Pilipino Families
February 22, 2021
WHAT’S UP Y’ALL it’s Scott for my first Culture Corner!! I’m shadowing the Community & Culture Committee this semester as a Leadership Board intern so get hypppe 🔥🔥
In light of KAA reveals this Thursday, during which many of you will be officially introduced to your second family, I wanted to share with y’all some of the unique dynamics of the traditional Pilipino family! In the Philippines, while the nuclear family is certainly tight-knit, close bonds are also typically shared with the extended family, with many aunts and uncles being treated almost as equals to the parents. Familial relationships even extend past blood, as I’m sure many of y’all have experienced through the addressing of close neighbors and family friends as “tito” or “tita” despite not being related to them at all!
Even after one marries and has their own children, it is common for them to continue living with their parents, making three-generation households a familiar sight in the Filipino provinces; grandparents (especially grandmothers/lolas) often play a large role in raising their grandkids. Speaking of grandmothers-- while many consider Philippine society as largely patriarchal due to the common masculine expectations of men, the family unit itself is actually very much a matriarchy, with the eldest female member typically holding most authority and respect. In fact, income often gets pooled together to be analyzed and allocated by the matriarch.
This income sometimes includes money from those who work abroad, maybe like some of your parents! I’m sure many of you have even seen the iconic Xoom.com commercials back on ABS-CBN, which advertised a service that sent back money to those still in the Philippines. At our last GM, it was mentioned how Philippine remittances regularly hit massive numbers, the peak being more than 33 billion USD in 2019! Another common form of remittance is balikbayan boxes, large cardboard boxes containing various items such as clothes, gifts, and in my case, my old phones and PSP console, to be used by those in the motherland.
Whether you’re picking up, being picked up, or just here for the vibes, we’re happy to have you as part of our Troy Phi pamilya!
Para sa kultura,
Scott :D
In light of KAA reveals this Thursday, during which many of you will be officially introduced to your second family, I wanted to share with y’all some of the unique dynamics of the traditional Pilipino family! In the Philippines, while the nuclear family is certainly tight-knit, close bonds are also typically shared with the extended family, with many aunts and uncles being treated almost as equals to the parents. Familial relationships even extend past blood, as I’m sure many of y’all have experienced through the addressing of close neighbors and family friends as “tito” or “tita” despite not being related to them at all!
Even after one marries and has their own children, it is common for them to continue living with their parents, making three-generation households a familiar sight in the Filipino provinces; grandparents (especially grandmothers/lolas) often play a large role in raising their grandkids. Speaking of grandmothers-- while many consider Philippine society as largely patriarchal due to the common masculine expectations of men, the family unit itself is actually very much a matriarchy, with the eldest female member typically holding most authority and respect. In fact, income often gets pooled together to be analyzed and allocated by the matriarch.
This income sometimes includes money from those who work abroad, maybe like some of your parents! I’m sure many of you have even seen the iconic Xoom.com commercials back on ABS-CBN, which advertised a service that sent back money to those still in the Philippines. At our last GM, it was mentioned how Philippine remittances regularly hit massive numbers, the peak being more than 33 billion USD in 2019! Another common form of remittance is balikbayan boxes, large cardboard boxes containing various items such as clothes, gifts, and in my case, my old phones and PSP console, to be used by those in the motherland.
Whether you’re picking up, being picked up, or just here for the vibes, we’re happy to have you as part of our Troy Phi pamilya!
Para sa kultura,
Scott :D
Mano Po
February 15, 2021
Hello hello! On behalf of Gabbie and I, we hope you all enjoyed your three day weekends. This week’s GM is actually going to be led by us, as well as Courtney, one of our PACN directors!! The meeting is going to center around our identities as diaspora and/or immigrants, and family traditions! As a sneak peak to the GM, this week’s Culture Corner is dedicated to one of the Philippines’ most signature family customs: the Mano Po.
What is the Mano Po exactly? Mano is derived from the Spanish, and means hand. Po is a particle in Tagalog speech that often refers to expressing respect. Put them together, and you get a polite gesture one does to show respect to their elders. In the simple gesture of Mano Po, one presses their forehead to the elder’s hand, often bowing in the process. More often than
not, the elder also replies with “God bless you”.
Pilipino culture is notoriously known for large extended families, often calling people “cousin”, “Tita” (aunty), and “Tito” (uncle), even when they may not be actual relatives. The Mano Po is often done when seeing one’s elders, and done many times at family gatherings.
Speaking of family gatherings...KAA reveals are so close and we hope the future Adings and Kuyates are excited to meet one another! For now, Gabs and I look forward to opening dialogue
this Thursday about our identities and family traditions.
Para sa kultura,
Ant
What is the Mano Po exactly? Mano is derived from the Spanish, and means hand. Po is a particle in Tagalog speech that often refers to expressing respect. Put them together, and you get a polite gesture one does to show respect to their elders. In the simple gesture of Mano Po, one presses their forehead to the elder’s hand, often bowing in the process. More often than
not, the elder also replies with “God bless you”.
Pilipino culture is notoriously known for large extended families, often calling people “cousin”, “Tita” (aunty), and “Tito” (uncle), even when they may not be actual relatives. The Mano Po is often done when seeing one’s elders, and done many times at family gatherings.
Speaking of family gatherings...KAA reveals are so close and we hope the future Adings and Kuyates are excited to meet one another! For now, Gabs and I look forward to opening dialogue
this Thursday about our identities and family traditions.
Para sa kultura,
Ant
Haranas and Love Songs
February 8, 2021
~hey do you wanna hang out on feb 14 i'm free on feb 14 to hang out on feb 14 so if you want to hang out on feb 14 we can hang out on feb 14~
Heeey friends! <3 I hope all of you are having a wonderful semester so far! With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, simping szn is at its peak. While us Pinoys love to simp, another thing we sure love is music. With that, this week’s Culture Corner will be highlighting the courtship practice of haranas and love songs to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day!
Harana, meaning “to serenade”, is an old tradition wherein a suitor would woo a woman (a dalaga) while singing a song underneath her window at night. Very main character energy, I know. Haranas were very popular in colonial Philippines, bearing a strong Spanish influence. Typically accompanied by a guitar, haranas had sweet and intimate habanera rhythms combined with poetic Tagalog lyrics. It is important to note that a suitor rarely embarked on a harana journey alone. Often accompanied by friends for moral support and backing vocals/instruments, haranas were considered a larger social event to court a woman. However, women were most definitely not passive in this ritual! In the province of Cavite, women often joined in on the singing! Women may also reply in song and give hints regarding her true feelings for the suitor.
While the tradition of haranas may no longer be popular today, Pilipino love songs can remind us of this beautiful and romantic tradition. Whether or not you have a significant other this Valentine’s Day, stream some Pilipino love songs for the culture! Here are some versions of my favorite Tagalog love songs :)
Let me know if you like these songs or if you have some favorite Pinoy love songs! Who needs a Valentine when you have these bops? I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and can’t wait to see you all on Thursday <3
Para sa kultura,
Gabbie <3
Heeey friends! <3 I hope all of you are having a wonderful semester so far! With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, simping szn is at its peak. While us Pinoys love to simp, another thing we sure love is music. With that, this week’s Culture Corner will be highlighting the courtship practice of haranas and love songs to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day!
Harana, meaning “to serenade”, is an old tradition wherein a suitor would woo a woman (a dalaga) while singing a song underneath her window at night. Very main character energy, I know. Haranas were very popular in colonial Philippines, bearing a strong Spanish influence. Typically accompanied by a guitar, haranas had sweet and intimate habanera rhythms combined with poetic Tagalog lyrics. It is important to note that a suitor rarely embarked on a harana journey alone. Often accompanied by friends for moral support and backing vocals/instruments, haranas were considered a larger social event to court a woman. However, women were most definitely not passive in this ritual! In the province of Cavite, women often joined in on the singing! Women may also reply in song and give hints regarding her true feelings for the suitor.
While the tradition of haranas may no longer be popular today, Pilipino love songs can remind us of this beautiful and romantic tradition. Whether or not you have a significant other this Valentine’s Day, stream some Pilipino love songs for the culture! Here are some versions of my favorite Tagalog love songs :)
- Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko - Rey Valera
- Buwan (Kundiman) - Juan Karlos
- Kailan - MYMP
- Harana - Parokya ni Edgar
- Ikaw - Ariel Rivera
- Pagdating ng Panahon - Aiza Seguerra
Let me know if you like these songs or if you have some favorite Pinoy love songs! Who needs a Valentine when you have these bops? I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and can’t wait to see you all on Thursday <3
Para sa kultura,
Gabbie <3
Pilipino Courtship Practices
February 1, 2021
Mabuhay! On behalf of Gabbie and I, we want to remind you that today marks the first day of February. We all know what’s coming up...and no it’s not the first wave of midterms! We mean that Valentine’s Day is approaching. In the spirit of Pilipinos being well known to be simps, today’s Culture Corner is dedicated to courtship practices in the motherland!
In our world today, relationships can begin from a single text, DM, or lately….zoom chats. But in past times in the Philippines, it was not quite as simple. In the pre-21st century, it was custom for men to have to work for the woman’s family before marriage. Often called Paninilibihan, some tasks for men included chopping wood, house repairs, plowing the field, and fetching water. Not surprisingly, it could take months or years for a man to receive approval from the woman’s family for marriage.
Another traditional courtship custom in the Philippines is Balak, or Spoken Poetry. Most prominent in Cebu, this courtship mode involved a highly emotive and expressive deliverance of love verses by the suitor to his lucky lady. Talk about simping! Moreover, Pilpinos must have loved their literary devices back in the day because another form of courtship was Pasaguli, or Riddle Courtship. In this custom, parents of both parties are present in an event where love riddles are exchanged for two particular reasons: to showcase strong expressions of love and to assess the sentiments of the parents of both parties.
Needless to say, recorded courtship practices in the Philippines have historically been between man and woman, at least from post-colonial times. Pre-colonial Philippines had very different views on gender and sexuality, and I would love to learn and share more about courtship practices then – but that’s for another Culture Corner!
That’s all from me folks! In the picture below is a sneak peek of next week’s Culture Corner by my Co-CC Gabbie, who will be talking more about a certain type of courtship in the Philippines.
Para sa kultura,
Ant <3
In our world today, relationships can begin from a single text, DM, or lately….zoom chats. But in past times in the Philippines, it was not quite as simple. In the pre-21st century, it was custom for men to have to work for the woman’s family before marriage. Often called Paninilibihan, some tasks for men included chopping wood, house repairs, plowing the field, and fetching water. Not surprisingly, it could take months or years for a man to receive approval from the woman’s family for marriage.
Another traditional courtship custom in the Philippines is Balak, or Spoken Poetry. Most prominent in Cebu, this courtship mode involved a highly emotive and expressive deliverance of love verses by the suitor to his lucky lady. Talk about simping! Moreover, Pilpinos must have loved their literary devices back in the day because another form of courtship was Pasaguli, or Riddle Courtship. In this custom, parents of both parties are present in an event where love riddles are exchanged for two particular reasons: to showcase strong expressions of love and to assess the sentiments of the parents of both parties.
Needless to say, recorded courtship practices in the Philippines have historically been between man and woman, at least from post-colonial times. Pre-colonial Philippines had very different views on gender and sexuality, and I would love to learn and share more about courtship practices then – but that’s for another Culture Corner!
That’s all from me folks! In the picture below is a sneak peek of next week’s Culture Corner by my Co-CC Gabbie, who will be talking more about a certain type of courtship in the Philippines.
Para sa kultura,
Ant <3
Pinoy Breakfast
January 25, 2021
Hello friends!! It was amazing to see all of you at our first GM of the semester last Thursday <333 With the end of our beloved winter break, we once more face the harsh reality of another online semester. I hope you’re all going into this Spring semester with a hopeful attitude and a smile on your face! You are doing an amazing job already! <3 :)
One thing that can really get you in the mood to start off your day and semester right is BREAKFAST. Food is a great form of self-care <3 And who doesn’t love a good old Pinoy breakfast? This week’s Culture Corner will be all about the great meals of almusal (Tagalog for “breakfast”) to get you and your taste buds pumped!
SILOGS
As we all know, no meal is complete without rice. Silogs are no exception! Short for sinangag at itlog (garlic fried rice and egg), basically any meal can fall under the silog family.
CHAMPORADO
Chocolate for breakfast. Say less… Champorado is a thick chocolate rice porridge made with glutinous rice and tablea. Rich and sweet, champorado is a great energy booster for the day ahead! Make sure to serve with condensed milk! If you’ve never tried Champorado before, go ahead and try out some microwavable versions from your local Pilipino store!
PANDESAL
Aaah, pandesal ~ Soft and chewy pillows of bread. Best bought in the morning from your local bakery! Pandesal can have any sort of palaman (Tagalog for “filling”)! Some enjoy fruit jams such as mango or pineapple with pandesal. Others go for a meatier option, like corned beef! Pandesal is an undeniable staple in the Pilipino kitchen. If you’re in a rush and can’t prepare a whole meal for breakfast, consider pandesal as a quick and filling option!
Make sure to start your day right by fueling your body and your mind!! You deserve it! Share a delicious Pinoy breakfast with your roommates, your family, or whoever you may be with this semester <3 Have a wonderful week ahead and see you this Thursday!
Para sa kultura,
Gabbie <3
One thing that can really get you in the mood to start off your day and semester right is BREAKFAST. Food is a great form of self-care <3 And who doesn’t love a good old Pinoy breakfast? This week’s Culture Corner will be all about the great meals of almusal (Tagalog for “breakfast”) to get you and your taste buds pumped!
SILOGS
As we all know, no meal is complete without rice. Silogs are no exception! Short for sinangag at itlog (garlic fried rice and egg), basically any meal can fall under the silog family.
- Tapsilog (tapa + sinangag + itlog): Tapa is Pilipino beef jerky! Thin slices of meat with flavors that can range from sweet to salty!
- Longsilog (longganisa + sinangag + itlog): Longganisa is a sausage typically made with pork. While longga is adapted from Spanish influence, longganisa recipes around the country all have distinct flavors!
- Bangsilog (bangus + sinangag + itlog): My personal favorite <3 Fish for breakfast is no mistake. Marinated bangus belly has a whole bunch of flavor to start off your day! Sometimes served crunchy, bangsilog is a great option for all.
CHAMPORADO
Chocolate for breakfast. Say less… Champorado is a thick chocolate rice porridge made with glutinous rice and tablea. Rich and sweet, champorado is a great energy booster for the day ahead! Make sure to serve with condensed milk! If you’ve never tried Champorado before, go ahead and try out some microwavable versions from your local Pilipino store!
PANDESAL
Aaah, pandesal ~ Soft and chewy pillows of bread. Best bought in the morning from your local bakery! Pandesal can have any sort of palaman (Tagalog for “filling”)! Some enjoy fruit jams such as mango or pineapple with pandesal. Others go for a meatier option, like corned beef! Pandesal is an undeniable staple in the Pilipino kitchen. If you’re in a rush and can’t prepare a whole meal for breakfast, consider pandesal as a quick and filling option!
Make sure to start your day right by fueling your body and your mind!! You deserve it! Share a delicious Pinoy breakfast with your roommates, your family, or whoever you may be with this semester <3 Have a wonderful week ahead and see you this Thursday!
Para sa kultura,
Gabbie <3
New Year's in the Motherland
January 18, 2021
Mabuhay! On behalf of Gabbie and I, we want to wish you all a late Happy New Year and hope you are having a wonderful 2021 so far. We know that the United States, and Los Angeles especially, is still skyrocketing with COVID cases so we hope you all are safe and healthy. Classes are beginning (for real this time) very soon and before we have our first TroyPhi GM for the semester, I wanted to shed some light on Pilipinx New Year's traditions!
First and foremost: if you ever hear your neighbors seemingly throwing pots and pans when it strikes midnight on New Year’s, there is a VERY good chance that your neighbor is Pilpinx. A common Pinoy tradition on New Years is to make plenty of noise, which is easily achieved through hitting pots and pans together! The belief behind this is that the commotion will drive away bad luck and evil spirits for the upcoming year. If you didn’t make a lot of noise on New Years, grab some pots and pans - now!
Continuing on Pilpinx New Year’s traditions is...round objects. I know this sounds absurd but hear me out! A common custom in the Philippines on New Years is to wear polka dots, whether it be on your shirt, pants, jacket, or socks. This is revered as it is common belief that round shapes will bring prosperity and wealth for the next year. Similarly, it is also common for Pilipinx families to prepare twelve round fruits before it strikes midnight on New Year. The twelve fruits represent each month of the upcoming year, and the round nature of all the produce signifies wealth and prosperity, similar to the polka dots mentioned prior. If I had a dollar every time my parents sent me on last minute fruit runs on December 30th, I’d be filthy rich!
Lastly, I’d love to discuss some of the culinary traditions observed during Pilipino New Year’s. One such tradition observed is eating pancit! Pancit, in a nutshell, is a Pilipino dish consisting of rice noodles and an array of toppings such as vegetables and meat. During New Year’s, it is customary to serve pancit without the noodles being cut, as the long noodles represent long life and good health. Another culinary New Year’s tradition in the Philippines is the serving of sticky rice cakes! This will most likely be some variation of biko, and it is believed that eating sticky rice on New Year’s assists in strengthening bonds and relationships within the family. Finally, while lechon is a staple at most Pilpinx festivities, it is especially important to serve the whole pig on the celebration of a new year. This is said to ensure prosperity for the upcoming new year!
That’s all from me folks! We are just beginning our classes for the semester - remember to take care of yourself!
Para sa kultura,
Ant <3
First and foremost: if you ever hear your neighbors seemingly throwing pots and pans when it strikes midnight on New Year’s, there is a VERY good chance that your neighbor is Pilpinx. A common Pinoy tradition on New Years is to make plenty of noise, which is easily achieved through hitting pots and pans together! The belief behind this is that the commotion will drive away bad luck and evil spirits for the upcoming year. If you didn’t make a lot of noise on New Years, grab some pots and pans - now!
Continuing on Pilpinx New Year’s traditions is...round objects. I know this sounds absurd but hear me out! A common custom in the Philippines on New Years is to wear polka dots, whether it be on your shirt, pants, jacket, or socks. This is revered as it is common belief that round shapes will bring prosperity and wealth for the next year. Similarly, it is also common for Pilipinx families to prepare twelve round fruits before it strikes midnight on New Year. The twelve fruits represent each month of the upcoming year, and the round nature of all the produce signifies wealth and prosperity, similar to the polka dots mentioned prior. If I had a dollar every time my parents sent me on last minute fruit runs on December 30th, I’d be filthy rich!
Lastly, I’d love to discuss some of the culinary traditions observed during Pilipino New Year’s. One such tradition observed is eating pancit! Pancit, in a nutshell, is a Pilipino dish consisting of rice noodles and an array of toppings such as vegetables and meat. During New Year’s, it is customary to serve pancit without the noodles being cut, as the long noodles represent long life and good health. Another culinary New Year’s tradition in the Philippines is the serving of sticky rice cakes! This will most likely be some variation of biko, and it is believed that eating sticky rice on New Year’s assists in strengthening bonds and relationships within the family. Finally, while lechon is a staple at most Pilpinx festivities, it is especially important to serve the whole pig on the celebration of a new year. This is said to ensure prosperity for the upcoming new year!
That’s all from me folks! We are just beginning our classes for the semester - remember to take care of yourself!
Para sa kultura,
Ant <3