What Filipino traditions do you want brought back?

Values are caught not taught is a lesson I learned form my parents as I was growing up. I remember them telling me that I should say po and opo when I spoke with anyone older than me. As a child I used to see how respectful my parents were towards their elders and this attitude I caught from them and continue to practice to this day. It is heartwarming to see people touching their elders’ hand to their forehead or mano. This practice that we inherited from our forefathers is a very apt way of showing respect and love. Although, I know that the young people of today like to give a buss to their elders – and for them it is their way of showing respect. Indeed times have changed. But, I hope that by the life we live, our kids will catch good values from us – and in this way we would have contributed to making them good Filipino citizens.

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio: Our country needs all the support from each citizen to move forward. The bayanihan spirit if revived to the fullest could very well be the answer to the problems besetting our country. Instead of pulling each other down it would be better if we can use our talents constructively for progress and development. Then and only then can our nation recover!

Dang Cecilio-Palanca, 1979 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe: For me, a very beautiful and touching tradition is the use of po, opo, kuya and ate. This is a form of respect and endearment that no other culture or language captures in the same way. I have a nephew who was born and raised in New Zealand and every time we call him he says, "who is calling po?" It touches me so.

Nenita Lim, vice president, Bench: Wearing the terno is one tradition I hope Filipino women will become proud of again. It gives us an identity that distinguishes the Filipino woman from the rest of the world. I thought it was a frivolity to be garbed in a terno until the late Joe Salazar created an elegant piece for me for the terno ball last year. Looking at the assembly of women dressed in their Filipiniana best made me realize how rich our art, heritage and culture are. I hope we can encourage younger women to wear the terno with dignity and that fashion designers uphold the craft lent by our forefathers.

Dada Lorenzana-Santiago, Values Formation seminar facilitator, Evangelion Foundation Inc: We have been told that one of our unique characteristics as Filipinos is the value we give to the bayanihan spirit. And yet, if we look at our current situation, we seem to be suffering from our people’s tendency to look after their own vested interests. We see that from the highest to the lowest levels of governance, to the business practice of not paying taxes, to the way motorists drive their vehicles. It’s more kanya-kanya. We pride ourselves on being a God-fearing nation and yet we do not heed God’s call to love one another. My imagery for the Philippines is one where people lend hands in carrying a bahay kubo, albeit a dilapidated one, to a better place where it can be rebuilt.

Ida F. Vargas, TV director: Delikadeza. My old Tagalog dictionary defines this as refinement, fastidiousness, or prudishness — the last two can be irritating when used excessively.

Mark Christian Parlade, PR manager, Stratworks: We could do so much more if we all worked together. Something should be done to rekindle community spirit or the spirit of bayanihan. We need to pitch in and work as a team, as a community and as a nation. Like Dr. John Maxwell said, "It takes teamwork to make the dream work."

Jose Mari Chan, businessman and composer: The Filipino male was known as a caballero, a perfect gentleman. A trait inherited from our Spanish ancestors. Today, it’s rare to see a man pulling a chair for a woman, opening the door for a lady, rising from his seat when a lady approaches the table and the other similar gestures. Worse, we see a lot of men taking advantage of their women and neglecting their duties and obligations to their wives. Let’s bring back chivalry.

Sixth district of Pangasinan Congressman Conrad Estrella: There are three Filipino values I would like to make a comeback, these are: 1) Delicadeza not only in government but in media and the private sector as well; 2) Bayanihan spirit specially in the barangays, specifically in our irrigation system. The government can save a lot of money if farmers do their share; and 3) Patriotism or love of country which is hard to find now.

Blue Carreon, features editor, Philippine Tatler: I would like to see more and more Filipinos don the terno and the barong be it in their traditional silhouettes or in newer versions by young designers like Patrice Ramos Diaz and Rhett Eala and the modern barong designed by Jeannie Goulborn because nothing speaks more of dignity and elegance than our national costumes.