FILIPINOS

T H E

 

No one will ever probably know who the real Filipinos are as much as the Filipinos themselves.

Filipino values are given much importance and are handed down from generation to generation. Undeniably, this has a great impact in the life of every Filipino.

Take for example what is apparent in each -- hospitality. If you happen to drop by a town that is celebrating its fiesta, Filipinos, without any hesitation, will invite you to come to their homes and offer you food and whatever you need. The only satisfaction they would want to have is to see a smile in your face. Hospitality of such kind is also said to be exhibited in other facets of the Filipino's life such as work.

Another value that is notable to speak is the way respect for other people is shown. As a sign of respect, they say "po" and "opo" to the elders. They do not call each other by their first names but use words such as "Kuya," "Ate," "Manong" or "Manang" that denote their superiority and greater wisdom. They also practice the gesture of kissing the hands of the elders and the peculiar gesutre of letting the front of the hand of an elder touch their foreheads.

Women are highly conservative and treasure the value of their virginity. Men have great respect for women also because they treasure the value of a woman's virginity.

Filipinos are also said to have strong family ties. You will see the grandma's and pa's living in the house of their children who already have their own families unlike in other countries where people tend to bring their old parents to homes for the aged.

These may be some of the more visible values treasured the Filipinos. But the most remarkable of all would probably be their faithfulness to their religion. This is exhibited by the fact that still about 90% of the entire population are Catholics.