There are always stereotypes and generalizations within a group. Sometimes, when you read about yourself or a group of people, you laugh or get offended. I hope my brief overview of the ten signs you know you have a Filipino mom will either make you laugh or agree completely. This is all from my experiences and from conversations I have with people.
1. You get called "anak", "bunso" or a variation that's not your name.
My sister and I respond to "ta", which is just a name our mom calls us. To this day, I still don't know how to translate the word in English. Some are called anak, which means child, or bunso, which means the youngest child. There are many other names you get called other than your actual name and we're okay with that.
2. They "sugo" you or ask you to do things for them.
Most sayings that only make sense in Filipino English actually don't make any sense in proper English. When your mom says to "open the TV" or "close the lights", you respond by doing so (and mocking them by correcting their error.)
3. They always make sure you have your "baon."
Whether you are just going to school or out for a trip, your mom always give you more food than you need.
4. When you are on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat), they peek over your phone.
And when they want to zoom into a picture on Instagram... they end up liking it unintentionally.
5. When they want to point you towards a certain direction, they use their lips.
Doon, they would say, which roughly translates to "over there" in English. There are no pointing of fingers, but pouting of the lips.
6. Filipino moms say certain expressions like, "Hoy!" or "Psshtt" to call your attention.
Just your average expression to get your attention.
7. When you were little and disobeyed them, they brought up that there was a "mumu" or a ghost over there
Worked. Every. Time.
8. If a black out occurs in the house, they say there is a "brown out."
The Pinoy version of saying there's a black out, or a temporary failure of the electrical supply in a building.
9. When you are out in a Filipino party or a gathering with relatives, they remind you to bless or "mano po".
Instead of the formal hand shake, the kissing on the cheeks, or hug, we bless the elderly.
10. After TV Patrol news, they get super "kilig" when the teleseryes are on air.
Who doesn't get kilig (the excitement you experience when a romantic scene happens between two people) when the hottest love team is on air?
