If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, it might be good for you to understand a few things about Filipino culture, including the way Filipinos greet each other. You may not be expected to adapt to their culture, but as the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In the same way, when you are in the Philippines, you might as well try to greet Filipinos in the Filipino way. This will make you feel more at home in the beautiful country that is the Philippines, and will make Filipinos easily fond of you.
Cheek kissing is a form of greeting often seen in other countries, but not generally practiced in the Philippines, especially between strangers and not-so-close acquaintances. Kisses on the cheek, if they are done at all, are usually only between close friends and family members.
Filipinos normally greet each other with a smile, a wave, a handshake, and saying “Hello, kumusta ka?” In English the greeting means “hello, how are you?” Friends who haven’t seen each other in a while would make the usual greetings and then follow them up with comments about each other’s physical appearance. Some people find this a bit rude, but Filipinos are pretty used to this by now, and most of them don’t feel insulted by it.
You won’t often see or hear Filipinos greeting strangers, especially foreigners, on street corners. Not in their culture to do that. But that doesn’t mean they’re snobs. In fact, when you meet a Filipina deep down, you will know that she is an interesting being.
Filipinos are generally hospitable. They will not make you feel awkward or uncomfortable. They will go the extra mile to accommodate your needs, and have your entire itinerary planned for you so you have something fun to do every minute of the day. Filipinos are proud of their heritage; They will take you to the best places in the city, to live parties and festivals, and to taste their delicious dishes. Filipino hospitality is well known throughout the world, and extends to anyone, regardless of social class or color. So when you are in the company of a Filipino, you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
A Filipino girl can also be a lot of fun. She can make you laugh with stories of her childhood in the province as well as her school life. If the Filipina is already working, she will also have many interesting things to say about her co-workers. Just listening to her talk about her life is quite an entertainment, and there is still so much to discover and love about her!
Filipina women are smart and resourceful. Although education is not practically 100% free, even in many public schools in the country, education is becoming accessible to the majority of Filipinos. Many receive quality education and this is evident when you communicate with Filipino women.
Knowing how Filipinos greet each other is very interesting indeed, but it’s definitely not the only thing that makes Filipinos great.