Cebuanos Do Not Use 'Po' and 'Opo'

This is a fun fact not all Filipinos know about. Cebuanos don't make use of the words 'po' and 'opo' even when talking to elderlies.

So before we judge someone of disrespecting a granny or a grandpa, we should know first the story behind it.

I grew up in a household of Tagalog speaking family but there were times Daddy was speaking in Cebuano whenever he calls our relatives in Cebu.

Every summer, we go to Cebu to visit Bogo. It is where Dad was born along with his parents and siblings. His father was, for us, the First Generation of the clan.

We also stay in Cebu City because it is where our closest relatives live. We usually stay one week in Cebu every May but it was always not enough. Bitin! Ika nga 😃

We have lots of relatives in Cebu. Aside from Cebu City and Bogo, we also have relatives in San Remegio, Lapu-lapu, Medellin, and a lot more places that's at the back of my mind.😃

So it's never a problem where we will stay. We also don't need to think of the transportation going to and from.

Anyway, I noticed whenever we go to Cebu, children don't make use of those 2 words that make us polite to the person we are talking to. So I asked Daddy when I was younger about it. And that's when I found out about this fact.

As far as I remember, I was used in using those words because I studied in Catholic schools from Elementary, High School, and until College. It was always taught to us to use those words.

I also know that we also taught my nephews and nieces to use it. But as we become adults, we don't use it anymore at home. My nephews and nieces didn't use it to my Mom and Dad. They don't use it to their parents and my other sister. But, it's okay. We are used to it. It was not prohibited at home. We were taught about it but I think it was not really forgotten, but because it's part of the culture and tradition of the Cebuanos.

Whenever our cousins visit Dad and Mom, I also don't hear them use it. So, it was never an issue for the Pacifico clan.

We don't forget to use it outside our home though. I hear my pamangkins use it and I use it as much as I am aware about it.

There were times that I forget to use it and just use 'oo' or just nodding my head but it doesn't mean I am already disrespecting an elderly. I know in my heart how respectful I am to old people. I sometimes use it at work when I am talking to supervisors or managers.

Lesson? Hmmmm, maybe, when we hear adults or even kids reply to elderlies with 'oo', don't make it an issue. Life is too short to make an issue out of everything we notice. 😝