Mano (gesture)
[3] An identical tradition is followed in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia called salim and salam respectively, indicating the custom dates back to pre-colonial times and a historical and cultural connection with the Philippines and its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Seated in this way, with head uncovered and the potong thrown like a towel over the left shoulder, they talk with their superiors.
The mode of salutation upon entering or meeting anyone is as follows: They draw the body together and make a low reverence, raising one or both hands to the face, and placing them upon the cheeks; they next sit down waiting for the question that may be put to them, for it is considered bad manners to speak before one is spoken to..." — Fr.
If one has to talk to any person of higher rank, he shows all reverence and squats down [pone en cuclillas], with raised face, and waits thus, until he is asked his reason for coming; for to speak without being questioned would be a point of bad breeding."
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.
By offering your hand to mano, you are allowing yourself to be subservient to the elder to accept their blessing and wisdom.
[10][11] Though the mano po gesture is usually practiced on one's parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, it is not restricted to one’s relatives.
[12] 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.
The beso-beso which originated from the Spanish word for kiss, is a common greeting in the Philippines similar to the mano.
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.
