Trivia Pinoy

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Pore through these funny yet interestingly enough, accurate representation of our petty idiosyncrasies, although some are grossly exaggerated. Link below on the designated topic for more trivia.

This Video is of Manila Circa 1938.

100 Best things about being Pinoy.

To Trivia Pinoy 2

2ND GENERATION PINOY

You Know You're 2nd Generation Pilipino When.....

1) You understand a lot of Tagalog, but can hardly speak it.

2) Make fun of your parents' accents.

3) As a child, you were totally embarrassed to eat spaghetti with sliced hot dogs in it. Now, there is absolutely no way you will eat spaghetti without the hot dogs. In fact, you suggest to your non-Filipino friends that hot dogs make spaghetti taste better.

4) As a child, you hated being Filipino.

5) Now, you wear Pinoy Pride T-shirts.

6) You still wear Tsinelas (slippers).

7) You still take off your shoes when entering a house.

8) (Southern California) You've ever lived in Baldwin Park, Carson,Cerritos, the shitty part of L.A., West Covina, Walnut or Diamond Bar.(Northern California) You've lived in Union or Daly City.(Hawaii) You've lived in Kalihi or Waipahu or in a plantation townlike Kihei, Kekaha, Kau, or Keaau

9) You don't steal things (i.e., towels, soaps, tissues, cups) hotelrooms like your parents did. And when you do take things, you denythat the action is not a Filipino trait.

10) You don't care if a T-shirt was made in the Philippines or the USA.As long as it has a designer label on it, you'll wear it.

11) You like shopping in small Filipino markets or the 99 Ranch, but you can't stand the way it smells in there.

12) As a child, you cursed your mom for feeding you Sinigang and Adoboall the time, instead Of eating at McDonald's once in awhile. Now,it's a special treat when your mom cooks Sinigang or Adobo.

13) You know how to cook at least one Filipino dish.

14) You know what fried Tuyo smells like.

15) You don't go to church anymore.

16) Diniguan or "chocolate meat" still grosses you out.

17) You still exhibit "tightwad" traits like buying a small soda(instead of medium or large which costs 20 cents more) when it'sall you can drink.

18) You'd rather wash dishes with your hands than use your dishwasherbecause it wastes more water.

19) You still like Lumpia and Pansit.

20) You say Paanset (American pronunciation) instead of Pansit.

21) You still like Lechon but the pig's head still freaks you out.

22) You still find Balut disgusting.

23) You think you're all that when you go back to the Philippinesbecause you don't speak with an accent, your skin is fairer than the natives', and you have cool clothes - not hand-me-downs fromrelatives in the States.

24) You think all Filipino (VHS) movies are funny, even when the movieis a drama.

25) You actually believe that you could become a Filipino movie starback home because you think you're better looking than the Filipinos back home.

26) You can't stand to look at pictures of you as a young child becauseyou looked like a Fob. (Hey, you were a Fob!)

27) You're disappointed at American parties where the only food to eatare small finger-type foods with names you can't pronounce. (How aboutthose vegetable sticks? Yuk!) You're even more disappointed whenthere is meat being served, but no rice! (YES, THOSE VEGGIE STICKS AND FINGER FOODS... BORING PARTIES!!!)

28) You eat Kentucky Fried Chicken with rice. Screw the
biscuits!(THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO EAT KFC THAN WITH RICE)

29) You still call your grandparents Lolo and Lola.

30) You dare not bring Balikbayan boxes with you when traveling back home! One suitcase will do just fine.

31) Sometimes your Filipino accent comes out accidentally and you get embarrassed about it.

32) Your non-Filipino friends and co-workers ask you if you've ever eaten dog.

33) Your college major was in computers, engineering, nursing or business. Filipinos don't major in philosophy, literature, history, sociology and other liberal arts. There's no money in it!

34) You think that President Marcos is still the Philippine resident. Do you know who the current president is? (NO)

35) You still eat Pandesal with butter, Vienna sausage or eggs.(IS THERE SOMETHING BETTER...DON'T THINK SO)

36) Your friends and coworkers don't call you by your Filipino nickname (i.e., Popoy, Bong, Jhun Jhun), although your family members and relatives still do.

37) Your parents' house still has the furniture you grew up with.

38) Although there are now creative ways to eat Spam, you still like it the classic Filipino way - fried with rice and ketchup. Same with corned beef except without the ketchup (FRIED SPAM WITH EGG & RICE...YUMMY - NOT WITH KETCHUP!)

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From the 1896 Revolution to the first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolt, and the tiger cub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, however, some things never change. Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for life. They're the indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins.

They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you only need mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from all over this Centennial-crazed country and in no particular order, are a hundred of the best things that make us unmistakably Pinoy

1. Merienda. Where else but in the Philippines is it normal to eat five times a day?

2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.

3. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want.

4. Pinoy humour and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.

5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable amounts?

6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.

7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.

8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.

9. Beaches! With 7000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.

10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.

11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.

12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot every time we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.

13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and "Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly.

14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle.

15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best.

16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower class mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our storytelling.

17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to your seat.

18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeso peppers. Messy but delicious.

19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful gowns.

20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.

21. Pakidala or padala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well.

22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.

23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven.

24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.

25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.

26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who swear by losely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.

27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes.

28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort.

29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as P3, with a complimentary dusting of polluted air.

30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.

31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.

32. Sarsi. Pinoy root beer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.

33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the possibilities are endless!

34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo
Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.

35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori.

36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, Halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon, longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the guys who put sugar & franks (horrors)in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!

37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.

38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.

39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the vertically - challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.

40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.

41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and cholesterol-rich chasers.

42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We'll survive Cory, Fidel, Erap, Gloria, and whoever comes next.

43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string.

44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all.

45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for," and proving it.

46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.

47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket and help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.

48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.

49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle East as well?

50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing.

51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home.

52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well!

53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the sun.

54. Hand-woven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.

55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several times.

56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.

57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for almost anything.

58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global marketplace.

59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.

60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus.

61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig (good-looking).

62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.

63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like one.

64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.

65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.

66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.

67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, over-accessorized jeepneys and altars, the list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it.

68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package. Mangoes.

69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.

70. Street food. Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.

71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.

72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.

73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando Malay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.

74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.

75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers. "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and Florante -living examples of our musical gift.

76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially now that those darned candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!

77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.

78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other.

79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.

80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"

81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.

82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes).

83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime, anywhere.

84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look.

85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans.

86. Filipino Christmas. The worlds longest holiday period. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion.

87. Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or referral.

88. Festivals. Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.

89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, karinosa, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm.

90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress.

91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materializes during a wake?

92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.

93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market?

94. All Saints' Day. In honouring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live.

95. Handicrafts. Shell craft, rattan craft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo wind chimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!

96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them.

97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.

98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spolarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed rice fields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.

99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso" they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.

100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.

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1) You're related to everyone.

2) Your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy."

3) You have uncles and aunts named Boy, Girlie, or Baby.

4) You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables, such as Jun-Jun, Ling-Ling, Mon-Mon, Ric-Ric.

5) You call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito"and "Tita."

6) All of your children have two or more names.

7) You greet your elders with respect by placing their hands to your forehead and asking for their blessing.

8) You always kiss your relatives on the cheek to say hello or goodbye.

9) Your grandmother greets you by giving you "smelling kisses."

10) You live with your parents even after you've married, divorced, separated or have children of your own.

11) You can't build or buy a house unless you first consult a feng shui expert.

12) Your house has a distinctive smell of the orient.

13) You display in your living room your family's framed diplomas, certificates, trophies and photos of relatives.

14) You decorate your dining room wall with a giant wooden spoon and fork and a picture of the Last Supper.

15) You keep your furniture wrapped in plastic or bed sheets to keep the dust away.

16) Most of your home decor is made out of wicker.

17) Your house has a "dirty" kitchen and a "clean" kitchen.

18) Your kitchen table has a vinyl tablecloth.

19) You recycle plastic shopping bags as garbage bags.

20) You have a piano or electronic music keyboard that no one plays.

21) You keep a "tabo" in your bathroom.

22) You own a "barrel man."

23) You use a stone to scrub yourself in the shower.

24) You use Vicks Vapor Rub as an insect repellent.

25) Your meal isn't complete without white rice.

26) You use your fingers to measure the water you need to cook rice.

27) You can't eat a meal without a spoon and fork.

28) When there is a party, you always cook three times more than what your visitors can consume.

29) Your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines.

30) You can't enjoy a meal without suka, patis or bagoong.

31) You eat fried Spam and hotdogs with rice.

32) You eat mangoes with rice - with great gusto.

33) You enjoy chocolate rice pudding and fried dried salted fish together for breakfast.

34) You tail an ambulance or a police car just to beat the traffic.

35) Your car horn can laugh, bark, or moo.

36) Your car plays a song when it backs up.

37) You can squeeze 15 passengers into your Mini or Honda Civic without a second thought.

38) You think traffic regulations are recommendations, not rules.

39) You think that traffic signs apply to everybody except yourself.

40) You think the best drivers are Filipinos.

41) You point to a direction by pouting your lips.

42) You eat using your hands and have it down to a technique.

43) Your other piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.

44) You always try your luck at check-in before departure by being overweight with your baggage.

45) You return after a holiday from the Philippines by smuggling karaoke or Filipino movie VCDs, exotic foods and fresh veggies that cannot be found anywhere in the world.

46) You collect items from hotels or restaurants "for souvenir's sake."

47) You go to a department store or any shop for that matter and try to bargain the listed prices.

48) You use an umbrella for shade on hot summer days.

49) You scratch your head when you don't know the answer.

50) You play pusoy, mahjong, or tong-hits.

51) You put your hand in front of you to make a path and say
"Excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of them as a respect.

52) You buy tons of bath towels when they go on sale.

53) You still keep or even wear those outdated clothes you had when you first came to
your adopted country.

54) You say, "comfort room" instead of "bathroom."

55) You say, "for take out or take away" instead of "to go."

56) You "open" or "close" the lights.

57) You ask for "Colgate" instead of "toothpaste."

58) You say "Kodak an" instead of "take a picture."

59) You turn around when someone whistles or whispers "Pssssssst."

60) You say "Cutex" instead of "nail polish."

61) You say "he" when you mean "she" and vice-versa.

62) You say, "air-con" instead of "a/c" or air conditioner.

63) You pronounce "F" for "P" or "P" for "F".

64) You own a karaoke system.

65) You have 5 pairs of tsinelas or slippers on your doorstep or shoe cupboard.

66) You refer to your VCR as the "Betamax."

67) You have a rice dispenser with a matching rice cooker.

68) You own a Mercedes Benz and call it "chedeng."

69) You have a holy article or a "My Shaldan" air freshener or a miniature fake banana toy hanging somewhere inside the car.

70) You were raised to believe that every Filipino has an aunt, uncle, and cousins. Your mom, sister, or another female relative is a nurse or teacher.

72) You consider "dilis" or fried dried anchovies the Filipino equivalent of Frenchfries.

73) You dip bread/toast/biscuit in your drink, coffee or hot chocolate drink.

74) "Goldilocks" means more to you than just a character in a fairy tale.

75) Your "baon" or pack lunch is usually something over rice.

76) You eat rice for breakfast.

77) You wash and re-use plastic utensils and Styrofoam cups.

78) You have a supply of frozen "lumpia" or spring roll in the freezer.

79) You have an ice-shaver for making halo-halo.

80) You got to have a bottle of "Jufran" handy at all times.

81) You know that chocolate meat isn't really made out of chocolate.

82) You spend Holy Week either performing acts of penitence or vacationing.

83) You get together with the family at a cemetery on All Saints' Day to eat, drink, and tell stories by your loved ones' graves. And finally,

84) You think the Christmas season begins in September and ends in January.

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