One trait that sets Filipinos apart is the respect both children and adults pay to their elders. Whether you stay in a compound along with your entire extended family—grandparents included, or live in an apartment and come to visit family on Sundays, the amount of reverence and esteem reserved for older generations is part and parcel of the culture. While some may think that this Filipino tradition has gone by the wayside now that we’re well into the 21st century, many of these traits still remain.
As long as we are able to bring the same respect for elders into our lives today, we’re able to adapt and evolve without losing the beauty of our culture’s traditions.
Po, Opo
Even just a simple tweak in the way you speak can show your esteem for those older than you, or even those in authority. Po and opo are honorific words added to sentences in order to show deference to elders, higher-ups, bosses or teachers, or those of higher rank to you. The use of language to show respect is present in many Asian countries and with English being so prevalent in the Philippines, it is easy to see how the use of these words can easily dissipate over the years. Remembering that we have these honorifics to root ourselves in, however, is a beautiful way to celebrate tradition and bring respect to those who deserve it.
Mano Po
Children usually perform this act when greeting their parents, older relatives or even the local priest. A habit long inculcated in Filipino children, taking the hand of an elder and lightly allowing their fingers and the backs of their palms to kiss your forehead is a lovely greeting and sign of respect. Mano, taken from the same word in Spanish, means hand, which signifies this simple gesture. While Filipinos mostly hinge on the beso, wave or air kiss these days, someone sticking to the traditional mano can be a particularly heartwarming sight.
Pronouns
Addressing authority figures by their names is a mostly Western act. Over in the Philippines (and other parts of Asia), certain pronouns are used to address everyone from older brothers and sisters, to the wait staff at a restaurant, to a stranger helping you cross the street. Ate and Kuya mean older sister and brother, while Manang and Manong mean sister and brother, but can be used in a broader sense to address non-siblings whom we want to show respect to. It is considered more polite to use these placeholders than addressing someone by calling out his or her name straight away, and is a subtle way of showing respect.
The Blue Leaf Filipinas offers guests a new venue to host parties, corporate events and intimate get-togethers for friends and family. With our modern take on classic Filipino traditions, we can help you forge new bonds and create new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Filipinas at 632-9188 or visit
filipinas.theblueleaf.com.ph for more information