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.
