YAPpers: Can you name some things that are ONLY in the Philippines?

Question

things, traditions, mannerisms, or anything under the sun that ONLY Filipinos do! =)

Answer 1

Your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy."

You have uncles and aunts named "Boy," "Girlie," or "Baby."

You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like "John-john," "Jet-Jet," Bing-bing," "Boy-boy," "Jing-jing

You call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito" and "Tita."

You have four or five names.

You have a piano that no one plays.

You keep a tabo in your bathroom.

You use Vicks Vapor rub as an insect repellant.

You eat with your hands.

You eat more than three times a day.

You think a meal is not a meal without rice.

You think sandwiches are snacks, not meals. Your dining table has a merry-go-round (lazy Susan) in the middle.

You bring baon to work everyday.

Your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines.

You love to eat daing or tuyo.

You prop up one knee while eating.

You eat your meal with patis, toyo, suka, banana catsup, or bagoong.

Your tablecloths are stained with toyo circles.

You love sticky desserts and salty snacks.

You eat fried Spam and hot dogs with rice.

You eat mangoes with rice--with great GUSTO!

You love "dirty" ice cream.

You love to eat, yet often manage to stay slim.

You put hot dogs in your spaghetti.

Everything you eat is sauted in garlic, onion, and tomatoes.

You order a "soft drink" instead of soda.

You play cards or mahjong and drink beer at funeral wakes.

You think Christmas season begins in October and ends in January.

Your second piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.

You've mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity.

You collect items from airlines, hotels, and restaurants as "souvenirs."

You feel obligated to give pasalubong to all your friends and relatives each time you return from a trip.

You use paper foot outlines when buying shoes for friends and relatives.

You're a fashion victim.

You can convey 30 messages with your facial expression.

You hold your palms together in front of you and say "excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of the TV.

You ask for the bill at a restaurant by making a rectangle in the air.

You cover your mouth when you laugh.

You respond to a "Hoy!" or a "Pssst!" in a crowd.

You'll answer "Malapit lang!"--no matter the distance--when asked how far away a place is located.

Goldilocks is more than a fairy tale character to you.

You refer to power interruptions as "brownouts."

You love to use the following acronyms: CR for comfort room, DI for dance instructor, DOM for dirty old man, TNT for tago nang tago, KJ for killjoy, KSP for kulang sa pansin, OA for over-acting, TL for true love, BF for boyfriend and GF for girlfriend.

You say "rubber shoes" instead of sneakers, "ball pen" instead of pen,"stockings" instead of pantyhose, "pampers" instead of diapers, "ref"or "prijider" instead of refrigerator, "Colgate" instead of toothpaste,"canteen" instead of cafeteria, and "open" or "close" instead of turn on or turn off (as in the lights).

You use an umbrella for shade on hot summer days.

You like everything imported or "state-side."

You love ballroom dancing, bowling, pusoy, mah jong, billiards, and karaoke.

You have a relative who is a nurse.

When you're in a restaurant, you wipe your plate and utensils before using them.

You can squeeze 15 passengers into your five seater car without a second thought.

You wave a pom-pom on a stick around the food to keep the flies away.

You always ring a doorbell twice, assuming that the first ring was not heard.

You let the phone ring twice before answering, lest you appear overly eager.

You use a rock to scrub yourself in the bath or shower.

Answer 2

Is it evil to kill an evil person? What if you kill an evil soul to prevent that evil soul from killing more innocent souls? Would that be justifiable? For me yes. The death penalty should push through, and I really hope that progress will be made in the passing days, and this "proposal for restoration of the death penalty" will not fade away. If God is watching, I am certain He will permit such a decision because if Holy Water is needed to exorcise or to cleanse any evil presence, then the same goes for the Death Penalty. Although this will not entirely reduce criminal acts in our country, it will at least somehow reduce incidents, petty criminals (those who don't belong in an organized group/syndicate) will somehow be forced to turn back from criminality and find a job and earn a living decently, since they know the consequences that might happen to them.. For those hardened criminals or those people who have no conscience and literally live to commit crime, then the death penalty would be the only way of ending their evil., Since criminals nowadays are so powerful implementation of the Death Penalty would be the only justice, since if a criminal is sentenced to jail he might get free,get special treatment,or just simply get away with what he has done. For instance a person gets convicted, if he has influence and power, he'd be inside a jail but he is living luxuriously, even better than middle class families. (Example: Romeo Jalosjos, Claudio Teehankee, Joseph Estrada) or, he'd appeal his case and when the media attention has waned on him/his case, he'll bribe the enforcers for his freedom.(Example: Patrick dela Rosa, Congressman Villarosa). If these people were executed then the families of the people they have aggravated and hurt have long before felt the justice that should be given to them, but now that they are set free justice is no more. (Keep in mind the Ampatuan clan. Supposedly they are in "jail", but how are they inside their "jails"? Death Penalty, also, reduces the cost and space of the government of having to maintain prisons. Prisons here in the Philippines are worse than worst, prison facilities are overcrowded, when an inmate gets sick, the rest also contacts the disease. Imagine in one prison how many people there have commited serious crimes. If this people were executed, it will be a great relief of burden to the government, and also if the Death Penalty is implemented it will restore the trust of the people in the Philippine's justice system. I really hope the death penalty would be restored. Lots of innocents have already been harmed, Criminals are getting more bolder and aggressive, and the death penalty is one way to reinforce and strengthen Philippine laws.

Answer 3

I think jeepneys are only in the Philippines, and so are the calesas and tricycles.

There's balut, dinuguan (though I don't eat them).

Some Filipinos eat dog meat.

We speak better English than other Asians (no offense meant).

There's a lot more.

Answer 4

balut, going to fiestas (feasts) without knowing the essence of the celebration, champorado; a lot of Filipinos also want to have fair complexion! (that's why whitening substances are very marketable in the Philippines; however, I'm not that typical Filipino...I actually want to know where I could find a tanning agent for the whole body (because I'm pale.))


additional stuff:
bai, tabo is also used in Japanese hot springs... in English, they're called dippers... remember Big Dipper & Small Dipper? :)

i forgot to add that there also are people put in class E who have washing machines (unlike us in middle class/class C) & mobile phones which they can regularly load with credits... sadly, Filipinos nowadays like investing in short-term tech...

then, there's also the "pssst" & the "hoy" in exchange for the name of a person whose attention is being called. they're usually used to call a stranger's attention, but never use them to call a family member unless you want some big fat & serious trouble in your life... :)

Answer 5

None I could think of. Maybe the Jeepney. The other ones mentioned are not truly exclusively found in the Philippines ONLY, including Balut(Cambodia, Vietnam. They call it Pong tea khon . In China, it is the century egg ), Halo-halo(Singapore, Malaysia. They call it Ice Kacang), peeing in public places(India, others), mano(other Asian countries), dinuguan(Europe, South America. The Germans have Blutwurst),actual crucifixion during lent (Mexico, other Latin countries), Habal-habals(India, other South Asian countries). Even the tarsiers, which I thought are found only in the Philippines, actually are found in Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia.

One answer is the tradition of "bring house" or "take home" by visitors. Even with white Americans I've visited , they also wrapped for me some food I like during dinner so I could bring them home.

Answer 6

The hand thing- respect for elders even older brother & sisters
Big Big deal about your birthday..but fun
Like to Piss anywhere at the market neighbors house, at the market buying some meat and guy pulled his meat take wizz.
festival where you feed the whole barangay save 4 next year.
eating bats,snakes and when you get really hungry dog
elections, people giving out soap,matches,detergent and money

Answer 7

Maybe not what you are looking for but I wish my wife was only in the Philippines.

Answer 8

Like 5 families under 1 roof? Kinda crowded but it's fun! =)

Answer 9

By giving these Unique " Pinoyisms" , don't you think they are still faces to save???hmmmmmmmm, I have to be choosy then:

~Dancing policemen(traffic purposes)

~Cow-racing.............( a festival game)

~Exotic foods serving( cat, locust, earthworm...)

~Carry-one's-house..(from one place to the other.....Bayanihan)

~Calling one.......Pssssssssssttttt...........Hoyyyyyy

~Looking for something and pointing with the lips....or feet...

~EAting chocolate Pig (dinuguan) with Puto

~Eating unique street foods like( one day old chick/ tokneneng/ squid ball. ant ball(I guess)

~They use the umbrella both in shining and rainy day...(not common in other countries...they are embarrased)

~Cockfighting and giving bets even to the extent of things and human

~Urinating in the street ( only for the men)

~~~~Oh too many ,but I found these quite unique ...Good luck to Filipinisms( THe Filipino-item listing)~~~

Answer 10

1. Pointing the general direction with the mouth instead of the hand/ fingers/ thumb. ("Over there!" then shows with the pouted lips)

2. Scratching head if put in an embarassing situation.

3. Kissing of the elders' hand.

4. "Po", "opo", "ho", "oho" to show respect.

5. Dinuguan (pork blood stew).

6. Dinengdeng (fermented fish and vegetable combo).

7. Actual crucifixion (using real nails) during lent.

8. Pahiyas in Quezon province, Ati-atihan in Cebu, Sinulog in Iloilo.

9. Vinta in Mindanao.

10. "Tabo" (water scoop) in the toilet.

Answer 11

Champorado?