The Philippines: Here are 7 Things I Learned After Marrying a Filipina.
By Shaun Shuler
“I've always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to.”~Manny Pacquiao
In 2009, I met a Filipina named Genette, and my introduction to Filipino culture began. After we got married in November 2011, the following year was my first trip to the Philippines and I simply fell in love with the place and the people. Although I have only been to the Philippines five times, I enjoy myself every time, that when it’s time to go home to America, it feels like I’m leaving a piece of my heart behind.
Here are 7 Things I Have Learned About the Philippines:
#1-Pictures, Pictures, Pictures
If you’re like me and would prefer to be behind the camera instead of in front of it, just know you will be in lots and lots of photos. Taking pictures is a major exercise for most Filipinos. They will take pictures of everything and everyone.
Pictures with food?✔️
Pictures with nature?✔️
Pets?✔️
Selfie’s?✔️
Groufies?✔️
You get the picture…pun intended.
So, prepare your smiley muscles and check your teeth before going anywhere with a Filipino!
#2-Filipinos Love To Eat
Boodle Fight which is part of the Filipino culture
In the Philippines, eating is basically a national past time and you will never go hungry in the Philippines or if you know a Filipino.
Everywhere you go you will find food, be it malls, or establishments, even the streets will be lined up with food stands. When you get stuck in traffic, vendors will come to your window selling fish crackers, boiled eggs, peanuts and the like.
Any gathering big or small, you can expect to have a scrumptious feast when Filipinos are involved. They love to feed people from pansit (lo mein), lumpia (egg rolls), adobo (pork or chicken marinated in soy sauce), to a myriad of foods with a Boodle meal (pictured above). This is food served on top of banana leaves and everyone partakes of the meal without utensils. And of course, do not forget RICE. Everything is eaten with rice, even spaghetti. Fast food burger restaurants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s serve fried chicken with rice or spaghetti, not something they do here in America.
However, if you are like me, and think that’s a little weird, I must let you know that…
#3-They Also Have Odd Food Delicacies
As a picky eater, this has been a challenge for me. I find something I like and I stick to it, in America or wherever I am, so I am never disappointed. Full disclosure, I haven’t tried anything I found to be extremely odd in the Philippines, I just usually stick to kanin (rice), manok (chicken), and pork baboy (pork), but if you are the adventurous type you can try:
Balut- a developing bird embryo (usually a duck) that is boiled and eaten from the shell.
Soup #5-a soup made from a bull’s sex organs...need I say more?
Isaw-a street food made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines.
Nothing is wasted in the Philippines when it comes to food. Any part of a living thing can be cooked like pig heads, pig stomachs, fish eyes, cow tongues, and pork blood. Everything can be made into a meal.
#4-Travel Can Be An Adventure
A jeepney
My 1st Tricycle ride 2012
With almost 2,000,000 people, the city of Manila is considered the most densely populated city in the world. So, with cars, buses, jeepneys, tricycles, bicycles, motorcycles and people on foot, there are plenty of reasons why the roads are congested. Crossing the busy streets is like a real life game of Frogger. People will go from the far-right lane, 8 lanes over to the far-left lane during rush hour simply by blowing their horns and using their signals.
Sometimes when there’s too much traffic, the authorities will stop vehicles going in one direction and use all lanes as a counter flow. This is awesome if you are with the traffic going in the same direction but if you’re on the other end then you will need a lot of patience.
Another system they use to reduce the traffic in and around Manila is a coding system where depending upon the last number of your license plate you are not allowed to drive your vehicle on a certain day of the week on major roads.
#5-Family is Everything
I’m not saying family isn’t a big deal in America or in other countries, but you can’t ignore the importance of the closeness of family by Filipinos. It is not uncommon to cram 20+ people in a small house for a family lunch.
Now when the relatives come together, the food is overflowing on the table, there is endless chatter with people trying to out talk each other, all the children running around, and of course karaoke blaring with a few fighting over the microphone. In these gatherings there is always love, laughter, and fun and you know all of these people will have your back no matter what.
Coming from a small family, I wasn’t used to these types of large get-togethers at first, but it is one of the endearing aspects of the Filipino culture. Not to mention I am so blessed to have the best Mother-in-law and Father-in-law a husband could ask for! Kamusta Mommy Luv and Daddy Luv!!!
#6-Filipinos are Loving, Generous, and Resilient
Outreach with Pink Women on Fire in Zambales near Mt. Pinatubo
In a part of the world where natural disasters happen frequently, there is no short supply of Filipinos wanting to help. Being located in the ring of fire, earthquakes are frequent, they average about 20 typhoons a year and have about 23 active volcanoes.
Every time my wife and I have gone to the Philippines we have brought with us “goody bags” and partnered with great people like the Medicard Foundation, Pink Women on Fire, or the Central United Methodist Church to reach out to the street children in Manila, the capital, and the surrounding areas. Those who organize these events and the volunteers that come out and help us are simply an amazing gift from GOD. Even if we are not physically present, we, along with other caring individuals here in the US, continue to support these groups knowing their heart is to serve.
#7-The Land of Breathtaking Beauty
Near Coron, Palawan
Whether it is the amazing blue waters of Palawan Island in the west or,
Batan Island
the beautiful hills of Batan Island in the far north or,
Taal Volcano
the majestic Taal Volcano located south of Manila (which just recently erupted, so prayers go out to all those affected).
These are just a few amazingly beautiful places to be found throughout the Philippines that I have been to. Now there are still many, many other breathtaking places to visit that I haven’t had the chance to yet like:
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
The white sands of Boracay
The Kawasan Falls in Cebu
The Banaue Rice Terraces
Mt. Mayon in Legazpi City
This is just to name a few and with over 7,000 islands there is plenty to explore when going to the Philippines.
I can talk so much about the Philippines as I have come to love this amazing place as my second home. If you have never been, make sure to put it on your bucket list, you will never regret it.
If you enjoyed this check out my article on 6 Strange Food Combos I Found in a Filipino Grocery Store.
Thank you for visiting and please leave any comments, questions, prayer requests, or ideas for new topics you’d like for me to discuss in the comment box below.
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