Tingog.com

The average Filipino requires less privacy than the average American. He tends to require less personal space as well. Often, Filipinos stand close to one another when talking and members of the same sex would even hold hands while walking. However, there are some women who demands the “Filipino custom, no touch!” treatment. This means that a Filipino lady, in order to remain pure and virtuous cannot let any man touch even the tip of her fingers, unless he is her husband.
Other physical mannerisms can include:
— sweethearts or married couple refraining from being demonstrative in public
— a limp handshake as socially acceptable
— direct and prolonged eye contact to be considered rude
— refusal to make eye contact to imply dishonesty/not be trusted
— beckoning people with the index finger to be considered extremely rude (instead, a downward gesture of the hand should be used)
— the eyebrows raised in recognition, and to answer “yes”
— the lips used to point things
— nod upwards to greet someone
— smiling for no reason
— scratching one’s head when one does not know the answer
Vocal mannerisms can include:
— superiors are addressed by “sir” or “ma’am,” or by their title or profession
— when a question is to be asked, an apology is offered first
— clucking to show annoyance, frustration—even anger
— Pssst-sst is used to get attention in the workplace but not at social functions
— oo means yes, opo or oho is yes, with respect
— po or ho attached to a sentence and addressing someone in the third person are signs of
respect
— sige means okey

And there it is folks.. a brief, yet very much true depiction of Filipinos in general. But is it this way now? Are Filipinos leaning more towards western cultures and ideals?

I have my opinion.. What’s yours?