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100 Best Things About Being a Pinoy

What is being a Pinoy all about--aside from pointing with our lips and having an action star for our President? We talked among ourselves and we tried to come up with the 100 best things about being a Pinoy. Okay, okay! So, the idea is not so original, after all, the Philippine Sunday Inquirer Magazine already published their 100 Best Things in their centennial issue. But we tried to do this on our own, without referring to the SI's article (really!).

We hope that these will make you smile and will make you laugh. Above all, we sincerely hope that these things will make you proud of being a Pinoy.

1. Simbang Gabi. Nine dawn masses during the Christmas season. Attended by the religious, the people with panata, the uzis, and the girl and boy watchers. Of course, Simbang Gabi is not complete without the mouth-watering bibingka and puto bumbong sold outside the church.

2. Tabô. An absolute way of identifying a kabayan in a foreign land.

3. Po at opo. Shows the importance and respect accorded to the elderly and the authority. Children in the Tagalog areas are taught (trained?) to say po and opo before and after every sentence.

4. Tingi-tingi. Where else can we buy one tablespoon of Star margarine, peanut butter, or matamis na bao? Or a 10 ml shampoo and a five gram toothpaste in a sachet?

5. Sawsawan. Patis, toyo at kalamansi, suka at sili. Spices up ordinary dishes and gives one freedom to experiment with various concoctions. What better way to stimulate the appetite? Hmmm!

6. San Miguel Beer. Considered to be one of the world's best. Para sa Pinoy, iba ang may pinagsamahan.

7. Kakanin. Puto, kutsinta, sapin-sapin, suman sa ibus, bibingka, puto bungbong, maja blanka, bico, atbp. What would fiestas, Pasko, Bagong Taon, at Pista ng Patay be without these native delicacies?

8. Kutkutin. Butong pakwan, kalabasa, kornik, at mani. Sa lamayan, sa handaan, sa inuman, o sa kuwentuhan, kutkutin ang kailangan.

9. Parol. The Pinoy symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. Bright and colorful, the parol adorns every household during the Christmas season.

10. Pambahay. Ang isang Pinoy, naka-amerikana man sa opisina o kaya'y naka-uniporme sa eskuwela, ay siguradong magpapalit sa duster, puruntong, o kaya'y t-shirt pag-uwi ng bahay. At 'di tulad ng mga dayuhan na ang tsinelas ay sapatos pa rin, ang tsinelas ng Pinoy ay Spartan, bakya, o kaya'y abaca.

11.Song translations. Foreign song hits translated to Filipino to become more madamdamin.

12.Dirty Ice Cream. Well-loved by Filipino children, the dirty ice cream is pedalled from one household to another. This ice cream comes in the usual cones and sometimes, on bread bunwiches. It costs cheap and has a variety of flavors - cheese, mango, avocado, chocolate. Name it and the Mamang Sorbetero has it!

13.Balut, penoy. Balut is the luscious embryo of ducks. Penoy, on the other hand, is also duck egg but without the baby duck. Both are Pinoy delicacies and both are very nutritious. As they say, "Ang balut at penoy ay pampalakas ng tuhod".

14.Choc-nut. Who could ever forget Choc-nut, the sweet mini peanut butter bars which give everyone, young and old alike, delight? As they say, once you get to taste it, there's no stopping your asking for more!

15.Sabong. The Filipino term for cock derby, sabong is a favorite Pinoy pasttime, especially in the rural communities. It has its own mechanics and rules which make the game more exciting.

16.Ninoy Aquino. A model of bravery and self-sacrifice, he is certainly one Pinoy whom we can be truly proud of. He has uttered the words "A Filipino is worth dying for" and has thus proven this by offering his life for the Filipino people.

17.Sing-a-long. This is a clear proof of the Filipino's love for music. Everywhere you go, may it be in bars, in small restaurants or even in carnivals, you'll always find a sing-a-long machine (which can be considered as the modern version of juke box stations). Just drop a coin or two and pronto!!! - you'll hear the latest songs on play.

18.Christmas season. We are the folks to observe the longest Christmas season. And why not? The spirit of giving and sharing is in our hearts.

19.Soap operas. Flor de Luna, Gulong ng Palad, Anna Luna, Mula sa Puso. Long before the telenovelas became hits in t.v., these soap operas captured the interest of the Filipino viewing masses. With themes tackling the ups and downs of life, these programs continued to touch and influence the lives of many.

20.Pinoy Komiks. Aliw, Hiwaga, Liwayway. Long before international magazines like Glamour, Vogue, Teen, etc. came out in circulation, these Pinoy publications were printed and suited for the needs of the Filipino masses.

21.Ano, kuwan, eh. These are the expressions Filipinos use when they find themselves at a loss for the words. It is common to hear a Filipino saying "yung ano" or "yung kuwan" at the middle of a conversation. Amusing, isn't it? These 'word-gap-fillers' certainly work. What's amazing is that we manage to understand each other even when we're not certain about what the other is talking about!

22.Halo-halo. A very delicious refreshment that offers a variety of native sweets. Halo-halo is more than just a desert, it is a meal in itself.

23.Multo, kapre, tikbalang, manananggal, tik-tik, duwende. Spooky creatures that added spice to our childhood adventures. Stories about these grotesque creatures never fail to amaze us.

24.Jeans. Comfort is a very important factor to consider when we're expressing our fashion statement and there's no doubt, we find comfort in jeans.

25.Hilod. Long before loofah invaded the Filipinos bathrooms, hilod was the available "scouring pad" of our bodies. It just proves that we Filipinos value personal hygiene.

26.Darna, Dyesebel, Cap't Barbel, Lastik Man, Kenkoy. They are the Filipino superheroes who were created by the imaginative minds of Filipino cartoonists and artists. Initially introduced in print media, these characters also appeared in television when special cartoon shows and movies were created for them.

27.Kamag-anak. A Filipino has hundreds of kamag-anak. Filipinos value kinship so much that we acknowledge even the "pamangkin of the pinsan of the bayaw of the kapatid...."

28.CJ de Silva. If da Vinci or Van Gogh were still alive, they would truly hail this very young painter who is, well, a Pinay.

29.Sarao jeepney. A showcase of the Filipino ingenuity, the jeepney is the assembled remnants of World War II. You have to agree with us , it's much more economical to ride jeepneys, especially in these days of economic slump.

30.Tricycles, sidecars, pedicabs. Thank God for these vehicles which can squeeze in at even the narrowest "eskinita" in our country and for the pedicab drivers who furiously pedal to bring us to our destinations.

31.Philippine Eagle. This magnificent, royal, and endangered bird is Filipino, too. Now, if only we could save them from extinction.

32.Terno, baro't saya, Barong Tagalog. One of the unique and best ways of representing the Pinoys abroad.

33.Paeng, Akiko, Lydia, Bea, Onyok, Eric, etc. They make their fellows Pinoys and Pinays gleam with pride and hope that we will soon be recognized as champions in the Olympic games.

34.Resilience. Spanish colonization, American rule, Japanese invasion, earthquakes, typhoons, Martial Law, coup d'etats, El Niño-we have seen them all, we have survived them all.

35.Padala. This is the Filipino system of delivery or door-to-door remittances. It is usual to hear an OFW asking a companion to drop an item or two for his family back at the Philippines.

36.Nora at Vilma. Celebrities who have the largest circle of LOYAL fans. We should thank them for gracing the Philippine cinema and stage with their charisma, extraordinary talents, and unique beauties.

37.Dolphy. The greatest Filipino comedian of all times. Pidol is the longest living, too.

38.Sarsi. You're not a Filipino if you haven't had a gulp of this sarsaparilla. Known to many as the Filipino root beer, Sarsi has a distinctive Filipino taste.

39.Jollibee. The Filipino version of McDonald's, this food chain has captured the taste of the Filipinos with its specialties like the Yum, the Champ, and the palabok fiesta. Tayo nang magpunta sa Jollibee at langhapin ang sarap dito!

40.Divisoria. Divisoria offers a variety of items to choose from at very, very low price-shoes, shirts, bags, textiles, candles, toys. Name it and Divisoria has it!

41.Bahay-Kubo. The traditional humble homes of Filipinos in the provinces. This structure, which is made from materials like pawid, kugon, and nipa, manifests the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Filipinos.

42.Siesta. When the sun is at its peak, what else can one do? Well, we ordinarily spend our afternoons taking a break from school or office work or even from household chores by snoozing. We have devised a way of elluding the heat of the noonday sun. Thank heavens, there's such a thing as siesta!

43.Balikbayan Box. They say that Filipinos are inherently generous, especially when it comes to giving pasalubong and other presents. Well, this is one of the clear proofs that we surely are generous! Balikbayans come home with 2 × 2 × 2 ft boxes filled with corned beef, shampoos, and bars of soaps which are to be given to their relatives and friends.

44.Pasalubong. Ang ina-abangan ng lahat-ang pasalubong. Pumunta man sa ibang bansa, sa kabilang barrio, o sa kabilang kanto, kailangan may dalang pasalubong.

45.Pagmamano. Respect for the elders can be shown in various ways. Pagmamano is THE Filipino way.

46.Bayanihan. Put simply. It's pagtutulngan sa oras ng pangangailangan.

47.San Lorenzo Ruiz. The first Filipino saint, he is an exemplar of courage and martyrdom for the Catholic faith. Thank heavens we have him for a saint. At least now, we can be assured that someone up there is praying for the Filipino people.

48.Kapit-bahay. He lives outside of your house, he's certainly not an outsider to your family. He's someone you frequently chat with when you have nothing else to do at home. You share your blessing with him, even your family's viand for the day. Yes, that's your friendly neighbor.

49.Filipino folktales. Who could ever forget the intrepidity of Lam-ang, the struggles of Malakas at Maganda, and the salient idleness of Juan Tamad? Well, these are the stories Filipino children grew up with. Passed on from generation to another by word of mouth, these folk tales continue to enrich the heritage of the Filipinos.

50.Bagoong. Who could ever say no to manggang hilaw topped with mouth-watering bagoong? Well, I can't.! Bagoong, one the Pinoy's specialties, is made from small fishes or shrimps. Despite its not so attractive appearance, bagoong simply is irrisistible.

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