PhiliPpines
General Flavor
Philippine culture is a synthesis of many cultures, including Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American. As a result, Filipinos often have a good grasp of both East and West, and can often act as “go betweens” if Easterners and Westerners are finding it difficult to understand each other.
Meeting Someone
If someone is from the Philippines, you’re likely to get a smile from them if you ask, “Pilipino ka?” (“Are you Filipino?”)
Hospitality
It’s particularly sad for Filipinos to eat alone, so an invitation for someone eating alone to join a group, such as in a cafeteria, can be very welcome.
Food is a big part of hospitality in the Philippines, and if someone drops by, they’re always offered food. So if you have a Filipino over, they’ll feel a bit more at home if you’re serving food, too.
Conversation Starters
For Filipino guys and also many gals: You can ask if they prefer “PBA” or “NBA.”
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, and the National Basketball Association is broadcast in the Philippines. But there is also a professional Philippine Basketball Association <www.pba.com.ph>, which many prefer.
If you also like basketball, this hobby may be all you need to have a lot to talk about …
{Warning: If you play BB with a Filipino, beware that Filipino BB can be naturally rougher than the American version – just don’t take it personally.}
You can ask a Filipino what their first language is, as there are 12 major languages with over a million speakers each, including Tagalog, the main language spoken in the capital.
Little-Known Facts
The Philippine flag is normally flown with the blue section above the red section. If this put upside down, with the red on top, it isn’t an insult (as with the American flag), but rather a sign that the country is at war.
Be careful about trying to use Spanish with Filipinos! Although Spain ruled the Philippines for 350 years and influenced the country’s languages, the meanings can be dangerously different. For example, seguro, which in Spanish means “certain,” in Tagalog means “maybe.”
Despite the Philippines’ strong Chinese influences and massive rice consumption, most Filipinos don’t use chopsticks.
Particular Interests
Basic Useful Phonetic Phrases
Philippine culture is a synthesis of many cultures, including Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American. As a result, Filipinos often have a good grasp of both East and West, and can often act as “go betweens” if Easterners and Westerners are finding it difficult to understand each other.
Meeting Someone
If someone is from the Philippines, you’re likely to get a smile from them if you ask, “Pilipino ka?” (“Are you Filipino?”)
Hospitality
It’s particularly sad for Filipinos to eat alone, so an invitation for someone eating alone to join a group, such as in a cafeteria, can be very welcome.
Food is a big part of hospitality in the Philippines, and if someone drops by, they’re always offered food. So if you have a Filipino over, they’ll feel a bit more at home if you’re serving food, too.
Conversation Starters
For Filipino guys and also many gals: You can ask if they prefer “PBA” or “NBA.”
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, and the National Basketball Association is broadcast in the Philippines. But there is also a professional Philippine Basketball Association <www.pba.com.ph>, which many prefer.
If you also like basketball, this hobby may be all you need to have a lot to talk about …
{Warning: If you play BB with a Filipino, beware that Filipino BB can be naturally rougher than the American version – just don’t take it personally.}
You can ask a Filipino what their first language is, as there are 12 major languages with over a million speakers each, including Tagalog, the main language spoken in the capital.
Little-Known Facts
The Philippine flag is normally flown with the blue section above the red section. If this put upside down, with the red on top, it isn’t an insult (as with the American flag), but rather a sign that the country is at war.
Be careful about trying to use Spanish with Filipinos! Although Spain ruled the Philippines for 350 years and influenced the country’s languages, the meanings can be dangerously different. For example, seguro, which in Spanish means “certain,” in Tagalog means “maybe.”
Despite the Philippines’ strong Chinese influences and massive rice consumption, most Filipinos don’t use chopsticks.
Particular Interests
- Basketball is the top sport in the Philippines. (See “Conversation Starters,” above)
- “Merienda” (IPA: [me ri 'en da], a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.
- Music is at the core of Philippine culture. Singing and the guitar are very common.
Basic Useful Phonetic Phrases
- “Thank you (very much)” = “(Maraming) salamat” (IPA: [ma 'ra mI? sa 'la mat])
- “You’re welcome.” = “Walang anuman” [wa 'la? a nu 'man]
- “How are you?” = “Kumusta?” [ku mu 'sta]
- “I’m fine.” = “Mabuti naman” [ma 'bu ti na 'man]
- “Just okay” = “Okay lang” [o 'kei la?]
- “I’m a student” = “Estudyante ako.” [es tu di 'an te a 'ko]
- “My name is __________” = “Ako si _______” [a 'ko si _______ ]
- “Yes” = “Oo” ['?o ?o] (similar to the English “uh-oo”, said when something’s gone wrong)
- “No” = “Hindi” ['hIn dI?]
- “Happy Birthday” = “Maligayang bati sa iyong kaarawan”
[ma li 'ga ya? 'ba ti sa i 'yo? ka '?a ra wan] - “We’re sorry we can’t come” = “Ikinalulungkot namin na hindi kami makadadolo”
[I ki na 'lu lu? 'kot 'na min na 'hIn dI? ma ka 'da do 'lo]
(If you learn to say something this long, they’ll know you’re sincere!) - “Please forgive me.” = “Patawarin mo ako” [pa ta 'wa rIn mo a 'ko]
- English-language Links to News, in order of national circulation
http://www.inq7.net/index_network.htm
http://www.mb.com.ph/
