Filipino Characters in the Community

The Filipino community is always a lively one filled with interesting characters. While not every Filipino you’ll meet fits into a stereotype, there are some you really can’t miss and must know about if you plan to meet a Filipino community and/or live in the Philippines .

The Marites

A Marites is a stereotype name for an older Filipino woman who is the source of all the neighborhood gossip . She is what Filipinos would call, “chismosa” or a gossiper. She is that Tita (auntie) who sees all and hears all. 

In a barangay, there are usually more than one Marites and they usually gather in front of one of their gates or in front of a sari-sari (convenient) store to do their meetings. They meet not only to exchange information they get from looking out their window but to also insert their judgmental comments on the topic at hand. While they can be toxic , they are normally harmless if they do not have scandalous information about you.

The Tiburcio

This is your typical Filipino drunken Tito (uncle). Usually married to a Marites, he also has fellow Tiburcio friends in the neighborhood .

He is usually found drinking some Red Horse with his friends in the middle of the barangay. If not seated with his friends at a table , you can find him at a local karaoke bar singing to his heart ’s content . Some of their favorite song choices include: “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and “Touch by Touch” by Joy. In fact, he will even carry his drunken karaoke skills to family gatherings. Despite his quirks, he is usually nice at heart ; but that doesn’t spare him from commenting on your weight and love life .

The Jejemons

These are best described as the budget hypebeasts of the Philippines. They usually dress up in loud fake designer clothes, have their own music (Look up “Budots”), and have their own language (Jejenese) which is usually seen in the way they text. 

They can even come off cocky or overconfident when hitting on people they find attractive, usually in the form of catcalling those who enter sari-sari stores. While this can scare or annoy some people , they are often harmless and it is best to ignore them and their advances.

The Conyos

Also known as “rich kids ” they are often characterized by their expensive lifestyles and English mixed with their local Filipino dialect. Only found in metropolitans, you can often find them in groups in upscale areas either drinking boba tea or Starbucks. They initially come off as superficial and pretentious although not many of them are like that.    

They are intimidating to the average Filipino joe but are usually very sheltered and harmless . Behind the money , they’re just like everyone else.

The OFW

Short for Overseas Filipino Workers, these are Filipinos that work abroad to make a living for their families . You can often spot them on Facebook wearing thick coats in their profile pictures and often commenting “Regards to your family ” on their friends ’ pictures. After being away from the Philippines for so long, they exude an air of superiority . They tend to wear designer clothes, always compare how things are in the Philippines to the country they work in , and say how everything in the Philippines is so much cheaper. 

Despite seeming unpatriotic, they’ll never fail to say that they are proud to be Pinoy or to acknowledge fellow Filipinos as kababayans (fellow countrymen).

Learn Tagalog

source of all the neighborhood gossip - pinagmulan ng lahat ng tsismis ng kapitbahayan
in front of one of their gates - sa harap ng isa nilang tarangkahan
they can be toxic - maaari silang maging lason
do not have scandalous information - walang iskandalosong impormasyon
usually found drinking - kadalasang nakikitang umiinom
seated with his friends - nakaupo kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan
commenting on your weight - nagkomento sa iyong timbang
often harmless - madalas hindi nakakapinsala
come off as superficial and pretentious - parang mababaw at mapagpanggap
they are intimidating - nakakatakot sila
very sheltered and harmless - naisisilong at hindi nakakapinsala
exude an air of superiority - mailabas ang higit na kahusayan
always compare - laging ikumpara
country they work in - bansa kung saan sila nagtatrabaho
they are proud to be Pinoy - ipinagmamalaki nila ang pagiging Pinoy

Learn Cebuano

source of all the neighborhood gossip - tinubdan sa tanang tsismis sa kasilinganan
in front of one of their gates - atubangan sa usa sa ilang mga ganghaan
they can be toxic - pwede sila mahimo og toxic
do not have scandalous information - walay iskandaloso nga impormasyon
usually found drinking - kasagaran makit-an nga nag-inom
commenting on your weight - nagkomento sa imong timbang
often harmless - kasagaran dili makadaot
come off as superficial and pretentious - murag taphaw ug mapangahason
they are intimidating - makahadlok sila
very sheltered and harmless - silong kaayo ug dili makadaot
exude an air of superiority - mopagawas ug hangin sa pagkalabaw
always compare - kanunay itandi
country they work in - nasud nga ilang gitrabahoan
they are proud to be Pinoy - proud sila nga Pinoy

Learn Ilocano

source of all the neighborhood gossip - naggapuan ti amin nga tsismis
in front of one of their gates - sango ti maysa kadagiti ridaw
they can be toxic - makaited da iti dakes
do not have scandalous information - awan ti saan nga nasayaat nga impormasyon
usually found drinking - kanayon a makita nga umin-inom
seated with his friends - makipagtugaw iti abay ti gagayyem
commenting on your weight - adda masarita na iti kinadagsen mo
often harmless - haan nga madangran
come off as superficial and pretentious - maipakita nga haan nga napudno ken aginkukuna
they are intimidating - nakababain isuda
very sheltered and harmless - maibal-balay ken haan nga pakadangran
exude an air of superiority - maipakita ti kinapangas
always compare - kanayon nga ikompara
country they work in - ili nga pagtrabahuan
they are proud to be Pinoy - napasindayaw da a kas Filipino

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