I have been watching many YouTube videos in preparation for my visit next month. I see many foreigners interacting with locals and I have never seen anyone shake hands. Here in Mexico, all men shake hands on meeting and again on leaving. Am I missing something in the videos?
Handshaking and introducing yourself isn’t a big thing here. However, in a business environment or on a more formal setting, they do. Filipinos are exceedingly friendly and will smile and talk to you without the formality of a handshake and introduction. The men who know each other, slap each other’s backs or do that weird secret handshakes slash high-five to say hello. The women greet each other the Hispanic way, which is cheek-to-cheek with the corresponding air kisses.
Oh then I must be in the minority here because My brother in Law and his son have just been to collect my Daughter and both shook my hand as soon as they said hello
Me too amongst men I do get a lot of handshakes - sometimes with Filipinas but that is always a little more awkward until after the handshake, so I usually initiate it.
Yuck, I don't know where your dirty d*ck-beaters have been...no wait, I probably do and I certainly don't want to touch them (and you probably don't want to touch mine). I may go for a fist bump...but even then I have my limitations depending on how the person looks.
Filipinos aren’t barbarians. While it’s not their usual way of greeting someone, they will shake your hand if you extend it to them. If they’re facing a white dude, they will shake their hands. If they’re facing a fellow Filipino, they’ll nod or grunt out a greeting. Just my observation.
A handshake would be the best way to show friendship to someone you meet for the first time. It should go with the "hi" and "hello" greetings and the rule says it should be the woman who extends her hand first. However, as women in the Philippines are a bit modest (in general), you may need to extend your hand first. Between gentlemen, any of the two can both show the willingness for friendship with a handshake. Go ahead. Shake hands with everyone. It is a gesture of friendship.
