51 Best things for being Pinoy
50. 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.
51. Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat five times a day?
52. 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.
53. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how
Pinoys understand exactly what you want.
54. Pinoy humor and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack
a joke. Nothing personal, really.
55. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we
buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small
affordable amounts?
56. 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.
57. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference,
filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.
58. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights
of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.
59. Beaches! With 7,000 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 and beautiful Boracay--over here, life is truly
a beach.
60. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste
typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly
unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
61. 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.
62. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter
if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot every time 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.
63. 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.
64. 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..
65. 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.
66. 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.
67. 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.
68. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with
puto. Best when mined with jalapei's peppers. Messy but delicious.
69. 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.
70. 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.
71. 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.
72. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood
ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.
73. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and
table manners--ah, heaven.
74. 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.
75. 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.
76. 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.
77. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio,
before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up
tastes.
78. 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.
79. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you
at your doorstep for as little as P7.00, with a complimentary dusting of
polluted air.
80. 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.
81. Yayas. 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.
82.. Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our
grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.
83. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian,
langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya,
singkamas--the possibilities!
84. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens,
public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan,
Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Gemma Cruz, 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, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V, Kris
Aquino, Piolo Pascual, Papa Wilie "wowowie."
85. 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, Charice, Manny
Pacquiao.
86. 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!
87. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate
Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las
Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal
Volcano. Palawan Underground River. A land of contrasts and
ever-changing landscapes.
88. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets.. How
the socially-disadvanta ged Pinoy copes.
89. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the
verticaly-challenge d Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession
that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
90. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed
Philippine history overnight.
91. San 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. Iba ng may pingasamahan!
92. 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 Gloria.
93. 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..
94. 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.
95. Ninoy Aquino.. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,''
and proving it.
96. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and
passion on a public stage.
97. 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.
98. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well
with any filling, best when hot.
99. 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?
100. 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.
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