Like any culture, the Philippines prides itself on customs and traditions steeped in history. While some traditions are criticised by younger generations keen to adopt newer ways of behaviour, many Filipinos find themselves fondly remembering practices they grew up with and harbour a nostalgia for the ‘old ways’ as a reinforcement of their cultural heritage.
Here are some unique traditions that embody the local beliefs and values inculcated through the centuries.
Pagmamano Practiced as a sign of respect to elders, pagmamano is one of the oldest and most notable Filipino traditions. Mano means hand in Spanish, fittingly so as pagmamano is done by gently tapping the hand of the elder to a younger person’s forehead. The elder in return says “God bless you” hence why the act is also often referred to as “bless”. 
Pamamanhikan
Once the panliligaw (courtship) stage has been surpassed, all the possible harana (serenade) has been sung, and the couple finally gets together, next comes the pamamanhikan. Well, if the couple decides to marry, that is. Pamamanhikan is the formal act of a guy asking the girl’s family for her hand in marriage. It usually involves the guy’s family bringing over gifts and discussing the couple’s plans for marriage. 
Cockfighting
Although it seems like a bloody and even cruel pastime to outsiders, within the Philippines cockfighting is just a part of life. Hopes, dreams, and fortunes are pinned onto the fate of these carefully bred birds. Cockfighting rings are a common sight even in the cities, and there are countless birds being raised for the ring at any time in the countryside. Generally the domain of men, the sport draws crowds to assess, bet, and cheer on the winners – they also eat the losers. 
The three-month Christmas
While this sounds like a fun idea, three months of carols can get a bit tedious. A deeply religious nation, Filipinos adopted Christmas traditions from the Spaniards and built onto those, adding some twists and rituals of their own. The decorating and music starts in October, and reaches a fever pitch in the days before December 24. Early-morning mass, midnight feasting, and diligent gift-buying all feature in the festive period. The colourful ‘parol’ (Christmas star lantern) symbolizes the holiday across the islands. 
Family dinners at Jollibee
This one is not easy to explain, except to say that Jollibee – a local fast-food chain more popular in the Philippines than McDonald’s – has mastered the Filipino palate. Its burgers, spaghetti, and fried chicken are a cut above what many locals are able to afford on a daily basis. Come payday, or a special occasion, a trip with the kids to Jollibee is a highlight. Even when children have grown up and gone on to much fancier dining venues, these family dinners retain a nostalgia that can’t be fulfilled elsewhere. |
Kamayan
FIlipinos love to eat and when the food is especially sumptuous, they eat kamayan-style. From the Filipino word kamay or hand, kamayan is the traditional way of dining using one’s bare hands. 
Harana
The traditional Filipino courtship is an extremely long process and one way to “woo” a girl is through doing a harana or serenading. With his friends in tow, the guy goes to the girl’s house (usually at night) and sings classic kundiman or folk love songs to her until she opens her window and invites him inside her house. 
Bayanihan
Although not as evident as it was before, bayanihan truly captures the strong sense of community Filipinos have and is usually exemplified through helping a neighbour transfer houses. Traditionally, bayanihan meant your neighbours literally carrying your entire kubo (native nipa hut) to your new home location. 
The whole-neighborhood beach outing
Why enjoy the beach with just your family, when you can invite your extended family, a couple of neighbours, some old classmates, and a few friends too? Filipinos have a habit of preparing a lot of food, piling into some kind of transport, and spending the whole day at the beach in a rented bamboo gazebo called a bahay kubo. Fearful of darkening their skin, Filipinos often swim fully clothed. They make multiple trips between the water and the table, where there may be several indulgent dishes and even a whole grilled pig (if it’s a special occasion.) 
Street parades
If you’ve ever lived in a small town in the Philippines, you’ll know just how much the Filipinos love their parades. Each village and city has its own “fiesta”, which it celebrates in unique style, and there are many more festive occasions throughout the year that call for an organized march through the streets. Of course, many of the biggest parades are tied to religious festivals, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a great excuse for a party. One of the biggest street festivals in the country, Cebu’s Sinulog runs for several days, with raves, beauty pageants, and dance competitions all thrown into the mix. Filipino parades often involve schools and universities competing in elaborate costumes and choreographed dance routines. |
