What Filipinos Love About Themselves

Have you ever been surprised to see a from-head-to-toe white blonde tall freckled man speaking fluently in Tagalog? Would it make you more surprised if later you’d find out that he is actually a Filipino? Perhaps that someone is half Filipino or a migrant. It’s quite strange, right? But it’s now more usual than ever. Today, where the genetic physical composition of a Filipino citizen fades even among the people in the country itself, other Filipino features still remain insoluble and these make Filipinos remain and be more Filipinos even in or out the country.

              Denied or not, we really are friendly in nature and we just love to socialize and express ourselves through our precious tongues. Filipinos are everywhere and thanks to our mouths we become distinguishable to most of the foreign people anywhere in the world because of them.

I remember my Economics high school teacher sharing story about her co- OFW’S before at Hong Kong. “How can you know if the asian-looking persons in front of you who are riding the train with you are Filipinos?” asked by my teacher. She then also answered herself in Tagalog, “Naku! Madali lang! Pag may nakasabay ka sa bus na mukang Pilipino, pero ‘di ka sigurado kung Thai, Malaysian, Intsik o Hawaian, hinatayin mo lang magsalita. Kapag pumutak na yan kahit magbisaya o mag-Greek pa yan, basta tuloy-tuloy ang daldal sa kasama niya at todo demo ng mga kuwento niya, naku! Pinoy yan!” [It’s very easy! If you saw a Filipino looking train co-passenger, wait until he speaks before assure he’s from the Philippines. Whatever dialect or language he’s using, you can confirm he’s Filipino blood ties through his expressiveness, demonstration of the story being told, and the nonstop conversation.

Image source from 123rf.com

            We really are fond of talking, thus it could really complement that Filipinos are really good communicators and singers. As matter of fact, according a research done by the Global English Corporation regarding the English proficiency in the workplace early April of this year into over 76 represented countries, the Philippines is the only country which garnered a total score 7+ , the highest score. The Philippines (7.11) is followed by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19). In a site called the-top-tens.com, the Philippines ranked third among the top countries with the best singers with India (1st), UK (2nd), USA (4th), and Germany (5th).

Breakfast, Meryenda, Brunch, Lunch, Meryenda, Dinner, midnight snack and sometimes, other meal times in between- this is the usual eating habit of a typical Filipino living in the Philippines. We eat a lot and frequently do. That is why as of November 11, 2011, 26. 6% of Filipino adults are overweight and 5.2% are obese (ABS-CBN News, 2011). But hypertension, diabetes and other health complications are unfortunately not strong enough to break the fondness in eating of the Filipinos.

Image source from Pingarm.com

We also love to celebrate even the little achievements or simple things, of course, with our best buddy-foods. The Philippines has all the Fiestas, the anniversaries (even monthsaries), and these extended celebrations of Christmas and New Year. We celebrate handaans more than a day. Usually we love to share it with our relatives, friends and neighbors. Just like in any other countries, foods are really essentials in occasions. However, in the Philippines, food are treated with more value in the Filipino way of defining a celebration.

Additionally, the country has a very good set of native dishes. A collection of cooking styles and recipes from the 7100 islands of the country could not be given less expectations when it comes to variety and flavor. It’s why we have all the reasons in the country to eat and enjoy eating.

Image source from edbiado.blogspot.com

Image source from wheninmanila.blogspot.com

imagesource from filipino-foods-lovers.com

Image Source from flauntitcharleton.com

Fiestas could be both treated as reflection and as factor why Filipinos have these warm attachment to celebrations. All places in the Philippines have their yearly town Fiestas. Here, their local culture and traditions are remembered, exercised and celebrated. Also, it is a venue where unity and friendship is empowered.  For the most years, we also benefitted to the tourism and economic perks we get from Fiestas. Summed up, it may be now clearer why its existence continue up to now.

Image Source from beachresorts.com.ph

Our being “madaldal” and “mahilig kumain” are also reflections of this characteristic. We really are fond of the party factor we get from celebrations which includes foods, friends, and fun. In Filipino birthday occasions, Christmas, weddings, and other celebrative days, we Filipinos have the most tendency to go because of the food, the free food. Since every Filipino loves eating, the more they will love it when it’s free. Additionally, a lot of people would be going so gaining new friends or meeting them the old ones are conducive in handaans and fiestas. Lastly, fun, would never be absent there.

Divisoria alone is a proof that Filipinos are really thrift and are aiming to possibly save more. It is because things being sold there are comparatively cheaper than anywhere in Manila. Having known the risk to take going and staying there, it is as if the environment doesn’t defy the demand of consumers enjoying cheaper products thriftier shopping.

Image source from Jedleno.com

Image source from moneysavingexpert.com

         

  We love to have the “sulit” factor in every purchase we make. “Sale” signs, used like magnets to Filipino customers and shoppers, are everywhere in the malls. It’s just that saving a 10% or any bigger portion of what is supposed to be paid adds to the satisfaction of Filipinos after buying something. I remember a classmate sharing his experience with his uncle. His uncle was supposed to buy his school supplies and some clothes for a certain school year. His uncle only shopped with my classmate 3 days before the start of classes. The reason? It is because the nearer the classes are, the bigger the “SALE” and the “DISCOUNTS” are.  Also, it may be the reason behind the booming out of the food chains with unlimited drinks and/or rice such as Chick-Boy and Mang Inasal the sachet versions of different products.

Image source from quezoncity.olx.com.ph 

Ever wondered why soap operas or prime time tele-novelas are mostly family oriented? We sometimes complain about the cliche-like story plots about unknown family relations, sibling competition, etc. that networks bring over again. But actually, that is really the Filipino audience wants. We have deeper relationships with our families than most of the other countries that is why we easily relate ourselves to the characters and eventually, watch the shows.

Image source from push.com

Enough with the tele-novelas, Filipinos are packed with Filipino Familial values that up to now, though decreased somehow through several outside factors, are still abundant and undying. Home, the most basic training ground of everyone, is where the moral codes, etiquette  ethical practices and cultural and personal values are assembled. What differs the Filipino family from other countries is that, through the influence of traditions and of the society, they have become more familial.

Filipinos value familial relationships more than any other. The usage of "po" and "opo" are higly practiced from early childhood. Despite of the western influence regarding liberalism,

Image source tx-english-ch.com

Image source from dmcicommunities.com

Image source from depedteacher.blogspot.com

Stories coming from OFW’s are another evident reasons of how families are important to Filipino. They are the major building blocks in their aspirations and dreams.

Factors coming from everywhere could really cause variations to what a Filipino really is. It’s good to be reminded about our characteristics that have brought us into familiarity. No matter how different our physical features maybe, let our inner selves remain Filipinos. 

Bibliography:

1.        Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2012). Philippines Tops in the world in Business English, says report. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/183735/philippines-tops-in-the-world-in-business-english-says-report

2.        Mendoza, S. (2012). PH: World’s best country in business English. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ph--world-s-best-country-in-business-english.html

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3.        Cheesemaster (2012). Countries With the best Singers and Bands. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from

http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/countries-best-singers-bands.asp

4.        Abs-cbnNEWS.com. (2011). Overweight Filipinos increasing, survey shows. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/11/06/11/overweight-filipinos-increasing-survey-shows

Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Libro ng Kasaysayan: A Review

                                     Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Libro ng Kasaysayan: A Review

                Harlequin Theatre Guild (HTG) has all the rights to claim that they’re the only recognized theater group by De La Salle University- Manila. Aside from the obvious reason that no other theatrical group exists in the school, they’ve got talented people, composing the production and the actors, that wouldn't be possibly intimidated by any group that would attempt a competition with them. Through the years, its doors, which filter every aspiring lasallian, have been an evidence that only the best of the best could really be on the spotlight finally carry the guild’s name.  That’s why I can’t be blamed if my expectations were pulled up excessively. I guess the same reason has also caused my judging-mode activation and become a little very observant and critical about the play- “Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Libro ng Kasaysayan”.

                                   
                                                                          Tonying poster
                                                        http://www.clickthecity.com/events/details.php?id=14218

               

               Wondering about what really happened? Let me share my opinion about it.

               

               Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Libro ng Kasaysayan’s story is about  the adventure of a simple and ordianry boy named Tonying who was appointed to be the tagapagsalaysalay. With the help of the “mirror of time”  and “the key of the past, the present the future” and together with his friends- Tata Lasy and Klea, he has traveled time to witness and record the events of the Philippine history. However, with the cruelty of Mangmang, stealing the history’s treasured happenings for him to be the most powerful in the world of fantasy, Tonying’s adventure has become more adventurous.

                On his way, he met the some of the Philippine history icons like Jose Rizal, Gabriela Silang, and Andres Bonifacio. In the Philippines they are extremely popular especially when the word history comes in. He also witnessed some of the important events in the Philippine history like how the Spanish people perched in the country and how Japanese took control of the Philippines.

    At the end, typical as a Filipino tele-novela, Tonying won over Mangmang and retrieved everything such the kingdoms Kalangitlangitan, the order of the Philippine history and his romantic interest, Klea.

                Well, that’s the story I absorbed from the play. However, as a film enthusiast I have my critical eyes turned onto the script, the story, the direction and most especially with the actors.

            

               Typical- that’s how I will describe the story but the thing how the story writer attempted to make the play very Filipino is something that I really have to appreciate. Okay, done with the looking into conventional nature of the play- the hero wins and the bad guy dies, the prince saves the princess and the story ends happily. It’s not a documentary or an indie film trying to get a Cinemalaya award anyway. It’s a show that goals to entertain and tickle the audience so that at the end of the play, the audience would leave the auditorium with smiling and relieved faces and with a sense of satisfaction and completeness. Imagine if the story ends up with the protagonist having killed or worse, it was with an open ending, then the audience would leave sad, confused and disturbed. I bet they would not be returning to watch any HTG play again. That’s for sure : }

                The director is very talented. I think they had a very amazing collaboration with the script writer thus making the play be very much of an attention catcher. The comedy twist of the play has made the audience stay considering that it’s all about history again. The play, even with talented acts, would be boring with the story alone, so salutes to the director and the script writer.

                To the actors, they are amazing. It’s like they've been acting all their lives. Their characters were not only reflected by the costumes or by their faces but by their entire bodies and gestures as well. They are simply amazing.