Being a Filipino-American- just a few statements

I was born in the Philippines but moved here when i was only 3months old. So I grew up here in the US and just visit the Philippines usually annually. I grew up speaking English and Tagalog. I am not fluent in Tagalog there but can understand everything in Tagalog. I grew up with the same basic customs in the house that my parents grew up with except am more fortunate than when they were younger. We are very religious considering most people in the Philippines are and are mostly Catholic unlike here where there is a wide variety of religions. I do not get to celebrate all of the holidays those in the Philippines get to though since it is different here but my parents still acknowledge those holidays in our house.

Transportation

Here in the US, we have:

• Busses
• Cars
• Subway

In the Philippines there are:

• cars
• jeepneys
• tricycles
•  mopeds

Jeepneys are basically like buses  just with another name.

Tricycles are motorcycles with an attachment where passengers ride in.

But most of the people just end up walking.

More General Things

Since the Philippines is considered more family oriented to its natives,
kids are normally allowed to go out and play with other kids without adult supervision, walk to other houses alone, and even go to the market and mini stores by themselves or with other kids.

But be weary, if you are not somebody living there, some vendors will take advantage and overprice things and if you have children, somebody may try and kidnap them.

Household Rules and General Things

1. No shoes in the house
2. No bad grades(below an A is considered bad, at least for my parents)
3. There is typically a maid in almost every household in the Philippines
4. Don't bring the chickens inside the house
5. They tend to have many pets such as

• Dogs
• Cats
• Rabbits
• Guinea Pigs

And so on

• They also say don't kill the lizards since they are common in houses

Leisure Time

When i visit the Philippines, i see these things:

1. Men and boys drinking alcohol
2. So much karaoke
3. On the porch and just hanging out with family and friends since in the Philippines, everyone pretty much knows everyone in their district. It's more of a family environment than in the US
4. Playing guitar and singing
5. All the kids are ALWAYS outside playing games(not electronic games) like here in the US
6. Cooking is something they LOVE to do
7. Working on the farms
8. Malls (SM is a huge mall frnachise- it is also a grocery and clothing store like walmart)
9. Mall of Asia
10. Enchanted Kingdom

The people there do not usually watch TV; however, many cannot afford a TV. They aren't as technologically advanced as the US is thus they stick to non-electronic activities for the most part. 

Filipino Foods

I have noticed that Filipino foods have not really become a mainstream asian-american food like Chinese and Japanese foods have become. There are so many Chinese places to eat in America and people seem to love sushi.

So why not Filipino foods.

I mean sure, most of the foods are fried and unhealthy but it tastes so good. But it's not like Americans are the healthiest people either with the Giant fast food chains spread across America!

So readers, you can ponder over that because i cannot come up with a conclusion.

Filipino Holidays

In America, the holidays celebrated include:

• New Years
• MLK Jr. Day
• President's Day
• Christmas
• Thanksgiving
• Veterans
• Columbus
• Memorial
• Independence
• Labor

and so on. 

In the Philippines they celebrate:

• New Years
• EDSA Revolution Day- Feb.22
• Labor Day
• Day of Valor-April 9
• Independence Day- June 12
• National Heroes Day- August 31
• All Saints Day- Nov.1
• Christmas
• Rizal Day-Dec.30

In addition to those holidays, there are so many Festival Holidays celebrated

An example- Fiesta of Santa Marta and San Juan Town Fiesta