Part 1:Only in the Philippines

There are things that some expats or tourists couldn't understand about us Filipinos.  Even us, we don't know exactly where some mannerisms started.  Just like our endemic species, there are also some mannerisms that are, as we fondly call it, found 'only in the Philippines'.

1. Pointing with our Lips 

Source of Picture

We have a famous old character in a lot of Filipino stories, named Juan Tamad.  Juan is a Filipino name that, I guess is rooted down from our Spanish roots, and Tamad stands for lazy.  Now base on its definition it's clear that Juan Tamad is a very lazy character, and in Filipino stories he was said to have done all things in the most lazy fashion imaginable.  I think this habit was inspired from that, because I don't know with you but I think pointing using your lips is one heck of a lazy way of pointing something.  Well yeah, other than the possibility of using your eyes.  Well now that's even more pathetic.

2. Dipping our Pan de sal in our Coffee

Now this is widely done back in the olden days, and I'm quite sure it is too until today.  Pan de sal is a special kind of bread that we used to eat for breakfast.  Well not really for breakfast, but before breakfast.  Yes we eat twice for breakfast every time we have pan de sal with us.  What we do is we dip the bread in the coffee, and take sips every now and then.  After we're done eating the bread we'll finish the coffee that has usually some bits of bread from all the dipping.

3. Getting someone's attention by saying Pssstt! 

Source 

Yes it might sound rude for some but we do that.  So if you could hear someone saying Pssstt! he or she must be a Filipino.  No doubt!

4. Finding humor even in a gloomy situation.

Kid: 'Sir do we have class today?

Teacher: Yes, we do.

Oh my! Mister Officer! Shooting with his finger.  Must be deadly! tsk tsk tsk

I think we are just naturally fond of humor to the point that we look for it even during floods or any calamities or crisis that would go our way.

5.  We have weird way of replying to some questions.

Person A: San ka na?  [Where are you?]

Filipino: Malapit na ako. Sandali nalang.  [I'm already near, just wait a bit.]

Person A: Kain tayo. [Let's eat!]

Filipino: Sige lang, busog pa ako. (even when we're really hungry) [It's ok, I'm still full.]