Do I or don't I?

Ortigas

For a tourism website that we were working on, I was tasked to write a do's and dont's article for foreign travelers to the Philippines. I knew a few things, but I still had to research on the topic. As a result of my research, I ended up writing this:

Do’s and Dont’s in the Philippines

Don’t be surprised to see kids and adults alike waving at you as your taxi makes it way to the welcoming streets of the Philippines. It’s really the nature of the Filipinos to extend their warmth to any guest of their country. This hospitality or generosity towards visitors is the Filipinos’ most endearing trait, making the Philippines one of the most tourist-friendly countries in the world.

Like any other country, the Philippines has its share of peculiarities that reflect its unique culture and traditions. Knowing these customs and traditions will get any visitor to know more of the Filipinos and their country. In addition,  any visitor to the country could very  well benefit from these reminders to make their stay more enjoyable and memorable. 

INSIDE FILIPINO HOMES

Expect to be invited to the homes of Filipinos. They will offer you everything and anything on their dining table. They would appreciate if you partake of the food offered.  If you happen to show up during meal time, an extra chair will be made available to you. In short, do eat when you’re offered food. Don’t offend your hosts by refusing outright.

When you happen to see a group of shoes or slippers congregated outside your host’s abode,  you may be asked to leave you footwear outside also. They will offer you house slippers, or if they don’t, the house is most likely clean. 

ELSEWHERE

The Spaniards influenced how greeting is done in the Philippines. “Beso-beso” or a simple cheek to cheek contact is a way  of greeting people especially among the ladies. If it’s not done, do smile or a say ‘hi’  and expect a smile in return.

If you’re white, don’t get offended if people think you’re American. 

Do come in appropriate clothes when an occasion calls for them.  Although the Philippines is a walkable country, not all places would welcome you in your flip-flops and shorts. Churches, government institutions and some restaurants would require proper attire. Besides, if you come well dressed, Filipinos will admire you, and it’s always fun to dress up!

Your sense of humor will come in handy in the country. Do laugh when you make a mistake like mispronouncing a name or getting lost. Expect that Filipinos will share that laugh with you.

Don’t lose your temper. Gain composure and assess the situation. Filipinos will help you for as long as you don’t embarrass them in public.

Although tipping is not institutionalized as a custom, do leave something on the table.

ON THE ROAD and ON THE STREETS

Don’t give alms to the poor.  Mendicancy and giving of alms are offenses in the Philippines. If you wish to exercise your charity,  there are institutions who will gladly open their doors for you. In a related note, don’t open your car window to street kids.

Make sure your stomach can handle the street food. Don’t eat street food unless you know it’s safe for consumption.

When on the streets, don’t get offended by stares. Filipinos marvel at anything foreign. 

Don’t be too showy of your valuables and gadgets. 

Don’t be too trusting of the people you meet for the first time. It’s best to be vigilant and put your common sense to use wherever you may be.

Do use the thumbs-up sign for “OK!” The common sign of OK would mean money in the Philippines. 

Don’t use the index finger to call or point at someone.  Locals would use “Pssst!” to call someone; however, this is deemed to be a rude way of catching people’s attention. Calling someone by his or her name is still recommended.

Using proper appellations for elders shows respect. Get to know these appellations and other titles. You will be endeared to the Filipinos once they hear you say that. Do show respect to anyone regardless of their social class or age.

The article had the intention of educating  foreigners on the Filipinos' cultural intricacies, but it went on teaching me something as well. I have known all of these things all along, but still the research was much needed. I tried to analyze why I couldn't have thought of those without researching. I inferred that I don't know much about foreigners, their own culture and their perceptions of the Filipinos. What would they have done that they shouldn't be doing? Frankly, I wouldn't be able to give a complete answer. But am I worried? No. Honestly, I am more inclined to learning about my culture than learning about others'.

Writing the article showed me a view other than my own. It also made me smile to know that Filipinos are all those.

I did submit the article. My editor-colleague  edited and added additional information to the article, and, as a result, the article underwent some changes. It turned out better, I think. So is my appreciation of our culture. 

You may read the article on this site.

How do you keep your bus tickets?

Seeing the many tickets stuck in every known crevice of the bus, I know that bus has made its nth trip and has accommodated loads of passengers already. I, too, have somehow acquired that bad habit of sticking my bus ticket into any crack of the seat in front of me or of the window beside me. Everybody is doing it! I used to fold my ticket nicely and keep it inside my coin purse. In longer trips where tickets were inspected, I would slip the ticket nicely around my wrist watch. I was doing some good deed for mother earth by not being a litterbug, but the same cannot be said now. I was imbibing a commuting culture which I had initially deemed wrong. Can I be faulted for perpetuating a custom done by almost everyone?

Culture has given so many excuses for uniformity and social order. When the helmet law for motorcycle riders was enforced, our Indian brothers (Sikhs they were called I think) were exempted since they wore some kind of a turban, a religious accessory,  around their head. When all forms of motored vehicles were taxed and regulated, our kalesa had no regulating body to speak of. Since Filipinos have no notion of proper disembarkation, unconcerned police officers just let jeeps load and unload anywhere. Because corruption is the name of the game, we act oblivious to the transaction going on between the driver and the traffic enforcer.

Can there be an end to all the undesirable ways of the people if the people themselves seem to be tolerant of these ways? Can we completely blame culture?

It's good that I have not been taking buses lately.

Linguistics in Commuting

"Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!" These will get you to the biggest mall in Asia (MOA- Mall of Asia)!

Whether you say "BuenJA" or "BuenDIYA" or "BuenDYA," you are sure to get there.

For commuters, pronunciation does not matter; you just have to make sure that one of two syllables is recognizable. When you take a jeep, you'd make out the origin of the passengers when they announce their destination to the whole world. A lady said, "Bee-ip Mcdo" for BF Mcdo. Farther down you'd hear someone say "Port State" for Fourth Estate, the subdivision fronting the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque. Near my place is "Lupis" for some, which is actually Lopez. Their way of saying places will still get them to where they are supposed to go; the absent-minded usually misses.

A jeepney or bus ride is a rich source of linguistic data. I think the major linguistic groups are represented by at least one speaker in a jeep or on a bus. This goes to say that we have the Philippines properly represented on any public vehicle. That being said, I am not very particular with sounds and pronunciation when I talk to common folks; there is no way that I could use the Call Center English I learned some months back.

My teacher calls the understood mispronunciation used by many as "Folk Pronunciation." I think it's acceptable to use folk pronunciation in jeepneys, markets and streets. Not a single person would really care as long he is understood.

Many are very particular with the pronunciation of English words, even Filipino words. This is understandable since we claim to have English as a second language. The pressure is there to have a near-native sound at least. But can we expect the same from people whose exposure to English is maybe limited to some TV commercials and unintelligible English teachers? Even when we do have some exposure to whatever English, are we assured that our inherited sound system won't get in the way?

"Bahala na! Basta 'yun na 'yon."