If you are planning a trip to the Philippines, it would help you to understand a few things about Filipino culture, including how Filipinos greet each other. It may not be expected to suit your culture, but as the saying goes, “when in Rome, do what the Romans do.” In the same way, when in the Philippines, you could also try greeting Filipinos Filipino style. This will make you feel more at home in the beautiful country, which is the Philippines, and it will make Filipinos feel more comfortable with you.
Kissing the cheeks is a means of greeting that is often seen in other countries, but is rarely practiced in the Philippines, especially among strangers and not-too-close acquaintances. Cheek kisses, if at all, are usually only between close friends and family members.
Filipinos typically greet each other with a smile, a greeting, 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 long time greet each other regularly and then follow up with comments about each other’s physical appearance. Some people find this a bit rude, but Filipinos are quite used to this by now, and most of them are not insulted by this.
You won’t often see or hear Filipinos greeting strangers, especially foreigners, on street corners. It is not in their culture to do that. But that doesn’t mean they are snobbish. 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 will have your entire itinerary planned so that 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 be sure that you are in good hands.
A Filipino girl can be a lot of fun too. He can make you laugh with stories from his childhood in the province and his school life. If the Filipina is already working, she will also have many interesting things to tell about her co-workers. Just listening to her talk about her life is already quite an entertainment, and there is still so much to discover and love about her!
Filipinos are smart and resourceful. Although education is not practically 100% free, even in many public schools in the country, education is made accessible to most Filipinos. Many receive quality education and this is evident when communicating with Filipino women.
Knowing how Filipinos greet each other is very interesting indeed, but it is definitely not the only thing that makes Filipinos great.
