The first time I heard about this was on social media reels on Instagram and TikTok in the form of "kuyazone". But I've never heard of "kuya" as a sign of romantic rejection in here (at least growing up in Metro Manila). Or is it a thing in other regions I don't know about?

When I asked a friend about it, she told me it's a diaspora thing, and that a girl calling you "kuya" in the Philippines is the exact opposite since it's just a neutral broad honorific for males who are older or around the same age and can be used playfully.

But for the diaspora, how true is "kuyazone" in your experience? Where does it come from?

For Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines, have you ever encountered being called "kuya" or "ate" and taking it as a form of romantic rejection?

Medyo confused ako sa ethnic background ko. I grew up in an Ilocano predominant speaking region. My father's father (Lolo) is a pure Ilokano. His mother (Lola) speaks Hiligaynon but I never learned it. My lola already speaks Ilokano very well and yun ang gamit niya makipag usap kay lolo, sa pamilya ni lolo, and outside our home.

My mother side hailed from a Tagalog region. But my grandparents from my mother speak Pangasinan.

My question is, if someone asked me about my ethnicity, I always say I am an Ilokano because I grew up in an Ilocano predominant speaking region, I speak the language, I understand the culture, and also Pangasinan kase yun ang wika at gamit nina lolo at lola sa mother side ko even though I don't speak it fluently, as in konti lang. Pero sabi sa akin ni mama she's not Pangasinan, she's Tagalog daw since she doesn't speak Pangasinan and she thinks she's Tagalog.

Ano ba talaga? My mother tongue is Filipino (Tagalog) but I speak Ilocano fluently also dahil yun ang lagi kong ginagamit outside the house. At home, mostly Tagalog, pero I talk to my mother in Ilokano even if she replies in Tagalog. Nakakaintindi at nakakasalita siya Ilokano, she's just not too confident about it kase nga raw, "Tagalog" siya.

What's my ethnolinguistic group na kinabibilangan then?

Went to SM's director club and Watched Forgotten Island this weekend since my kid insisted, and have some thoughts:

1. I know about the "Tayo na Tara na" debate, conceptually I know its grammatically correct, pero its really jarring(?) it invoked cringe lalo na na ginawang parang catch phrase. Parang during production nag hanap lang sila ano ba pwede ipalit sa American "Lets go!". pero sa Filipino concept (even during 90s) hindi analogous ang Tayo na sa "Lets go!". pinaka apparent to nung nasa Jeep sila.
2. I also accept that this is an American Film, pero its really jarring when the main characters/supporting characters have American accents when using tagalog words. Puro Lowla, Selemat Poh etc., then when there is a side character, they pronounce words normally.
3. In connection to No.2, certain words which should have been Filipino coded ends up like east asian words like "Kakaiba" Market instead of Kaka-iba, "Bungi", "Nakali" island is also one.
4. The Filipino aesthetics seem just like a dressing, yung mga characters parang Americans cosplaying as filipino. Napa roll eyes ako nung pinakaita yung sand dollar may stylized Sun.
5. Its not logical and maybe unfair, but cant really shake away real life geopolitical issues and negative feeling when I watched this Movie, every time I hear American accents it reminds me what Americans are the reason why world economy is fucked up right now.
6. back to the movie, the movie is to hectic? frantic? makes it a boring watch for an adult, it also seems like to adapt the usual quirky meta for animated movies. (its for kids though so it is what it is).
7. power of friendship story nanaman. deus ex machina pa yung firecracker charm
8. my kid liked it so no regrets watching it for that reason.

List of Languages of the Philippine Language Family/Group:

{Batanic - Ivatan, Yami},

{Northern Luzon - Ilocano, Pangasinan/Pangasinense, Ifugao, Itawis},

{Central Luzon - Kapampangan, Sambal},

{North Mangyan - Iraya, Tadyawan},

{Umiray Dumaget}

{[Manide-Alabat - Manide, Alabat]?},

{Greater Central Philippine -

[Central Philippine - Tagalog,

(Bikol - Central Bikol, Rinconada Bikol),

(Visayan - Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Karay-a, Aklanon, Romblomanon, Masbateño, Southern Sorsogon, Bantoanon, Cuyonon, Caluyanon, Ratagnon)],

[Palawanic - Molbog?, Central Palawano, Batak Palawanic]

[South Mangyan - Buhid, Hanunoo], [Subanen - Western Subanen, Central Subanen],

[Danao - Maranao, Maguindanaon, Iranun],

[Manobo - Kamigin, Kagayanen], [Mansakan - Davaoeño, Kamayo],

[Gorontalo-Mongondow - Gorontalo, Buol,

Mongondow, Ponosakan]},

{Ati}, {Kalamian - Calamian Tagbanwa, Agutaynen}, {South Mindanao - Tboli, Blaan},

{Minahasan - Tontemboan, Tondano}, {Sangiric - Sangirese, Talaud}

List of Languages of the Country of the Philippines:

All Languages member of Philippine Language Group(excluding Minahasan Language Group,

Sangiric Language Group,

Gorontalo Language Group,

Mongondow Language Group,

Yami Language) +

Sama-Bajaw Language Group +

Indo-European Language Group(including English Language,

Spanish-Creole Language/Spanish-Creole Language Group - Chavacano Language, etc.), +

Sino-Tibetan Language Group(including

Hokkien Language

Teochew Language,

Yue Language, etc.) +

Other Languages member of Non-Philippine Language Group

As someone of mixed race (Filipino-Australian), I have been really trying to get in touch with my Filipino roots, despite not speaking the language and not having much contact with my relatives.

I was wondering, when people have that yearning to connect with your Filipino culture, what do you and what has worked for you?

Currently, learning the language, and cooking staples of Filipino cuisine has been such a joy!

Thanks :)

Hello, I would like to know what is the best way to learn cebuano bisaya

Because even through apps you can always find Tagalog but n hard to find cebuano bisaya

something i learned from trying poetry in filipino, is how many panlapi don't actually add to a word.

i now just use larang, instead of larangan. and danas instead of karanasan.

madaming overused modern words with underused, beautiful, vibrant, and precise roots.

whatcare other roots you prefer to their conjugations?

Hi! i really want to learn Tagalog, Im filipino by blood but the youngest grandchild of a direct immigrant (if thats the right wording..). My mother is very distanced from her family, and by association i am as well. I have never heard tagalog spoken except a couple occasions by my grandmother. I want to learn the language to surprise her before she departs from this world, as well as the fact that once i graduate, i plan to enlist and get stationed there. and if at all possible, id truly love to learn the culture of the phillipines since i never had exposure to it.

if this makes this any more difficult, i only know english, and i have a slight speech impediment when it comes to the “R” sound.

please let me know!! id love some help or input :)))

Hello I can post a photo but I have provided link if anyone is able to make out what it says I'm very interested. I do not study or anything and I am just interested in the life of the person who owned this caravan before me. It's been empty since 1990

I want to know what are ur thoughts on controversial topics that needs to be discussed such as for example in politics, Filipino culture, norms, anything that the Filipino people needs to be aware. Im also curious of what are the current societal problems that are now being overlooked in our society.

Hello! I am a Filipino-American young adult who wants to learn Tagalog to pursue a career in English-Tagalog interpretation. Before doing that, I need to gain a high proficiency in Tagalog first. I have done some research for a few online programs that could help me gain fluency, but I don't know if any of them are truly trustworthy.

Does anyone have any recommendations of effective online programs to gain proficiency preferably in less than a year? Because I spoke Tagalog when I was younger, I am pretty intermediate moving to advanced so I don't need beginner levels. The best one I could find is the Kabataan Culture Program. I do not believe that simple language-learning apps can bring you to proficiency so I'm not looking for those either (unless there's one that I haven't seen before 👀).

Thank you very much! Any help works. ❤️❤️

hey guys! i’m a 20F and i’ve always wanted to learn tagalog! my moms side of the family is able to speak, but she had never bothered to teach me growing up. I’m just looking for a free way to learn!

please let me know!💗

For context, I had to make it for my workplace, and I have never done a big portion before (not to mention, use a professiona kitchen) so I accidentally put too much soy sauce to marinate with the 1.5kg chicken pack. AND I forgot to put onions (family thing) and I don't know if I put enough vinegar (I used 5 tablespoons). I also don't think I caramelized the garlic too well... TOTALLY NOT PANICKING.

Does anyone know how to fix this? ;-;
I don't know if I should add more water, or throw away the broth... the chicken has already simmered for 40 mins at this point so I really don't think I should simmer it again.

Sorry for the rambling. Totally toootally not panicking at all. lol.

I want to do tinikling for my cotillion at my debut but I'm having a hard time finding where to buy tinikling sticks since I live abroad. So far I've found a few promising websites but they only half 3m poles that are 50-60mm in diameter and I'm unsure if this thick enough. The problem is, I'm not sure when the 60-70mm ones will be back in stock and they might be considerably more expensive. I also need to start planning and choreographing as soon as possible as my debut is 2 months away and we've yet to practice.

Is it worth it to wait if my debut is in December or is 50-60mm thick enough?

One of my employees parents passed away, she's in the Philippines and I'm in the US. I'm not sure what I could send her and I don't even have her address so I wanted to send something via email. Money, gift card for food, flowers etc. Something.. but I don't want to be insulting since I'm not familiar with the culture. She's a very valued employee, she's been with me since I started my business so I want to be supportive (on top of paid bereavement leave)

What's appropriate? Thanks?

I would like to make my own lumpia, my lola was from the Philippines and would make it for family get togethers. Unfortunately, she passed away this past spring. Due to some family dilemmas I didn’t get the opportunity to learn how to make lumpia from her. I know some of the ingredients she used but other than that I don’t know if there were any seasonings that she would have used. Here are two pictures of my lola, one about 2 years ago and another when she was roughly 18 years old.

Hello! I’m visiting for the first time and wasn’t sure where to get pastillas and macapuno balls as gifts. Also if you like sansrival, which place has your favorite?

Thanks in advance!!

I watched Forgotten Island I looked it up and saw it was based on Filipino Mythology. I liked it the vampire lady was kind of creepy though. I like the wolf dog, the merman, and the demon baby. I want to know are there any more myths that were not in the movie? I have never heard of the Aswang are they good or bad? I know most of the characters I mentioned are good Manang is bad though but turns out to be good. Did the movie get that right? Sorry I don't know much about your myths unlike Greek I watched Percy Jackson on Disney +.

I hope I wasn't rude asking. I only know about the Aswang and stuff from the movie.

My Filipino caregiver brought me this cheese last year. I heard it was seasonal so I’m hoping to get the name so I can get some this year. It’s delicious!

Hello my name is Khayla, I am Filipino American, 20F. I have been to the Philippines once before a couple years ago. We went to Manila and Palawan. El nido specifically.

I want to go back this October. I’ve been really interested in going somewhere that may still have traces or still practices indigenous healing practices and stuff more rooted in babaylan tradition.

I’ll be honest I’m definitely not an expert by any means when it comes to this matter but I would love to learn more and what better way than being able to experience that part of Filipino culture and tradition.

I’m not sure if this is a silly question and unfortunately I only understand a small bit of Tagalog. I don’t know any Bisaya or Ilokano or any of the uncommon languages but I was still hoping to find a place where I can visit to immerse myself and connect to that.
I also do not want to overstep or intrude.

So my question is, does anyone have any recommendations for someone who doesn’t speak fluent Tagalog but would love to learn more about pre-colonial Philippines and tradition?

to all my filipino peers, i have a question.

i grew up in the Philippines, and as a young child, whenever we get sick, we go to someone called a “manghihilot”. Is that the same thing as an albularyo?

my lolo grew up in Kinoguitan on Mindanao passed away almost a decade ago and i’ve been meaning to get more connected to the culture. i would ask my mom but because my lolo assimilated when he came to the US, my mom doesn’t know a lot. im wondering if anyone has resources about the culture and language(s) of Mindanao. Im really interested in learning my about my lolo’s culture

My mom and I completed our ancestry tests last year which confirmed her maternal grandmother’s Filipino ancestry (Visayas, specifically and our DNA matches point to Cebu/surrounds).

My mom’s family didn’t really know much about her grandmother’s ancestry for whatever reason, aside from her being a staunch Roman Catholic (also family tree building wasn’t at the forefront for coloured families during Apartheid).

There was a settler community here in Cape Town in the late 1800s where Filipinos jumped ship and created their own community and intermarried with South Africans - white and non-white.

Numerous families had their last names changed to avoid capture (also due to them being illegal here) so it’s been a struggle trying to find anything on my great-grandmas parents; however I have made contact with a DNA match who grew up in Cebu and shares DNA matches with me.

Is it weird for me wanting to learn and embrace this part of my ancestry even if I didn’t grow up in a culturally Filipino household?