How to Treat Your Elders if You Are Filipino

Filipinos treat elders with the utmost respect. Mannerisms, gestures and language are used to convey this respect for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, acquaintances and even strangers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Filipino Woven Baskets

1. Adopt an attitude of modesty around elders.

2. Approach elders with your head slightly bowed, shoulders slightly tucked in and hands clasped in front of you.

3. Always acknowledge the elders first when approaching a group of people.

4. Gently take the hand of an elder with your palm facing up and her palm facing down, and lightly touch her hand to your forehead as you slightly bow. Gently release the hand. This gesture is known as "mano."

5. Always "mano" to grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and older friends of the family.

6. Always say the word "ho" or "po" in midsentence (after approximately every fourth word) and at the end of each sentence when speaking to anyone about 20 years older than yourself, whether they are family or not. This applies even when you are answering with a simple yes or no.

7. Address older sisters and female cousins with the expression "manang" or "até," which is pronounced "latte."

8. Address older brothers and male cousins with the expression "manong" or "cougha," which is pronounced "kooia."

Tips & Warnings

• Cousins and siblings five or more years older than yourself are also addressed in an appropriate respectful manner.

[robyjoy]

on 8/23/2009 Guys...Its a nicest article I ever read..now I got an idea how to share to all my friends here in Brazil the Filipino traits and cultures.It just simply means "iba ang pinoy"

[ruf1950]

on 6/30/2009 Excellent advice on how to treat your elders in The Philippines. I'm headed back there in about 2 weeks to marry, and to remain for at least a few months; I love the respectful attitudes found in almost all Filipinos. The Philippines: The "Land of Smiles" :) - Salamat po! 5*****

[lelai]

on 2/2/2009 MABUHAY! You did observe well when you were there. Looks like you were around some good people too.
Mahusay kang manunulat. (mahoosai- good; kah - you; manunulat - writer) 5*

[lelai]

on 2/2/2009 "KUYA" The tagalog word for older brother
"koya" would sound funny.
while "manong" is an Ilocano word for older brother.
"Mano" is for getting the elders blessings to enter their homes or simply show respect /recognize them.

on 8/8/2006 "Po" and "Ho" aren't necessarily ended in mid sentence. More often, they are said at the end to indicate respect for the elder. For example:

"Maraming salamat po" (Thank you very much)
"Hindi po" (No, but in a polite manner as indicated by "Po")