Philippines Local Customs

  Elaborate headdresses
by berenices
 
  • Elaborate headdresses
      Elaborate headdresses
    by berenices
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Rice by the side of the road in the Philippines.
      Rice by the side of the road in the...
    by cachaseiro
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Just a sweet Smile can help!

by namiewa

I can tell that we Filipinos luv to smile, you'll see us smilling to everyone even we have bad days or whatever. The other thing is friendly. I was in Department store together with my sister. I saw this li'l guy like he is only 5 years old together with his Mom choosing sneaker for this boy, i was sitting and looking around suddenly this boy standing infront of me that make me shock! and then he smiled at me says "Hi" and i replied "Hello". After that he seated at me and then stand up and run to get at her Mom who keep looking those sneakers. I grab my cam and asked him if i can took a picture he smile and say YES!. see even kids here are friendly enough to say hi for those strangers. Thanks li'l guy.

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Pasalubong - Gifts

by DarleneCMF

Filipinos are fond of 'pasalubong.' We love giving them and getting them. Pasalubong are basically gifts from where you're from. If you are traveling to the Philippines and you have a host in the country, a 'pasalubong' would be much appreciated. This can be shirts, keychains, or food (like chocolates).Filipinos who live/work in other countries, and coming back for visits typically bring a box-full of pasalubong (called the 'balikbayan box').

All Souls' Day/All Saints' Day a family event

by DarleneCMF

All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day is a major event for Filipinos. It's not only for the dead, but mostly for the living. This is in November 1-2 and declared non-working holidays. Most people go back to their hometown and visit the cemetery. Folks stay the whole day, meet relatives, have picnics. Some even bring TVs, stereos, have videoke sessions. It's not uncommon for people to stay overnight.

Try to speak the language

by DarleneCMF

Filipinos like it if you speak a little of the local language, even an attempt is appreciated. Here are some phrases that you can use:Good morning - Magandang umagaGood afternoon - Magandang haponGood evening - Magandang gabiThank you - SalamatHow much? - Magkano?Where? - Saan?Send me a message if you want other words/phrases. :)

18th Birthday

by i-s-a

A Filipino girl becames officially a woman when she turns 18. She, from then on, will be treated as an adult...allowed to make important decisions and take bigger responsibilities. For that coming-out celebration, the family invites all her friends and relatives in a thanksgiving party. Eventhough a lot of people still celebrate this through a grand ball, more and more families opt to celebrate this day in a more fun and informal parties and picnics.

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Fear Factor Feat >> Eat Balut.

by bike_packer

Have seen this as one of the feats in the famous TV show Fear Factor, eating balut. It is a must try for the daring foreign visitor when in the Philippines.Balut is incubated duck eggs and aborted a few days before it will hatch. Boiled before serving, the soup is so yummy. Eating the almost-chick thing is a such a feat - your mind commanding you to eat overpowering against what you are seeing. No, no, no! - that was just cinematic effects. Once you tasted it, you'll gonna keep coming back for more. Warning: Very high in cholesterol. Do not eat more than 5 in one sitting! As night falls, be aware of the man shouting "Balut, balut!" with a basket over his shoulder doing the rounds through the city streets. The basket is heat-insulated, so expect a hot balut when handed over. It costs P9.00 a piece.

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Roasted Pig a.k.a. "Lechon"

by bike_packer

Never mind the high cholesterol it might give, the keep-me-coming-back-for-more taste of "lechon" is no wonder it is offically considered as the national food for Filipinos. The crispy skin is the creme, that when served, the lechon would lose all its skin in no time. Serving lechon is a must for Filipinos, come any big occassion or festivity.There is a Lechon Village at La Loma, QC. - about 5kms away from Rizal Park. This is a stretch of Lechon shops wherein the roasting with charcoal can be witnessed. Waiting for your lechon to be cooked would make you salivate on and on - so better buy the first to go. I've seen a busload of foreign tourists once roaming the area - a stopover for the Manila City tours being offered by tour operators. Check it out. If you are at the right time of the year, check the Lechon Festival in Balayan, Batangas every 24th of June commemorating the feast of St....

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Boxing Fanatic

by i-s-a

January 22, 2006. The latest craze being the fight between Manny "the Pac Man" Pacquiao and Erik Morales. Everybody (as in everybody!) in the country watched the match between these two boxers. People say a planned coup-de-etat was postponed because of this fight! LOL Public transport has come to a still as most jeepney, taxi and tricycle drivers stopped to watch it. The match was also shown in all SM Cinema outlets around the country and it was a block-buster hit! Some lunatics....hmmm I mean fanatics even bet their source of income for this game.Hopeless? Maybe. But it was Fun just the same ;0)

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Gently Stroking My Pet Cock

by bike_packer

Cockfighting is a favorite past time for Filipino men come weekends. Every town seems to have its own "Gallera", the cockfighting amphitheater arena which is filled to the rim on Saturdays and Sundays. This little boy in the countryside proudly and gently stroking his pet cock has developed the love of grooming one. A pet that's groomed to fight one day and ironically the pet owner must be ready to part with it when the bloody fight ends unfavorably. Ask any local what these words mean "Tinali-Tinalo-Tinola" (hahaha!)

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Christmas Crazy!

by i-s-a

Filipinos simply love Christmas!Being a predominantly Christian country (about 90% of the total population)...Philippines celebrate the birth of Christ with zest and happiness.It is said that here we celebrate the longest Christmas ever...starting on SeptemBER and ending on January.You know it's Christmas in the Philippines when:...the month ends with BER....radio stations start playing those wonderful Christmas Carols...."puto-bungbong" and "bibingka" are already available in every "kantos" (street corners)....your mother's "kili-kili" (armpit ^o^) hurts after cooking her very special "haliya" (sweet yam)....the streets of Pampanga are lined with colorful "parols" (lanterns)....your refrigirator is full of "fiesta hams", brownies and fruit cake....the office is busy, not with work but, with people planning for the party's group presentation....you are having a headache thinking of the...

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Local traditions and culture in Philippines

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Local Customs: Cities in Philippines
  1. Manila Local Customs
  2. Boracay Island Local Customs
  3. Cebu City Local Customs
  4. Baguio Local Customs
  5. Makati Local Customs
  6. Tagaytay Local Customs
  7. Bohol Local Customs
  8. Puerto Galera Local Customs
  9. Subic Local Customs
  10. Vigan Local Customs
  11. Davao Local Customs
  12. Pagudpud Local Customs
  13. Sagada Local Customs
  14. Cebu Island Local Customs
  15. Panglao Island Local Customs
  16. Coron Local Customs
  17. Puerto Princesa Local Customs
  18. El Nido Local Customs
  19. Corregidor Island Local Customs
  20. Caramoan Local Customs
  21. Alabang Local Customs
  22. Banaue Local Customs
  23. Paranaque Local Customs
  24. Baler Local Customs
  25. Malapascua Island Local Customs
  26. Guimaras Island Local Customs
  27. Antipolo Local Customs
  28. Lucban Local Customs
  29. Bantayan Island Local Customs
  30. Nasugbu Local Customs
  31. Donsol Local Customs
  32. Coron Island Local Customs
  33. Kalibo Local Customs
  34. Bacolod Local Customs
  35. Samal Island Local Customs
  36. Bontoc Local Customs
  37. Laiya Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi There I'm going backpacking with 3 other friends for 5 days in the Philippines and was wondering if anyone has any... 

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A: Some suggestion of mine: Shooting the rapid at pagsanjan falls then spend the night at tagaytay. 2nd day, taal trek, a bit of city tour and then a 45 drive to Lago de... 

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