AGE – 23

Date_of_performance: april 28th 2025

Language: Tagalog, German, Romanian/Filipino 

Nationality: Bisaya

Primary Language: English

Text:

“I heard this from the teachings of my family from generation after generation, This is where I learned it from. Tradition-wise wise we bless the elderly and help others like family members. The point is about having a strong bond with family and blessing them, taking care of the elderly and the young ones, etc. Mano po is a blessing we perform to show respect to our elders. We gently grab the hand of the eldest person and move it to our foreheads. You don’t normally do this to strangers, as they might not want to be perceived as old; this is more so for families of friends, partners, and yourself. “

Analysis:

Translated, the word “mano” means hand in Spanish, while the “Po” is a Filipino honorific. Together, they summarize the ritual performed by Philippinos, which can be traced back to 1493-1898 with a book called “The Philippine Islands.” Other countries have also adopted this ritual, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. As Marcel said, it’s tradition to greet someone old with Mano Po, as it’s a great form of respect for someone.