10 Ways Filipinos Make me Smile

Life. I love those moments when you remember just how beautiful it is. Here in the Philippines, the weather has cooled substantially as the rainy season sets in, and the change is most welcomed. The afternoons now are marked by a light drizzle or, a heavy shower, but the temperature remains pleasant and the pitter patter of the water droplets on the tin roofs comforts with its rhythmic beat.

Typically, it is through food that I experience such moments — that earth-shattering hazelnut gelato, the first bite of an almond coated chocolate… oohhh…. — but with my belly out of sorts and my taste buds missing in action, I find my pace slowed and with it, my other senses heightened.

The Philippines is a great place to be in in such a state of mind, for it’s a place where beauty, quirky traits and charming peculiarities jump out at you both endlessly and, when you least expect it.

From my point of view, there are too many to count — I love these crazy people!  But here’s ten ways Filipinos manage to make me smile, regardless of my spirit and, the state of my stomach…

• The small face towel they hang on the neck of their t-shirt to soak up extra sweat. My first and favourite. Particularly amusing when they lift up the front of their shirt to get air to their belly (see below). At its peak when the belly is extra big!

• The full-hearted almost mischievous laugh the Filipinos use when telling a joke a story. Whether funny or not, they’ve got you smiling!

• Their sing song speaking style  and over-the-top sound effects — even when they’re angry, it still sounds friendly. And how can you get angry at that?

• Their ability to sleep anywhere - and I mean a-n-y-w-h-e-r-e. On blaring speakers, on rocky roads in buses, flung over motorcycle seats… you name it, they’ve slept on it.

• Their monkey hands. Nope, the Filipinos - women and men alike - don’t have delicate looking extremities. But, these are can-do hands and feet perfect for eating, cracking, scaling rocks, trees, mountains, pummeling back muscles and whatever else for which tools or shoes would usually be required.

(And the ones I hate to love!)

• Their complete incapacity for efficiency. Total disregard or ignorance of the term. 3 girls per checkout aisle or 5 per counter, and you’ll still be waiting longer than anywhere else in the world. It’s frustrating yet fascinatingly mind boggling.

• Being called “sir”. I’ve got no problem with the polite term — I quite like the uses of it female counterpart “maam”. But do I really look like that much of a man? They seem to get I right with my other female friends. Perhaps this is a question I should take up with my beautician…

• Their penchant for pork; and oil. Boy oh boy do they know how to fry. They’re even better when it’s pig they’re frying. Fat in fat - spectacularly good and bad all in one bite. Or in one full lechon.

• Karaoke time. Which is all the time. Only hate it cause I can’t sing. Love it cause they’re so good. Again, another question to take up with Mr. Self J

• And last but not least, that god-forsaken bell at every SM shopping center, given to every food vendor with a cart, vying for your attention. Or maybe it’s just the same person over and over and over again. Well sir (or maam), you’ve got it!

Now, give me one of whatever you’re selling — I’ve got a bus to catch, a sleep to have and my hands haven’t done anything useful in more than 10 minutes!

* The first photo was taken in Baguio at Mine’s View Park, a popular look out over the city. I’m sure you’d see this kind of thing in other parts of the world, but to me, dressing a big, masculine dog in cute, girlie strawberries simply sums up the Filipinos’ quirky demeanour!

** The second photo was taken in Ongpin, Manila, the city’s Chinatown and the oldest in the world. My brother was having a custom gold ring made at a jewelry vendor where you could also purchase a sandwich and a cup of noodles should you wish!

Tagged as: Filipino idiosyncracies