Mano Po (FINAL DRAFT)

Respect is an important thing to my family. One way of that is "Mano Po." It is a respectful gesture youth does for elderly as a sign of respect, as a child respects his or her grandparents. It is also used as "a greeting upon entering a house, or a welcoming blessing on holidays, such as the Christmas season." "Mano" is Spanish for "hand," and "po" is Filipino, specifically Tagalog, for addressing respect, specifically to an elder who is spoken too. It is said before the gesture, asking the elder for permission to do said gesture. If it is given, the person takes the elder's hand and presses it against his or her forehead.

Mano Po is important because it is a great sign of respect, which my family values highly. My parents have always told me and my sister to respect who's older than us, whether related or not, whoever we know or not, as it is our cultural doing. Respect is universal, and is a moral. As a rule, my parents had me and my sister call our elders, or anyone older than us, what title is commonly used for said certain person. we call our mom "Mom," our dad "Dad," others of adult age "Aunty" or "Uncle," and so on. It shows proper respect to people.

I had first heard of 'Mano Po" during my family's trip to the Philippines to visit my grandmother during the Christmas season. My parents told me and my sister the gesture for respect, and told us to do it when we meet her. Apparently, we forgot, but we remembered when my cousin did it a while later. I still try to remember for when I need to do it, because as it's important to my family and my culture, it's as important to me."Mano Po" is a standard phrase to my family. Doing it feel like I'm putting full use to myself in a Filipino custom.

To me, "Mano Po" is a term for showing your gratitude and maturity to one, as we are to be thankful and respectful to those higher than us. It makes me feel more thankful for my elders, and is by far, to my family, the best of anything anyone could ever receive. I want to give those I'm thankful for my full gratitude with maturity and respect. The have cared for me, helped me, comforted me, and taught me general ways to live life. They have done so much, and giving back is all I try to do.  It's the main and so far best way to say thank you.

As my mom had said, "it is a tradition that has been done for years." She and my dad have done "Mano Po," my grandparents have done it, my aunts have done it, and so on. It's a continuous line of giving respect, and I want to continue it further. Respect is a value that my parents are strongly strict about. I've spent many years learning respect. "Mano Po" is only one of the many, but few of the greatest to my family.