GEC 01

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

MODULE 7
THE SELF AND BEING A FILIPINO (PART ONE)

What makes a Filipino a genuine Filipino? Do physical characteristics makes one

a Filipino? Or is it a person’s language, birth place and ethnicity?

The Philippines emerged in the 1890s after over three centuries of colonization
of the Spaniards, Americans and Japanese. Their foreign culture, beliefs, language and
religion have made a huge effect in our own culture, beliefs, language and religion by
setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and culture. At present,
colonial mentality remains an issue.

Filipino Values And Traits. Tourists who have visited the Philippines can never
forget the bid and bright smiles that greeted them, the colourful and loud jeepneys, the
common Filipino phrases such as “Mabuhay” and “Salamat” and habits such as saying
“po” and “opo” to the elders, leaving shoes or slippers at the front door before entering
a house, and the asking of “Kumain ka na ba?” Indeed, it is a marvel to experience
these unique traits of the Filipinos.

The Filipino Hospitality. A Filipino trait that is known worldwide is the

Filipino’s brand of hospitality. Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they are
their own brothers and sisters by always making them feel at home, offering them
something to eat or even a place to stay. They will bring out their best sets of plates for
their honoured guests and would even go as far as spending a lot of money just to
satisfy them. In most local shops, Filipino salesmen will greet their customers with
warm welcome and say thank you when they leave even without buying anything.
Filipinos also anticipate giving tours to friends who will visit their hometown and
treating them to the best restaurants and delicacies for free. During festivals or fiestas,
Filipinos serve heaps of festive food and invite the whole barangay over. They are also
fond of giving pasalubong or tokens from their travels and pabaon or farewell gifts to
their visitors.

Respect For Elders. Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while
saying “Mano po” and constantly using “po” and “opo” in conversations. Forgetting to
address older people properly will regard them as rude or impolite. There is also a wide
array of references to elder people such as “ate” for older sister, “kuya” for older
brother, “tito” and “tita” for uncle and auntie, “lolo” and “lola” for grandfather and
grandmother, “manong” and “aling” for older people outside the family.
 Close Family Ties. Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their family
regardless that the children are old enough and already have families of their own.
They are also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays and fiestas year-round.
Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay together.
Nursing homes are not an option for family members and choose to take care of their
elders themselves.

Cheerful Personality. Filipinos have the habit of smiling and laughing a lot.
They smile when they are happy, sad, or angry. Smiling has been a coping strategy for
many Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities. Filipinos have a tendency to
smile and wave at the camera despite being interviewed after a fire or flooding incident.
They always try to maintain a positive outlook in life which makes them resilient and
able to manage almost everything with a simple smile.

END

Questions to answer:
1) Why do tourists love to visit the Philippines?
Tourists who have visited the Philippines will never forget the welcoming and
bright smiles, the colorful and loud jeepneys, common Filipino phrases such as
"Mabuhay" and "Salamat," and habits such as saying "po" and "opo" to elders,
leaving shoes or slippers at the front door before entering a house, and the
question "Kumain ka na ba?" " It is truly a marvel to witness these distinct
Filipino characteristics.
The people of the Philippines are its greatest asset. Make every effort to interact
with, converse with, and eat with Filipinos. Even if you don't speak Tagalog,
Cebuano, or any other of the languages spoken in the Philippines, they
frequently speak or at least comprehend English. The more crucial it is to have a
translator who is fluent in both languages as you travel farther into the
provinces. Major travel publications regularly name a number of Philippine
islands and beaches as among the best in the world, including Boracay, Palawan,
and Siargao.
But the Philippines is more than just a picture-perfect tropical getaway for island
hopping trips and beach excursions. World-famous natural wonders like an
underground river and rice terraces, incredible diving sites rich in biodiversity,
distinctive, vibrant cuisine, festivals that highlight its vibrant culture, and amiable
locals who are thought to be among the happiest in the world are all found in
the Philippines.
2) How do Filipinos show their hospitality?
The Filipino brand of hospitality is a characteristic that is well-known throughout
the world. Filipinos always make visitors and tourists feel at home by providing
them with food, lodging, and other amenities as if they were their own brothers
and sisters. For their honored guests, they will set out their finest sets of plates,
and they will even go to great lengths to spend a great deal of money to please
them. The majority of local merchants in the Philippines have salespeople who
welcome and thank customers as they leave, even if they haven't made a
purchase. Filipinos look forward to giving friends free tours of their hometown
and treating them to the finest dining experiences. Filipinos serve a ton of festive
food and invite the entire barangay over for festivals or fiestas. They also enjoy
giving visitors pabaon, or farewell gifts, and pasalubong, or souvenirs from their
travels.

3) How is the Filipino resilient?

Filipinos have mastered the ability to appreciate what they have, maximize it,
and persevere in the face of adversity. The Filipino identity is defined by its
resilience, which fosters a sense of belonging and compassion. Filipinos are
resilient simply because they haven't had the option. Our people have been
subjected to decades of colonialism, corruption, and imperialism, as well as a
slew of natural disasters. Our ancestors, our history, and our blood are tough.
Filipinos are resilient because they draw strength from their families, but having
a close-knit family is ideal because you can always count on someone for a
sympathetic ear and even a helping hand when things get difficult.

4) Are Filipinos still respectful to their elders today? Why do you say so?
Yes, Filipinos place a high cultural value on respect for the elderly. Young people
are expected to respect the elderly as well as older family members. Senior
citizens should be addressed politely, preferably with appropriate titles of
respect. It is a simple but vital word that we must instill in our lives. This word
carries a great deal of responsibility. It is one of the fundamental keys to making
our lives meaningful that we must prioritize. Respect can be demonstrated by
taking into account the feelings of others. As an example, telling your point of
view in a specific situation in a diplomatic and polite manner allows for mutual
respect to be gained.

5) Are you proud to be a Filipino? Why?

The Philippine Islands The Pearl of the Orient Seas, a country full of wonderful
places that attract tourists from all over the world. A wonderful country with
wonderful people known as Filipinos. Filipinos, people with such nice
 characteristics. Tan is the color of their skin, and it makes many foreigners
envious. They have dark hair that falls naturally. Some have black eyes, while
others have hazel brown eyes. They have such endearing qualities. They are
welcoming people, whether a close friend or a complete stranger; they always
make time to smile and ask how you are. Filipinos are cheerful and talented!
Reciting poems that express their emotions, singing at the top of their lungs, and
dancing so gracefully that you want to join them. They are hardworking and
industrious. They are also religious, and they surrender everything to God. There
are numerous characteristics of Filipinos to be proud of. And I, too, am one of
them a proud Filipino, one of "They."
6) Did you ever wish to have a different citizenship? Why?
No, I am a proud Filipino who is grateful to have been born in the Philippines.
But I believe that having a different citizenship is fine because it can benefit us,
such as citizenship education, which provides people with the knowledge and
skills to understand, challenge, and engage with democratic society, including
politics, the media, civil society, the economy, and the law.