Being a Filipino

There are a lot ways to describe what it means for me being a Filipino. The togetherness and not being isolated from the others is one way that is so Filipino which can explain why we are good team players. A Filipino can interact with different people although this could be considered not a unique characteristic solely seen in Filipinos only but when I see other nationalities being friendly with others, when it comes to Filipinos, being with people conveys a different approach. We surround ourselves with people and we love company, we are groupist. The Filipino family has close family ties something that you never see in other nations. That is why it is common to typical Filipino family to have extended families.  

The hospitality of being a Filipino is also splendid and this is not only being shown among Filipino people but even at their work abroad. Caregivers and domestic helpers possess a friendly approach and  they have a soft heart in giving service to their foreign employers and eventually become part of their family. Now, Filipinos compose the world’s largest population of overseas workers and I feel a sense of pride seeing them at their best adjusting and managing to recreate their home, or to feel at home anywhere. A Filipino who works hard and strives for the best is truly being a good Filipino.

When the recent calamities hit the Philippines which are the typhoon Ondoy and Santi, you could see how strong-willed the Filipinos are unlike any other. The still perceive smiles on their faces and the optimism in the midst of problems and challenges they face. They never lose hope and giving up is out of the equation. A Filipino steps up and gives a helping hand to the most that are in need.

Being a Filipino is being respectful of our own culture and traditions. Part of the Filipino culture is how the younger ones address the elders. Other kids call their parents just like how the Westerners call theirs like “mommy” and “daddy” or “mama” and “papa” whereas me, I address my parents the way a Filipino child should learn by calling them in the traditional “nanay” and “tatay”. However, it is sad to say as time goes by addressing their parents this way has a connotation of being poor. When it comes to addressing our siblings we use “kuya”, “diko”, “sangko”, “siaho”, “ate”, “ditse”, “sanse”, “inso” etc. We got this from the Chinese people way back and we still practice this especially in the Tagalog regions. I myself is part of a family where we still use this to respect our older siblings in the family.

A Filipino is very much inclined in happy fiestas and being together during holidays and other joyous occasions. Happy hour is always present in a family occasions and reunions. Like I said before I love the way Filipino projects the lovingness and closeness among relatives and with other fellow Filipinos.

Filipinos are linguist. As Dr. Mina says in her phenomenological research about Kulandong, the Filipinos are very adept in learning and speaking languages. The good ability of a Filipino in adapting to a new environment is proven by seeing our OFWs.

I speak in general on what I mean by being a Filipino and this will go on and on. Some values may have changed now a days but does not mean any less of a Filipino. Some trends might have emerged and we might have marked the map of the world because of some intrigues in politics and in social issues but we as Filipinos also make a mark through the goodness of being a Filipino that we can truly be proud of.