Especially grown glutinous rice with sugar is served as the traditional dessert in these special occasions. Filipino men love to drink gin and beer and eat balut, which is duck egg hardboiled with the embryo intact. Dog meat is another delicacy eaten by the men (Baringer). Filipinos have also adopted foreign cuisines, including Spanish food, Chinese food, American food and Indian food (Bruce, 2011). Besides imported cuisines, the different regions and provinces have their own distinct dishes for which they are known. Their vegetables are often mixed with seafood or meat or with whatever can garnish the dish. They also prepare mixed dishes like minced pork with fowl and seafood. They use seasonings on dishes, particularly the very famous patis, herring or bagoong and soy sauce (Bruce).

Modern Dating among Filipinos

Dating among Filipinos consists of native beliefs, religious customs, native, eastern and western influences (Soriano, 2010). It is the official start of courtship. The guy is the expected initiator of a date. He picks the girl up from her house and then returns her there after the date. That is the time for the guy to meet the girl's family and chats with them for a few minutes. A follow-up date confirms mutual interest. Otherwise, disinterest is usually expressed indirectly only (Soriano).

Gender Roles

In the rural areas especially, the men cultivate the land but his whole family cooperates in planting and harvesting (Baringer, 2011). The women keep the garden and care for the house and the children. On the other hand, men in the urban areas work in machine shops and construction sites or as drivers of passenger vehicles. The women in these areas usually work as teachers, clerks, sari-sari attendants, sellers of produce and health care providers. In most families, male children are preferred. Girls are, however, also welcomed as a source of help for the house and in their parents' old age. Women's rights are best demonstrated by their share in the family inheritance with their male siblings. Women are the traditional money managers in the family. The coin gift from the groom to the bride during a wedding ceremony indicates his acknowledgment of this role in the bride (Baringer).

Personal relationships and wealth normally insure success (Baringer, 2011). If this were true, women have an equal opportunity for success as men do. Winners of beauty contests are believed to succeed even in business and professions. Marriage is a civil ceremony officiated in by city officials. A religious ceremony counterpart often follows and duplicates it. Principal sponsors are usually older relatives or important personalities known to the newlyweds. The number of principal sponsors in a wedding indicates the popularity and potential success of the couple. Arranged marriages did not strongly evolve. Men are, however, expected to marry. If they are not married up to their late 20s, female relatives...

The average age for marriage is 22. Today, young professionals marry in their late 20s and observe engagement for as long as 5-7 years before they marry. At this time, the couple become established in their respective jobs, pay for the education of their respective younger siblings, and purchase household items. A woman who reaches 32 and stays un-married is considered past the age of marriage. Present-day women often think that marrying a wealthy man or foreign will insure happiness. Divorce is illegal in the Philippines. Annulment is, however, available in the Church for reasons of physical, incapacity, physical violence or pressure upon the spouse to change to another religion or political beliefs (Baringer).
Most Common Stereotypes

Among these are that Filipinos drive only Japanese cars for their reliability and practical use (Krutovsky, 2011). They are late in everything; eat wild dogs; remove their shoes and wear slippers before entering a house; love rose gardens and orchids and that this can be observed by simply walking around houses. Most of them like oriental furniture, plastic covers and rug runners. Some eat with their bare hands. Parents call their children's attention by hissing. Most of them prefer work as accountants, physicians, nurses or electrical engineers (Krutovsky). #

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baringer, S. (2011). The Philippines. Countries and their culture. Don Herrington.

Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/the-Philippines.html

Borlongan, J. (2007). Filipino culture: hospitable, humble and honorable. Yahoo! News

Network: Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/409868/filipino

Bruce, J.A. (2011). Filipino Food Culture. Ezine Articles: Ezinearticles.com. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://ezinearticles.com/?Filipino-Food-Culture&id=5650387

Krutovsky, a. (2009). 10 most common stereotypes about Filipino culture. DC

International Travel. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-washington-dc/10-most-common-stereotypes-about-filipino-culture

Living in the Philippines (2011). Introduction to Philippine culture. Living in the Philippines, Inc. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/philculture

Lloyd, M.J. (2007). Modern Filipino dating culture. Helium: Helium, Inc. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.helium.com/items/1935266-medium-Filipino-dating-culture

Shvoong (2008). Filipino culture. Shvoong.com. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.shvong.com/humanities/1748099-filipino

Soriano, R.H. Modern Filipino dating culture. Helium: Helium, Inc. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from http://www.helium.com/items/1935260-modern-filipino-dting-culture