Filipino matriarchs are known for their tough love. This tough love paves the way for pieces of wisdom that sound like quips, often with a bit of extremity in both humor and drama. After all, lessons in life are most impactful when you learn from them as much as you are entertained.
From taking care of the little ones to maintaining the household, Filipino moms keep proving the adage that “mothers know best.” Their sermons, while often hyperbolic, are packed with more insights than they might appear. It is this succinctness that makes their lines memorable to this day.
Here are six lines Filipino moms commonly use and what makes them unforgettable:
“Tanghali na!”
Technically, there are approximately 12 hours in a day before noon. But to Filipino moms, 8 AM onwards does not count as morning. If it’s 8 in the morning and they catch you still asleep, these are the two words that will surely wake you—sometimes, complete with your name at the beginning. Overkill as it might seem, it is a tried-and-true way to get you up and moving. It’s a distinctive wake-up call that blends urgency and concern, compelling you to shake off sleepiness and turn a groggy start into a productive day.
“Yung iba nga walang makain”
This line might bring back flashbacks of dining table wars from childhood. It’s a classic, guilt-inducing statement Filipino moms use when you pick out the vegetables from the dish or leave a portion of the meal uneaten. Setting aside the guilt, this line carries a lesson in both awareness and empathy. First, it raises awareness of what you have compared to those who are less fortunate. And within that awareness comes the second lesson, empathy. It is a reminder that others face hardships that are far more dire than not liking the food on the table.
“Lalabas yung aircon!”
Taken literally, this line sounds like an absurd joke or a fever dream where air conditioners are sentient and can walk but not breathe or think. Still, despite this uncanny imagination, it makes an important point. It gets you thinking about how an aircon isn’t simply a static fixture in your home; it’s an energy-intensive appliance that significantly impacts your electricity consumption and monthly utility bill. If air conditioners were actual living creatures with their own agenda, Filipino moms would be the ones to “keep them contained.”
“Mata ang ginagamit, hindi bibig”
There’s a running joke that when you can’t find something, asking a Filipino mom if she’s seen it might get you more than just a simple yes or no. Instead, you might get a long-winded sermon about being more attentive. It can be a bit disconcerting to receive a lecture when you’re just looking for help, but there’s more to it than just a tedious reproof. It emphasizes paying attention to your things and having a keen awareness of what surrounds you. This way, you can be more proactive in the safekeeping of your own, just like how Filipino moms are with their family.
“Saan kayo pupulutin kung wala ako”
Out of everything on this list, this is the line that’s hardest to argue against because you know it’s not simply an exaggeration. The chances of you reading this might have been slim to none without your mom. The lengths that Filipino mothers go through for their child are no joke, even including these lines here that, at the moment, sound a bit stretched. It might seem like making a big deal out of something small, but such thinking partly overlooks the extensive labor they put in at home. This line is one you can’t dismiss as just a tirade. It is a reminder of the much-needed appreciation for your Filipino mom.
Beyond the hilarity, these lines every Filipino child has heard continue to be around because each one carries a nugget of wisdom that lasts a lifetime and, apparently, across generations. They have broader implications that teach children meaningful lessons at a young age, setting the stage for growth rooted in values. Next time your Filipino mom dishes out one of her classic lines, remember that there’s always more to it than it seems. But really, an even better thing to do is to avoid letting it get to a next time.
