Filipino Family Traditions & Its Values

Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving)

   Thanksgiving is a family tradition where Filipinos encourage thankfulness, charity, and a sense of belonging. It encourages people to express their appreciation for their blessings, whatever they are, and to share these blessings with others. "SALAMAT" is the other term for Thanksgiving; it emphasizes faith, humility, and a good outlook on life when celebrated with families and friends. It instills the value of reciprocity in individuals, reminding them that giving back benefits everyone in the community. Finally, "SALAMAT" is also a cultural practice that promotes strong family relationships and a culture of togetherness while highlighting the importance of being grateful for life's blessings.

Using the words "Po" and "Opo" & "Pagmamano"

   Filipinos are incredibly respectful and show their reverence in various ways. One of the ways we do this is by using the words "po" and "opo" when speaking to our elders. These words are a sign of respect and politeness. We also practice "Pagmamano," which involves gently placing the back of an elder's hand on our forehead as a gesture of respect. It's a beautiful tradition that shows our admiration for our elders.

Pamamanhikan

    Pamamanhikan is a family tradition among Filipinos. It is a pre-wedding meet-up between the bride and groom’s family, wherein the groom and his family will visit the bride’s family house to formally ask for the bride’s hands. It is often held at the bride’s family home; some are held outside, like in restaurants. To be specific, only immediate family members like the father, mother, and siblings are part of the pamamanhikan; other relatives like uncles, aunts, and cousins are only optional. The pamamanhikan includes discussions about the wedding date, location, family and relatives attire, and the number of guests.

Riding a Jeepney

    The transportation in the Philippines is traditionally called Jeepney. Jeepney is a colorful and decorated vehicle and its a modified version of jeeps the Americans left after world war 2. Filipino locals designed these jeeps to be something that could carry more passengers. In the Philippines, When riding a jeepney, there are also some rules that Filipinos should always follow. First, when paying for our fare, we say, “Bayad po,” followed by the location they will be heading to, passengers pass their fare to the driver through other passengers because in the Filipino community everyone participates and its called "Bayanihan" which means a communal unity and cooperation of the people in a community. The second is sitting up straight. It is essential to do this to have more available seats and as a sign of respect for the person seated next to us.