So I’ve been pondering this whole Filipino cultural norms thing—apparently, we’re all born with an innate ability to smile endlessly while simultaneously prepping a feast for everyone within a 5-mile radius. Does anyone else feel like it’s a secret society where the unwritten rules (read: obligatory hospitality, “utang na loob” debts, and that ever-mysterious “pakikisama”) are so convoluted they could rival the plot twists of a telenovela?
I mean, come on—am I the only one who sometimes wonders if there’s an instruction manual I missed at birth? One minute you’re dodging family reunion expectations like dodgeball pro, and the next you’re forced to accept that every “kain tayo” is essentially a life sentence for overeating and smiling politely. So, how do you all navigate this cultural labyrinth without developing a superpower for mind-reading? Any tips on when to say “no” without offending every single cousin, aunt, and even that friend-of-a-friend you haven’t met but are expected to treat like family?
Let’s hear your survival strategies for this perpetual game of social Jenga.