and Thai. Also Japanese, SK and Chinese. The only iconic about Filipinos is we love this fish sauce, as dipping sauce, even if it smells like pussy 🫢 but… tasty. (You guys should try it).

Hahah. Joke….partly joke…uhm, no, its a joke…

Seriously speaking, dipping sauce is a massive staple in Asian cuisine, specially among coastal nations. Probably because of the main staple during the old old times, like rice (which is basically bland). A bowl of dipping sauce on the side is meant to enhance and add contrast to the main dish.

For proof, let’s explore some of Asia’s dipping sauce.

Yakiniku sauce, Japan.

This Japanese dipping sauce is a blend of sake, mirin, soy sauce, miso paste, bonito flakes and sugar for the savoury-sweetness, rice vinegar and grated apple for a sour touch, and sesame seeds to complete its aroma.

Ssamjang sauce, South Korea. It looks fiery, this is similar to barbecue sauce.

Chinese Sichuan Chilli Oil.

Nam Prik Ong, Thailand

………….and many, many, many more……..

Now, in regards to the Filipinos, I have a theory that it has something to do with rice, (and fish) which is a staple during the primitive period. The rice is boiled and the fish is broiled. Because plain rice and fresh or broiled fish have very mild and neutral flavors, indigenous Filipinos developed table sauces to enhance, balance, and personalize every bite.

Btw, Philippine dipping sauce go far beyond just fish sauce. Vinegar and calamansi (lime) are also very popular in the whole archipelago. This is mainly because vinegar can be made from sugarcane, seasonal fruits, coconut sap and rice, while lime is also abundant there. Also, soy sauce usually mix with vinegar and/or lime.

Here they are.

Image sources from Google

Do Filipinos still practice the tradition of "mano po"?

 

Ghemma Marie

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SouthEast Asian

My answer is NO, not all Filipinos practice mano po. (You can research the meaning on the internet).

While it is a deeply rooted and widely recognized gesture of respect across the country, as this is taught in school curriculum, its usage varies significantly depending on the region, generation, and individual family traditions. It could be that this sign of respect practice by the majority of Filipinos nationwide several decades ago unlike today’s generation. I always encounter a situation when an elderly guest arrived, the parents of the child need to remind them to do the mano po, not an automatic action of gesture towards the elderly.

This is what I observed.

I live in the northern Philippines and while we (Igorot, Ilocano) acknowledged that this is a sign of respect to the elderly, we don’t practice it on a regular basis. The only people that I noticed doing that came from Tagalog speaking regions either Metro Manila or adjacent provinces like MIMAROPA/ CALABARZON regions, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija/ Viscaya. So it is safe probably to say that this gesture is a tradition normally practice by most of the Tagalog people.

I’m not familiar with people from the south (Visayas, Mindanao).

I could be wrong of course, but I also noticed this from the native Cordillerans like those people from Kalinga, Abra, and people from Ilocos region. Some do the beso-beso thing, nodding of head to acknowkedge the presence, or you also noticed this humble tone of voice when talking to the elderly. I didn’t say that mano po is completely out of the picture, its just they practice it on a very rare occassion.

Btw, this is the mano po hand gesture.

Why do Filipinos love wearing braces? I just notice that it's trending in the Philippines

 

Ghemma Marie

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Working Nomad

For those who don’t know, dental services in the Philippines are expensive for locals primarily due to the high cost of imported materials, advanced technology, and clinic overhead, compounded by a lack of comprehensive PhilHealth coverage for dental care. Because of this, dental care was often neglected and dental visits are sought only when severe symptoms appear, for one reason, unaffordable. This is the reason why 7 out of 10 Filipinos suffered from tooth decay at the very young age.

The standard metal brace, for example, cost between Php30K - 50K depending on the quality of services. That amount in there isn’t cheap for a single orthodontic appliance and most of the time, this services can be availed by installment payment.

Photo source, FB

I am fully aware though, that yes, it is indeed trending the same as owning an Iphone, specially to younger generations. This is due to strong desire to experience a high-end lifestyles despite financial strain. Wearing a metal brace is more on aesthetic reason rather than a dental necessity.

It represents social status, yes, a subconscious sign of material wealth that you can afford to see a dentist, and more specifically that you can afford to have braces installed. Also, braces are perceived as stylish, fashionable, and attractive.

Why is the Filipino culture very loving, huggable, patient, fun, understanding, and warm?

Filipino Relationship and Dating

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Following

Answered by 

Ghemma Marie

If you ask those non-Filipino people who spend years living in the Philippines, you’ll be surprise why their answers can be a little different. It can be easy for me to say YES, but I wan’t to be realistic as well.

In general, yes, Filipinos are warm, approachable, generous and hospitable. They care more about what others think or say, which influences the social behavior so behaving as such (friendly, warm, being fun) makes others think of us in a positive way, and in turn has positive effect on our self steem or something. This is also why Filipinos in general hate confrontations.

I don’t want to brag, but Filipino have a naturally caring and sympathetic mindset, thus they’re hospitable. I can rate that 8 out of 10. You can noticed this overseas when they reach out to each other to help a Filipino in need. Most of the time its happening.

However, let me remind you that Filipinos are fierce. Criticise them and all hell will break loose. The “very loving, huggable, patient, fun, understanding, and warm demeanour” will quickly morph into a defensive snarling creature. Its something like this, you can’t make a criticism about us Filipinos, but we can about you.

The problem with Filipinos is we’re overprotective. Not of our culture, of our identity, of our resources – but of our pride. We have so much pride, we even made a tagline out of it #PinoyPride. We’ve become overly sensitive, easily offended at the slightest of criticisms that we end up refusing not to better ourselves because we’d rather be right and win an argument, than admit to be wrong and improve.

Why is corned beef such a big deal in the Philippines?

 

Ghemma Marie

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SouthEast Asian

Very affordable, a Filipino kitchen staple, a tasty sandwich filling, ready-to-eat food (next to sardines) as favourite of most madlang Pinoy.

A 150 g of canned corned beef cost only less than US$1 while a kilogram of beef cost approx. US$10. A cheap alternative for fresh beef as it is a good source of protein. Plus, available almost everywhere, nationwide, in the very remote sari-sari stores.

The brand shown below is one of the most common local brand sold at many groceries and sari-sari stores nationwide.

Cornsilog, a traditional dish originating from the Philippines, consisting of garlic fried rice, fried eggs, and corned beef arrange in one plate ala value meal.

Philippines heavily imports beef to meet local demand, although in all honesty, imported beef and premium cut meat, which are priced high, is not affordable to many due to income disparity. There are wet market where they buy fresh meat and the price is lower compare to meat sold at meat shops.

The high cost of beef is also due to limited pasture land resulting to low livestock production, and middle men add inconsistent cost leading to retailer mark ups. And so many households prioritize lower-cost meats such as pork and chicken, after all, they’re all meat.

What is life like in the Philippines?

 

Ghemma Marie

 

Working NomadApr 7

This question was originally posted 15 years ago but its been revised and merged by Quora moderation. If I’m going to answer this base on my situation 15 years ago, I would say life in the Philippines is like living in a bubble.

Btw I’m not an expat, so my answer is base on a different perspective. But living outside the Philippines for a short while, I can see the difference how Filipino culture makes them standout, but at the same time, its the same reason preventing them/us from overcoming poverty.

Your quality of lifestyle there depends on your capability to sustain a certain “average” standard of living. There are rich, upper/middle/lower class, poor, “poorest” of the poor. So which one? Speaking as someone who live in the rural north, I can say its pretty exciting and challenging. I experienced the perks of simplicity living in the rural.

Life is good for sure to those rich and in those living the middle class range. They can afford to travel, unwind from time to time and they don’t worry that much when calamity strikes. The Philippines is a tropical paradise to those who can afford it but a total shithole to those who can’t.

At least that’s how I can see it. The only thing that makes the Philippines “remarkable” is how friendly and approachable most people are. You can ask anyone for, say, a direction of specific location and they don’t hesitate to help you.

Now, the reason why I say living there is like living inside a bubble is almost everyone is super occupied with themselves. Gossip. Systemic problems. There's nothing wrong with that, only we are distracted with all those systemic problems and how to survive on our own, we don’t know what’s happening outside our perimeter, we focus on how we provide the next dinner on the table – and honestly, that’s convenient for those in power. When was the last time Filipinos talked as a country about where the world is going?

Why do Filipinos want to be light skinned instead of their traditional dark skin?

 

Ghemma Marie

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PhilippinesUpdated Jul 13

Why do Filipinos want to be light skinned instead of their traditional dark skin?

I remember someone says it's a “blessing to have a fair skin” and “a person with fair skin colour is blessed”. Sigh. Lol. I can't hide my amusement.

White people, don't get offended, please.

I want to emphasize that it's not only a Filipino thing wanting to be fair skinned but to some South East Asians as well. Same as white people wanting to be tan.

Two factors influenced why Filipinos highly regarded fair skin colour. It's a symbol of beauty and higher social class. The Tagalog phrase “Maganda sana, maitim lang” ( She's beautiful if only fairer) describes how most Filipinos considers fairer skin (and other western facial features) as more attractive compare to natural Filipino features.

I'm not surprised though, it's been ingrained (since history of colonization) that having a lighter skin symbolizes a higher social status, dark skin colour classifies someone of lower class status (slaves, farm workers, bandits). The mentality evolved from generation to generation until having a fair skin is a pre requisite for someone to be called beautiful. Aside from that, because Filipinos mostly can understand English, they look at Hollywood movies, fashion shows and even beauty magazines.

Below are images of indigenous people with “traditional dark skin”. Pure native Filipinos is rare I guess nowadays.

Mangyan people

Agta (Aeta)

Igorot

Isnag

However, take note, this is just a skin colour preferences for most Filipinos due to some influences (history, media). Filipinos still proud of being a Filipino regardless of what tribe they belong to.