How to Be a Proper Guest in a Filipino Home

        Because the Filipino culture is very food-oriented, food accompanies all celebrations, gatherings and informal visits. It's safe to assume that being a guest means you'll be offered something to eat.

1. Instructions:

   1. • 1

        Remove your shoes before entering a Filipino home.
      • 2
        Pay your respects to the elders of the household with the "mano" gesture and address them with a greeting. Mano is a gesture in which you lift an elder's hand to your forehead.
      • 3
        Always accept an invitation to eat no matter how many times you have already eaten that day.
      • 4
        Help clear the table and do the dishes unless your hosts insist otherwise. They probably won't accept your offer to help, but it will be considered favorable if you make the gesture.
      • 5
        When leaving be sure to personally extend good wishes to the elders of the household and express your appreciation to everyone.

        
        

        Tips & Warnings:

        • Filipinos might interpret a decline of their food as a personal offense. Many Filipinos live in poor conditions, so when they offer their food, they are essentially conveying that you are worth the trouble. By refusing their offer, you are refusing their hospitality.
        • During town fiestas, Filipinos visit each house in their neighborhood. At each house it is proper to at least sample a little bit of the food that's being offered.

Modern Filipino Dating Culture

    The Filipino dating culture is a complicated mix of native beliefs, religious customs, native and eastern and western influences. Although the traditionally conservative style of Filipino dating is still apparent in many rural and suburban areas in the Philippines, the younger generation's exposure to American dating culture significantly contributes to the dating style of the younger Filipinos. 

   In the Philippines, dating serves asa an official start of courtship.For Filipinos it is a taboo for a girl to court a guy.However, in Filipino Culture,many changes in dating style are becoming more and more apparent.The effect of Western Filipino Culture provides great influence to the younger Filipinos that more liberal practices and physical intimacy are already becoming relatively acceptable. Yet, the traditional dating culture still has a general mark on Filipinos.

    

    Confirm the schedule of the date. Traditionally, especially to the more conservative Filipinos, it is not customary for a girl to ask a guy out. For the younger generation, this is possible, but still not very common. At the least, a girl can provide non-direct suggestions of her interest to date out a guy. The guy usually picks up the girl from her house, then brings her back home after the date. The guy usually meets the girl's family and he allots a few minutes to chat with them before going out for the date.

    Typically, the guy asks where the girl wants to go for the date. It is also common to first dine out, then watch a movie, a concert or a play. Others accompany the girl in a mall while shopping or meeting up her friends.   

     

    Know more about how Filipino men generally treat women in dates and vice versa. Traditionally, a Filipino man is described as a gentleman who would open the door for women, set the chair where she will sit and carry her bag.

    The first date serves as an official time to get to know each other. It's an opportunity to ask about each other's backgrounds and likes and dislikes. Although some girls allow a kiss on the cheek, it is highly unlikely to get a passionate kiss after the first date. It is also possible that some guys don't even get the chance to hold the hands of their dates. The more conservative Filipinos would also find it a turn off to date out with somebody who is too liberated.

    A follow-up date confirms if you are both interested in knowing each other better. Otherwise, if both parties are not interested in dating out each other anymore, it is more likely that the confirmation of disinterest to continue dating would be communicated indirectly. Given how Filipinos tend to address negative issues and decisions, it is generally difficult for them to directly say that they don't want to date out anymore. Either the guy or the girl tells the other party that they are busy and they can't date out for many other possible reasons.

Filipinos Unique Wedding Ceremony

    In every culture, there is uniqueness in everything, such as thier way of living, beliefs, practices, and even the wedding ceremony. We Filipinos also have our own wedding culture. And this is what I wish to share with you and to the world.

    Initially,before the couple get married,we have this so called "pamanhikan", it means imploring to the parents to allow their kids to get married. however,at this present day, it is almost not observed, especially when the partners are already beyond thirty. Matured women and men can decide, it is their wish to get married. But for the partners ages 25 and below, pamanhikan should be observed.

    So, after the pamanhikan, we go through the application for license to get married, along with the few numbers of documents, as proof that partners are capable to have a wedding ceremony. These includes each birth certificate, certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR), Affidavit In Leu Of Legal Capacity To Marry, for the foreign partner, and the 4 hour seminar from the Department of Health. After you have these papers, you will wait for ten day for the release of the license. Then, the wedding can be performed.

    Moreover, Filipino wedding also involve in giving bribe to the parents, and this what we called as a dowry. This symbolizes the respect of the soon to be husband to his future wife and her parents. Dowry for his wife is the ring, and a dowry for the parents could be anything that is valuable. There is also another practice on “paninilbihan” or laboring for the parents, which means that when a man will do house chores for his soon to be wife, he could be a good husband. And then, when everything is okay, wedding plan shall be started.

The Best of Filipino Art: Fernando Amorsolo

Fernando Amorsolo
    The first National Artist for painting, Fernando Amorsolo is the foremost Philippine artist of the early 20th century. An outstanding art student, the businessman Enrique Zobel de Ayala awarded him with a study grant to Spain. This allowed him to visit important museums in Europe and the United States.
    In contrast to Luna's heavy and predominantly European themes, Amorsolo was known for sunny landscapes of Luzon and smiling images of dalagang bukid (country girls). His rendition of Philippine sunlight and its nuances was unparalleled during his time. Fernando Amorsolo was named National Artist in 1972.

The Best of Filipino Art: Juan Luna

    Juan Luna y Novicio was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, on October 23, 1857, and, like Hidalgo, was the third of seven children. Early in his life, the family moved to Manila and lived in Trozo. The young Luna received his early education at the Ateneo Municipal and later at the Escuela Nautica de Manila. In 1873, he became an apprentice officer and traveled to various Asian ports. Whenever his ship was in port in Manila, he took painting lessons in the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura of Fr. Agustin Saiz.

Dark skin in the Philippines

    

    Skin color is a touchy subject among Filipinos. Those who were born with light skin are grateful that they were, and those born without it wish they had. However, what most people don't realize is that dark 'kayumanggi' skin is becoming more accepted in the entertainment industry and is considered beautiful, more now than ever before.

    This Filipina woman from New York is married to an American and has a fair skinned child, and she wrote this article from Newsweek because she is wondering whether she should sign him up with a modeling agency. Her resistance to colonial ideals is admirable, but if we're talking about real life, it's not smart if she doesn't sign her son up, because if her son doesn't get the job, another light-skinned Filipino boy or girl will, so why not take advantage of it? I mean seriously, just be realistic.

     But she's not being realistic also in saying that light skin is preferred for Filipino men in fashion, because just look at the latest Bench and other modeling pictures and billboards lately, like Dingdong Dantes' latest Bench billboards, and many other billboards in Metro Manila. For men, having dark skin is actually considered sexy now and more required in the entertainment industry in the Philippines for models.

    For women it's also changing, as shown by the latest picture from Preview Magazine with Ruffa Gutierrez, Gretchen Barreto, Claudine, and Judy Ann Santos on the cover.

    I don't think people should be so quick to judge unless they've looked at the latest photos, dark kayumanggi skin is in fact becoming more accepted in the Philippines, and that is a positive thing.
 

    I don't like when Filipinos use the word 'Filipino' as if it were a race to refer to only those of brown-skinned Malay descent, as not all Filipinos have brown skin and wide noses, and not all Filipinos were born economically disadvantaged.

Filipino Arts by Some Filipino Talented Artists

    There just a plethora of Filipino art that is going unappreciated by many Filipinos in this world. Here's just a few of the many beautiful pieces done by renowned Filipino artists.

Harana

Francisco

 Early Risers

Hugo C. Yunzon

1957

 Mag-ina sa banig

Nestor Leynes

1960

 Mag-anak

Tam Austria

Mariane Makiling

Hugo C. Yunzon

1974

Filipino Superstitions: Truth and Consequences

           The Filipino culture is rich with superstitions about anything and everything. Filipino Americans cannot escape this reality as adept to assimilating to a new environment as we are. Superstition is practically interwoven into our consciousness whether we like it or not. Growing up, it was just as important to learn not to prop my chin on my hand as to learn proper table manners. Why? Because supposedly this action is akin to awaiting bad luck to happen. There were others, such as do not sing while you are cooking or you will end up widowed (at least that is the version I heard), or do not move around changing places in the table while eating, you will change husbands, or in other words divorce and marry a number of times. The latter a no-no in Filipino culture since most Filipinos still look down upon divorce. One of my favorite and least understood is the one when you open an umbrella indoors, a centipede (which I assume is the equivalent of an alupihan) will fall down from the ceiling.

           A few weeks ago we attended a baptism and even the Filipino priest made mention of that strange superstition of how the parents and the newly christened child should rush out of the church ahead of the others. I am still befuddled about the whole significance of this action, but I do remember my mom urging us out of the church with our firstborn on his baptism. We ran like mad for the door leaving our puzzled friends behind.

                   Most of these seem laughable and founded on the most ludicrous notions, but I recently found out that their roots were at least interesting. According to Dr. Sonia M. Zaide, author of The Philippines: A Unique Nation,, one country that was very influential on Filipinos superstitions was India. She made mention of a few such superstitions: 1) as mentioned above though a variation, a maiden who sings while cooking will marry a widower, 2) a pregnant lady eating twin bananas will give birth to twins, and 3) (the most commonly heard) when one dreams of teeth falling out that means a loved one will die.

                I have no doubt that China would be another culture that greatly added to the list of Filipino superstitions. Remember wearing polka dots and filling up your pockets with coins during the New Year? I also met a Peruvian doctor a while back who was horrified to see me dumping my purse on the floor. "Pick it up, " she exclaimed. "Or you'll go poor!" For a minute there, I thought I heard my mom uttering those prophetic warnings. Since Peru is miles away from the Philippines, I therefore concluded that this superstition is Spanish in origin, our common conquering denominator.

The More, The Merrier!

        With the Holiday Season starting, one very Filipino characteristic stands out in mind: the importance Filipinos place on families and extended families. Filipinos are a clannish lot. We have a penchant for adopting relatives however distantly related. This is especially true in our unique position as Filipino Americans. Chances are there will be someone you know who will endeavor to try their luck here in the US and knows no one but you in town. There is an obligation to open our doors to that individual. Most of us who remember the hardships we went through when we were first starting out will take them in willingly, only too happy to help.

         The Filipino family value is one trait I am very proud of in our culture. I came from a very dynamic immigrant family. By this I mean there is a constant migration process going on in my aunt’s three-bedroom, one-level (albeit with basement) house on California Avenue in Chicago. Fortunately, one handy uncle fixed the basement and added three more bedrooms. At one point, there were 13 people living in that house, this excluding the visitors that my aunt would house when they were in town (which could be as many as 5 at one time). The phrase “the more, the merrier,” had never been more true. The time when we had the most number of people was actually the happiest memory I have of my growing up years in America.

       

        To be realistic, we did not always get along. There is no family that exist that always got along. If any family claims such perfection, they actually have a big problem. Healthy family relationship does not translate to a well-ironed one. As Filipino families go, there is plenty of room for conflict. My aunt was strict and conservative, and we, young people, well, ….we were young, willful and, imbibing American values. And just like any other families, we had our share of intrigue, competition and other soap-operatic episodes. Fortunately, the Filipino tie that binds is as strong as hemp in strength. We may not always like each other, but we just have to face the fact: we are family and nothing can change that.

      

         At present, the many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephew, cousin, and friends that once shared the same roof now have their own homes and lead their own lives with their own families. Some are living out of state. Some are even out of the country. The house on California Avenue still continues to warm and comfort individuals trying to make a new beginning in the US of A. Perhaps, it is one reason why my aunt is reluctant to put it up for sale. It contains so many memories. The Holiday Season provides an important opportunity for everyone to touch base with each other. We gather and celebrate, particularly on Christmas Eve. Now, if we can only decide whose house it is going to be held at. 

Filipino Time

   It is an invariable joke among any Filipino organizing an event that it is wise to state the commencement of that particular event half an hour to an hour earlier than the actual time intended. Filipino Time, you know. It is a well known fact and an exasperating subject most Filipino Americans have taken with resignation. "Filipino Time" is the coined phrase for the embarrassing affliction of tardiness among Filipinos. It is curious and mind boggling how the general population of a certain nation could possibly be chronically late. And yet, it has been tried and tested to be true to this very day. Try having a party with the invitation stating an arrival time of 4 pm, and people will start trickling in at 5 or 6 pm.

   Filipino time is such a phenomenon that it made enough of an impression on comedian Rex Navarrette to be the subject of one of his acts. Rex claimed that Filipinos in the US are not late. They are not. They are in fact well ahead of schedule. They are simply adhering to the Philippine time which is in fact 13 hours ahead of the US time. While in the Philippines, the major flagship airline the Philippine Airlines better known by its acronym PAL, was jokingly renamed Paliparan (Airline) Always Late. The affliction was that prevalent. Nowadays, one might say it is a trend among airlines to be late. But I believe PAL was the original.

   Why are Filipinos generally late? It is contradictory for a people equally well known for their hospitality. It seems contrary for a group of people who would rather suffer rather than impose on any one's generosity. And in a country like the United States where punctuality is highly esteemed, Filipino Time sticks out like an eye sore.

    However, I believe there is a logical and scientific explanation behind most things. Bear in mind, I am not a sociology expert and is merely piecing together some general observations to explain this astounding phenomenon. First of all, let us set the record straight. Filipinos are not late because they are flagrantly inconsiderate or thoughtless. For the most part, we know what time we need to be there, the intention is to be there, but for some reason, we still get there 15 minutes late, half an hour late, even an hour late. Most of us will shrug it off. We were late and that was that. Very few will take a moment to step back and think there must be a root cause, some psychological reason why this is so.

Ten More Quirky Facts From The Philippines

1. Of the Philippines’ 7,100 islands, even at low tide only about 460 of these islands cover an area of more than 1 square mile (2.6 sq km).
2. The Philippines is home of the world’s largest and smallest fish, largest and smallest bats, smallest monkey, smallest deer - and it has the world’s second largest flying bird as its national emblem!
3. With a population of over 90 million, The Philippines is the 12^th most populous country in the world.
4. The Philippines’ is the only country flag which is hoisted upside-down when the country is in war.
5. The Philippine archipelago covers roughly 115,830 square miles, equal in size to Italy.
6. Many overseas visitors mistakenly believe that universities in the Philippines are all post-WWII. The truth is that the Philippines University of Santo Tomas was founded in Manila on 28 April, 1611, making it 25-years older than the prestigous Harvard University – the oldest university in the USA!
7. The Palawan bearcat is neither a bear nor a cat. Known in Southeast Asia as binturong, it is the size of a small dog, with long shaggy fur and a tail almost as long as their body. Easily tamed they often become popular local family pets.
8. December is the most popular month for weddings in the Philippines.
9. The first man to use ‘Filipino’ as a title of citizenship was Luis Rodriguez Varela in 1795, a Spaniard born in Manila.
10. According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the first guidebook in the Philippines (Guia de Forasteros) was printed in 1834 - though there have been quite a few updates since then ;-)

The Darker Side of Philippine Culture – the Scams

        The Filipino’s often praised friendliness is thought by many Filipinos to be the bedrock of Philippines culture. Unfortunately, outsider’s views differ, for example when asked to make a comment about the Philippines; they often highlight a negative aspect of Philippine culture, the scams. In fact, it is commonly said that while Filipinos didn’t invent scams, they honed them into an exact science.

            When treated with common courtesy and respect, the overwhelming majority of Filipinos are open and friendly. However, poverty breeds crime; and there are many poor people in the Philippines. This may be true, and can be easily accepted as the root cause of much petty crime, but this is not usually the case with scams.

            Many visitors to the Philippines foolishly fall into the trap of believing that all Filipinos are con men and all foreign expatriates are trustworthy – they aren’t. Indeed, some of the worst tales I’ve heard of a foreigner being involuntarily separated from his money have been perpetrated by other foreigners, usually under the guise of a business deal or partnership arrangement.

           What makes perpetuation and success of many of the scams carried out in the Philippines so strange is that they are repeated over and over, and people pay out, over and over. A typical example is the ‘job agent.’

             A guy comes to the barrio and makes a big hit with the people telling them he is a hiring agent for a big company in Taiwan. He says he has many jobs open and wants applicants, only fly in the ointment is that every applicant he gets a job has to pay P80k for admin and visa charges. Lots of people get a job offer (even those with no qualifications or experience), pay over cash the next month – then can’t ever contact the agent again. This is not good, and many may say that the applicants should have thought it through, checked with the company concerned etc. But then again, things seemed above board and if you are desperate for a good job, you may try anything.  I can understand this, but…

           Seven months later, a different guy comes to the barrio, this saying he is a hiring agent for a company in Saudi. Same deal; if job offered the applicant has to pay for visas ext, only this time P85k. – Even some of those taken in the last scam pay over cash.

           Almost all scams rely on gaining the confidence of the person being relieved of their money, which is why proponents are called confidence (con) artists. Very often these con artists rely on their ‘marks’ greed, whether it is selling something well below its value, or convincing someone they can get something for little effort. The seemingly strange aspect of the Filipino scams working so well is how many people appear to accept that they can get something for nothing, and how even after many scam warnings, they ignore the facts and rely on their instincts, strong in their belief that they can get something for nothing. 

             Oh, and if you think this is just a Filipino trait, ask yourself why after years of TV, newspaper and other warnings, western guys still pay over and loose cash to ladies they meet in chat rooms.

           The problem is that until it actually happens to them, people just don’t learn. Don’t be one of them. Though it sounds like military jargon, the term ‘situation awareness’ is a really simple concept for you to follow. It just means that you should be observant and alert to what is going on around you. While the unaware may inadvertently stumble into trouble, those that spend a little time and energy thinking things through and checking facts rarely get conned.

Top 10 Fruits in Filipino Cuisine

     If there's one thing Filipinos are blessed with, it's the abundance of tropical fruits in the country. We literally have hundreds of species of fruit, most of them edible and many a vital part of Filipino food and culture. You may not see a lot of them if you're in the city, but take a drive in the provinces and you'll see miles and miles of fruit plantations.

    Many of our fruits are considered exotic and valuable in other countries, so we're lucky to have them in our own backyard. If the only fruits you know are apples and oranges, it's time you broadened your palate. Here are ten of the best fruits in Filipino cuisine.

1. Mangoes

The ubiquitous national symbol of the Philippines, the mango is known for its sweet, tart flavor and juicy flesh. Guimaras mangoes are said to be the sweetest in the world, although the Davao and Zambales varieties are in close contention. If you're not into sweets, green mangoes might be more to your tastes. Filipinos are the only people who eat mangoes raw-usually with bagoong (shrimp paste), salt, or sugar.

2. Bananas

Philippine bananas can be eaten by themselves or used in cooking, usually for snacks (turon and banana cue) or Filipino desserts recipes (banana cake, pancakes). There are several varieties, from the finger-sized senoritas to the large, spotted Cavendish. The saba bananas, more correctly called plantains, are thicker and often used with soups and meat dishes.

3. Pineapples

Like mangoes, Philippine pineapples are unrivaled when it comes to taste and quality. They're said to be infinitely sweeter than Hawaiian or Australian pineapples, which are more popular outside the country. While it's generally sold neatly peeled and sliced, Filipinos consider it a waste of perfectly good flesh. What they do is peel it as thinly as possible and painstakingly take out each 'eye,' so that all of the flesh stays intact.

4. Papaya

This is one of the most widely grown fruits in the country; many people even have trees in their own backyards. Although not as sweet as mangoes or bananas, they're one of the old-time favorites simply because they're there all year. Ripe papayas are best eaten fresh and chilled, while semi-ripe ones are often sold with a salt and vinegar dip. Raw green ones are used in many Filipino food recipes, such as tinola (chicken stew) and atsara(pickled salad).

5. Langka

Langka or jackfruit is far from inviting on the outside, with its large, irregular body (it's the largest tree-grown fruit in the world) and its thick, spiky shell. Outside Asia, it's usually sold canned and in syrup, but most locals will tell you it's best eaten fresh. The flesh is sweet and chewy, and the seeds are soft and slightly sticky. Langka seeds are used in many Filipino recipes, often cooked in coconut milk and mixed with meat, vegetables or other spices.

6. Coconut

People like to joke that no part of the coconut tree goes to waste, from the roots to the tips of the leaves. But the fruit is no doubt the most versatile part of all-you can eat it fresh, drink its juice, recycle the husk, and cook with both the milk and the flesh. Coconut cream or gata is practically a staple in Filipino cooking recipes, particularly in Bicolano cuisine where it's often used with chili.

7. Watermelon

Watermelons are said to be the ultimate summer fruit. The cool, sweet juice and crunchy flesh make it a popular dessert on hot days. Eat it in fresh wedges or use it to make a nice summer cocktail. Red watermelons are the most popular variety, but yellow watermelon is also remarkably sweet and definitely worth a try.

8. Calamansi

Fondly called the Philippine lemon, calamansi is often considered a vegetable because of its wide use in Filipino viands and meat dishes. It's extremely easy to grow-most households have a calamansi bush in their garden-and can be used in practically every dish. Use it to season chicken and pork, fix quick sauces, or flavor up your tea.

9. Avocado

Avocados go for up to $2 (P100) apiece in the U.S., whereas in the Philippines you can get at least three large pieces with the same value. This sweet, fleshy fruit is currently all the rage in Western countries because of its newfound health benefits-it's rich in potassium, and vitamins B, E and K. Kids like to eat this sweet, fleshy fruit sweetened with milk or sugar; others use it in shakes, salads and desserts.

10. Durian

Durian is one of those fruits you either love or hate. Many people are put off by its foul odor, but once you get past that, the sweet, chewy flesh is more than rewarding. It's one of the most valuable tropical fruits; it's fairly expensive even in the local market. It is usually eaten fresh, but many stores sell durian shakes, durian candy, and even durian ice cream.

Tasty Exotic Filipino Foods

     When you visit the Philippines, you will surely leave with a smile not only in your lips but most especially your stomach. The Philippines is one of the places in the world where you can eat delectable and delicious exotic dishes that will surely satisfy your appetite. It is not surprising that Filipino recipes, foods and delicacies are often described as strange and unique with different tastes mixing in one simple dish.

     The country has a history of more than a hundred years of external influences which is the countries who colonized the Philippines. Filipinos are known in the world as a group of people who sees food as a very significant element in their everyday lives especially in their culture. Filipino food is considered as one of the Philippine culture highlights. You will also observe that the Filipinos' favorite place in the house is the kitchen.

   Exotic Filipino foods are known in the whole world because they are all delicious and really look unusual dish to eat. Dishes like "bagoong" (shrimp paste) and "dinuguan" (pork blood stew) do look really exotic and unusual for many people, specially for those who don't have Filipino blood in them. But, one thing is for sure, the looks and smell of this exotic foods will be covered up by the unique taste and blend of spices the said dishes has to offer. Once you have tasted it and captured its distinctive taste, you will surely crave for more.

    Some of the reality shows have featured these exotic foods as part of their challenge in the show. One example is the "balut" which was featured in the show Fear Factor. For those who don't know, "balut" is a fertilized egg (duck or chicken) with a nearly developed embryo inside. This egg will be boiled and eaten in shell alongside with either salt or vinegar with chili mixture to season their egg. It may not look or sound good at all, but the taste of it will surely captivate every taste buds that will try this food. Of course, many Filipinos does not find these foods as exotic and unlikely to be eaten especially "balut" which are sold every night on streets.

      As one travels in the provinces of the country, one will see that the delicacies become more and more exotic. This is not a surprise since Filipino will try to eat and cook every living thing in their surroundings or backyards. We could say that Filipinos does not care that much what the physical looks or attributes of a thing as long as they could eat them. Whether it's crunchy or slimy, Filipino delicacies are sure to be tasty and healthy. Many Filipinos will try to use every part of an animal as a source of their food. The resourcefulness of the Filipinos can be seen in this way.

Filipino Recipes - Testaments to Filipino Culture and Identity

        The words "Filipino" and "food" go together--you cannot truly know the first without knowing the latter.   n a recent visit to the Philippines for his show No Reservations on the Travel and Living Channel, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain observed that Filipino cuisine is "the only one that has both Chinese and Mexican influences." Aside from these two, Philippine cuisine derives its flavors from Spanish, Japanese, American, Indian, and Arabic cuisine. These flavors have crystallized into what is now distinctly Filipino food--a cuisine that is inspired by so many cultures, it has become unique--a delightful fusion all its own.

We Filipinos are very much a food-centric people, so to speak. Consider these: 

• We take at least five meals a day. Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are the requisite snacks in between which we call merienda. 
• A wedding or baptismal is rarely just a family occasion, but a community gathering--from the cooking preparations to the actual reception itself.   During such occasions, particularly in the rural areas, every woman known to the family within a kilometer radius takes it upon herself to come down and help in the cooking. It goes without saying, of course, that they she and her family are welcome to partake of the feast that she helped prepare.
• Each year, every town honors its patron saint in the form of a feast--an entire day in which every house welcomes and stuffs visiting relatives, friends, and friends of friends with food.  It is no matter if money is hard to come by. Filipinos will find a way to fill that table for the visitors come fiesta day, even if that means borrowing money and paying the interest long after the last chunk of caldereta or paella has been savored.
• We consider it bad manners to welcome a visitor into a home without serving him food. Just as we consider it good manners to offer others the food on our plate should they come upon us in the middle of a meal.

     To us Filipinos, food is more than sustenance.  It is an instrument for showing goodwill, fostering friendship, and strengthening families. It is no wonder that Filipinos consider Filipino recipes as more than a list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.  Different provinces or communities might have different versions of a particular Filipino dish.  A family might have its own secret recipe for it. As such, a recipe often becomes a marker of identity--a testament to a family or people's traditions--defining the Filipino's attachment to family and community, telling stories of bonding and friendship.

     We take at least five meals a day.  Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are the requisite snacks in between which we call merienda. 

     A wedding or baptismal is rarely just a family occasion, but a community gathering--from the cooking preparations to the actual reception itself.   During such occasions, particularly in the rural areas, every woman known to the family within a kilometer radius takes it upon herself to come down and help in the cooking. It goes without saying, of course, that they she and her family are welcome to partake of the feast that she helped prepare.

   Each year, every town honors its patron saint in the form of a feast--an entire day in which every house welcomes and stuffs visiting relatives, friends, and friends of friends with food.  It is no matter if money is hard to come by.  Filipinos will find a way to fill that table for the visitors come fiesta day, even if that means borrowing money and paying the interest long after the last chunk of caldereta or paella has been savored.

     We consider it bad manners to welcome a visitor into a home without serving him food. Just as we consider it good manners to offer others the food on our plate should they come upon us in the middle of a meal.

     To us Filipinos, food is more than sustenance.  It is an instrument for showing goodwill, fostering friendship, and strengthening families.

   It is no wonder that Filipinos consider Filipino recipes as more than a list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.  Different provinces or communities might have different versions of a particular Filipino dish.  A family might have its own secret recipe for it. As such, a recipe often becomes a marker of identity--a testament to a family or people's traditions--defining the Filipino's attachment to family and community, telling stories of bonding and friendship.

The Importance of Fashion in the Philippines

           Fashion nowadays is very important for a variety of reasons. Other people around you perceive you by the way you present yourself. Dressing up appropriately will help you give a good impression on others and people will see you as a person with high self esteem. 

            Fashion is very broad when it comes to tips available for people, regardless of who you are and the way you chose to dress. You may find some of these tips very useful for you, while some, might not fit your mood or taste. The most important thing when it comes to fashion is dressing up for comfort thus making you feel confident and beautiful. You should dress up not to impress anyone but to make yourself feel good. Dressing up comfortably helps make you look appealing and beautiful. Make up also plays a big role when it comes to fashion. Avoid wearing too much make up as this will tend to make you look quite unprofessional and untidy most of the time. Applying just the right amount of make up to the eyes and lips is enough to make you look fresh and clean.           Accessories can help a lot in making your own fashion statement. Remember, a wardrobe can become more fashionable if you add in a little of the correct and right accesories. Make sure as well that the shoes you wear goes along with your wardrobe. The same principle also goes for the bag that you use. Make sure the jewelries you use are neutral ones so that it will go along with all the wardrobes that you have. Your wardrobes should also include basic neutral colors like black, white, beige and brown. These colors never go out of style. You should also consider theses colors when it comes to your make up as well. We all have different body types which may be far from the perfect figure. With that said, it is advisable that you find styles and colors which will compliment the kind of figure you have. Tailored outfits, which maybe costly at times, can be really flattering to whatever kind of figure you have. The main thing is, make sure your outfit fits you properly to compliment the body that you have.         Regardless whether you re going out for a formal dinner date or a casual afternoon outing, always make sure you try to look your best. Inexpensive yet simple things can help a lot in achieving the specific look that you want. Example for this would be a simple necklace or a nice pair of heels.       When it comes to make up, less is always more. To cover any imperfections like freckles, pimples or uneven skin tone, use a concealer that matches your skin color. Don t overdo it if you don t want to look like a clown. Don t wear too much dark makeup. Light colors like pink or light brown, when used on the lips, can help you appear looking fresh and natural. Remember, the eyes and lips are the first thing that people notice so make sure that you enhance them properly with the right kind of make up shade.

      Keeping up with fashion doesn t have to be time consuming or expensive. Just make sure you have the basics and you have the right wardrobe that fits your personality. Mixing and matching outfits together will help you come up with a fashion statement that it uniquely your own.

Express Yourself Through Tattoos Beauty Beyond the Pain

When you see a tattooed person, what do you initially see? What do you feel? If you are an old fashioned individual, I’m sure you eyed him with alarming disapproval. I bet you felt formidable disgust and disdain, too. If you are someone who thinks tattoos are the next big thing since chocolates (at least to me, that is) then you surely are full of envy as well as praises for him. To think that he was able to withstand all the pain!     Tattoos and tattooing have been in existence as long as man has. During ancient times, they have been regarded as social symbols of tribes, primeval kings and queens, priests and priestesses. In this day and age, anyone can get a tattoo. Lovers permanently imprint each other’s names on their own bodies to prove their love, friends choose identical designs as symbols of their friendship, and rock stars get tattoos to show how hard core they can be. You can get one, too! Health Risks Before you everlastingly mark yourself however, you need to think about it a million times. Tattoos, after all are permanent and will not vanish on their own. It will fade in time if not rightly cared for but it will always be visible on your skin. The first thing you need to do is to find a tattoo shop and a tattoo artist that you truly put your trust into. Make sure the shop is clean. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions. You are entitled to know that there will be no complications whatsoever as after effects. Is the place approved by the health board? This is primarily the question you need to address before you have yourself inked. Design There are several varieties of designs and styles to choose from depending on your choice. You can even design your own. The important thing is you are aimed on using that particular symbol and embraced the idea that it will forever be imprinted on your body. Make careful deliberation. Do you really want to infinitely etch your present girlfriend’s face on your chest? What if you eventually break up? Think about it. Don’t go for the design just because it’s cute. Tattoos are ways of expressing yourself so make sure that you choose one that depicts you and not some cartoon character. The PAIN Pain is subjective. It depends on your own tolerance. The toughest man on the planet might feel the most excruciating pain of the needle jabbing into his body part while there might be some who will feel less pain or none at all. Some may even compare it to how being shot by a stun gun or a TASER feels like. The intensity of the pain depends on several factors such as the area of the body where you would like to get the tattoo on, and the intricacies of the design, among others. Bodily areas that have larger concentrations of nerves and bone are inclined to be the most sensitive for tattooing. People get tattoos on their upper arms due to the fact that the muscle tissues are thicker in this area. To express yourself through this art form means that you are ready to endure the pain that goes with the process. Getting a tattoo should not be a half hearted decision.

Author Resource:- Annabelle Lehoux is martial arts instructor and the co-founder of Self Defense Products Depot which offers high quality of products such as hidden safe, personal alarm and stun gun for your personal safety. To learn more on how these products can protect you, please visit http://www.self-defense-products-depot.com/