One of the most interesting things about a person is how they were brought up. As for me, I grew up Filipino. Many people know that Filipinos are from a small but beautiful country in Southeast Asia who are energetic and fun loving. To me, we are so much more than that. Here are a few things that I learned and why I am grateful for being born a "Pinoy".
Being a Filipino taught me to be adventurous and bold.
From their willingness to do crazy things, to their courage of singing endless karaoke songs in front of strangers. Whether you live in or visit the Philippines, you can't help but explore and experience everything our beautiful country has to offer.
Being a Filipino taught me how to be respectful.
In the Philippines, we have this custom where we would place the hand of our elders onto our foreheads called "mano" as a show of respect to them. Another is by saying "opo" for yes and "po" after sentences when addressing our elders as a show of respect to them. Filipinos learn these signs of respect at an early age which is important especially in our day and age where sometimes respect is taken for granted.
Being a Filipino taught me to be very family-oriented.
In the Philippines, family is everything. It's kind of like the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where everyone in the family does everything together and there is never a dull moment when they're around. Though that may seem too "over-crowded" for people, it never is to us. We always have the best and most memorable times with our family which is why we value our relationships with each other so greatly.
Being a Filipino taught me not to hold grudges.
Rarely have I ever seen Filipino friends or family hold grudges against each other. We often forgive and forget because one fight or disagreement does not compare to our bonds with our friends and families.
Being a Filipino taught me to have a good sense of humor.
Once you hear a burst of laughter at one of your Filipino mother's get togethers, you knew she or one of her friends said something extremely funny. I don't think I have met a Filipino who doesn't have a sense of humor. Even if a Filipino is telling the joke in a different language, their laughter is contagious, so beware.
Being a Filipino taught me to embrace other cultures.
When you go to the Philippines, their stores, malls, and plazas are filled with different foods all over the country. Not only that, we respect people from other countries which is very important. Many Filipinos are always eager to meet people from other countries and learn about other cultures as well as tell them about ours.
Being a Filipino taught me to stay true to myself.
Whether a Filipino wants to be the next Cherice Pempengco or the next Manny Pacquiao, they do what they want to do. They accept who they are and try to better themselves. They also show dignity and character through embracing who they are.
This not only goes out to Filipinos but also to all people of different races and backgrounds, embrace who you are. Especially if you're still trying to figure out who you are or where you're going, always remember where you came from.
