Filipino Culture: Etiquettes to Know

Traveling to the Philippines can be exciting, yet scary. A lot of things are going to be foreign to you: the food, culture, traditions, and societal norms, among many. Differences and lack of awareness of these aspects can make you fear being misunderstood, or worse, misread as rude.

Hence, before traveling, learn as much as you can about your host country. Learn how to be a responsible tourist. Know the dos and don’ts. Remember that you’re a visitor, so don’t expect the locals to adjust for you. Instead, you should be the one to adapt.

That said, we’ve written this article to help you become a good guest when visiting the Philippines.

Filipino Cultural Etiquettes to Follow

Filipinos are known around the world for their warmth and hospitality. Most are quite generous and even go as far as inviting strangers into their homes. So if you ever find yourself in this country and experience the hospitality of the locals, it’s only fair to act the part of being a good tourist.

When traveling to the Philippines, it’s important to know the societal norms so you won’t risk offending the locals. Below are basic etiquettes you should follow when in the Philippines:

What to do:

1. Show respect to elders.

Respect for elders is given through gestures and honorifics.

In terms of gestures, pagmamano is a Filipino culture wherein you say “mano po” to an elder. This is accompanied by lightly placing the back of the elder’s hand against your forehead. This is commonly done to lolos (grandfathers) and lolas (grandmothers), as well as elder aunts and uncles.

In terms of honorifics, it’s respectful to refer to people who are older than you and call them Ate (female) or Kuya (male), or Manang (female) or Manong (male).

2. Use “po” and “opo.”

Another way of showing respect is by using these two words to punctuate a sentence or conversation. Below are a few phrases in the local language that use “po” and “opo”:

• “Magandang araw po,” which translates to, “Good morning.”
• “Salamat po,” which translates to, “Thank you.”
• When someone asks how you are, you say, “Mabuti naman po,” which translates to, “I am fine.”

3. Bring gifts when invited to a Filipino household.

You don’t necessarily have to give something expensive. If no occasion is particularly celebrated, bringing flowers, fruits, or chocolates is fine. On the other hand, if you’re invited to a wedding, baptism, birthday, or Christmas party, bring a gift that the receiver can personally use.

4. Take your shoes/slippers off when entering someone’s house.

In most Filipino households, people take their shoes or slippers off before entering the house. This prevents outside dirt from getting inside the home. You are expected to do this unless told that it’s okay not to.

5. Follow Filipino dining etiquette.

Filipino people rarely (or at all) use table knives. Instead, they just use spoons and forks. If you’re not too confident in using these two utensils, Filipinos usually cater to their foreign guests and will try their best to make you feel comfortable.

But if you want to experience the Filipino way of eating, here’s our tip on how to properly use spoons and forks in the Philippines:

Majority of the food will be eaten off the spoon, so you will need to hold the fork in your left hand and the spoon in your right hand. Then, use your fork to guide the food into the spoon and lamon (eat).

In a more informal eating experience, Filipinos eat using “kamayan style,” where they use their bare hands.

To do this, you need to take a small amount of rice and form it into a ball with your fingers (not your palm), mix it with the dish you prefer, and shovel it into your mouth.

Lastly, when invited to a dinner party at a Filipino home, you’re expected to eat a lot. Otherwise, it’s considered an insult to the dinner host.

Don’t be surprised if your plate never seems to go empty, no matter how much you’ve eaten. It’s normal to get constantly served with food.

Here’s a tip: Leave a bit of food on your plate to signal that you’re full and don’t want more. Filipinos will literally keep refilling your plate if it’s empty.

What NOT to do:

1. When invited to a house party, do not refer to the female host as “hostess.”

The word has a different meaning in the Philippines. It’s often used as a euphemism for prostitutes. So if you don’t want to offend a Filipino host or his wife, avoid using this word to refer to them.

2. Do not be offended when people ask you personal questions.

When meeting a Filipino for the first time, do not get offended when he/she asks a lot of personal questions. In the Philippines, it’s normal to get interrogated by someone you just met, especially when you’re in a family gathering.

Most will often ask you where you’re from, why you’re in the Philippines, whether or not you’re married, your age, and so on. Ultimately, you have the choice to divulge that information.

3. Do not open a gift in front of the giver.

It’s considered bad manners to open gifts right away after receiving them. Instead, thank the person who gave the gift and set it aside to open for later. However, if the giver expressly asks you to open it in front of them, you can do so.

4. Never directly criticize anyone in public.

Filipinos are very sensitive to personal affronts. Making such humiliation public can definitely add insult to injury.

They have their own concept of “sense of shame” — known in the local dialect as hiya. The word translates to “face,” as in “losing face.” As much as possible, Filipinos avoid this feeling. To them, it’s deeply embarrassing to realize they have failed to live up to the standards of Filipino society.

Instead of being publicly vocal about a complaint, set the person aside and privately state your concern.

Being courteous and observing proper manners in a foreign country enhances your travel experience. Hence, it’s important to take note of these tips if you want to make a good impression on the local people of the Philippines.

Preparing for Your Trip to the Philippines

People from different parts of the world are finding themselves visiting the Philippines for the island paradise life the country offers. However, visitors often forget one of the most important things to prepare before traveling to this majestic archipelago — cultural awareness.

As a visitor in a foreign country, it’s paramount to be respectful towards the locals’ way of life. Meaning, what might be right for us may be rude or impolite to them. So as much as possible, learn and read about the culture and basic etiquette of the country before traveling.