WHat is Kadayawan?

Kadayawan is a yearly festival in Davao City. They call it the festival of all festivals in the entire Philippines. It is a celebration of the bountiful harvest from fruits to flowers. For this year, 2007, there were a lot more Mangosteen and Durian on the streets selling at a very low price. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is often heralded as the “Queen of Fruits” is a tropical evergreen tree. Durian is the “King of Fruits”, duri is thorn with Malay suffix that is –an (for building a noun in Malay) meaning “thorny fruit”

Hospitality

A stranger passing Filipinos who are eating will automatically be invited to "come and eat." It's polite to say you've already eaten. If people insist, or if there's an abundance of food such as at a wedding or fiesta, then by all means participate. Don't accept the first invitation. It's better to point out how inconvenient it would be for the host, or to make a polite excuse, then wait to see if you're pressed further. It's the Filipino way, enabling the visitor to gauge whether an invitation is genuine or not.

Travelers should always take into account the reverence Filipinos have for food. Regular mealtimes are strictly observed. When visiting a home, you'll be offered food and drink. It's polite to wait to be urged to sit at the table or begin eating. If you don't like the food, eat a little and make an excuse rather than reject it outright. Guests leave a little food on the plate to indicate they're satisfied.

Eating Habits & Hospitality

Filipinos love to eat, and since they're naturally hospitable and gregarious, food is the basis of their social life. Because the feeling of fulfillment after eating rice, their staple ingredient, is relatively short-lived, they eat three meals a day and two snacks in between. Filipinos, especially country folk, rise early. Some will eat a segundo almuerzo (second breakfast) around 10:30, plus a merienda, or mid-afternoon snack. Rural folk eat their main meal at midday, while city dwellers emphasize the evening meal. The diet of poor families is usually rice, fish, vegetables, interspersed with starchy snacks. At fiesta time, all families try to eat meat.

Since few provincial households own a refrigerator, ingredients are customarily either fresh or salted. Housewives go to the market daily to buy their immediate requirements. Leftovers rarely remain after a meal. Extra food is eaten by servants, helpers, and hangers-on, and scraps go to the dog or pig. Food isn't served in courses; people like the complete meal laid out before them so that they can eat simultaneously from all dishes—soup, meat, and vegetables—at random. Cooks provide condiments, flavorings, and dipping sauces to be used at the diner's discretion. Food is eaten with a fork in one hand and a spoon in the other, knives are seldom used. Rural Filipinos prefer to use their hands. Some upscale native restaurants in Manila serve food this way (kamayan-style).

Teaching the word "po" and "opo"

This is the most treasure Filipino values that we have. Teaching to our kids to say "po" and "opo".
Most of kids growing here in Philippines are forgotten to say that word.” po” and “ opo” and that make me sad. As a Filipino we are known as very polite person especially in how we treating the elders. As a mother we are responsible to teaching our kids the good values so that they will grow up in a good way. I am aware in our generation right now some of us they never even call their older brother as "Kuya" or older sister as "Ate", they called by their first name and this is not good to hear that one of Filipino values is fading. I think they are trying to adopt what the culture where they grew up. Mostly some of our “ Kababayan” when they back here in the Philippines they will change their attitude likes the way they speak, dress and even their attitude. I believe that even you are speaking english but it doesn't mean that you have to stop how to treat a person as a Filipino . You are the mother you need to guide your child to be a good person not only in you but also to all people that she/he encounter in their life.

Pancit Bihon

My son really want to eat a Filipino foods especially pancit bihon. Most of the time being a Filipino every time we had an occasion we don't missed to prepared the pancit bihon because we believe that it is the sign for long life, isn't it? That's why I want to shared it to you the recipe for how to make a delicious pancit bihon:

· 1 tbsp. cooking oil · 1/2 lb. pork, sliced · 2 cloves garlic, minced · 1 onion, sliced · 1 large carrot, julienne · 1 red bell pepper, julienne · patis (fish sauce), salt, pepper and soy sauce to taste · 2 cups chicken broth or water · 1 cup cabbage leaves, cut into thin strips · 1/2 lb. pancit bihon (rice sticks noodles) · wedges of lemon or calamansi, for garnish

Cooking Procedures :
1. Rinse pancit bihon with tap water. Drain. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet. Stir-fry pork slices until no longer pink in color.
3. Add garlic and onion. Sauté for a few minutes until soft.
4. Season with patis, salt, pepper and soy sauce to taste.
5. Add julienne carrots and red bell peppers. Stir-fry for a few minutes.
6. Add chicken broth or water. Correct the seasoning.
7. Heat until boiling and add the drained pancit bihon.
8. Let it simmer and stir to loosen the noodles (separate noodles by using a fork and a ladle).
9. Add a little more water or broth if you notice that is almost dry up and noodles ("pancit") are not yet cooked well. You may also add soy sauce if you find it pale and taste bland.10. Add cabbage leaves (do not overcook) and then turn off the heat. Mix well.11. Serve with lemon wedges or calamansi.

DO’S and DON’T’S

Being a Filipino there are some of tradition that we use to be followed:

• When attending a special occasion, avoid wearing sandals. Wearing proper shoes is a sign that the event is important to you.

• Do invite people at least three times. Local residents are taught that it is proper to refuse the first time or two. To them, insistence is a clear sign that the offer or invitations is genuine.

• Do give the local residents a way out of a situation so he or she can save face, thus avoiding embarrassment.

• Don't use the common sign of O.K. In the local community, it means money. However, a thumbs- up sign is more polite.

• Don't use your forefinger upward to call a local resident-it is considered somewhat degrading. One way of calling is to beckon with the hand in gentle downward motion. Pssst is another popular way to get someone's attention. As a rule however, it is preferred to call the person by name. It is even better to use nicknames, because these are reserved for close friends.

• Smiling is a form of friendship and a form of greeting.

• Do show respect for age - use the proper title to address elders and relations

Philippine Culture

The people of the Philippines, otherwise known as Filipino’s, are basically a mix of Malay, Chinese, American, Spanish and Arab blood. This can be traced back from a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture. Although Pilipino is the official national language, English is considered the country’s unofficial one.

Character-wise, the Filipino is a little bit of all the above said cultures put together. The spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is also a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. It makes them legendary in Southeast Asia alongside their emotion and passion for life.

Introducing Myself

Hello guys I'm Janet Paculanan Perez, 24 years old. Mother is pure Visaya and my father is Ilokano that's why I'm purely Filipino from heart and action. I'm living in Philippines together with my family and my 2 kids. I'm really look Filipino with long hair, little girl and has brown complexion. My parent race us with love and respect to all people that's why I and husband also did the same to our kids. I really love a Filipino foods and enjoy my life with my family. I'm happy with my husband Erly John Perez together our 2 kids John Angelo Perez and Jane Angela Perez. Now I'm happy because our relationship is getting more stronger eventhough sometimes there are alots of struggle that we face it. Hoping that even in the other world still we were together.