Bayanihan is more than a Filipino tradition. After a landslide struck our property in Puerto Galera, I experienced firsthand what happens when a community comes together—and why an American retiree may come to the Philippines alone but doesn’t have to remain alone here.
Why is he pointing with his lips? Why did that child put your hand to his forehead? And why does “come here” look like “go away”? Filipino gestures can puzzle American newcomers, but learning a few of these silent signals makes everyday life in the Philippines much easier.
One of the biggest culture shocks I experienced in the Philippines wasn’t the food or the language—it was discovering that while Americans spend money trying to get tan, many Filipinos spend money trying to get lighter skin. The reasons have everything to do with history.