Mano (gesture)

''Mano'' () is an honoring gesture performed in Filipino culture as a sign of respect and as a way of requesting a blessing from elders. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting asks for permission to initiate the gesture by saying "" or " 'Pa-''less ''po''". They then bow towards the elder and touch their forehead to the back of the elder's hand. The person receiving the greeting usually offers their right hand and replies with a blessing, typically "God bless you".

The word is Spanish for "hand", while the word is a Filipino honorific appended to sentences to convey respect (usually when addressing elders). Put together, literally translates to " ourhand, please".

The gesture is a form of greeting typically done for relatives that are older by at least one generation (grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles; but not older siblings or cousins). It is also commonly done for godparents, friends of older relatives, older relatives of friends or partners, and priests and ministers (traditionally at the end of mass). It can also be done for unrelated elderly acquaintances or strangers, especially when visiting their homes.

The gesture is also known as among Visayans, and among Kapampangans. In Philippine English, it is also generically referred to as "bless". An identical tradition is followed in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia called '' salim'' and ''salam'', respectively. This indicates that the custom dates back to pre-colonial times and is a shared tradition among cultures in Island Southeast Asia.

Historical accounts

Origin

The custom of ''mano'', although the name itself originates from Spanish, actually dates from pre-colonial times. As a result later on to modern times, Filipinos adopted this tradition as a sign of respect to one’s elders through the “mano”, lit. 'hand' in Spanish. A similar custom is also followed by neighboring countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In these countries, however, the custom is called ''salim'' originating from Arabic. ''Salim'' is also done in the family to respect elder family members and relatives. ''Salim'' is also a normal gesture done in traditional Islamic society to respect the ''ulama'' (religious elite/scholars).

Usage and context

In today's Philippine setting, the ''mano'' is still used by Filipinos as a sign of respect to their elders. It is usually done when the elder is seen for the first time in the day or upon entering a house or gathering. There is no age limit for the usage of the mano, but it is usually practiced on those older by at least one generation. So it applies to parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents; but not older cousins or siblings.

By offering your hand to ''mano'', you are allowing yourself to be subservient to the elder to accept their blessing and wisdom. It is considered impolite if one does not exercise the custom of ''pagmamano'' when entering the home of an elder or after seeing them at a gathering.

The respect for elders stems from the high value of family in Filipino culture. Filipinos are loyal to their family, such that the elderly live in the homes of their children or/and grandchildren to be taken care of, and the nursing home business is almost nonexistent in the Philippines. By having the elderly live at home, you are respecting their value in the family.

Though the ''mano po'' gesture is usually practiced on one's parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, it is not restricted to one’s relatives. Godparents are often greeted this way as well. During foreign Latin Occupation times, Catholic priests were also greeted like this, alongside the European practice of hand-kissing, and this still continues today often after a Catholic Mass, though the latter has fallen out of use.

The reason why Filipinos ''mano'' elders although they are not necessarily a relative is due to the value of family. Filipinos call older non-relatives "grandfather/mother, aunt, uncle, etc." even when they are not actually related in this way. By addressing elders in this way, you are acknowledging their age and the respect you need to show them. It is considered to be disrespectful to call an elder just by their first name, typical to the rest of Asian societies. Filipinos treat friends and acquaintances like family.

The ''mano po'' gesture is usually followed by a response of "God bless you" or "May the Lord have mercy on you" by the elder; the sign of the cross may be made over the recipient. The latter response of "May the Lord have mercy on you" is used when the ''pagmamano'' is performed with both hands to ask for an elder's pardon and forgiveness. With both hands, the younger person takes the elder's hands and lifts them to the forehead to formally ask forgiveness for an offence. This may be done while kneeling and weeping and is the highest form of the ''pagmamano''.

Similar Filipino customs

Beso-Beso

The ''beso'' is a common greeting in the Philippines similar to the ''mano''. The ''beso-beso'' is a cheek-to-cheek kiss. The ''beso'' is more commonly used amongst the upper classes as a greeting to relatives and close friends, but is not reserved for an older person unlike the ''mano''.

Po and opo

Similar to the ''mano po'' gesture, ''po'' and ''opo'' are also distinctly Filipino ways of showing respect to one's elders. The ''po'' is usually affixed to the end of sentences or phrases when one is addressing someone older than him or her. For example, ''paumanhin'' in Filipino means sorry. To an elder, one would say ''paumanhin po'', The word ''po'' alone has origins as a respectful honorific but in contemporary times, it does not carry its past implications anymore besides its contemporary meaning to add formality as a sign of respect. This is why it is always affixed to ''mano'' (as ''mano po'') when one is requesting the blessing of an elder.

See also

* Filipino values
* Philippine kinship
* Filipino styles and honorifics

References

External links

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{{Gestures

Philippine traditions
Tagalog words and phrases
Gestures of respect
Greetings