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Art & Culture

50 Filipino Habits Foreigners Find Bizarre (We’re Not Sorry)

50 Filipino Habits Foreigners Find Bizarre (We’re Not Sorry)

Introduction

“Bakit may timba sa CR?!” If you’ve ever hosted a foreign friend in Manila, you’ve probably faced this question. Let’s face it: Pinoys have habits that’d make a New Yorker clutch their Starbucks cup in confusion. We eat rice with everything, greet strangers like they’re our lola, and treat traffic jams as bonding time. This isn’t just culture—it’s a lifestyle. Here’s your ultimate guide to 50 Filipino habits that baffle outsiders but keep our chaos beautifully Pinoy.

1. Bathroom Rituals: The Tabo Supremacy

  1. Tabo over toilet paper“Wet > dry” is our bathroom motto.
  2. Shower slippers: Separate tsinelas for the CR—“Huwag mong gagamitin sa labas!”
  3. Bathroom karaoke: Belting “My Way” while scrubbing? Normal.
  4. Hanging laundry in the shower: Towels, undies, kumot—drip-dry nation.
  5. Flushing with a bucket: When the bidet’s broken, diskarte prevails.

2. Food Rules Only Pinoys Understand

  1. Rice with everything: Spaghetti? Cake? Lagyan mo ng kanin!
  2. Banana ketchup on hotdogs“It’s not pink, it’s patriotic!”
  3. Kamayan feasts: Utensils are for cowards.
  4. Pasalubong culture“I bought 50 packs of dried mangoes—para sa buong barangay!”
  5. Mixing Coke with rice“Para sumaya ang kanin!”

3. Social Codes: From Mano Po to Tito Jokes

  1. Mano po: Pressing lola’s hand to your forehead like it’s a holy ritual.
  2. Calling strangers Tito/Tita: Instant respect + avoids “Hey, old person!”
  3. Texting “Where are you?” with no context: Bonus points if sent at 3 AM.
  4. The “Pabili” relay: OFWs sending pasalubong through 10 cousins to save ₱200 shipping.
  5. Inviting the entire barangay to parties“Kain tayo!” even if there’s only one lechon.

4. Pinoy Time: Chaos as a Way of Life

  1. Filipino Time“Starts at 7 PM” means “Maybe 9… or next week.”
  2. Jeepney Tetris: 20 people in a 10-seater? “Kaya pa ‘yan!”
  3. Traffic bonding: Sharing chicharon and trauma stories in EDSA gridlock.
  4. Fiesta prep starting 6 months early“Kailangan perfect ang parlor games!”
  5. Grocery shopping like it’s the apocalypse“Baka mag-lockdown ulit!”

5. Superstitions: Because Lola Said So

  1. Sukob: No siblings marrying in the same year—“Malas daw!”
  2. Pagpag: Never go straight home after a wake. “Dala mo multo!”
  3. New Year’s rituals: Jump 12 times, wear polka dots, and fill pockets with coins.
  4. No sweeping at night“Mawawala ang swerte!”
  5. Avoiding black cats“Naku, bad luck ‘yan!” (But we’ll adopt 10 stray dogs.)

6. Language & Communication

  1. Adding -po to insults“Gago ka po!” for maximum sarcasm.
  2. Ending sentences with ‘di ba?“Ang init today, ‘di ba?”
  3. Taglish overload“I’m so lutang today, ha?”
  4.  Overusing “Ay nako!”: Universal reaction to chaos.
  5. Texting in numbers“M1ss u, 4ever!”

7. Home Habits Only Pinoys Get

  1. Plastic-covered sofas“Para hindi madumihan!” (But no one’s allowed to sit.)
  2. Sunday labada marathons“Linisin ang buong mundo!”
  3. Stockpiling tupperware“Hoard now, apocalypse later.”
  4. Cooking rice for 50 people“Baka may bisita.” (Spoiler: There’s none.)
  5. Slipper discipline“Hinahanap ni Nanay ang tsinelas…”

8. Fashion Faux Pas (That We Love)

  1. T-shirt + shorts + formal shoes“It’s called versatility, besh.”
  2. Rainy day outfits: Plastic bags over socks. “Dry feet > fashion.”
  3. Church OOTD: Full glam for 1 hour of Mass.
  4. Matching family outfits“Para cute sa Facebook!”
  5. Pambahay vs. pang-alis“Don’t you DARE wear my good jeans to the sari-sari store!”

9. Public Transport Logic

  1. Jeepney “Bayad po!” chains: Passing coins through 10 strangers like it’s trust fall.
  2. Tricycle acrobatics: 8 people + a TV + 3 chickens in one sidecar.
  3. Bus karaoke: Crooning “Anak” while swerving through highways.
  4. UV Express seat reservations: *“*Tabihan mo bag ko, para sa friend ko!”
  5. The “para po” whisper: Mumbling stops so the driver might maybe hear you.

10. Unspoken Rules of the Filipino Universe

  1. The boodle fight hierarchy: Elders get the crispy pata; kids fight for chicharon.
  2. Sharing one Coke“Tikim-tikim lang!” (But you’ll get exactly two sips.)
  3. Videoke curfews“10 PM na, tigil na!” (Proceeds to sing “Total Eclipse of the Heart”.)
  4. Gossiping about neighbors“Chismis is love, chismis is life.”
  5. Saying “Balikbayan box” with pride: *“May Lucky Me at Spam dito—ingat ka!”

FAQs: What Foreigners Ask About Pinoy Habits

  1. “Why serve spaghetti at birthdays?” Jollibee propaganda + it’s sweet AF.
  2. “Why double-kiss the air?” Respectful beso without the germs.
  3. “Why point with your lips?” Hands are busy holding rice.
  4. “Why call everyone ‘ate’ or ‘kuya’?” It’s respect, not amnesia.
  5. “Why love canned corned beef?” It’s the national emergency food.

Conclusion

Let’s be real: Our habits are weird, but they’re what make us Pinoy. Foreigners may never get why we double-kiss air or pack 50 relatives into one house, but that’s their loss. So next time someone asks why you’re eating tuyo with champorado, just wink and say, “Kasi masarap, ‘di ba?”

Ready to Own Your Pinoy Pride? Share this list with a confused foreigner—or that cousin who’s “too Westernized.” 🇵🇭

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