The spoken language

The language is the primary key to any culture. The Philippines count over 90 distinct languages! Still
lots of tales and legends are transmitted from grand parents to grand children in precious moments.
Sometimes, someone writes them down. But most often they vanish with the family's memory.
On July 4, 1946, Taglog (Pilipino) was officially declared the national language of the Philippines
(wikang pambans ng Pilipinas). Candidates for the title of official language were the eight 'major'
languages of the archipelago, having at least one million speakers.
In the final round were Cebuano, with the largest number of native speakers, and Tagalog, the
language of Manila, the capital. Tagalog won, and from this day non-Tagalog first graders are required
to learn Tagalog.
Tagalog is also a morphologically complex, predicate-initial language, in which the predicate (in many
cases, a verb) occupies the initial slot of a sentence.
Tagalog, like its sister Philippine languages, is an Austronesian language distantly related to the
languages of most of Indonesia, Madagascar, aboriginal Taiwan, most Pacific isles, and parts of New
Guinea.
Magbasa nang higit pa tungkol sa mga wika na sinasalita sa Pilipinas.
The written language
The written language is the next important key on accessing a culture. Remember the Rosetta Stone the link which allowed understanding Egypt's hieroglyphs.
Unfortunately in most cultures the written word had only be accessible to the upper classes. As in
Europe, literacy came very late to the farmers and workers in the Philippines. Today the literacy of the
Philippine's population is 93.6%.
Lots of foreigners are happy that the Filipinos write in roman characters. This fact is the result of the
Spanish colonialization. Before the Spaniards invaded the Philippines, people had their own writing.
An interesting fact is the use of the ancient "Baybayin" writing as a security mark on the new Philippines
banknotes. In the lower right corner, just above the value of the note, you find some strange signs.
When you hold the banknote against the light, the signs are completed by the back side equivalents
and show the word Filipino written in Philippine ancient "Baybayin" alphabet.
Magbasa nang higit pa tungkol sa pagsusulat sa Pilipinas.
Literature
The first book printed in the Philippines is the "Doctrina Christiana", see also the written language. It
had been published 1593 in Manila.
Tomas Pinpin wrote and printed in 1610 "Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Wikang Kastila",
119 pages designed to help fellow Filipinos to learn the Spanish language in a simple way. He is also
credited with the first news publication made in the Philippines: "Successos Felices".
On December 1, 1846, La Esperanza, the first daily newspaper, was available in the country. Other
early newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de Manila (1848) and Boletin Oficial de Filipinas
(1852).
In 1863, the Spanish government introduced a system of free public education that had an important
effect on the ability of the population to read in Spanish and further in the rise of an educated class
called the Ilustrado (meaning, well-informed).
Spanish became the social language of urban places and the true lingua franca of the archipelago. A
good number of Spanish newspapers were published until the end of the 1940s, the most influential of
them being El Renacimiento, printed in Manila by members of the Guerrero de Ermita family.
Magbasa nang higit pa tungkol sa panitikan sa Pilipinas.
Music
Although, geographically, the Philippines belongs to the East, its music has been heavily influenced by
the West owing to 333 years of Spanish rule and 45 years of American domination.
Music in the highland and lowland hamlets where indigenous culture continues to thrive has strong
Asian elements. Spanish and American influences are highly evident in the music of the urban areas.
Three main roots are apparent:
an old Asian influenced music referred to as the indigenous;

a religious and secular music influenced by Spanish and European forms; and
an American/European inspired classical, semi-classical, and popular music.
A system to classify Philippines' music is a geographic or ethno-linguistic approach: for example,
traditional Tagalog music, which is somewhat more Hispanic in flavour, differs from Ifugao music and
Islam influenced Maranao kulintang music.
In indigenous music, various kinds of instruments are made of bronze, bamboo or wood. These include
gongs of various kinds of size and shapes, drums, flutes, zithers, lutes, clappers and buzzers.
Vocal genres include epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs related to
planting, harvesting, fishing; ritual songs to drive away evil spirits or to invoke blessings from the good
spirits; songs to celebrate festive occasions particularly marriage, birth, victory at war, or the settling of
tribal disputes; mourning songs for the dead; courting songs; and children's game songs. It is this type
of music that is still practiced today by the indigenous groups.
Dance
As varied are the people of the Philippines, so too are the dances. There are many dances performed
in the Philippine Islands such as the popular "Tinikling", to the exoticized "Pangalay", to the skill-based
interpretation of the "Banga" and Spanish-tinged "Jota"
Dances are performed anytime and anywhere. This starts in the morning in schools, where dance is an
integrated part of education. It lasts till late in the night especially when there is a fiesta.
Dancing is deep inside Filipinos. "Dancing keeps us away from negative things, when you move,
everything is positive, theres no right or wrong, you release all your emotions and it will end up with a
beautiful smile."
The Philippines have many popular folk dances which have evolved and changed as they have been
passed down from generation to generation. Although a particular dance might be performed slightly
differently from one region to the next, its remains true to its roots.
Dancing plays an important role in Filipino culture, telling their history and preserving traditions through
folk dances and music. These dances are entertaining to observe, and even more fun to learn and
perform yourself.
Movie & Theatre
In August 1897, Liebman and Peritz, two Swiss entrepreneurs, presented the first imported movies on
the Lumiere Cinematograph in Manila at Escolta Street.
Using the Lumiere Cinematograph as a camera, Antonio Ramos locally filmed Panorama de Manila
(Manila landscape), Fiesta de Quiapo (Quiapo Fiesta), Puente de Espaa (Bridge of Spain) and
Escenas Callejeras (Street scenes), making him the first movie producer in the Philippines.
After the second world war, a resurgence of Visayan films came about through Lapu-Lapu Pictures.
The 1950s were labeled as the first golden age of Philippine cinema. Four big production studios (LVN
Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures, Premiere Productions and Lebran International) were at their peak in
filmmaking.
The 1970s were the second golden age of Philippine cinema with the period of the avant-garde
filmmakers.
In 1977, Kidlat Tahimik, made a film entitled Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmare), which
won the International Critics Prize in the Berlin Film Festival that same year.
The year 2009 brought the highest international esteem to a Filipino filmmaker when Brillante Mendoza
was judged as the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival for his film Kinatay (Butchered), a movie
about murder and police brutality.
Theatre arts have long been existing as a part of the Filipino tradition and serve effectively as a medium
of social awareness and entertainment. It is also a means of liberal and artful way of expressing
opinions and talents.
As part of the Philippine tradition, many festivals and occasions are celebrated in the country where
theatre arts are in use. For instance, during Holy Week, Cenaculo takes place as an on-stage
performance that re-enacts the passion of Christ. Another is the Moro-Moro which expresses the
conflict between Christians and Muslims in the country.

In other towns, a famous theatre form called carillo, which is usually a drama play, is shown after the
harvest season. Zarzuela is another famous theatre performance, a local version of Spanish operetta.
In many other places or occasions, variety of traditional plays that express the Filipino love for arts are
shown even up to this very day.
Painting
The first paintings were commissionned works during the Spanish colonial era. Since most art
produced during the first two centuries of Spanish occupation were for the church, the friars enforced
strict supervision over their production. Until the 19th century, art was only for the church and religious
use.
There is also some Chinese influence which can be found in the brush handling.
Tagalog painters Jose Loden, Tomas Nazario and Miguel de los Reyes, did the first still life paintings in
the country. They were commissioned in 1786 by a Spanish botanist to paint the flora and fauna found
in the country.
Secular subject matter in painting only increased during the 19th century. With more tourists, ilustrados
and foreigners demanding souvenirs and decorations from the country, tipos del pais developed in
painting. These watercolor paintings show the different types of inhabitants in the Philippines in their
different native costumes that show their social status and occupation. It also became an album of
different native costumes. Damian Domingo y Gabor (ca. 1790-1832) was the most popular artist who
worked in this style.
Several Filipino painters had the chance to study and work abroad. Among them were Juan Novicio
Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo who became the first international Filipino artists when they won
the gold and silver medals in the 1884 Madrid Exposition.
During the American period (1900-45) on-demand portraitists included Fabian de la Rosa, Miguel
Zaragoza, Teodoro Buenaventura, Jorge Pineda and above all, Fernando Amorsolo, whose style would
dominate the period.
Amorsolo designed the logo for Ginebra San Miguel (Markang Demonyo) depicting St. Michael
vanquishing the devil. The logo is still in use in its original form today. The owner of the beverage
company, Don Enrique Zobel, who is an ardent patron of the arts, was so impressed by his work that he
offered to send Amorsolo to the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid for further studies with a
generous stipend for himself and his family.
Despite his exposure to Western influences, Fernando Amorsolo retained his Filipino consciousness.
He was drawn more towards the gentle rolling hills and rice fields of the Philippines rather than the
cosmopolitan world of Europe's proud cities. Even his illustrations of Spanish women were drawn with
slender physiques, narrower hips, and smaller breasts more typical of Filipinas rather than full bodied
Caucasian women. One of his most copied paintings is the "Palay Maiden".
Fernando Amorsolo's work still influences many contemporary painters. One of them is Monico
Benjamin Botor. Botor was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur and now lives in Bagasbas near Daet. He
is a hobby painter who recently started taking it seriously as an avenue of expressing his innate talent
to explore in the aesthetic realm one's quest to capture the appeal of nature and human response to its
illusive beauty and profound mystery.
Deeply rooted in culture, he pays homage to the Filipino tradition and way of life. He uses his artistic
insight and experience to capture the color and essence of a Philippine setting.
If you compare Amorsolo's painting below with the painting in Botor's atelier, then you find a girl in a
very similar pose in the water.
Another contemporary artist I know is Valentino Goyenechea Jr. He lives with his family in Dumaguete
(Negros). Goyenechea is a visual artist in different domains such as painting and photography. Two of
his paintings decorate our house.
This article contains excerpts of Ronnie Pasigui's presentation. Another very interesting website is Go
Philippines, a blog dedicated to all Filipinos, locals, OFW, migrants and tourists to gain more knowledge
about Philippines.
Sculpture
Early carved human figurine are known from the cordilleras. Still today, the bulols, or "Ifugao rice
Gods," are kept in the house or granary, and are usually made in pairs. They are carved of narra wood,
which represents wealth, happiness, and well-being. Every step in their production requires a

ceremony, from tree selection to arrival at the owner's house. A consecrated bulol has been bathed in
pig's blood, had myths recited to it, and received offerings of wine, ritual boxes, and rice cakes.
The carvings brought to the Philippines by early Arab and Russian missionaries were of beveled type
as the slanting type called Okkil. Although the word literally means to carve it is not confined to
carving alone but also refers to design.
A familiar example of sculpture with the integration of architecture is the Art Deco Style of the
Metropolitan Theater at Liwasang Bonifacio completed by Juan Arellano in 1931.
Woodcarving comes in ornamental form in the houses of the Maranao like that of the "torogan" which
features the "panolong", an extended beam carved with the Sarimanok or the Naga design.
Napoleon V. Abueva is known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He was born in
Tagbilaran, Bohol in 1930. In 1951, he won the Pura Villanueva-Kalaw scholarship and finished
Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture in University of the Philippines in 1953.
Abueva utilized almost all kinds of materials from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil,
kamagong, palm wood and bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron,
alabaster, coral and brass.
Among the major works of Abueva are: Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955), The Transfiguration at
the Eternal Garden Memorial Park (1979), Fredesvinda in Fort Canning, Nine Muses at the UP Faculty
Center (1994), Sunburst at the Peninsula Manila Hotel (1994) and the bronze figure of Teodoro M.
Kalaw in front of National Library.
The Pegaraw pegasus and tamaraw by Napoleon V. Abueva
Handicraft
Inspired by the Japanese One Village One Product Movement of 1979, the Philippines' OTOP program
was proposed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as early as 2002 and launched in 2004.
Current Filipino President Benigno 'Noynoy" Aquino has authorized the continuation of the OTOP
program.
You find this logo in our Explore section, where we show you cities and islands.
OTOP products vary, and can include fruits, specialty dishes, or handmade products. Examples of
OTOP products include Arabica coffee in the Cordillera region, cacao products in San Isidro in Davao
del Norte, and brooms in Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya.
Other OTOP products are the Lanzones fruits and the famous Pastel buns in Camiguin. The Bicol
Express in Naga-City isn't a train but a spicy food. Another good example is the potter's village of Lezo
in Aklan, Panay.
Handicraft you can see anytime and anywhere in the Philippines. On nearly any island you find a blacksmith who makes the traditional bolos. Fishermen wear the typical conic hat made of sliced bamboo or
palm leaves.
Hand made items are usually not expensive, are decorative and make the perfect gift (pasalubong) for
your family and your friends.
Bahala na !
Bahala Na translates literally as "leave it up to God (Bathala)" and it is used as an expression, almost
universally, in Filipino culture.
Elma L. Chong has collected "100 reasons to be happy to be a Filipino". When you read them, you
understand why Filipinos are nearly always smiling
1. Merienda. Where else but in the Philippines is it normal to eat five times a day?
2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation
and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.
3. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you
want.
4. Pinoy humour and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.

5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments
and life's essentials in small affordable amounts?
6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and
assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.
7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit
in these aggressive times.
8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to
shop without the customary guilt.
9. Beaches! With 7000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white
sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to
the emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.
10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most
ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still
common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.
12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol
Pot every time we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often
than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.
13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and "Bulaklak"
magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy,
Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly.
14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest
nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle.
15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a
year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its
pious and riotous best.
16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower class mythology recalls our
uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures
pepper our storytelling.
17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal
cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to
your seat.
18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with
jalapeso peppers. Messy but delicious.
19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St.
Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual.
Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful gowns.
20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge
in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.

21. Pakidala or padala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas
Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier,
as well.
22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and
Hershey's.
23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven.
24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the
decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.
25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with
whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.
26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp
of approval from several generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family
recipes.
27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television
curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes.
28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman
but rather define their level of comfort.
29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as P3,
with a complimentary dusting of polluted air.
30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso,
macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.
31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as
overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent
and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.
32. Sarsi. Pinoy root beer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg
beaten in.
33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita,
siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the possibilities are endless!
34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around
controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio
Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon,
Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard
Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.
35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene
Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren
"Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori.
36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na
maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon,
longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the
guys who put sugar & franks (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!

37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort
Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon
Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.
38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged
Pinoy copes.
39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the vertically-challenged Pinoy
compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.
41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer
goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy
and cholesterol-rich chasers.
42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake,
lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We'll survive Cory, Fidel, Erap, Gloria, and whoever
comes next.
43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the
best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string.
44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning
and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all.
45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it.
46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.
47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket and
help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.
48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.
49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do
you know that it's invaded the Middle East as well?
50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and
they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing.
51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness
and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home.
52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well!
53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a
mahogany tree growing towards the sun.
54. Hand-woven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that
feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of
the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.

55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several
times.
56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.
57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national
ability to acquire a taste for almost anything.
58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global
marketplace.
59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd
all be glued to TV.
60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rockbottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus.
61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves
with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig (good-looking).
62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.
63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do
know how to make a woman feel like one.
64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.
65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity,
even in drag.
66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.
67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs
masquerading as art, over-accessorized jeepneys and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems
to magnify it.
68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless
sunshine in a heart-shaped package. Mangoes.
69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.
70. Street food. Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet),
warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.
71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.
72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No
exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.
73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes
and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario
Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan
Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza,
Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando

Malay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie
Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle,
sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.
75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers. "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal,"
"Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan
Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and
Florante--living examples of our musical gift.
76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth.
Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially now that
those darned candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!
77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to
Band-Aid and bakya.
78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other.
79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy,"
"Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga."
In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.
80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"
81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out
feelings genuinely Pinoy.
82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes).
83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet,
essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime,
anywhere.
84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies
should look.
85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and
for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans.
86. Filipino Christmas. The worlds longest holiday period. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting,
gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion.
87. Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion
in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis
of a phone introduction or referral.
88. Festivals. Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.
89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, karinosa, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right
moves and a distinct rhythm.
90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and
ingenious function in the way we dress.

91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the
lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago,
and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materializes
during a wake?
92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down
with a year's provisions.
93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited
movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black
market?
94. All Saints' Day. In honouring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live.
95. Handicrafts. Shell craft, rattan craft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags,
bamboo wind chimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!
96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong.
Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them.
97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modernday heroes of the economy.
98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spolarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed rice fields, to
Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between.
Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.
99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula
sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.
100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with
Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.
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