What is a typical Filipino?
By nympha687
@nympha687 (940)
United States
February 4, 2009 8:19am CST
It is true that unless you leave your own country, you won't be able to appreciate and know more about it.
When I was working abroad, a lot of people asked me about the Philippines. Most often than not, I would stammer and grasp for words. Fact is, I don't know what to tell them. I didn't have time to think about it in the past.
When they ask about a typical Filipino food, clothes, music, housing, spending, hobby, I was unsure of what to say. When they ask about the Filipino culture, I thought that we don't have our own and that much of what we have are mere Foreign influences.
Filipinos, Who are we? What is a typical Filipino?
1 response
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
5 Feb 09
I believe that one's way of defining a typical Filipino is reflective of what he/she thinks of him/herself. Well, if you have the opportunity to see or make contact with the different cultures in the country, for sure it will not be a problem expounding what a typical Filipino is.
Our culture may have been influenced by foreign traditions but still, we have distinctly Filipino ways. Where in the world can you find Catholics doing the sign of the cross every the pass by a church? Only in the Philippines! Try to say "psst" in a crowded area in you will know that only Filipinos will turn their heads to look where the sound came from. And are do you wave your hand to signal someone from the other side of the road to come to you? That's distinctly Filipino.
Foods... let me enumerate... most popular I guess is adobo and well known exotic food is balot. Sinigang is another popular Pinoy delicacy. Oh, I love sapin-sapin, bibingka and other glutinous rice recipes. If you are in Cordillera, they normally butcher dogs during holidays or occasions. Others find it gross but it's their culture. Well, they also kill chicken "softly" to make their delicious "Pinikpikan". The Ilocos region will serve you their "Papaitan", "Sinanglaw" and "Pinakbet". The bayi-bayi, batchoy, "Pinamarhan" (tuna fish cooked in vinegar and other spices until just a very little liquid is left in the pan) are only a few of Western Visayas delicacy. We also have "Poso" (rice in coconut leaves) and "danggit" of Cebu. Gosh, I am getting hungry talking about our native foods. Ha!Ha!Ha!
Unfortunately, we only have Bahay Kubo as traditionally Pinoy. Only few have tried to used this in their modern house designs. But put a bahay-kubo in a seaside or in resorts and you will see how suitable this type of house is in our environment.
Ooopss... I know others have more to say. I will let them say their piece.
