Adjusting to Manila's culture
Manila, known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, is the nation's capital city. This bustling historic city is full of things to see and do — including museums, parks, theaters, shopping malls and a plethora of restaurants to choose from. The original settlers of Manila were the Tagalogs. Throughout the centuries, there has been a constant migration of Visayans, Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Maranaos, Pampangans, Chinese, Japanese, and Spaniards. There are also Americans, Arabs, Indonesians, Indians, and Koreans in Manila.
Manila is a perfect balance of East and West. There is a myriad of cultures apparent in cuisine and language, including Chinese, Malay and Indian. The Philippines prides itself on its rich cultural history, influenced mostly by Spanish and American colonialism. Filipinos tend to be conservative by nature, with ideals of Catholicism, national hospitality and strong family ties.
Adapting to local culture is a must, especially if you plan to stay in Manila for a long time. Being friendly to local Filipino people would come in handy as well as learning a few Tagalog phrases. Becoming accustomed to local foods, social etiquette and the famous Filipino time will certainly make your time here more comfortable.
The cuisine in Manila
Eating is a social event in Manila, as food is at the heart of all occasions. Rice is a staple, eaten for all three meals of the day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Must-try Filipino foods are adobo (braised pork in soy sauce and vinegar), sinigang (pork/beef in tamarind broth), and lechon (roasted suckled pig). Aside from this, Filipinos manage to squeeze in various snacks in between, also called merienda. Typical merienda would include sticky rice desserts or pan de sal (bread rolls) with a cup of coffee. You may also see desserts like turon (wrapped banana fritters) and halo-halo (mixed shaved ice dessert) eaten as snacks during the day. Most of these Filipino dishes can be found in local Filipino restaurants.
Good to know:
When dining at restaurants, tipping is not mandatory in Manila. You can check your receipt to see if a service charge has already been included. Otherwise, it would be good to leave 20-100 pesos if the service was exceptional
American impact on Philippine culture is evident with numerous imported fast-food chains like McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King. This is also apparent in Filipino pop culture, so younger generations would be quite familiar with Western trends and ideals.
Festivals in Manila
Spanish influences are evident in Manila when it comes to religion and religious activities. It is not uncommon to see images of the cross or other religious altars in Filipino homes. Numerous “fiestas” or religious festivals are also observed all year round in the country. Each barangay (town) would have its own fiesta celebrations too.
The language in Manila
English is widely spoken in Manila as well as the whole country. English is used as the medium of teaching in the Philippine educational system. The country's national language is Filipino, widely referred to as “Tagalog.” A popular intermixed dialect of English and Tagalog is called “Taglish” and is widely used in informal settings. It would be easier to build rapport with the locals if you know some Tagalog phrases like:
Hello. – Magandang araw.
Thank you! – Salamat!
You're welcome. – Walang anuman.
Yes – Oo.
No – Hindi.
How are you? – Kumusta?
I'm fine/good. – Mabuti naman.
How much? – Magkano?
Social life in Manila
Filipinos love to sing, and singing can even be considered the national hobby. Karaoke nights are a favorite after-work evening out with colleagues or friends. Karaoke is so common that you can hear Filipinos belting out Air Supply songs during birthdays, reunions, or Christmas parties. There are places like Red Box or Music 21 Plaza Family KTV with branches scattered all over the city. It is a must-try in Manila.
Karaoke aside, Manila is home to many restaurants, bars and clubs to cater for all tastes. Museums and art exhibitions can also be found throughout the city for the more discerning expat.
Time management in Manila
You will also encounter the term “Filipino time.” Punctuality is not one of the Filipino's renowned habits. It is fairly acceptable to be 15 minutes late. However, professionals try their best to avoid this habit to make a good impression. A common excuse for “Filipino time” is the crazy traffic in Manila. Try to avoid rush hours from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 9 pm. It would not be a good idea to commute on major roads like EDSA during rush hour.
