Filipino Culture

Discussion in 'Filipino Martial Arts' started by Pat OMalley, May 4, 2005.

  1. dori_kin_86

    dori_kin_86 Hu Flung Pu

    I think I'm just biased because my Grandma is from Pompango. As I said before I was born and raised in the US, but I'm still in contact with the culture a lot :). I might be going in a year or two though. I've always been told the best, or at least some of the best food is in Pompango.
     
  2. Pat OMalley

    Pat OMalley Valued Member

    There we go, the Pinoy turning every subject back around to food:D


    Anyway, sorry for the delay but I was off putting some of my guys and gals throught the pain barrier this weekend:D but here we go
    A 'yes' can mean many things in the Philippines depending on the expression that goes with it and the vioce inotation. It is not a fixed definition or manner, you have to send out your antennae and check out the circumstances.

    'Yes' can be blurted out because the someone is confused and will not say so. 'Yes' can also mean he does not understand but is too embarressed to admit it. 'Yes' can be said just to please you at the moment. 'Yes' in certain circumstances can even mean 'No' simply because it is very impolite to say 'no'.

    However, the answers 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are beyond the limits of a Filipino 'yes'.
     
  3. Pat OMalley

    Pat OMalley Valued Member

    True Or False

    Try this one for size:

    TRUE OR FALSE:

    Here is a simple true-or-false test to get you warmed up and to gauge your understanding of life in the Philippines.

    1. When commemerating the anniversary of the dead on 'All Souls Day', it is definitely not proper to bring food and eat near the tombstone.

    2. Prices in general retail business, such as in public markets, are fixed and one should never haggle.

    3. Men and women never publicly touch each other, but people of the same sex often do.

    4. People judge you by your appearance.

    5. Christians are a minority in the Philippines.

    6. Filipino peasants eat with their fingers.

    7. Manila's University of Santo Thomas is older than America's Harvard University.

    8. A boy and girl should not kiss on their first date.

    9. Office workers consider afternoon tea or merienda an institution conductive to good working conditions.

    10. It is safe to leave expensive items in your yard / garden.


    Answers on a post car please, ooops sorry, make it on this forum or it defeats the whole purpose of this thread:D

    I won't be able to reposnd untill 2 weeks, off to relax and teach as you do. So make it interesting, and I hope to see more food questions comming up:)

    Best regards

    Pat
     
  4. shootodog

    shootodog restless native

    TRUE OR FALSE:

    Here is a simple true-or-false test to get you warmed up and to gauge your understanding of life in the Philippines.

    1. When commemerating the anniversary of the dead on 'All Souls Day', it is definitely not proper to bring food and eat near the tombstone.
    false! that's where the party happens all the time!

    2. Prices in general retail business, such as in public markets, are fixed and one should never haggle.
    false. haggle until you gag.

    3. Men and women never publicly touch each other, but people of the same sex often do.
    true. lol.

    4. People judge you by your appearance.
    sadly, mostly true

    5. Christians are a minority in the Philippines.
    false, unless you get into the "what is a true christian" debate.

    6. Filipino peasants eat with their fingers.
    false. all filipinos eat with thier fingers. if don't...lol...

    7. Manila's University of Santo Thomas is older than America's Harvard University.
    true

    8. A boy and girl should not kiss on their first date.
    supposedly true, but you never know

    9. Office workers consider afternoon tea or merienda an institution conductive to good working conditions.
    true. you'd have a revolt without merienda

    10. It is safe to leave expensive items in your yard / garden.
    depends where you live.
     
  5. Raymund Suba

    Raymund Suba Valued Member

    1. When commemerating the anniversary of the dead on 'All Souls Day', it is definitely not proper to bring food and eat near the tombstone.
    But where will we eat in the cementaries?

    2. Prices in general retail business, such as in public markets, are fixed and one should never haggle.
    Haggling is expected but when they say it's already 'tapat' don't push it.

    3. Men and women never publicly touch each other, but people of the same sex often do.
    If they're in a relationship, touching is ok. girls holding hands-ok, boys holding hands-no. hugging as a greeting is ok. "beso-beso" between close friends and relatives is ok.

    4. People judge you by your appearance.
    Yes, but less compared to other places. Many self-made businessmen are known for dressing in slippers or shorts in the office.

    5. Christians are a minority in the Philippines.
    of course not.

    6. Filipino peasants eat with their fingers.
    Everybody eats with their hands.

    7. Manila's University of Santo Thomas is older than America's Harvard University.
    True? Don't know how old harvard is.

    8. A boy and girl should not kiss on their first date.
    False, a beso is expected. French kissing, normaly no, but kids these days...

    9. Office workers consider afternoon tea or merienda an institution conductive to good working conditions.
    We nearly tore my singaporean boss' head off when he wanted to ban the practice.

    10. It is safe to leave expensive items in your yard / garden.
    In the city, no. in the province, nobody even locks the doors.
     
  6. Roman_Rapido

    Roman_Rapido New Member

    For the interest of those who want to know about the little subtleties of Filipino pop culture, i'm providing you with this post to keep you abreast with new "Only the Philippines" words. enjoy.... :)

    These are the words that are so unique and loaded in meaning that they
    will never find a direct translation in the English language. Forget
    traditional dictionaries. keep this these in mind:

    1. Achuchu (A-chu-chu).
    This refers to the pointless insincerities being said during long,
    involved conversations about nothing at all.

    2. Ano (A-noh).
    The all-around, all-purpose word for everything.

    (a) As a Pronoun in interrogation - Example: Ano? (What)

    (b) As a Noun - Example: Where is your ano? (Where is your
    father/mother/dead-uncle's-second-cousin etc.)

    (c) As a Verb - Example: Anuhin this. (To Paint/kill/maim/castrate
    this.)

    (d) As an Adjective - Example: This is so ano. (This is so
    pretty/big/astounding.)

    (e) As an Interjection - Example: Ano! (What the hell!)

    (f) As a Substitute for genitalia: Did you ano your ano?


    To the untrained eare, the use of ano is quite dangerous and must be
    put into the proper setting.

    Example: "Honey, the ano is too long, we have to cut it," must be accompanied by the proper understanding of the context, as results may be critical to a couple's future. :eek: :D


    3. Booba (boo-bah).
    A female blessed with larger than usual mammary glands,which can be
    used as weapons of mass destruction. :eek:

    4. Checheboreche (Che-che-boh-re-che) Same as achuchu.
    It is interesting to ponder on the reason why there are so many words
    in the Filipino language that beautifully describe meaningless chatter.

    5. Epal (Eh-pal).
    An individual who believes he is God. :bang:

    6. Gigil (gee-gil).
    An uncontrollable desire to bite something.

    7. Hipon (Hee-pon).
    Literally "shrimp," whose body is eaten while its head is thrown away,
    this refers to a female whose body is to die for but whose face looks
    like it belongs to the dead. :D

    8. Kikay (kee-kay).
    Refers to individuals who carry a brush, hand wash, moisturizer,
    lip-gloss and various other facial enhancements in a case (aptly called
    a kikay kit) inside her bag. Recent inspections of various backpacks
    have led to the conclusion it is not a purely female trait. This breed
    cannot resist checking themselves out on mirrors, glass windows, bread
    knives, sidewalk puddles and plastic-covered notebooks.

    9. Kaekekan (Ka-ek-e-kahn).
    Same as achuchu and chechebureche.

    10. Kilig (keel-leg).
    A rush of excitement due to the actions, presence or even mention of he
    whom you see as the future father of your children.

    11. Laglag-brip (lag-lag-brip).
    The female counterpart of laglag-panti (brip=briefs). :love:

    12. Laglag-panti (lag-lag-pan-tee).
    A man so incredibly hot, so heart-stoppingly gorgeous and oozing with
    masculinity that female underwear (whether worn by males or females)
    falls to the ground without effort whatsoever. :love:

    13. Indyanero (In-jan-neh-ro).
    An individual who fails to appear at an appointment without prior
    warning. Not to be confused with individuals who appear according to
    Filipino time (approximately 10 minutes before the meeting is to end).

    14. Japorms (Jah-porms).
    Describes an individual dressed differently from the usual (typically
    involves clothes that have been laundered and pant legs of roughly the
    same length).

    15. Lagot (Lah-got).
    A prophesy of evil things to come. :eek:

    16. Para (Pah-rah).
    A term that informs the driver of a jeep to stop and pause (usually in
    the middle of the road) as the individual speaking intends to leave the
    vehicle. Dangerous for individuals as drivers seem to believe having
    one foot in the air is all that is necessary for descent.

    17. Takusa (Ta-kuh-sa).
    Derived from takot sa asawa (afraid of wife), this is a term used to
    describe the silent (very silent) minority of males married to feminine
    reincarnations of Hitler.

    18. Torpe (tore-peh).
    A gentleman who is desperately attracted to a female yet by some
    strange compulsion is reduced to a frozen mound of stuttering male whenever
    that female is near.


    Armed with this list and a smile, you will be sure to make the proper
    impression not just on your new Filipino acquaintances, but on your Filipino loved one as well.


    Now let's practice:

    "Honey, when I first saw you, I made laglag brip, and was almost torpe.
    When I finally got the nerve to date you, I almost became indyanero,
    because I didn't think I had the right japorms. When you're around, I'm
    kilig, when you're not, I get gigil. You may think all this is achuchu,
    kaekekan, just checheboreche, but in truth, my love, I'm so ano with
    you."

    Ayos! (OK!) :eek: :D :)
     
  7. littlebadboy

    littlebadboy Valued Member

    Doesn't "epal" refers to somebody who keeps in butting in a conversation where he shouldn't be in?
     
  8. Diego_Vega

    Diego_Vega Frustrated pacifist

    1. When commemerating the anniversary of the dead on 'All Souls Day', it is definitely not proper to bring food and eat near the tombstone.
    false! that's where the party happens all the time!

    The food chains actually set up shop in some of the larger cemetaries and send their employees around to take orders to all of the people at the tombstones.

    2. Prices in general retail business, such as in public markets, are fixed and one should never haggle.
    false. haggle until you gag.

    Let's not haggle too much. Remember that last 50 pesos you're haggling over might be a less than a dollar to an American, but it would be a meal to a local.

    3. Men and women never publicly touch each other, but people of the same sex often do.
    true. lol.

    Might be true in the provinces, but honestly, I've sat so many times in Metro Manila cafe thinking to myself, "why doesn't the couple at the next table just get a hotel room!"


    4. People judge you by your appearance.
    sadly, mostly true

    Ah so, that's why Shootodog is so concerned about my, uhm... Canadian fashion sense.

    5. Christians are a minority in the Philippines.
    false, unless you get into the "what is a true christian" debate.

    Maybe Pat means born again.

    6. Filipino peasants eat with their fingers.
    false. all filipinos eat with thier fingers. if don't...lol...

    Still trying.

    7. Manila's University of Santo Thomas is older than America's Harvard University.
    true

    But didn't the Americans conquer us at the turn of the previous century to educate and Christianize us? I guess having a university older than harvard and being 80% Catholic doesn't count.

    8. A boy and girl should not kiss on their first date.
    supposedly true, but you never know

    Their first date usually includes a dozen other friends from each side all hanging out together.

    9. Office workers consider afternoon tea or merienda an institution conductive to good working conditions.
    true. you'd have a revolt without merienda

    I was at a government office waiting my turn to get my papers processed. I was number 44 and they were at number 86. Meaning I had to wait until they got to 100 before they even started anew again. I arrived at 11 am. At noon, everything shut down for lunch until 1 pm. By 2:55 they were at number 43 and I was so relieved I was next. Lo and behold they shut down again at 3 pm for merienda. I asked the supervisor why they didn't work in shifts and he responded that everybody likes to eat together. I was not amused.

    10. It is safe to leave expensive items in your yard / garden.
    depends where you live.

    Who has a yard? But if I did? NOt in my neighbourhood.
     
  9. Diego_Vega

    Diego_Vega Frustrated pacifist

    Ramon Rapido comes through again!

    Also, please explain "jologs", "bagets" and "tralala."
     
  10. Gryphon Hall

    Gryphon Hall Feeling Scholler

    Yes. Down south, things are relatively much more matriarchal.




    1. False; bringing food there is the entire point
    2. False; if you don't haggle, the merchants think you're a pushover and will try their best to take advantage of you within the bounds of decency
    3. False; two people of the same sex being "touch-feely" is frowned upon more than that of the opposite sex, even if those two in question is obviously homosexual (lantad)
    4. True; very complicated: never underdress or overdress, or people get the wrong idea.
    5. Not always; during election time, a lot of the Christians mysteriously disappear, while their voices also just as mysteriously become louder
    6. Not always
    7. True; Harvard, 1636; UST, 1611
    8. True; unless you want to be seen as a player
    9. True; not just the afternoon merienda, but the morning merienda as well; if the boss would not invite you to merienda, it's a good sign that he dislikes you and doesn't care if people knew how he feels.
    10. Heck! No! False! False! False! It's like saying "Come one! Come all! Free items! Everything has to go! Finders keepers! Come one! Come all!"
    Only if you don't like veggies. Otherwise, it is just RIGHT! Bwahahaha!!!



    Also refers to someone who has an inflated sense of entitlement. From the Filipino adjective "Pumapapel", meaning busybody.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2005
  11. slipthejab

    slipthejab Hark, a vagrant! Supporter

    Roman_Rapido

    hilarious. That'd have taken me years to compile.
    :D
    Thanks!
     
  12. burungkol

    burungkol Team Yaw-Yan

    i just love this part....hahahaha! :D
     
  13. Brunstick

    Brunstick (^_^) I need a girlfriend

    wow, i haven't been visiting the forums lately. did anyone miss me? :D

    1. Bringing food and eating on the graves is done all the time! hell, people have parties and drink alcohol and be merry during these times!

    2. haggle, haggle, and haggle some more is what i say!

    3. hmmm, public touching? what kind of touching? i'd say touching is ok, but groping is another story. and sadly, people of the same sex usually grope each other in public. i mean c'mon! get a room!

    4. people do judge you by your appearance. although these same people never seem to learn that appearances CAN be deceiving.

    5. Christians are a majority! well, depends on what you mean by Christian. catholics, protestants, methodists, baptists, they're all christian to me.

    6. not all of them eat with their fingers, some use utensils. and there's nothing wrong with eating with your fingers. americans eat with their fingers too, just go into any McDonalds and look at how many people are eating with their hands.

    7. I know the University of Santo Tomas was founded 1611, when was harvard founded?

    8. now this question isn't really cultural, as it is more an individual's perspective whether kissing on a first date is appropriate or not.

    9. If you're thinking of starting a business in the philippines, do not - i repeat - do not mess with the worker's merienda! merienda is an institution for filipino workers!

    10. yes, it's safe to leave items in your yard/garden. hell, if you have a yard/garden in the philippines, you probably have it walled off and have security guards on the premises.
    -nico-
     
  14. Scotty Dog

    Scotty Dog www.myspace.com/elhig


    Always dude, we nearly went a week without discussing food ;)
     
  15. Brunstick

    Brunstick (^_^) I need a girlfriend

    oh my god! one whole week without talking about food??? we gotta change that! i've been really busy with summer classes, since it's my last year and all in college. i gotta graduate! anyways, it's good to be back! later guys!

    -nico-
     
  16. Helena Handbask

    Helena Handbask New Member

    I think lack of understanding in any culture could lead to something, funny or not. I'm not too experienced in filipino arts, but I've always found their instructors very serious and intimidating
     
  17. Pat OMalley

    Pat OMalley Valued Member

    Sorry for not getting back sooner, but been out and about teaching and training, trained with both GM Dionisio Canete and Master Rey Galang in under a month as well as teaching a few workshops around the country so a bit brain frazelled as they say. But here goes.
    Answers:
    FALSE: 1, 2, 5, 10
    TRUE: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

    For explenations see some of our Pinoys responces.

    Best regards

    Pat
     
  18. Pat OMalley

    Pat OMalley Valued Member

    Priorities

    Now let's see where our priorities are with this little question.

    PRIORITIES:

    When working with Filipinos it is important to consider their own concept of priorities, that which they deem important as against what a foreigner values. In the following list of values and virtues, check the ten traits that Filipinos would consider most important.

    1. Verbal, face to face candour.

    2. Rugged individulasm.

    3. Family ties.

    4. Being a good son.

    5. Beauty and elegance.

    6. Concensus and group agreement.

    7. Public image and what people say.

    8. Gratitude for past favours, acknowledging this debt of honour.

    9. Swift, objective action regardless of who gets hurt.

    10. Personalized veiw point.

    11. Freindliness and conviviality.

    12. Diplomacy.

    13. Honour.

    14. Efficiency.

    15. Gentle manners.

    Lets us know which you think are the most appealing and least appealing.

    Best regards


    Pat
     
  19. Estel Authorion

    Estel Authorion Regrets my stupid posts

    Priorities

    PRIORITIES:

    3. Family ties.

    4. Being a good son.

    5. Beauty and elegance.

    6. Consensus and group agreement.

    7. Public image and what people say.

    8. Gratitude for past favours, acknowledging this debt of honour.

    11. Friendliness and conviviality.

    12. Diplomacy.

    13. Honour.

    15. Gentle manners.

    Number 8 in particular, "Gratitude for past favours, acknowledging this debt of honour", is very important to the Filipino. The Tagalog word for "debt of honour", utang na loob, literally means "inner debt".

    I was about to check Number 14, "Efficiency" because of FMA's efficiency as a martial art, but I realized that this is only a specialized priority in the FMA community. Unfortunately, there is such a thing as the Pwede na 'yan! mentality in Filipino culture, a phrase I have difficulty translating (my apologies to the admins!). Can the other Pinoys help out?

    :cool:
     
  20. shootodog

    shootodog restless native

    ditto
     

Share This Page