You know what they say: ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines!’ – a slogan used by the country’s tourism to promote the beauty of the Philippines worldwide. It tells that Pilipino facts have many enjoyable and exciting experiences to offer. Many aren’t even aware that there may be a lot of funny things that are ingrained in Filipino culture.
Citizens of the Philippines are known to have a good sense of humour, to the extent that they are known to laugh at themselves. Today, you will learn some interesting and unusual Pilipino facts you probably didn’t know before. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Pilipino Facts: What You Need to Know?
Want to know more about interesting Pilipino facts? Then, check these 13 things to know about the Philippines.
1. Balut – National Street Snack
Balut, or the fertilized duck’s embryo, is a cheap and popular street food for Filipinos. However, it won’t certainly be for everyone. As you know, Balut is a fertilized duck egg that’s usually incubated for almost three weeks before it gets steamed and ready to eat.
Even if many Westerners baulk at the idea of slurping a partially developed duck, it’s still a famous street eat in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines.
2. Positioning of the Flag
Did you know that the positioning of the Philippine flag indicates if the country is at war?
The Philippines’ national flag must be very interesting. It pretty much looks like the flags of other countries. However, there’s more to it than that because when you see it flown upside down, there’s only one meaning: the country is in a state of war.
If you’ve seen the flag, you would see that there are bands of red and blue, with a white triangle at the side. In the triangle, you can see a yellow sun. It comes with 8 rays that represent 8 provinces. Also, the white triangle has 3 yellow stars representing the main island groups.
3. About 120-187 Languages are Spoken in the Philippines
The Tagalog language has been dubbed the country’s national language. This is because it sits alongside English as another official language of the Philippines. And one of the interesting Pilipino facts is that the government of the Philippines is working mostly in English.
And together with Tagalog, the Cebuano language is also spoken commonly. Together, the Tagalog and Cebuano languages are spoken by almost 50% of the population. And despite all these, it’s only Tagalog and English languages that are commonly taught in the education system.
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4. Tagalog Language is almost the Same as the Spanish
Tagalogs in the Philippines make up a quarter of the Philippines’ population. A lot of Tagalog words are from Spanish words, which can also be considered as the hark back to the time when Spain colonized the Philippines.
These are some of the words that have the same meaning in both languages.
- Amigo/amiga – meaning ‘friend’
- Basura – meaning ‘trash’
- Merienda – meaning ‘snack.’
- Regalo – meaning ‘gift’
5. Religion is Predominantly Catholics
Asia is known as a varied continent with birthed religions that include Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and even Sikhism. Islam and Hinduism are probably popular religions in Asia.
In the Philippines, the majority of Filipinos are Catholics.
It’s just another Pilipino fact that the Philippines is the only country in Asia that is Christian. Over 86% of the country’s population are Roman Catholics. More than that, another Pilipino fact is that religion greatly influences the country.
6. Mode of Transportation: Jeepneys
Another Pilipino fact is the gaudy jeeps known as the Philippines’ treasure. Jeepneys were invented from military jeeps that Americans left. In 1946, Filipinos customized them with benches and put bright colours and designs.
From there, Jeepneys were invented and are still used to this day and give passengers and commuters lifts around. Even if they become more retro every year, Jeepneys remain to outnumber normal buses.
7. There are more than 20 Earthquakes in the Philippines every day!
Known as a country rocked with unusual weather events, the Philippines is located on the western edges of the Ring of Fire. It also sits along not only one fault line but five. Thus, earthquakes are common.
8. Home of the Champions
You will never see many people in the Philippines in the street when Manny Pacquiao fights. Manny Pacquiao, a famous professional boxer, is dubbed by his fellow countrymen as ‘PacMan’ – considered a national treasure.
As a professional boxer, PacMan has a unique way of bringing his fellow countrymen together. As a result, the streets are safer when he fights.
9. Home to Planet’s Longest Snakes
Another Pilipino fact is that the Philippines is where the longest snakes, like reticulated python, are found. It can be found in the jungles of the country and some other Asian countries. It’s one of the snakes that prey on humans and is responsible for a number of deaths worldwide.
10. Has an LGBT Political Party
Ang Ladlad started in 2003 and is known as the Philippines’ first-ever LGBT party. In the local dialect, Ladlad means ‘coming out,’ and their motto is ‘Bukas isip. Bukas puso’ – which means ‘Open mind. Open Heart.’
11. A Great Destination to Buy Pearls
Did you know that in the Philippines, three of the largest pearls are found? A Filipino diver finds these pearls in Brooke’s Point in Palawan. The biggest of the three is called Pearl of Lao Tzu, which weighs about 14 pounds.
12. Invented one of the Popular Antibiotics
Erythromycin, a known antibiotic in the medical community, was invented by a Filipino doctor, Dr. Abelardo Aguilar, in 1949. It’s among the important Pilipino facts about the Philippines as this antibiotic has saved millions of lives.
13. 13 is an Unlucky Number
Fear of number 13 has filled the minds of people and cultures everywhere. It’s believed to have stemmed from Christianity. It was believed that during the Last Supper, Jesus had his bread shared with his 12 apostles.
Judas was the 13th person in the room – the one who later betrayed Jesus. And since Filipinos are known to be Christians, this superstition about the number 13 was believed to start with this.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these questions most people ask about Pilipino facts.
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1. What is unique about Filipinos?
The Philippines is known for having such a unique culture because of the influences of colonization. Filipinos become hardworking and always strive to make their lives better.
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2. Do you know facts about the Philippines?
The Philippines has always been proud of having the world’s underground river. It is located in Puerto Princesa and lies the longest underground river worldwide. Puerto Princesa became part of the 7 Wonders of Nature.
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3. What can Filipinos be proud of?
Filipinos are all proud of their heritage, and when they hear that other Filipinos are making it big from other countries. For them, they don’t consider it ‘half-Filipino .’ Any person born with Filipino blood is respected, even if they are half-blooded.
Wrapping Up
Indeed, the Philippines is a place to be. No wonder why it captivated the hearts of foreigners visiting there. Knowing all these Pilipino facts give us an insight into the lives and culture of the Filipinos. From ancient traditions to colonial rule to modern-day culture – Filipinos are interesting people.
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