FILIPINO TRAITS

• Filipino Hospitality is a trait known everywhere, welcoming guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters, making them feel at home, offering food or a place to stay.
• Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand and saying "Mano po!" and constantly use "po" and "opo" in conversations.
• There is a wide array of references to elder people in Filipino culture, including "ate" for older sister, "kuya" for older brother, "Tito" and "Tita" for uncle and aunt, respectively, "Lolo" and "Lola" for grandfather and grandmother, and "Manong" and "Aling" for older people outside the family.
• Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families regardless of the children's age or whether they have families of their own.
• Filipinos are fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or fiestas year-round.
• Famous Filipino icons include Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, and Jose Rizal.
• Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country’s freedom and progress.
• Alamat ng Pinya is a myth about the origin of the pineapple.
• Alamat ng Lanzones is a myth about the origin of the lanzones.
• Myths and Legends are due to the Philippines' rich culture and history, with numerous stories about things that are beyond one's imagination.
• Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot, smiling when they are happy, sometimes even when they are sad or angry.
• Smiling has been a coping strategy for many Filipinos, especially during trying times and calamities.
• Filipinos have a common attitude of arriving late at commitments, dinner or parties, especially if they are meeting someone close to them, and tend to not observe punctuality altogether.
• Filipinos have their own set of proverbs or Salawikain that convey lessons and reflections on Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions.
• Crab Mentality is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of another, instead of feeling happy for that person, and Filipinos should focus more on their own inadequacies to improve one’s self.
• Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from generation to generation.
• Ningas is a Filipino term of flame and kugon is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames, symbolizing the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty.
• Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship with family and loved ones, often waiting for the other party to ask for an apology first.
• Colonial Mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own.
• Bayanihan is also about giving without expecting something in return.
• This trait is particularly manifested in how Filipinos rally themselves to send aid to those who are severely affected by natural calamities.
• Colonial Mentality is attributed to the centuries of colonization Filipinos had experienced under the Spanish, American and Japanese rule.
• “Mañana” Habit is the Filipino term for procrastination.
• “Mañana” Habit is a poor habit of laziness that results in heavier workloads.
• Ningas Kugon is a phrase in Filipino.
• Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot; that is why they are regarded as the modern day Filipino heroes.
• “Mañana” Habit was derived from a longer phrase called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time.
• The self-scarifying attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipinos hospitality.
• Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos.
• “Bahala Na” Attitude is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata” meaning no worries.
• The phrase “Bahala Na” is said to have originated from “Bathala Na” where Bathala means God, and the phrase means leaving everything into God’s hands.
• Pagkatao - refers to the Filipino's belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
• Kapwa - the sense that we are all connected to one another
• Pakikipagkapwa - the act of recognizing our interconnectedness with others, which is expressed through empathy, compassion, and mutual respect.
• Pakikisama - refers to the importance of getting along with others and avoiding conflict or confrontation.
• Using agimat, anting-anting, and gayuma for protection & more
• usog or bati is something that elders associate with young children, especially newborn infants.  As Filipinos are known for being warm and hospitable, it’s only natural for them to give compliments when they see a cute baby. But no matter the intention, this display of adoration must be kept at bay as it can cause illness to the child.
• slippers act as guardians against unwelcome spirits.
• The belief in supernatural beings such as diwata (fairies), engkanto (sprites), duwendes (dwarves) and other mythical creatures has been deeply ingrained into the culture of Filipino people since time immemorial.
• Whistling at night is a superstition that Filipinos inherited from Chinese influence. Doing the very act can attract ghosts, wandering spirits, or other supernatural beings, which can end up following you home.