HOOO PINOY PRIDE!

What makes it so special about being a Filipino? Is there really something special about being one?
Probably. It sounds a bit rhetorical but the more I continue being one in a different country makes me
realize the exceptional qualities of being a certified Pinoy.

I remember when I was in Grade 3, it's still so vivid in my mind, the class was discussing about different traits Filipinos are known for. I remember there were drawings in my text book of a kid na nagmamano and several people carrying kubos. I didn't know why it got stuck in my head till now. Maybe subconsciously, I have always believed in what that little old text book says, that we Filipinos,  innately posses these qualities. I can't remember the whole list, I'm just gonna talk about the ones that I truly believed in.


Filipinos have always been known to be utterly family-oriented. If there's a survey about the top 5 Filipino qualities, this is definitely on the top spot. I don't know if it's because of our Hispanic influences or what, but if that's the case, we really held on to it and never let go. We have this special kind of attachment to anyone related to us, or to anyone remotely related to us. Sina koya, ati, tito, tita, ninang, ninong, kumpare, kumare, si insan, si sekond kasin, si terd kasin, si apo, lola, si lolo, kahit pa yung mga hindi mo siguradong kamag-anak mo ba talaga, at pati na sa mga pilit mong tinatangging kamag-anak mo, hindi naman sa masama ugali mo, pero, diba, bakit hindi nalang pinutok sa kumot. 

But we still invite them to fiestas and binyags, but that's partly because we want to show-off the new curtains or to cement your status as The First Family. I grew up in a compound (compound ba talaga tawag dun? ung looban ba, yung isang eskinita na puro magkakamaganak?) Basta dun ako lumaki. And there are a lot of shady shits when your neighbors are your relatives as well. Believe you me man, people can be very jealous. They will literally wait for you to come home from the mall and search through all your groceries. They will also make sure that they'll have the same appliances you have. That was the funniest part.  On the other hand, the worst part was every time there's a "fight" among families, and as a kid you really don't know if you're supposed to talk to tita, or kay pinsan, o kay ganito. You're always caught in between the tension when all you really wanna do is play outside.

Sometimes it gets really exciting though, Like when there are actual FIGHTS outside your doorsteps and people start throwing rocks and all. That was the best. Also, I like it most when they go cursing at each other like man, I'm not even familiar with some of the words, but it felt like if someone says that to you, you'd prefer getting stabbed instead just to get it over with. PALAHINDUTIN! Fuckyeah that was my favorite Pinoy smack. I love Kabite. I'm just so happy my Mom was the Queen of that place. It also helped that my Dad was actually a very righteous and a decent person. It also didn't hurt that we're the most affluent family there. We're from Noveleta so it doesn't really say much, haha but we had the first air-conditioned house so that's basically the basis of my assumption. Anyway we moved out from that scene and chose to live a very boring life with just the four us in General Trias, normal, but boring. Filipino families could be really close to each other, not redneck close, but close to a point where you are willing to give a relative your house, a decent education, clothes, food, and you'd still  end up being the bitch. So yeah, I love the Filipino Family. They're the best.

Secondly, It would be our innate hospitality.
My high-school Christian Living Professor told the class a story about his journey towards priesthood. He said their group visited a certain rural area as a part of their immersion program (not entirely sure if that's the term). He said he had to live with a poor family for some time. And he said it brings him to tears whenever he remembers how the family offers him the whole egg every meal, despite the lack of food to spare. This story is somewhat universal though. I feel like this has nothing to do with the kind of nationality you have. The people who have less to offer often are those who are generous in nature. But the Filipino hospitality is on a different level. It's like every Filipino is programmed to be very polite and accommodating to visitors. Kaya siguro talaga tayo nasakop ng barkada nina Magellan. To kasing sina Sikatuna't Sulayman mejo pa-bibo.

Everywhere you go, even in the most questionable places in the country, there's always a lola or a manong who you feel comfortable asking for directions, or you can joke around with, someone you can put your arm around and still prompt a light and a positive atmosphere. Every time I'm drunk as fuck waiting for the bus in the streets of Manila, I can always sit down beside a street vendor and have a conversation with. That's what I miss about the Filipino culture -the "feeling close" attitude. It has its downside but if you just get along with it, you might just find yourself amused by it.


I can quite relate to this because I, myself is a victim of this crazy need to please every visitor. You guys have no idea how important it is to clean the house if there's an expected visitor. Gagamitin ba yung pangmayamang baso o tong lagayan nalang ng nescafe? Na-i-flush ba yung inodoro? Bubuksan na ba yung ercon? Bibili na ba ng sopdrinks? E yung tsinelas at malamig ang marmol nakahanda na ba? Ayusin mo yung mga unan sa set padating na sila! And believe me or not, I don't care, I do this not to impress or to make sure nobody talks about my house right after they leave, but because I really want to make them feel extra special. No kidding man! (fuck you!) And I think this goes out to majority of Filipinos. And don't get me started on how we treat foreigners. This is of the utmost importance that we, the sovereign Filipino people, need to kiss any white ass as soon as they stepped into Philippine soil. We will do this in the name of a free Enchanted Kingdom trip, or a buffet lunch at Cabalen.
We will do our best to make them feel appreciated in any way possible. We will lower our pride and shower ourselves with their obvious sarcastic comments. We will belittle our own principles just to avoid a heated or an awkward argument. We will do this until they finally take over the country and legally own us, so we wouldn't have to do it because we wanted to, but because they told us so. Pinoy Pride!

One that I'm particularly happy about that I'm a Filipino, is our being happy. ALL. THE. FUCKING. TIME. No natural disasters, no crime spree, not even extreme poverty can deter Filipinos to lose our sense of happiness.
During the the typhoon Yolanda back in 2015, CNN news team did a coverage of the disaster. Anderson Cooper was interviewing victims of the typhoon who were highly devastated by Yolanda. As a viewer, Although I did feel a sense of empathy and sadness towards the people, a part of me was still grateful of the fact that they're still smiling. Still enjoying the presence of a video camera. They still manage to try their best to speak in English while sharing stories with this Foreigner. I don't know where they got that from, the strength to still be amused despite it all. Resiliency was overused by the media throughout the whole thing. I had to google what it means and then I understood why they kept using it to describe the Filipino victims. Mas masaya e. We are a happy people. We always look for a way to be happy. Matanggal sa trabaho, Problema sa pamilya, iniwan ng jowa, namatayan ng kuko sa paa, maaksidente, manakawan ng selpon, walang pera... I wanna say alcohol can make you forget it for a night. It does... but it's never the solution. Drinking with friends. Now that's a  different story.



Another evident trait would be our religiosity. I'm gonna be very sensitive about this since I do respect people's spirituality. While I was waiting for the bus couple of days ago, 2 missionary-looking white guys came up to me and ask if they can do a survey. They asked 4 questions but what struck me the most was when they asked me how I handle stress and problems. Obviously they were hoping for me to say through prayers. And honestly speaking, that is really what I wanted to say. But it took me a while to finally answer the question. "Friends... Drinking with friends and talking about it with them." I blurted out. I didn't know why I said that, because I used to pray a lot, even if I don't have any problems at all. I just talk to Him and everything feels so right. I don't know how, or why, but I JUST FEEL BETTER. It may not look like it, but our family used to pray the rosary whenever we visited Lolo in Bicol. Man, I'm not gonna lie, It could be very, what's the term, I can't think of any word for this, well it could be very un-fun? But I will never regret having to be in that kind of presence. I will forever respect and adore my Lolo for that. He will forever be a standard of greatness for me. The epitome of unconditional faith, which I fear I may not be able to imbibe as long as I live. I wanted to for a long time, but it's just too hard to be faithful especially when you don't exactly have a guide. A kind of influence. My family prays don't get me wrong, they do have a special bond with the lord. I do too. But it's rather different for me. I believe in Him truly. I choose to believe in Him. and he helped me numerous times in ways a non-believer wouldn't understand. 

Narealize ko lang na puro ako pala yung topic. Pero, Yeah! I still believe Filipinos are more religious than most. From the Rosaries hanging from our rear windows to the Last Supper painting on our dining room, There are so many religious practices that screams Pinoy. Maybe because we badly need someone to hold on to, or to blame if everything falls into pieces. Nonetheless, Filipinos are not the most skeptical people. They don't necessarily question a lot of things. We're afraid of the truth and we just don't bother looking for an alternative. We just have to be stuck to what is comfortable to swallow. Sana kahit papano na impluwensyahan tayo ng mga Puti nun, kasi sagana sila dun. Lahat nalang kinuwestyon. This bothers me because apparently it's an issue for them when you pray before you eat, like it's a weird thing or something. Thing is, when you talk religion with them, everything sounds so complicated. Everything should be explained. Everything should be expounded. I guess some people don't really understand what Faith is. Blind or not. But if believing in a Higher Power gives the masses hope, then who am I to take that away from them. Why would anyone wanna take hope from anyone especially if that's the only thing they got. Well I guess it's better than forcing people to believe in someone else's beliefs, just so they can feel like they have a purpose and shit.


Filipinos are incredibly industrious. They will do anything just to provide a better life for their families. I would really want to stress out on how hardworking our living heroes are- The Overseas Filipino Workers. I'm gonna join the bandwagon here and call them heroes because they earned that title. Imagine leaving your country where you spent most of your life to find work in a strange land. You're not just leaving your family, you're also leaving everything that makes you you. It will change you and that could be very scary. Your values and your ethics may improve, or be marred. Nevertheless, It will change you. You're out of your comfort zone. You have to learn a different language. Acclimate yourself. Find new acquaintances. Adapt to the culture. Magpa-picture sa harap ng Hermes store. Mag Japan Japan sign sa may bridge. Magpa-picture sa no parking sign. Magshades kahit me snow at higit sa lahat, tiisin na kailangan mong magsakripisyo magisa ng mahabang panahon habang nilulustay ng mga naiwan mo yung perang pinaghirapan mo.

Filipinos will take any job that is available for the sake of their family. The shitty part is that they're doing it mostly for their family and little for themselves. It doesn't matter if you skip your meals as long as you are able to send the latest iphone to your ungrateful bitch of a daughter who only worries about who to bang next. Or restrain yourself from buying yourself a winter coat just to send money to your husband who's eventually gonna spend it on alcohol with his unemployed friends who only talks about going to the latest beer house. But that's understandable I guess, They have need to do that. It's the only way they can feel better about themselves. It's not their fault your sagging vagina flew thousand miles from his Viagra induced cock. It was your choice... to work hard. You made their lives miserable. You are selfish.



Last thing I remember was how respectful Filipinos are. We are! Right Sir? Mam?
I'm very happy that I was able to understand the importance of the Mano Po practice even back when I was younger. I still do it now, and I am relieved that I was able to salvage some piece of morality and innocence. I still do it with my parents before I go to bed. It's a reflex now. It's part of my system. I'm also proud as a Filipino that we have words like "kuya" "ate" "po" and "opo". I just hope  we can preserve that you know. I barely hear any of these pleasantries from kids nowadays. I'm not really sure why. All I can think of is it has something to do with bad parenting. I wouldn't be surprised though. I mean, parents today are getting younger and younger. They're probably raised by an even shittier parents. Believe me I know what I'm talking about on this one. You're gonna have an earful on this matter in the coming posts. But yeah man, this sucks. Another implication of how Filipinos are distinctly polite is our overusing of the words Sir and Mam. I have no problems with this practice, although I was thought in high-school that it is so much better if you just use Miss and Mr, or just call them with their actual names.


 But I wanna put much emphasis on how we treat the

elderly. Our lolo's and lola's. We just had to respect them. Even if their stories bore you, or even if they no longer understand why your hair looks nothing like Noli De Castro's hair, you just have to be courteous, no questions asked. Pasasaan pa't...