| 100 best things about the FILIPINO CULTURE...
100 Best Things about being Pinoy:
Of course, there are more than 100, but these
are just some.
1. Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat
five times a day?
2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee
freedom of choice, enough room for
experimentation and maximum tolerance for
diverse tastes.
Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili,
patis.
3. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these
and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what
you want.
4. Pinoy humor and irreverence. If
you're "api " and you know it, crack a joke.
Nothing personal, really.
5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small
entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes,
soap, condiments and life's essentials in small
affordable amounts?
6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards
came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos,
bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a
strong relationship with the Creator, who or
whatever it may be.
7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that
define courtesy, deference, filial respect – a
balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.
8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the
vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a
wonderful excuse to shop without the customary
guilt.
9. Beaches! With 7,000 plus islands, we have
miles and miles of shoreline piled high with
fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and
nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the
stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of
Palawan – over here, life is truly a beach.
10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly
fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying
theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly
unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply
irresistible.
11. Bayanihan. Yes, the
internationally8209;renowned dance company, but
also this habit of pitching in is still common
in small communities. Just have that cold beer
and some " pulutan " ready for the troops.
12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing
life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're
fleeing Pol Pot every time we head home from
anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part
is that, more often than not, the contents are
carted home to be distributed.
13. Pilipino komiks. Not to
mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog
Classics," "Liwayway" and "Bulaklak" magazines.
Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica
Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel,
characters of a time both innocent and worldly.
14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring,
full blown, like a second language, at the
slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a
passing jeepney or tricycle.
15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for
tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor
man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with
this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a
Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best.
16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole
underworld of Filipino lower mythology recalls
our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before
political correctness kicked in. Still, their
rich adventures pepper our storytelling.
17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a
vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this
Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap,
interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil
(as they usually are), hang on to your seat.
18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling
idea, until you try it with puto. Best when
mixed with jalapeqo peppers. Messy but delicious.
19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty
contest, this one has religious overtones, a
tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search
for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety,
pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect
excuse to show off the prettiest ladies
8209;8209; and the most beautiful gowns.
20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another
unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to
indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt
and suck out that soup, with gusto.
21. Pakidala. A personalized door-to-door
remittance and delivery system for overseas
Filipino workers who don't trust the banking
system, and who expect a family update from the
courier, as well.
22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars
that defined childhood ecstasy before M&M's and
Hersheys.
23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and
eschew spoon, fork and table manners
8209;8209; ah, heaven.
24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken
crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the
extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian.
Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.
25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone
gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break
bread with whoever has food to share, no matter
how skimpy or austere it is.
26. Adobo, kare8209;kare, sinigang and other
lutong bahay stuff. Home8209;cooked meals that
have the stamp of approval from several
generations, who swear by closely8209;guarded
cooking secrets and family recipes.
27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning
tales over the radio, before movies and
television curtailed imagination and defined
grown8209;up tastes.
28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all
hang out, where clothes do not make a man or
woman but rather define their level of comfort.
29. Tricycle and trisikad. The poor Pinoy's
taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for
as little as PhPesos 3.00, with a complimentary
dusting of polluted air.
30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that
make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube,
mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful
cart that recalls jeepney art.
31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who,
ironically, has become a major Philippine export
as overseas contract workers. A good one is
almost like a surrogate parent 8209;8209; if
you don't mind the accent and the predilection
for afternoon soap and movie stars.
32. Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste
of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an
egg beaten in.
33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa,
mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa,
dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya,
singkamas8209;8209;8209;the possibilities!
34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars,
broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials,
all8209;around controversial figures: Aurora
Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito
Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the
Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona,
Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran,
Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy
Moreno, Ramon Magsaysay, Richard Gomez, San
Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap,
Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.
35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global
map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno,
EugeneTorre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de
Vega8209;Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros,
Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia
Calderon8209;Clemente, Loida
Nicolas8209;Lewis, Josie Natori.
36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too
sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong
talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue),
bokayo, kutchinta, sapin8209;sapin,
halo8209;halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon,
longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya,
sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember,
we're the guys who put sugar (horrors) in our
spaghetti sauce. Yum!
37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay,
Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort
Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas
Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon
Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and
ever8209;changing landscapes.
38. Gayuma, agimat and anting8209;anting.
Love potions and amulets. How the
socially8209;disadvantaged Pinoy copes.
39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and
basketball. How the verticaly8209;challenged
Pinoy compensates, via a national sports
obsession that reduces fans to tears and
fistfights.
40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became
a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.
41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!"
and the Philippines' most popular,
world8209;renowned beer goes well with peanuts,
corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig,
and all manner of spicy, crunchy and
cholesterol8209;rich chasers.
42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of
Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990
earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla ,
Tamagochi and Erap
43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this
hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising
vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog"
and "rock the baby," using just a piece of
string.
44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng
palayok. A few basic rules make individual
cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee
a good time for all.
45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the
Filipino is worth dying for'' and proving it.
46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings
out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.
47. Tabo. All8209;powerful, ever8209;useful,
hygienically8209;triumphant device to scoop
water out of a bucket and help the true Pinoy
answer nature's call. Helps maintain our
famously stringent toilet habits.
48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size,
still a good buy. Goes well with any filling,
best when hot.
49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and
sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be
quite proud of. Do you know that it has invaded
the Middle East as well?
50. The butanding, the dolphins and other
creatures in our blessed waters. They're
Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if
some folks would just stop turning them into
daing.
51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay
longer at parties, have another drink, join pals
in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk
and still make it home.
52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and
thank God a lot of us do it well!
53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our
skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a
rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards
the sun.
54. Handwoven cloth and native weaves.
Colorful, environment8209;friendly alternatives
to polyester that feature skillful workmanship
and a rich indigenous culture behind every
thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the
malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we
are.
55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of
entertainment, especially if you watch the same
movie several times.
56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by
embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life
by ear.
57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile,
admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to
our national ability to acquire a taste for
almost anything.
58. English. Whether carabao or
Arr8209;neoww8209;accented, it doubles our
chances in the global marketplace.
59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational,
often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in
Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.
60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's
paradise, but you can get anything here, often
at rock8209;bottom prices. The sensory
overload is a bonus.
61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal
and dignified without having to strangle
themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes
any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig.
62. Filipinas. They make the best friends,
lovers, wives. Too bad they can't say the same
for Filipinos.
63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and
macho with an occasional streak of generic
infidelity; they do know how to make a woman
feel like one.
64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without
guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on
Philippine soil.
65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra8209;durable
comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an
odd dignity, even in drag.
66. Style. Something we often prefer over
substance. But every Filipino claims it as a
birthright.
67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the
vinyl8209;upholstered sofa, posters of poker-
playing dogs masquerading as art, over-
accessorized jeepneys and altars 8209;8209;
the list is endless, and wealth only seems to
magnify it.
68. Mangos. Crisp and tart, or lusciously
ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and
endless sunshine in a heart8209;shaped package.
69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on
the suicide scale.
70. Street food: Barbecue, lugaw,
banana8209;cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken
entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho.
Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with
gritty ambience.
71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the
day is smart, not lazy.
72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya,
ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling,
Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but
these words connote respect, deference and the
value placed on kinship.
73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth
and freedom. Lapu8209;lapu started it all, and
other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego
Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres
Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino,
Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel
Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo
H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha
Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio
Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor,
Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando Malay,
Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other
comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio
Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who
didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the
tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine
eagle, sampaguita, ilang8209;ilang, camia,
pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago
unique.
75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers: "Ama
Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw
Kamahal," "Ngayon at
Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita
Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan
Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi
Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and
Florante 8209; living examples of our musical
gift.
76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda
Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven
their worth. Against all odds, they
continuously prove that cleanliness is next to
godliness 8209;8209; especially now that those
darned candidates' posters have to be scraped
off the face of Manila!
77. Sari8209;sari store. There's one in every
corner, offering everything from bananas and
floor wax to Band8209;Aid and bakya.
78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS.
Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each
other.
79. Favorite TV shows through the
years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and
Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan
Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public
Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga."
In the age of inane variety shows, they have
redeemed Philippine television.
80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any
tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"
81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano
ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation
but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.
82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more
than their wives (sometimes).
83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself.
Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor,
fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover,
samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and
be proud of anytime, anywhere.
84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and
homely8209;looking, she redefined our rigid
concept of how leading ladies should look.
85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the
friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate
Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be
for many Filipino fans.
86. Filipino Christmas. The world's longest
holiday season. A perfect excuse to mix our
love for feasting, gift8209;giving and music
and wrap it up with a touch of religion.
87. Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best
refuge against loneliness, discrimination and
confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives
and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome
mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or
referral.
88. Festivals: Sinulog, Ati8209;atihan,
Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and
Christian overtones.
89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw,
kariL1osa, kuratsa, itik8209;itik, alitaptap,
rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct
rhythm.
90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya,
tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form
and ingenious function in the way we dress.
91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family
ties that never get severed. You don't have to
win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000
relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all
over thearchipelago, and it's at its best in
times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses,
money, and moral support materialize during a
wake?
92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and
leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when
loaded down with a year's provisions.
93. Quality of life. Where else can an
ordinary employee afford a stay8209;in helper,
a yaya, unlimited movies,
eat8209;all8209;you8209;can buffets, the
latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra
in the black market?
94. All Saints' Day. In honoring our dead, we
also prove that we know how to live.
95. Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft,
abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats
and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable
memories of home. Hindi lang pang8209;turista,
pang8209;balikbayan pa!
96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi.
Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya.
Talong.Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay
will never be the same without them.
97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for
a better life for our family, as proven by these
modern8209;day heroes of the economy.
98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's
magnificent "Spoliarium" and Amorsolo's
sun8209;kissed ricefields, to Ang Kiukok's
jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting
ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a
Filipino painting on your wall, and you're
hanging one of Asia's best.
99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad"
and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations
like "Mula sa Puso" 8209;8209; they're the
story of our lives, and we feel strongly for
them, MariMar notwithstanding.
100. Midnight madness, weekend sales, bangketas
and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its
best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds,
and human deluge to find a bargain."
DAMN RIGHT..............PINOY PRIDE BABY
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