How to Marry a Filipina or Filipino

If you are foreign and want to marry a Filipina of Filipino, here are some things you want to consider.

These are Filipino habits and traditions to learn to understand what a Pinoy is.

1. Close family ties, not just with parents and siblings but includes extended family

2. Related to the first, but not necessarily: Politeness and respect for elders, no first-name basis; even strangers, depending on age, are called lolo or lola, tito or tita, kuya or ate (grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, older brother, older sister). Such as Tita Ana, Kuya Artemio. Ate pronounces a-te, 2 syllables.

3. Naturally hospitable and sometimes gregarious; if they have visitors, meals are part of the hospitality.

4. They love to eat, together. Don't be surprised if the family uses spoons and forks at home --- spoons to eat rice, both to tear up meat and cut up larger chunks of veggies. Rice is the staple food, not bread or potatoes.

Even if the above 4 are not your habits, adapt, and it will be appreciated.

5. Men can be very sweet. The decent kind has no qualms of meeting your parents. If he is still very Filipino, he might be initially tongue-tied around them but he will smile and be respectful. He might call them Uncle and Auntie.

6. Filipinos are good at courting, may woo you and put you on a pedestal. Don't be surprised if he can carry a tune and sings to you. Filipino women are still conservative (especially in their teens and early 20's).

"Opo" - means yes and is used only for older people about your parents' age.
"Salamat" is thank you, "Salamat po" thank you, used for elders.
"Kain na" -- Let's eat.

“Tapos na po” is finish or done. Used for elders.

"mahal kita" is I Love You.