Unique Philippine Customs

[Tommy T.]

On 3/13/2026 at 6:46 AM, Tommy T. said:

I must ask L about this tonight too. Perhaps I should pretend to faint a lot???

Followup comments... After relating this to L amid gales of laughter between us and her old maid older sister, I was informed that is not a Filipino custom... or at least not one they are aware of... darn!

However there is a custom I learned about recently that L backed up... We have a woman who is a friend of her family who sometimes comes here to work for a day weeding, cleaning, etc... Well, last week she was here and did a lot of weeding and sweeping and outside work - and she did a good job! However, when the day turned warm I suggested that she should work in the shade of our house to do a bunch of cleaning that L wanted done and be in the cooler shade with less effort... (L was away at a seminar) The woman refused saying - which I did not understand, but a nephew who was here who did follow it told me: she would not work with water after doing outside labour.... What? The nephew assured me that this is a common custom and later L backed him up. Apparently, after doing various outside labour or work that causes one to sweat from the exertion, that person won't work doing anything with water (as in cleaning, washing things) plus, will not take a shower for some time. I was not angered...just puzzled and bemused so let it pass and we found other work to occupy her...

I keep learning here all the time...

[JJReyes]

6 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

Apparently, after doing various outside labour or work that causes one to sweat from the exertion, that person won't work doing anything with water (as in cleaning, washing things) plus, will not take a shower for some time. I was not angered...just puzzled and bemused so let it pass and we found other work to occupy her...

I vaguely recall something similar while growing up.  If someone had done clothes ironing, they could not touch or dip their hands in water for one or two hours.  If we were playing outside and perspiring, we had to seat under the shade or in the house for half hour before drinking water.  

[Jack Peterson]

4 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

I vaguely recall something similar while growing up.  If someone had done clothes ironing, they could not touch or dip their hands in water for one or two hours.  If we were playing outside and perspiring, we had to seat under the shade or in the house for half hour before drinking water.  

 Thank Goodness I am NOT a Filipino & my Wife who is, is still laughing at this ridiculous One 

[Gator]

The wife confirmed that when a man faints you have to pull his peter before calling an ambulance, otherwise it’s bad luck for him.😂 

Also, a new one. When an immediate family member dies, you’re not allowed to eat malunggay ( Moringa oleifera) for 40 days. The reason: once you harvest the leaves they quickly drop (they could fall off the stem). If the leaves drop, then other family members may also drop or worse - die. Even the whole family! 🤣                

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Gator said:

When an immediate family member dies

Surprised me no one has mentioned that after going to the cemetery for a funeral, you have to stop somewhere on the way home for a snack (forget the name right now), so ghosts do not follow you home.

[Mike J]

1 hour ago, scott h said:

Surprised me no one has mentioned that after going to the cemetery for a funeral, you have to stop somewhere on the way home for a snack (forget the name right now), so ghosts do not follow you home.

Here the deceased family will bring A LOT of snacks to the cemetery.   They are given out to all who attended the burial and any others who come forward.  I expect the folks living close to a cemetery do not spend much for food.

 

2 hours ago, Gator said:

The wife confirmed that when a man faints you have to pull his peter before calling an ambulance, otherwise it’s bad luck for him.😂 

Also, a new one. When an immediate family member dies, you’re not allowed to eat malunggay ( Moringa oleifera) for 40 days. The reason: once you harvest the leaves they quickly drop (they could fall off the stem). If the leaves drop, then other family members may also drop or worse - die. Even the whole family! 🤣                

I guess the 'peter pullers' all live in the province?   If those city folks don't know something simple like this, you can bet they do know CPR.  CPR plus 'peter pulling' would definitely become a Facebook worthy video.  

[JJReyes]

It's okay to make fun of the Philippine version but just remember there are weird ones in the West as well.  

[scott h]

27 minutes ago, Mike J said:

I expect the folks living close to a cemetery do not spend much for food.

Same here, usually pancit and pandesal in paper bags. Years ago a guy I knew saw me taking my daily walk and I happened to be mixed in with a funeral procession. He asked if I knew the deceased, I said no, was just going along with the crowd for a free lunch .

Another funeral custom the Asawa always does is when we are driving past a funeral procession is throw some coins out the car window as we pass.

[Dave Hounddriver]

49 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

there are weird ones in the West as well

You mean, for example, walking under a ladder on Friday the 13th to get away from a black cat and then running into a mirror and breaking it all adds up to a LOT of bad luck?

[scott h]

57 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

weird ones in the West as well. 

very few 13th floors in skyscrapers...........or did that one finally go away?