Being in a family- Disagree

Part of our traditional values as a Filipino is what we called as "family-oriented". Filipinos

highly value the presence of family more than anything. Adult children living with their
parents are another Filipino traditional that make them exceptional.

Disagree- However, too much dependent towards your family is unacceptable anymore
especially when you

Pag-mano
Lamano or mano is the action of placing the back of an elder’s hand on your
forehead as a sign of respect. Kids were taught to do this as a way to greet those
who were older than them, which included their grandparents, parents, uncles and
aunts, and even their parent’s friends. These days, we see the younger generation
beso or kiss the cheeks of their elders instead of pag-mano. However, this practice
is still very much alive in the rural areas.

Pukpok
Getting circumcised has always been seen as a Rite of passage for male Filipinos.
traditional circumcision or “pukpok” involved using a subokan, which is a piece of
wood used for circumcision. The method of pukpok does not use anesthesia, nor
does the person performing the task have any medical training. Boys that undergo
this method are given guava leaves to chew on which help them bear the pain.
After, they’re their wounds are simply wrapped in white cloth for healing. Since
the practice is unhygienic, medical professionals discourage the practice.
However, pukpuk is still being done in very rural areas in the country.

Another trait Filipinos made themselves exceptional from others is their strong respect for elders.
Children are taught from birth how to say “po” and “opo” to teach them as early as possible how to
properly respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Even
adults will be criticized for not using these words when speaking with their parents or people older
than them. Inside the family, the parents are expected to receive the highest respect from the
 children along with the elder siblings; as they are given more responsibilities to look after younger
siblings when parents are not around.

 Extended Families
 Filipinos are very tightly-knit with their families. So much so that it is acceptable (and
fairly common, might I add) for wedded couples to live with their parents, or even
including their grandparents, uncles and aunts, and great grandparents. I personally
grew up in this setting so you could take it from me. “Moving out” isn’t really and
immediate action after finishing high school (or college, because a lot of Filipinos
finish college after High School). Personally, I stay with my mom even though I’m a
full grown man, not that it’s customary but because it makes economical sense (for me,
at least, since I get a lot of free stuff from my mom).
 Filipinos have always been respectful of their elders, and the best way to show such respect is for
a younger person asking for the hand of an older relative and then kissing it or placing the back
of the elder’s hand to the forehead. In return, the elderly person “blesses” the younger one.

 There are other ways to show respect for our elders these days. The pagmamano has been
replaced by the beso, which is a cheek-to-cheek greeting like Europeans do—still respectful, but
not remarkably Pinoy.

Even after finishing school, Filipino children are not obliged to get out of their homes unless they
want to. In fact, most of them keep their close relationship to their parents by staying at least
before they get married. Leaving them happens only when they really have to, but usually, at least
one child, depending on his willingness and financial capabilities, stay even after marriage to
support and look after their aging parents.

 Pagmamano
 In English, the word pagmamano is usually translated as “blessing.” I don’t know how
accurate of a translation it is, though, but I grew up being taught of it. It is the act of
taking one of an elderly’s hand, face down, and leading it onto one’s forehead. Again,
this is a gesture of respect and is done by people usually to express respect for the
elderly when leaving or entering a household. It is also a common gesture for religious
people to perform the gesture when meeting religious leaders such as nuns or priests.