Filipino Customs: 7 Top Filipino Quirks

Although most of my life was spent in the U.S.A., my parents & elders made sure that I remembered my Filipino Heritage. Because I was surrounded by my Filipino parents and relatives, I could not escape being a witness to the Filipino customs and quirks that make us unique. Below are a few unique customs seen in most Filipino interactions depending on how ‘traditional’ the Filipinos are that you encounter.

1. “Mano po”
“Mano po” (pronounced mah-noh poh) refers to a physical gesture of taking the hand of an elder and bringing it towards your forehead. This is a sign of respect for the elder and is usually done at the point of greeting or farewell. Children are expected to perform this gesture towards adult relatives & adult family friends. Failure to perform “mano po” would be considered as disrespectful.

2. “Kuya” or “Ate”
The Filipino culture is very big on respect. The older an individual is, the more they call for respect. The term ‘kuya’ (pronounced koo-yah) refers to an older male person; it means ‘big brother.’ Its verbal usage indicates that you respect the older male and recognize the difference in age. The feminine form is ‘ate’ (pronounced ah-teh) which is directed towards an older female person; it means ‘big sister.’ Children are encouraged to use these terms with their older siblings. Adults can use these terms to address friends or co-workers regardless of whether or not they are truly related. It simply demonstrates a form of respect for the older individual.

3. The power of the eyebrows.
In American culture, the eyebrows usually conveys emotion via a variety of facial expressions. In Filipino culture, raising your eyebrows can also communicate a positive affirmation of “yes” when a yes/no question has been asked. So, should a Filipino fail to verbally answer your question, look at their eyebrows before feeling like you were being ignored. In reality, they may just be answering you non-verbally through the raising of their eyebrows.

Raising your eyebrows accompanied with strong eye contact can also serve as a greeting or farewell to an individual you can not physically touch.

4. The lips give direction.
Again, a non-verbal expression performed by Filipinos. By puckering their lips and facing a certain direction, they are using their lips to point to communicate a certain direction. Instead of wasting physical energy by lifting their arm/hand to point, they conserve energy by using their puckered lips.

5. Food at every gathering.
Whether it be a grand party or just an informal meeting, Filipinos express their hospitality & friendship through the serving of food. The more grandiose the cuisine, the more ‘love’ they are trying to convey to those at the gathering. Instead of asking, ‘how are you?’ Filipinos will ask, “have you eaten yet?’

6. Take your shoes off when entering a Filipino home.
By taking your shoes off when entering a Filipino home, you are conveying utmost respect towards the owners of the property. You are showing them that you care about their property and have the desire to maintain its cleanliness. More modern Filipinos who have tile or wood floors may not expect you to take your shoes off because of the coldness of the floor, however, if you do adhere this custom, then you will surely make a favorable impression.

7. Hellos and Goodbyes cannot be taken for granted.
You must greet everyone “hello” at every meeting and say “good-bye” at each farewell. For anyone present, you can either offer a ‘mano po,’ a kiss on the cheek, or offer eye contact coupled with raising your eyebrows to those you are unable to physically reach or those you do not know very well. Failure to offer a greeting or farewell would indicate that you are disrespectful, and a snob. So, be attentive to those present as you do not want to offend anyone.

Filipinos communicate less verbally than their American counter-parts and it is clearly demonstrated in the Filipino quirks discussed here. The minimal verbiage in Filipino Culture could be best explained through a silent adherence to the common expression: “actions speak louder than words.”