The Philippines: How to please friends in the Philippines - Does and Don'ts

Does and Don'ts

A nice shop where you can buy a lot of different traditional Filipino gifts

Pasalubong
First, don't forget the "pasalubong" or hands out for it is expected from a visitor from other country.

What is “pasalubong?” It is a travel gift. In other words, if you travel from a far away place, you are kind of expected to bring your close friends and family a gift of some kind. I am talking about Filipino friends and family, of course.

For example, if you come from the USA to visit family in the Philippines (or close friends) you are kind of expected to bring something that is “from the USA” to share with your loved ones when you arrive. Same thing if you were to come from Europe, Australia or wherever.

A pasalubong don't need to be wrapped but if you have the possibility, you can do it. If you are about to leave the Philippines you will find at every airport a special shop to buy pasalubong for your loved ones at home. 

Some Does or "good behavior"
If you are interested in a Pinay, a Filipino woman, ask the parents at first for their permission to meet with her together.

And in marrying a Filipina, a man should be a good provider but not also to his woman. There is her family he has to take care too in the same way he will care for his wife.

Remove your shoes before entering a Filipino home.

A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting.

If you are invited to a Filipino home for dinner bring some sweets or any little gift to the host.

Respect for elders is very important. This is still very much alive even in modern times.

When leaving be sure to personally extend good wishes to the elders of the household and express your appreciation to everyone.

Some Don'ts or "bad behavior"
Avoid speak so loud because the olds didn't like a noise.

Be clean, pleasant, quiet and respectful.

Don't even try to say negative things about the Catholic Church for they need respect.

Avoid being frank or directly, this hurt other ones.

Strong words are avoided and we often need a 3rd party to let a certain people know what we wanted to let him know. Filipinos are raised to please, serve and not hurt others feeling.

We believe in words like this: If you have nothing good to say... be quiet.

Some about our way of life
Arriving at a Filipino house during mealtime, you will be ask to sit down and share with them whatever they have in the table. Always accept an invitation to eat no matter how many times you have already eaten that day. For eating alone without asking the people near you is considered rude. This is how a Filipino accept and respect a visitors and it comes truly from the heart like the smile they are giving with every people they met. Filipino's are being known also for being sensitive to other feelings.

Help clear the table and do the dishes unless your hosts insist otherwise. They probably won't accept your offer to help, but it will be considered favorable if you make the gesture.

Filipinos might interpret a decline of their food as a personal offense. Many Filipinos live in poor conditions, so when they offer their food, they are essentially conveying that you are worth the trouble. By refusing their offer, you are refusing their hospitality.

Kids or the younger ones will pay respect to the elders with the "mano" gesture and address them with a greeting. Mano is a gesture in which they lift an elder's hand to their forehead.

Bahala na is a Filipino attitude loosely translated into English as "fatalistic passiveness", actually describes the Filipino way of life, in which, s/he is determined to do his/her best.

Filipinos are immune to hardship caused by natural calamities. The tougher the challenge, the tougher the Filipinos are and they indeed survived.