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FROM the 1896 Revolution to the
first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the Edsa
Revolt, the
tiger cub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, however, They're the
indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like
twins. They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite
possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you only need
mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from all over this
Centennial-crazed country and in no particular order, are a hundred of the best
things that make us unmistakably Pinoy.
1 Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat five
times a day?
2 Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom
of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse
tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.
3 Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and
marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want.
4 Pinoy humor and irreverence. If you're api and
you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.
5 Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs.
Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in
small affordable amounts?
6 Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came,
ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a
strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.
7 Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define
courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive
times.
8 Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious
thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the
customary guilt.
9 Beaches! With 7000 plus islands, we have miles
and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters,
and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the
emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.
10 Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or
shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly
unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
11 Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned
dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small
communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.
12 The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing
life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot everytime we
head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more
often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.
13 Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga,"
"Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway"
and"Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna,
Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both
innocent and worldly.
14 Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full
blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo
of a passing jeepney or tricycle.
15 Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is
just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint
with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its
pious and riotous best.
16 Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld
of Filipino lower mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is,
before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our
storytelling.
17 Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of
postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap,
interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to
your seat.
18 Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea,
until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeno peppers. Messy but
delicious.
19 Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest,
this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's
search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus,
it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful
gowns.
20 Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another
unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures!
Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.
21 Pakidala. A personalized door-to-door remittance
and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking
system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well.
22 Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that
defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hersheys.
23 Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew
spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven.
24 Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling.
There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the
pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.
25 Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a
hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to
share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.
26 Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong
bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several
generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.
27 Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning
tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and
defined grown-up tastes.
28 Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang
out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of
comfort.
29 Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab
that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as P3, with a complimentary
dusting of polluted air.
30 Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make
up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the
colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.
31Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who,
ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A
good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the
predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.
32 Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste of
childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.
33 Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo,
lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya,
singkamas--the possibilities!
34 Filipino celebrities. Movie stars,
broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures:
Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino,
Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria
Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor,
Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta,
Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.
35 World class Pinoys who put us on the global
map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de
Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren
"Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie
Natori.
36 Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too
sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue),
bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon,
longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos.
Remember, we're the guys who put sugar (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!
37 The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay,
Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands,
the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal
Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.
38Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions
and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.
39 Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and
basketball. How the verticaly-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national
sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
40 People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a
hero and changed Philippine history overnight.
41San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!"
and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts,
corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy
and cholesterol-rich chasers.
42 Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish
rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla,
and Tamagochi. We'll survive Erap.
43 Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting
tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk
the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string.
44 Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng
palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium,
and guarantee a good time for all.
45 Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the
Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it.
46 Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out
rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.
47 Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful,
hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket _ and help the
true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet
habits.
48 Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a
good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.
49 Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility,
and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's
invaded the Middle East, as well?
50 The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures
in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if
some folks would just stop turning them into daing.
51 Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at
parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead
drunk and still make it home.
52 Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank
God a lot of us do it well!
53 Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone
is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing
towards the sun.
54 Handwoven cloth and native weaves. Colorful,
environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship
and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the
north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.
55 Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment,
especially if you watch the same movie several times.
56 Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing
it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.
57 Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile,
admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a
taste for almost anything.
58 English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented,
it doubles our chances in the global marketplace.
59 The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often
inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.
60 Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's
paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The
sensory overload is a bonus.
61 Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and
dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it
makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig.
62 Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers,
wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.
63 Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with
an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman
feel like one.
64 Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt?
Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.
65 Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian
gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.
66 Style. Something we often prefer over substance.
But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.
67Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the
vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art,
overaccessorized jeepneys and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems
to magnify it.
68 Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they
evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped
package.Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of
family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package.
69 Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the
suicide scale.
70 Street food: Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue,
fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget
hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.
71 The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is
smart, not lazy.
72 Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko,
ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation,
but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.
73 Heroes and people who stood up for truth and
freedom.< a href="/il/saintjareth/freedom.html"> Lapu-lapu
started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang,
Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino,
Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan
Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio
Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe
Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando Malay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa
and other comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona
Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
74 Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the
tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang,
camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.
75 Pilipino songs, OPM and composers:"Ama Namin,"
"Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at
Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita
Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George
Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and
Florante--living examples of our musical gift.
76 Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos'
groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they
continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially now that
those darned candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!
77 Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner,
offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.
78 Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas.
Fund drives. They help us help each other.
79 Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag
ng Tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy,"
"Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public
Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the
age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.
80 Quirks of language that can drive crazy any
tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" Bababa!"
81"Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!"
"Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation
but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.
82 Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than
their wives (sometimes).
83 Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero,
medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband,
lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime,
anywhere.
84 Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she
redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look.
85 Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly
rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way
to be for many Filipino fans.
86 Filipino Christmas. The world's longest holiday
season. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and
wrap it up with a touch of religion.
87 Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge
against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant
relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis
of a phone introduction or referral.
88 Festivals: Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones.
Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.
89 Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, kariñosa,
kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct
rhythm.
90 Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis,
terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we
dress.
91Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties
that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to
have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago,
and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and
moral support materialize during a wake?
92 Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely
way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.
93 Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary
employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can
buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black
market?
94 All Saints' Day. In honoring our dead, we also
prove that we know how to live.
95 Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca
novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc.
Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!
96 Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi.
Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong
bahay will never be the same without them.
97 OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a
better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.
98 The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent
"Spoliarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed ricefields, to Ang Kiukok's
jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in
between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's
best.
99 Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad"
and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're
the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.
100 Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and
baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic,
crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.
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