Philipin

Customs of Philippines

Marriage and Family

Most people marry before they are 30 years old. The groom and his family pay for the wedding ceremony and reception. The bride often does not see her bridal gown until the day she is married. Grooms often wear a barong, an embroidered shirt that hangs over the trousers, made of pineapple fiber. At the reception, during the newlyweds’ first dance, relatives may take turns clipping money to the groom’s shirt or the bride’s gown. Some couples live together instead of or before having a formal wedding.

Loyalty to the extended family is fundamental, as is the concept of mutual support and self-sacrifice when the family or a member of it needs help. The close-knit network of relationships even extends to honorary kinships, usually referred to as kumpadrehan or godparenthood. Particular respect is shown to more senior members of the family. Traditionally, the nuclear family has been large, often with four or more children, but today, particularly in urban areas, people are having fewer children. Many Filipinos work overseas to earn money for the extended family at home.

Eating

Rice is the dietary staple, prepared in a variety of ways and included in desserts as well as main meals. The primary source of protein is fish, and pork and poultry are the most common meats. Garlic is used liberally. A typical meal might consist of boiled rice, fried fish, a vegetable, and fruit for dessert. Fruit is also often eaten for breakfast. Because the Philippines has been influenced by many diverse cultures, the cuisine is also diverse. Adobo is a stew of chicken or pork in garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. Meats are often roasted and served on skewers. Kare-kare is a stew of meat and vegetables served in a peanut sauce. A favorite snack is halo-halo, a drink made from sweetened beans, milk, and fruits served in colorful layers with crushed ice. At large celebrations, the lechon, a stuffed pig, is often roasted over a charcoal fire.

Filipinos usually eat three meals a day, with snack periods (merienda) between meals. Families in rural areas usually eat all meals together, while families in urban areas eat breakfast and dinner together on weekdays and all meals on weekends. When guests are present, they are seated nearest the head of the home and are always served first. No one eats until after the guest has had a bite or two. It is proper to keep one’s hands above the table. Conversation is informal during meals. Although compliments are welcomed, the best way for a guest to show appreciation of the cooking is to eat heartily. A small portion is left on the plate to indicate that the person has had enough to eat.

 Socializing

Initial greetings are friendly and informal, and are usually accompanied by a handshake. If people shake hands and wish to show additional respect or enthusiasm, they place the free hand on top of the handshake or use it to pat the other person’s shoulder. Common Filipino greetings include Kumusta ka na? (“How are you?”), Anong balita? (“What’s new?”), and Ayos ba tayo ’dyan? (“Is everything all right?”). Just as common are the English greetings “Hi” and “Good morning.” Young people are taught to show respect to adults and to address them by a proper title. If a professional title (Doctor, Manager, etc.) is not appropriate, then “Sir,” “Ma’am,” or a familial title is used. It is common for young adults to address older adult strangers as Tita (Auntie) or Tito (Uncle). The elderly might be called Lola (Grandmother) or Lolo (Grandfather). Numerous other such titles exist in most languages. Among equals in age and status, first names or nicknames are used in addressing each other.

Filipinos enjoy visiting as often as possible, especially in the barrios, which are small villages or suburbs. Visits in rural areas are often unannounced due to the lack of phones. Among urban residents, visits are less frequent and more planned. Guests do not typically take gifts, since the visit itself is considered a gift. However, a guest who has been away for a long time is expected to bring a small, inexpensive gift (Pasalubong) to the family.

Although socializing in the home is most popular, people also enjoy gathering in public areas. Urban neighborhoods often have a central area where people socialize. Villages nearly always have a plaza where political events, dances, meetings, and socializing occur and basketball can be played nearby.

Recreation

People spend their leisure time socializing with relatives and neighbors or watching films; the Philippines is the world’s fourth largest producer of films, a number of which have a strong religious theme. Films from the United States, including many low-budget films, are also shown. In the cities, video cassette recorder (VCR) ownership has grown considerably among the middle class, and video rental stores are common. Sundays are big days for sports; basketball, baseball, and soccer are all played. Filipinos are keen gamblers, which accounts for the popularity of horse races and cockfights, and playing mah-jongg, a Chinese table game played with tiles.

Holidays and Celebrations

There are several national holidays and dozens of local festivals, which are among the recreational high points of the year. National holidays include New Year’s Day (1 January), Easter (Thursday through Sunday), Bataan Day (9 April), Labor Day (1 May), Araw ng Kagitingan (6 May), Independence Day (12 June), National Heroes Day (27 August), All Saints’ Day (1 November), Bonifacio Day (30 November), Christmas Day (25 December), and Rizal Day (30 December).

What has been called the longest Christmas celebration in the world begins in the Philippines on 16 December, with a nine-day period of prayer called Misa de Gallo (“Cock’s Mass”). From 16 December through 24 December, people attend mass at dawn every day. At dawn on the first day of this ceremony, church bells ring, brass bands play, and fireworks are set off. The Christmas season ends on 6 January.

Rizal Day commemorates the 1896 martyrdom of Dr. José Rizal, the man who is considered the inspiration for the Philippine nationalist movement. Flags are lowered to half-staff and special rites are held at the Rizal monument in Manila.

People Power Day (25 February), or Fiesta sa EDSA, commemorates the peaceful revolution in February 1986, when 2 million unarmed civilians supported a military revolt, standing up to President Marcos’ loyal armed forces and forcing Marcos to step down. A special ceremony is held at the site of the revolution.

There is a nationwide celebration on 14 September called Santacruzan, commemorating Saint Helena’s quest for the Holy Cross of Calvary. Festivities include processions with floats adorned with images of each town’s patron saint, and nine-day pageants in which people act out scenes from the Bible.