CIÒ CHE DIRÒ ALL’ALTRO | WHAT I WILL TELL TO THE OTHER | CE QUE JE DIRAI À L’AUTRE Mappe dell’alterità | Maps of alterity | Cartes de l’altérité
Alexandra Chiojdeanu
|
Greta Cozza
|
Anna Gargantini
|
Alessia Mattesini
The project retraces some fundamental elements of Filipino culture. Going through the ABC, the reader discovers words, idioms, places, typical dishes, etc. that allow migrants to remain connected to their homeland. After an initial desk research, the various elements has been identified with the support of a first and a second generation immigrant, mother and daughter, whose experiences are narrated by the quotations that support some of the definitions. The idea of the ABC suggests a fresh start, not only in terms of migration as such, but more importantly, the birth of a hybrid culture between the region of departure and the country of arrival.
Respect is a central point in Filipino culture, it is innate and manifests itself in many aspects of relationships. Ate and Kuya are two titles used to address older people or respected friends, literally meaning older sister and older brother. The terms used are often intended to show the degree and the type of relationship, rather than literal biological relationship.
AS IN ATE
“Since I was a child, I grew up calling many people the same way. I always felt like I was in some sort of big extended family.”
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, it is widely practiced at both competitive and amateur levels and it is the most watched sport of all to the point that players are considered celebrities. The main league, the Philippine Basketball League, is the second oldest professional league in the world, after the NBA. “In the Filipino community of Arezzo, my town, they once organized a tournament between teams divided by regional origin.”
AS IN BASKET
C
“Chicken joy has the ability to bring my family together with a bucket. I am proud of the fact that it also brings people around the world closer together in fact when I am abroad, I always try to look for a Jollibee store so that I can have Chickenjoy that reminds me of home no matter where I am.”
AS IN CHICKENJOY
C
Jollibee is one of the main fast food chains in the Philippines, known for their Chickenjoy. The best-tasting fried chicken has become an iconic taste that brings so much joy to so many people not just at home, but all around the globe. Filipinos abroad always look for it because it gives them a much-needed taste of home. It has also played a huge part in bringing families together over the many decades. Chickenjoy serves as a great family bonding meal, allowing everyone to become closer over the best-tasting fried chicken.
Known as Debut, the eighteenth birthday party is usually a massive celebration involving many rituals associated to the number 18: the birthday girl usually get 18 gifts from friends and relatives, 18 candles from her female friends, 18 roses from her male friends, 18 glasses of wine from men who will make a toast in her honor, and sometimes 18 useful gifts from her godparents.
AS IN DEBUT
“If you are a filipino girl, turning eighteen (or twenty-one if you are a boy) is a big deal! [As a second generation immigrant] I was astonished by the fact that my mum cared more about my eighteenth birthday party than my graduation!”
Englog is a halfway language that is a strange admixture of Tagalog and English. It is a language generally spoken and best understood among teachers and pupils and it thrives best in school campuses where it had its roots. This folk speech has not remained to its academic quarters but it is widely spoken in Filipino society. Since there are currently loads of different languages spoken in the Philippines, which are often not intelligible to each other, Englog is bound to become, if it is not already, the national bilanguage.
AS IN ENGLOG
“When I arrived in Italy the kindergarten teacher spoke to me in English since I didn’t know Italian, but I still struggled to understand her because I spoke Englog which has many Filipino words.”
In Filipino culture, the family is extremely valued, not only as a family unit but also and especially as an extended one. The ties between the various members are very close, moreover it is not limited to blood relatives, but often extends to acquaintances or family friends. This strong bond between relatives is maintained even after emigration, in fact, Filipino emigrants often return to visit their families of origin, if possible, and support them economically at a distance (often emigration is motivated by the need to earn money outside their own country).
AS IN FAMILY
G
G
AS IN GAY LINGO
Gay lingo is complex and a way for the gay community to bridge the differences in the country’s many languages. It hides common words under borrowed terms from native dialects, as well as American, Spanish, and Japanese pop culture. The language is so diverse that there’s even an entire dictionary dedicated to it. It has also made its way to hit TV shows, songs, and everyday conversations between gay and straight Filipinos alike. Every Filipino knows at least some words. There’s “besh,” a term many use to describe a close friend. There’s also “kabog,” which means “to lose.” Everyone — from boomers to Gen Z, professors to students — use these words in everyday conversations.
Some of the most common halo-halo ingredients: • Crushed or shaved ice • sweetened macapuno • milk (fresh or evaporated) • sweetened red munggo • sugar, if needed • nata de coco (coconut gel) • sweetened saba • sago or tapioca pearls • jelly cut into cubes • plantain bananas • sweetened sweet potatoes • pinipig • fresh or sweetened langka • leche flan (topping) • sweetened garbanzos • ube jam • sweetened beans • ube ice cream (topping) • coconut strips
AS IN HALO-HALO
“Coming from a person who loves sweets, I can say that in the Philippines people really have a sweet tooth! I think that Halo-Halo will give you the idea: it’s a cold dessert made up of ice, beans, condensed milk and other various ingredients. It’s very refreshing: my mum used to make it for me when I was younger. She also got a special utensil just to shave the ice!”
Inihaw is the Filipino barbecue, it represents a moment of community where friends and family come together. Generally it is done on Sundays and it is usual to gather at someone’s house or go all together in some park. For Filipinos, ihaw (to grill or barbecue) is a way of life, a way of making community. One type of inihaw is the Lechon, a spit-roasted whole pig, that is usually stuffed with spices and lemongrass.
AS IN INIHAW
“In any self-respecting party you can’t absolutely miss the inihaw!”
In Philippine cities nobody ever goes on foot, but only wealthy families can afford cars, so the majority of the population moves by public transport. Among these, the most interesting are the Jeepneys, which for their exuberant aesthetics, a bit kitsch, and for their wide diffusion have become a symbol of Philippine art and culture expression. In fact, drivers use to highly personalize their Jeepney, and also give them actual names. They are generally very crowded so it becomes really important for passengers to be respectful of each other In some way, this kind of sense of community still exists when Filipinos emigrate:
J
AS IN JEEPNEY
“When I was little, we used to go to the beach with no more than two or three cars, even if we were more than three families. When you have a free seat, it’s normal to invite someone and share the trip.”
Karaoke is one of the most beloved hobby in the Philippines: people sing everywhere from small bars to television. If a local person invites you to a karaoke night the fun is guaranteed, you can rent private rooms for a few bucks to sing. It is one of the institutions of the country: every village, no matter how small, has a bar with a karaoke inside. Usually people sing from afternoon to night without shame or fear, regardless of their singing skills.
AS IN KAROKE
“If visitors come to the house, we’ll all sing together, or if it’s a special occasion we’ll enjoy singing as part of the celebrations. No matter where you are around the globe you’ll find that in every home owned by a Filipino, you will find a karaoke system.”
Ingredients • 1/2 lb. skinless longanisa • 2 pieces eggs • 4 cups rice leftover • 5 cloves garlic crushed
• 1/2 cup water • 4 tablespoons cooking oil • Salt & pepper
AS IN LONGSILOG
“Longsilog is a staple of Filipino Breakfast, that is usually savoury. It’s made of rice (of course!), eggs (that together with rice are called “silog”), and some kind of meat. Longsilog is made with longsaniga, a type of sausage that sometimes we have been able to find also in a Mini Market in Arezzo [the city in Italy where the interviwee come from], while other versions include cured beef or pork.”
AS IN MANGO
The Manila Super Mango, also called carabao mango, is the national fruit of the Philippines. They are produced all year round but it is during the summer that the harvest becomes extremely abundant, sometimes causing inconvenience due to surplus production. In fact, in the summer of 2019 the country had a surplus problem of two million kilos of mangoes. Due to the great ease with which mangoes can be found, it is a low-cost product widely used in cooking, whose very sweet flavor is appreciated, it is also used as an accompaniment to rice. When unripe, it has a sour taste that goes perfectly with savory dishes.
The Filipino aesthetic canon, as in most of Asian countries, is strongly westernized: narrow noses, blue eyes, and white skin are considered beautiful. But these features do not correspond to natural Filipino genetics and beauty, so the obsession for the sun and for skin whitening products (which are also toxic for the skin) is sadly common. Pinching the nose with the fingers is a gesture that comes from this culture of western beauty: parents believe that pinching their children’s noses when they’re young will alter the way they grow. Instead of the low bridge and wide, flat tip that is common among Filipinos, their children might get the “coveted” European nose, with a raised bridge and a sharp, pointed tip.
AS IN NOSE PINCH
“When I was little my mom used to tell me to pinch my nose with my hands, so it would become slimmer and more beautiful.”
AS IN OPO
The use of the particle “po” is another way in which respect is manifested through language. The particle is interjected in any sentence to make it respectful when talking to someone older or to a person in authority. Opo is used to answer questions that have something to do with actions, in fact it is the combination of “oo”, which means yes, and po, so opo is the politer version of oo. Respect for elders is embedded in the Tagalog language. Children are taught from an early age the importance of using po, so, for example, if a child receives a gift from his grandmother, will not answer “salamat”, that means thank you, but “salamat po”.
AS IN PAGMAMANO
Pagmamano is a specific type of formal greeting that is addressed to the elderly, even to one’s own grandparents. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting bows towards the hand of the elder and presses their forehead on the elder’s hand, as a request of blessing. It is a sign of respect and good manners, which in fact is taught to children from an early age. Although it is not used in the country of emigration, because it is aimed at elders in the Filipino community, it is instinctive to do so upon returning to the Philippines.
Q
Q
AS IN QUIAPO CHURCH
One of the oldest Churches in the Philippines, Quiapo Church is where the Statue of Jesus Christ, called the Black Nazarene, is located. Many claim that the Black Nazarene has mysterious powers, and thousands flock to the Church to pray for it’s miraculous intervention. The Church is one of the most beautiful Churches in the Philippines. Every Friday, devotees from all over Metro Manila and its neighbouring provinces visit Quiapo Church to show their faith and/or their belief.
Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Resilience is often associated to Filipino culture, as well as the tendency to smile a lot.
AS IN RESILIENCE
“Generally speaking I think people in the Philippines have a greater ability to look at the bright side. If you look up on the internet you can find many blogs about how Filipinos are one of the happiest people on the earth. I’m not sure this is actually true, however it’s undeniable that we smile, like, a lot. It’s part of our culture, it’s what we have been taught to, and what we see everyone doing. I would say that, as a developing country, it became vital to enjoy the little things, and I think that also Catholicism had a big influence on this.”
AS IN SIMBANG GABI
The majority of the Filipino population is of the Catholic Christian faith, and the most beloved and celebrated religious holiday is definitely Christmas. Christmas starts being celebrated in August, where people start hearing Christmas songs and decorating their homes, but nationwide the official countdown begins 100 days before December 25. From December 16 to 24 is held the Simbang Gabi, that is a nineday series of Masses attended by Filipino Catholics in anticipation of Christmas. These masses are held daily from 3 am to 5 am, and include great celebrations, sometimes also including fireworks. There is a belief that after completing the 9 masses, if you make a wish, it will come true.
The term indicates a moment of the day dedicated to leisure and sharing, it is a sort of correspondent of the aperitif, in which families meet to eat and spend time together: the men eat and drink, the women stand aside to make chismos (gossip, something that Filipino women like a lot), the children play. It is a tradition that is often maintained by emigrating Filipinos, and also acquires a slightly different meaning, as it becomes a moment of reunion with one’s community of origin, of recollection with one’s family and friends
AS IN TAMBAY
U
In the Philippines, rice is eaten every day, for lunch, dinner and even breakfast. Rice is served at every meal and in every home there is a “rice stove”, an electrical appliance for cooking rice thoroughly, but the most spectacular and amusing thing is the way of eating it. On the plate, the rice is never mixed with the rest of the ingredients: each Filipino, when eating, carefully separates the portion of rice from the meat, fish or vegetables. A small portion of rice is placed in the spoon and a small piece of meat next to it, but the two are never mixed together on the plate.
AS IN ULAM
U
“A true ulam cannot be enjoyed without rice, as indeed any meal is never complete without rice.”
Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated topical ointment, part of the Vicks brand of over-the-counter medications. In the Philippines, as in many other developing countries, it is considered the remedy of almost every physical problem.
AS IN VICKS VAPORUB®
“When I was a kid my grandma used it for everything, I bet she thinks it could have a chance against Covid too. There are tons of memes about this, it is a very relatable experience that almost everyone had. Also, you can find Vicks almost everywhere so I assume this helped spreading this joke among expats all around the world and, why not?, keeping the tradition alive too.”
AS IN WALIS TAMBO
Walis tambo is a cultural icon of the Philippines, is a part of everyday life. The soft bristles are made from the phragmites reed called tambo in the Philippines. Many in the Philippines still sleep on bare floors over a thin covering of mats and blankets and very often walk barefoot, so there is a need for clean floors, and the Walis Tambo is the perfect and beloved tool. It is the must-have item in Filipino homes, almost a good luck charm. Filipino expatriates also often purchase a walis tambo for their home, now also easily found on the internet.
XYZ
AS IN YO-YO
Yo-yo is a Filipino word meaning “come back”. Legend has it that it used to be a weapon, while its use as a toy started in the second half of the 19th century to be patented as such in 1866. Filipino Pedro Flores began manufacturing and selling the toy in the US in 1920, and it was instead 1929 when D F Ducan Sr bought the rights and registered the trademark “yo-yo” in the US.
A rescue Ship for the Mediterranean | Semiotica del progetto A.A. 2021/2022, Prof. Salvatore Zingale, PhD candidate Daniela D’Avanzo