Real Talk

Things That Filipino Moms Would Understand

by Kevyn Gohu
March 20, 2025

There are just some things that Filipino moms get and others don’t. Check these out if they apply to you!

Let’s be honest, being a mom is hard. Besides juggling the usual duties, the culture where we choose to raise our families adds another mental load. There’s teaching the unspoken rules of engagement to both our kids and sometimes, our partners, that we learned through experience but have no idea how to do so properly. Then, there’s also learning all the new things that the world has to offer. But Filipino moms do have some experiences that are quite exclusive to us.

Here are just some of the things only a Filipino mom would understand:

There are just some things that Filipino moms get and others don't

Changing language when angry

Somehow, English doesn’t hit as hard when we’re angry. When we react to our kids in shock, rage, and frustration, we revert to our native language. It can be Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or one out of the 180 languages the Philippines uses. Besides, there’s something so satisfying when we do get angry in our native language. Some Filipinos say it’s because of how lutong it sounds when we do get angry in our native language. Then, there’s also because we’ve heard our parents do the same thing.

Don’t believe us? Try saying an insult in both English and its native counterpart. Somehow, the word “bobo” sounds like it hits harder and eerily more satisfying than “stupid.”

Reminding our kids to use the language the whole group speaks

By default, everyone in the Philippines is at least bilingual. In Metro Manila, they usually speak English or Tagalog. Families from the province are at least trilingual: they learn both English and Tagalog in school but use their native language (either Cebuano, Hiligaynon, etc.) at home. In the usual case that they’re either half-Chinese or half-Spanish and met their great-grandparents, they most likely know how to understand but can’t converse in the two aforementioned languages.

However, since it’s mom usually reminding their kids about their manners, we’re the ones quietly reminding them to speak in a language everyone uses to make sure they’re not left out.

Self-medication at home

Let’s be honest: unless the disease requires extreme medical intervention, every Filipina mom probably has basic or at least surface knowledge of natural medicines to treat everything. Have a fever? Eat a bowl of arroz caldo or Tinolang Manok. Have a cough? Salabat is the way to go! Most of us Filipino moms learn this from our mothers and our lolas which is why hospitals to them are more associated with death and fear.

Answering a threat with another threat

We often hear the line “ang siga niya!” and while it means bonfire of burning leaves literally, we know the slang version more which means “to bully.” Most Filipino moms are not afraid to bully back. We will use anything and everything to match up the threat, even if we’re physically smaller than our opponent or know that we won’t actually physically hit them. Sometimes, we use slippers, belts, and hangers, and sometimes we kind of “psych” out people by half-lunging towards them.

It won’t matter if we’re 5’1 or smaller. Every Pinoy knows not to mess with a Filipino mom.

Knowing everyone and everything

Before social media, moms were the real intelligence network. We probably know more than the local security or military because they just do. Because before we became moms, we were titas. As titas, we knew everything. From what shoes one kid wore, to the name of the grandmother, who was related to who, that was something we do like it was second nature.

Some studies say women can do this better than men because we’re more detail-oriented and understand how emotions drive action.

There are sure a lot more things Filipina moms do!

Although times are changing, the essence of what moms do (no matter how different it looks) remains the same. Sure, we try not to resort to physical punishment but sometimes it comes out. Why? Some say it’s in the genes; some say it’s the collective knowledge of motherhood awakening in the mind. It’s why they call the transition or change into motherhood so magical. Suddenly, we have access to all this information and skills that we never had prior.

While the list may be for Filipino moms, we’re sure other moms from cultures similar to Filipino culture have thought the same. But don’t worry, these things are not to be ashamed of. They’re worth the laugh because even though it doesn’t make sense to some, it just works for us! So, be proud, moms!