Family Traditions

Mano Po

     When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders they typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the elder's hand lightly on their forehead. It is a way of giving respect to the elders and I believe that is also a way of receiving blessing to the elders. Mano is a Spanish word for “hand” while Po is used in the end of the sentence when addressing elders or superiors.

Courtship

     We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs. Serenading or Harana in Tagalog is one of the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions to a woman. A serenade would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's house. Normally, he is accompanied by his male friends who act as back-up singers. The man himself or his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, which provides the background music to his song.

     They would have to wait until the young lady opened a window to listen. It would be up to her if she wanted to invite them in for some refreshment and to chat after the song. Even if they had been asked to come in, the suitor would not expect that he could have the chance of a private moment with his object of affection. It was highly likely that the parents would also be there to entertain the man and his friends.

Going to Church Every Sunday

     We Filipinos often want to go to church together with our family every Sunday. Going together with your family is very different from going alone. Some families like my family after attending the mass we will eat in restaurants and visit malls to bond and enjoy. As the famous saying states: "A family that prays together, stays together."