Filipinos live with a lot of pride of their culture and their background. I mean, how can you not? Growing up in America and having parents that are new to the country introduces really funny experiences. Even though my parents are a long way from home, they still bring the traditions and habits from the Philippines.
1. Your mom points at things with her lips.
And when you don't understand, she says "doon" and points with her lips more aggressively.
2. Your friends never leave your house hungry.
It's absolutely impossible to go hungry at a Filipino house, your parents won't let your friends get hungry. "Did you eat lunch yet?" is definitely the first thing you hear when you first walk in the door. (Well, right after you get told to take your shoes off.)
3. A Filipino party isn’t a party unless there’s karaoke involved.
Plugging up "Magic Sing" right after dinner is the best way to do a party. At this point, all of the adults are drunk and all the kids are losing their minds and running around. It looks like absolute chaos, but it's a really good time.
4. You call everyone tita, tito, ate, and kuya.
When you're a Filipino, you are related to everyone.
5. You have so many cousins, so it’s really hard trying to keep up with everyone.
Most of the time, you won't be able to meet all of them because they are just so scattered everywhere. I have cousins that live in the Philippines and some that live in Australia, that's a huge spectrum.
6. Trying to decide if you should bubble in “Asian” or “Pacific-Islander” on a survey.
I always have an identity crisis when I'm trying to figure out if I'm more of an Asian or a Pacific-Islander.
7. People always mispronounce Tagalog, and replacing it with Tagalong.
I speak the language of the Philippines, not a delicious peanut butter and chocolate cookies.
8. Whenever you go out and you see another Filipino, you have to point it out.
You can always tell because of their noses. The second you see a Filipino nose, you just know that they are one of you. Bonus points if you actually know them, which is really likely that you do.
9. You’re always running on Filipino time.
Oh, so the party starts at 6 P.M.? OK, I guess I'm leaving at 6:30 P.M.!
10. When your mom gives you a choice of what you should be spanked with.
Nothing says fear like your mom angrily asking you "Do you want slipper? Or do you belt?"
11. Manny Pacquiao fights are always a huge party.
He's a huge deal in the Filipino community. Whenever you watch the fight with family, you always hear the moms the most because they're always screaming "ay," no matter what happens.
12. You get asked the same questions every single time there’s a gathering.
They usually include:
"Do you hab boypren/girlpren?"
"How are your studies?"
"Anak, did you eat yet?"
"Did you bless lola yet?"
13. You get asked “If you’re Asian, then why is your name so Spanish?”
Whenever I get asked this I take a huge deep breath and then I go on to tell them about the history of the Philippines. It's a big deal.
14. You know it’s about to be lit if you see lechon.
Filipinos love their food and the buffet is always endless. But once you see lechon at the end of the table, you know you'll be eating really good and have leftovers for days.
15. All the nanays and titas are crying over the teleserye they’ve been binge watching.
It's so awkward when you and your friends walk into the living room seeing all of your mom's friends crying over a soap opera.
16. “Meeting” all 25 of your lolos and lolas.
Every Filipino your parents know basically becomes a part of you family. Meeting all of them when you're 18 is really confusing when they ask you if you remember them and tells you really embarrassing stories about how you did weird baby things.
17. Your family brings adobo and rice to the beach and basically everywhere else.
Your parents know how to save money and prepare for the starvation that comes with traveling. Your parents probably refused to buy the overpriced boardwalk fries, so they pack rice and adobo to save money and still eat like a king.
18. Telling people to open and close the lights.
They usually laugh and ask you if you meant turn on and off, but nope, you meant open and close. Because obviously, that's the right way.
It's always really funny when other people ask you why things are the way they are in your culture. Honestly, there is no way to really describe it, it's just how I grew up. I am so proud to be a part of the Filipino community, surrounded by the kindest and happiest people I know.
