The Custom of Pagmamano
Pagmamano is a Filipino custom that has survived the times and foreign influences. This is the practice of respect by asking for an elder’s hand and touch one’s forehead while bowing. One usually asks by saying “Mano po” (Literally, “your hands please”). In return, the elder blesses the person. The “elderly” refer to parents and grandparents or their contemporaries (cousins, friends and colleagues). It is usually done when one visits a family, meets these people outside of the homes or after a religious activity (service, Mass or prayers). It is also common to bring children to their godparents during Christmas time to pay respect with this custom. Children would not only receive their godparents’ blessing but also presents.
I tried to find out where this influence came from but could not find an answer yet. Contrary to what a popular movie franchise “Mano Po” suggests that it came from the Chinese, it does not seem so. If Malays in Malaysia and Singapore practice this, it must be coming from our common ancestors in Southeast Asia.
As early as in my teens, nephews and nieces have started to do this custom among us cousins. Not wanting to be an “elderly”, we would refuse this gesture and say “hindi ako matanda!” (I’m not an elderly!) As I grew up and eventually learned the value of local customs, I thought that, maybe I should not stop the younger ones from performing this show of respect. I should contribute to the propagation of rich and valuable practices of Filipinos. I even thought I would want my children to do this too. I imagined that by the time I become a father this tradition may have already been forgotten. Even then, I wanted to teach that to my children.
It was not that soon that I would be a parent. And so when I have become one, this thought just disappeared in my plans. One day that I was reminded of it, I found myself a father and at the same time raising my daughter in a different country. This happened when I saw this same custom among Malays here in Singapore. I thought it looked familiar! I was jealous. Surely, pagmamano is a custom I should be proud of. It was tempting to think that since I live outside of the Philippines, maybe it is not necessary to teach this. However, I still thought that since we are in a diaspora, the more we need to keep our culture and language intact as legacy to the next generations.
Related Link on Pagmamano: forgetfulghee.blogspot.com
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Nagmamano pa rin ako. Kahit nga yung mga kapitbahay namin na mga bata, nagmamano sa akin kahit I am in my twenties. Important yan eh.
Singapore-based din ako. Nakakatuwang malaman na practiced din ng mga Malays sa Singapore at Malaysia ang pagma-mano. Pero syempre, hindi pagmamano ang tawag nila. Meron din silang customs na parehas sa atin… at syempre, alam naman natin na ang roots ng Filipinos (culture and language) ay Malay.
Kahit na mas mauunlad at urbanized na ang bansa nila, name-maintain nila ang traditional customs nila.
the tradition came from spanish influences in our history when the spaniards offered christianity, and mano which means hand in spanish, or pagmamano was used to show ones authority of our people to the spanish colonizers.
I’m so proud of this Pinoy custom. Even if I wasn’t raised practicing it (more beso-beso actually), I was fortunate to marry into a traditional Tagalog clan where pagmamano is second nature. And I did get envious. So now, even if my kids are city-bred, whether at home, school, church or elsewhere, I make sure they greet all elders (not just the elderly) this way. Even when we travel abroad and visit relatives and friends who are taken aback or clueless when my kids do this, I just take it upon myself to explain what this is all about. And they react with nothing but respect and admiration.
It’s never too late to practice this custom, wherever you are.
marapat lamang na maibalik at maipalaganap ulit sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo ang ganyang kaugalian sa mga kabataan..LALO na iyong paggamit ng PO at OPO..>.<
marapat lamang na maibalik at maipalaganap ulit sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo ang ganyang kaugalian sa mga kabataan..LALO na iyong paggamit ng PO at OPO..>.<
marapat lamang na maibalik at maipalaganap ulit sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo ang ganyang kaugalian sa mga kabataan..LALO na iyong paggamit ng PO at OPO..>.<