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 Mano Po... by nixca316
General: We Filipinos often use our eyes, lips, & hands to convey a wide range of messages. Raised eyebrows & a smile indicate a silent "hello" or a "yes" in answer to a question. Fixed eye contact between men is considered an aggressive gesture. The proper method to summon somebody is with a downward wave.
We Filipinos place great emphasis on polite language and gentle conversation. Voice tone is always soft & gentle, & direct questions should be avoided. When one raises his or her voice people will ask, "Galit ka?" (Are you angry?)
We Filipinos value our self-esteem, so never criticize or argue with us publicly, most especially about our motherland. Most men (or women), when so provoked, will fight for the preservation of their pride or self-esteem.
Please avoid topics such as politics, religion, corruption and foreign aid (only because it'll lead to endless debates and "hair raising experiences")---pulling of hairs or fist fights. We love talking about our families & our achievements (hehehehhe). "I'm like this.." "My dad did this..." "My grandpa was..." something to that effect. =)
Business: English is the language used to conduct business (or Mandarin Chinese).
Punctuality is expected for meetings, it is better to arrive a little late for a dinner invitation (though I must say, that because I'm a military brat, unless there's an unavoidable circumstance or something, I prefer punctuality)
Greet business people with a handshake (the firmer, the better!)
Women feel comfortable conducting business here, as sexual equality is more widespread in the Philipines than in other Asian countries.
Make sure you have your business cards, as Filipinos like to know who they are dealing with (we do background checks).
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I really can't say I'm proud of it. It was first promoted in our country to help our deaf brethren. I remember the first tv ads about two lovers sending each other notes...then when they met each other at the cafe or restaurant, they started signing....since it was free during that time, even the "hearing" people started using it...they used it for all types of purposes (passing secret codes, etcetera) and made the TelCo bigwigs think...if texting will remain free, then...so they started charging everyone at least a Peso per message.
Anyway, there are network to network unlimited free texting, etcetera.
Most of the people who are prepaid users would rather buy load than food...they'd rather go hungry than NOT have "load". If a sack of rice costs this much, the same amount of credits per texting card/load will be gone even before the comsumption of rice reaches 1/16th of the bag. Maybe I'm exaggerating, maybe not.
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 Me and my friends signing @
Red Box by nixca316
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 My cousin at Left, sister in
middle and me! Manila by jumpingnorman
Most Filipinos will know some English and some will talk with you in "broken" English, which is English with poor grammar but you can still understand the message.
"Mabuhay" is sort of like "Cheers", and is also considered a formal term.
Maganda is beautiful
I love you is MAHAL KITA (interesting that the word for "expensive" is also MAHAL)
Salamat PO is Thank You (adding the PO at the end is a show of respoect and mostly used for older people)
Yes is OPO, and No is HINDI (but when alking with a younger person, just say OH-OH for Yes)
How much is Magkano Po? And when giving your payment, just say BAYAD PO...SALAMAT
Shouting for help ---- SAKLOLO! Leave a Comment
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 by syllybabe
When I was younger, we weren't allowed to do anything "fun" during Semana Santa from Holy Thursday til Easter Sunday. We stayed home and were resigned on watching for the n'th time, Ten Commandments and lectures on the seven last words.
Nowadays, most of us still prefer to stay at home in observance of the Holy Week and do our visita iglesia but generally, it seems the cities are quieter because most families are away at the beaches or up in Baguio, the summer capital.
Last year I was in Boracay. This year, I was at home because of dad's poor health but Easter Sunday was spent with friends and family making kites and going on an Easter egg hunt. Leave a Comment
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 by syllybabe
here are some excerpts:
The Filipino has very close family ties. The family has been the unit of society and everything revolves around it. The Filipino family ordinarily consists of grandparents, the parents, and the children. The father is the head of the family, but while he rules, the mother governs. For it is the mother that reigns in the home: she is the educator, the financial officer, the accountant, the censor, the laundrywoman, and the cook. But over and above the "ruler" and the "governor" are the grandparents, whose opinions and decision on all important matters are sought.
***
...The American, then, suspects that the Filipino is sensitive. He is. He would not tolerate anyone berating his countryman. He is easily piqued when a foreigner, for instance, makes a sweeping generalization that is not flattering to the Filipinos, no matter how true the observation may be. Leave a Comment
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 by syllybabe
It calls to mind women who speak with the singsong lilt in their voices, who smile freely, and who love taking care of family, friends, and guests.
I should know...I'm an Ilongga ;-)
Ann, if you want this pic of you and your fam, ikaw na lang print out. hehehe Leave a Comment
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A Filipina in that same situation, however, would probably squeeze your hand and say something like, "She's pretty, diba?" Then you'd stammer something about not noticing, blah, blah, blah, and you'd think you'd gotten away with it. Yet your fiancee would seem suddenly distant. She would not proffer her hand to you as you walk together, she'd speak only when spoken to, and she'd probably shrug indifferently when you ask her a question. You're on the receiving end of tampo.
It's very important that you understand this: Tampo is merely intended to let you know that you've committed some minor offense, for which you must make amends. It is a mild behavioral reprimand that verges on role-playing. The worst thing you could do is to get stressed out over a tampo session, because an over-reaction on your part may escalate the situation to the point that your fiancee or wife becomes genuinely angry. On the other hand, don't misdiagnose genuine anger, sadness, or depression as mere tampo.
If your girlfriend, fiancee or wife seems deeply depressed, that is NOT tampo. If she's crying hysterically, that is NOT tampo. If she's hurling dishes at you, that is NOT tampo. Tampo is mild and controlled and is the direct result of some perceived offense of a minor nature. It is short in duration. If an emotional abnormality seems unusually severe or extended in duration, and you cannot identify the cause, it is not tampo, and consequently deserves serious attention. :-) Leave a Comment
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 Caught making tampo in
Florence by syllybabe
If you're planning to enter into a relationship with a Filipina, it's important to gain an understanding of what "tampo" is. Let's do this in a clinical fashion...
Definition: While the analogy isn't perfect, you can think of tampo as "pouting" or "sulking".
Cause: Typically, a Filipina will exhibit tampo when she feels she has been neglected or ignored, but she may also invoke it when she is jealous, or basically anytime her feelings are hurt.
Symptoms: The Filipina will seem withdrawn or sullen. She may be unusually silent, or she may express her dissatisfaction by "whining" in a melodramatic, almost child-like fashion. She may refuse to eat only in the most severe cases!.
Duration and Severity of Condition: Tampo is a strictly short-term condition and should not be considered life threatening. Tampo is the result of mild dissatisfaction, not of actual anger. The behavior is a cultural norm in the Philippines and a westerner should not be overly concerned the first time he encounters it. Tampo is a very useful tool, because it allows a Filipina to show her displeasure about something you have done.
Remember, confrontation is generally unacceptable in a Filipino society, so disagreement or displeasure must be expressed indirectly. Here is an example of tampo: You're with your fiancee walking hand-in-hand down a crowded street. You notice a beautiful young woman walking toward you wearing a tank top that's cut way too low, and you can't tear your eyes away from her.
Your fiancee notices this behavior.
A non-Filipina might react by saying, "Put your eyes back in your head! I can' t believe you were staring at that girl right in front of me! What has she got that I haven't got!?" At which point she may stalk off, cry, or punch you.
Continued below... Leave a Comment
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The history of this grandiose annual celebration is quite interesting..It initiates in the 13th century when the local people in Panay were the Ati who were blackish and short. They lived up on the highlands. One day immigrants from Indonesia arrived on this land and agreed with the Ati people to buy some land from them and settle in the lowlands. But Atis were out of food one year so they came down to their new neighbors and asked for some food. The Maraynon, the immigrants, gave them food very generously so Ati danced a traditional dance to express their gratitude. The immigrants painted their faces black to look like their new neighbours. Since then a great parade symbolizing the journey down to the lowlands and a great celebration has been taking place in honour of their ancestors' friendship...
When Catholicism was the predominating religion the Ati-Atihan celebration was dedicated to the Holy Child (Santo Niño). Thus becoming a mixture of traditional and religious elements satisfying completely the public need for celebrating , dancing and singing while expressing their religious feelings of gratitude and piety.
The celebration lasts for a week with a climax on the three last days when many social festivities are going on. There are local product markets, masses in churches for the devotees and the famous Ati-Atihan parade that has become the most important event of the year as thousands of people are dancing singing and shouting with their faces painted and their imaginative bright-colored costumes. The sound of drums accompanying their steps is monotonous but peculiarly addictive after you have been carried away by the festivity spirit ...It's a vibrant and happy rhythm that in combination with the smiling faces and the lively colours all around make you want to start dancing yourself!!!
Unfortunately it coincides with Sinulog celebrated in Cebu and the nearby islands so there is no possibility to see both in the same year. But it is a good motive to come back to this country....
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