Filipino Tradition, Culture, and Beliefs These should not be taken as stereotypes, but rather as 4.

t rather as 4. Filipinos are very respectful

individual characteristics that are common amongst
Filipinos are considered to be settlers in the Filipino people. From the moment they are born into this world, they
many parts of the world. They are like a chameleon are already taught how to be respectful by using these
that easily adapts to different environments. Back in 1. Filipinos are very resilient simple catchphrases—po and opo, words that end
the day, Filipinos believed in worshiping various sentences when addressing elders. They have a culture
gods and spirits. In times of calamities and of pagmamano, which is where they raise the backs of
However, since the Philippines has been catastrophes, Filipinos always manage to rise above the hands of their elders to their foreheads as a sign of
colonized, religious values and customs have shifted the challenge. Instead of wallowing, they manage to respect. When it comes to what not to say in the
from animism to Christianity. pick themselves up and smile. You can often find Phillippines you should definitely consider wether
them saying beautiful Filipino words to each other and your words are respectful to the Filipino people,
Filipinos are known globally for their motivating each other. especially since they have a deep language history.
values; love of God, nation, and family,
dedication, kindness, adaptability, reverence, Filipino spirit is an indomitable spirit, the spirit of 5. Filipinos help one another
and care for the elderly. resilience, most of all, spirit of triumph. A strong
Family relations are significant to the foundation for resilience is family. Since it is the basic More popularly known as bayanihan, Filipinos help
Philippines. Elders are revered and respected. unit of society, full attention and love is focused on it, one another—without expecting anything in return—
Children are taught to say 'po' and 'apo,' showing all- out love to the point of sacrificing own lives to so that undertaking their tasks and responsibilities
reverence. There is a special greeting to show provide for the needs and wants. become much easier. Sometimes this is called
veneration, ‘mano,’ as if you had to get his “community spirit.”. So if you learn some travel
blessing. 2. Filipinos have close family ties phrases to get around the Phillippines, they will extend
their effort and do their best to help you.
One of the most significant aspects of Filipino culture In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether you are
is its close family ties. These are strengthened by the part of the immediate family or you belong to the third 6. Filipinos value traditions and cultur
traditional Filipino principle of “utang na loob”, in or fourth generation, you are treated as a family
which the act of voluntary assistance establishes a member. Sometimes, even the closest of friends are For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their
duty that the recipient must attempt to repay by mutual considered family, too. family are important. They usually set aside a specific
assistance. day for a certain celebration like festivals, birthday
They are having a fondness for family 3. Filipinos are very religious parties, reunions, etc. And of course, every gathering
gatherings, during secular and religious holidays such is dedicated to keeping up with each other over
as Christmas, fiestas, birthdays, marriages, baptisms, In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen sumptuous food. If, like us, good food is what makes
etc. It is a proof that Filipino people respected not just images of crosses and other religious paraphernalia. It you get up in the morning, then you might be
our cultural tradition but the spirit of our family. is a common Filipino custom to go church every interested in our gourmet destinations such as Bologna
Sunday, or sometimes even twice or three times a and Puglia, bookable now through Culture Trip.
week.
Here are 11 things you should know
about Filipino culture that sets them apart from any
other nation on the planet.
 7. Filipinos love to party 11. Filipinos love art and architecture reaching the top step, the chant will end with
either oro or plata. This is because many Filipinos will
Yes, Filipinos love to hold celebrations and fiestas. Just look at the massive and tall buildings everywhere. go to great lengths to avoid ending in mata which
Bacolod has its MassKara Festival, Davao has its Filipinos have a penchant for bringing art and denotes bad luck. The two preceding words on the
Kadayawan Festival, and Marinduque has its architecture to a whole new level. They love to design other hand, obviously denote good fortune.
Moriones Festival. creatively, to think intuitively, and have a passion for
anything different and unique. Talking of which, so do 2. Turn your plate when someone leaves in the
8. Filipinos have the longest Christmas we. So much so, in fact, that we’ve created a
middle of a meal
celebrations—ever collection of small-group getaways that celebrate the
unexpected – from street food, to local customs and
Local and major traditional events are a must traditions. Overall there are few places to avoid in the
When sitting at the dining table for a meal and
experience in the Phillipines. Even as early as August, Phillipines, as the Filipino people are very respectful
and welcoming to tourists. someone gets up to leave before the rest of the group
you can hear Christmas songs and jingles being played finishes, everybody left at the table should turn their
in the malls or in the restaurants in the Philippines.
Superstitions that still exist in the Philippines today plates to ensure safe travels for the person leaving.
The mood becomes festive, with many people
shopping and in good spirits. Christmas celebrations Another meal superstition (though more loosely
last until around the first or second week of January. The Philippines is a country with a long history of believed) is that the table should not start being
We love the yuletide time of year, and the Christmas colonization, strongly influencing its Filipino customs cleared while people are still eating. If this is done, it
festival is one of the many Filipino festivals that are and local traditions. This impact extends well beyond
is believed that the last person left dining will live a
worth experiencing once in your lifetime. language and food and into the many superstitions that
locals take to heart and has created many Filipino lonely life.
9. Filipinos love to eat stereotypes. With an Animist, pre-colonial past (with
3. Don’t go straight home after attending a
likely Hindu-Buddhist influences), followed by a
major conversion into Christianity, wake
Aside from breakfast, lunch, and
the Philippines claims ownership of a very interesting,
dinner, Filipinos manage to squeeze in a little meal in
diverse mix of beliefs.
between, too. Whether they eat every hour or every This superstition is called “pagpag” (the shaking off
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group tours to adventurous destinations around the elsewhere after attending the wake before heading
world. home to shake off the spirit of the deceased lest it
10. Filipinos love to sing
follows you home. Superstitions surrounding wakes
1. The number of steps of staircases at home are among the most widely practiced by Filipinos still
This is the reason why karaoke has become so
should not be divisible by three today. Another is that the family of the deceased
prevalent. As part of their recreation, Filipinos spend
some quality time with their families or friends should not drop off visitors at the door upon saying
singing or belting out new and old songs. goodbye as it symbolizes dropping them off at their
Enter a Filipino household with a staircase and begin
chanting “Oro (gold), plata (silver), mata (death)”, own deaths. And, as for serving food at wakes (be it
taking one step up with each word. Most likely, upon heavy meals or light snacks) at Filipino wakes is
customary, visitors should not make the mistake of 6. Serve pancit (noodles) at celebrations, discomfort. This is why, especially in the countryside,
taking any home with them (be it a small piece of especially birthdays older people know to say “pwera usog” when
candy), as it signifies inviting misfortune into your showing fondness over children. This is meant to
This ever-present dish at Filipino gatherings is counter any usog that may have happened otherwise.
home.
believed to represent long life. And If this isn’t said, and parents attribute certain maladies
4. Reassure your host that you’re human while Filipinos today may joke and laugh about of their children to usog, they may ask the greeter to
actually believing that this noodle dish is served for smear their saliva on the suffering child’s forehead as
long life, it remains a staple at nearly every birthday a cure.
feast.
9. Blame your missing things on elves
A very common line used by Filipinos when knocking
on someone’s door is “Tao (person) po!“. Many In the Philippines, there is an assumption that when
assume it refers to the knocker calling out to ask if 7. Respect the elementals items around the house go missing and reappear, this
there are any people inside, when actually, it is said to is caused by dwendes or playful elves. While
Filipino folklore is rich with a variety of elementals, mischievous, these little creatures are believed to be
stem from the knocker reassuring the people inside mostly harmless – aside from the type that take small
that s/he is a person and not a possibly harmful from giants smoking tobacco, to small, grumpy, old
men living in anthills. Stories of these creatures fill the children.
supernatural creature.
childhoods of many Filipino children, inciting both
5. Siblings should not marry within the same intrigue and fear. Many superstitions still surround the
beliefs in such creatures today. Among the most
year practiced is the saying of “tabi tabi po” (excuse me)
when passing through places where elementals are
This superstition is called “sukob” and advises
likely to dwell. These places are usually outdoors,
against siblings marrying within the same year as it such as anthills and Balete trees. Failure to do so and
is said to divide the luck between the two disturbing such creatures may lead to unexplained
marriages. Another type of sukob advises against sickness that can only be cured by an albularyo (folk
marriages within the same year as the death of an healer).
immediate family member. Pushing to do so is
considered bad luck. 8. Be careful when showing fondness over
babies
Another wedding-related superstition is that the bride
should never try on her dress before the big day. This It’s difficult to restrain from playing with cute babies
is said to bring bad luck and cause the cancellation of or complimenting their parents on their adorable
the union. features, but doing so in the Philippines is believed by
some, to be a potential cause of illness. Referred to as
either “usog” or “bati”, this superstition says that
when a person with strong energy greets a child, the
child may soon after suffer from unexplainable