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

1. source of all the neighborhood gossip - pinagmulan ng lahat ng tsismis ng kapitbahayan

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2. in front of one of their gates - sa harap ng isa nilang tarangkahan

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3. they can be toxic - maaari silang maging lason

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4. do not have scandalous information - walang iskandalosong impormasyon

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5. usually found drinking - kadalasang nakikitang umiinom

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6. seated with his friends - nakaupo kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan

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7. commenting on your weight - nagkomento sa iyong timbang

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8. often harmless - madalas hindi nakakapinsala

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9. come off as superficial and pretentious - parang mababaw at mapagpanggap

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10. they are intimidating - nakakatakot sila

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11. very sheltered and harmless - naisisilong at hindi nakakapinsala

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12. exude an air of superiority - mailabas ang higit na kahusayan

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13. always compare - laging ikumpara

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14. country they work in - bansa kung saan sila nagtatrabaho

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15. they are proud to be Pinoy - ipinagmamalaki nila ang pagiging Pinoy

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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

1. source of all the neighborhood gossip - tinubdan sa tanang tsismis sa kasilinganan

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2. in front of one of their gates - atubangan sa usa sa ilang mga ganghaan

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3. they can be toxic - pwede sila mahimo og toxic

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4. do not have scandalous information - walay iskandaloso nga impormasyon

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5. usually found drinking - kasagaran makit-an nga nag-inom

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6. commenting on your weight - nagkomento sa imong timbang

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7. often harmless - kasagaran dili makadaot

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8. come off as superficial and pretentious - murag taphaw ug mapangahason

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9. they are intimidating - makahadlok sila

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10. very sheltered and harmless - silong kaayo ug dili makadaot

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11. exude an air of superiority - mopagawas ug hangin sa pagkalabaw

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12. always compare - kanunay itandi

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13. country they work in - nasud nga ilang gitrabahoan

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14. they are proud to be Pinoy - proud sila nga Pinoy

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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

1. source of all the neighborhood gossip - naggapuan ti amin nga tsismis

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2. in front of one of their gates - sango ti maysa kadagiti ridaw

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3. they can be toxic - makaited da iti dakes

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4. do not have scandalous information - awan ti saan nga nasayaat nga impormasyon

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5. usually found drinking - kanayon a makita nga umin-inom

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6. seated with his friends - makipagtugaw iti abay ti gagayyem

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7. commenting on your weight - adda masarita na iti kinadagsen mo

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8. often harmless - haan nga madangran

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9. come off as superficial and pretentious - maipakita nga haan nga napudno ken aginkukuna

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10. they are intimidating - nakababain isuda

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11. very sheltered and harmless - maibal-balay ken haan nga pakadangran

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12. exude an air of superiority - maipakita ti kinapangas

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13. always compare - kanayon nga ikompara

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14. country they work in - ili nga pagtrabahuan

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15. they are proud to be Pinoy - napasindayaw da a kas Filipino

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A medical student who is passionate about writing and loves to travel in her free time.

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