In the Filipino society where public esteem is greatly valued, physical appearance is very important. There is always a struggle for one to look proper so as not to incur public criticism. Fashion and style is paramount to most Filipinos. Everyone wants fashion although, because of monetary constraints, only a few are able to follow the contemporary western fashion. But even then the Filipinos always want to look nice in their own way. Office workers are kitted with trendy casual shirts and executives even wear suits. In weddings people dress immaculately in gowns and “barong tagalog” (the Filipino formal wear). Non-conformity with dress codes will place a person into the ‘outsider’ category. This was the rule even during Spanish timewhen Filipinas wear traditional ternos and baro’t saya

***Traditional Filipiniana ternos

Since Filipinos are particular with public perception, one always has to conform to the norm of dressing. Over-dressing is not tolerated as well as those that are “too western” or liberated. Even if the Filipinos likes fashion, one must make sure not to go beyond the standard of the society. For instance, short skirts are acceptable in youngsters but “too short” skirts would be considered improper. In this case, the public would not think twice of showing their displeasure by hard stares and eyebrow-raising to put the message across. Filipinos are also fond of branding non-conformists. For example, one who wears rubber flip flops would be called a “hippie” or a “Franciscan monk”.

There is also constant competition with regards to dressing in social events. People would endure discomfort just to look good if not the best in every occasion. Most offices and schools deemed it best to impose a uniform on their employees and students to avoid this type of competitions and give the individual an opportunity to be identified as part of a certain group. If one belongs to a certain group or office, he is expected to dress according to the profession and reputation that office holds.

The Philippines has a booming fashion industry. There are top fashion designers sometimes called “couturiers” who have trained and have qualifications from top fashion institutes abroad. Fashion shows are also popular events in urban areas, hotels and charity balls. There are models and fashion icons who are also world-renowned.

Filipino Concept of Beauty & Grooming

Beauty contests are very popular occasions in the whole of the Philippines. Winners in these contests are given high regard by the society and immediately are catapulted to a status of a celebrity and become instant stars even in their own small place or town. The title of a beauty queen stays with a person even when she grows old. National winners of beauty contests are recognized even when they are 60 years old or more. One can say that it is an added crown of success for prominent bachelors to be married or have romantic links with someone possessing a beauty title.

Beauty is what most Filipinos desire from childhood. Young girls are very conscious about their looks and always do the best that they can to look better. One can say that in the Philippines, beauty is a sort of status symbol. Beautiful girls easily gets into society circles and jobs that they want especially those who are both beautiful and intelligent. The most attractive girls are always invited to participate in social events like “sagalas” and “reinas” in Flores de Mayo (processions held all over the country in the month of May in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary), they are invited to balls and different social events, they have a shot at being celebrities on TV and film, etc.

Interesting enough, most of the pretty girls in the Philippines are those with partly-foreign blood. Lots of the local celebrities and models are children of filipino-western couples. There are of course pretty pure blood Filipinas but this being said, skin color do matter in considering beauty in the eyes of the Filipinos. Although Filipinos do not prefer “too white” skin, a lighter complexion is prefered over a dark one. This view is not absolute but most Filipinos find beauty in lighter skin. The most ideal skin color for Filipinos are the “mestizas” which means Filipinas with part-foreign blood (mostly Spanish). Their colors border between white and brown. Most “mestizas” also have a more defined nose and bone structure which makes them stand out from the masses.

But as I have said, this rule is not absolute, this is because we also have the “morena” concept of beauty. “Morenas” are those with slightly darker complexion but not too dark like the Brazilians and the Columbians. This is what most Filipinos consider as traditional Filipina beauty.

Since most Filipinos desire a lighter complexion, a vast number of Filipina girls who do not posses foreign blood are drawn into the whitening products which are being sold in almost all supermarkets. There are whitening lotions, soaps, facial cleansers, etc. Lately there has been a nationwide craze for glutathione, a food supplement which helps boost the immune system. Most Filipinos want to buy this product not because of it’s health advantage but because the “good” side effect of taking glutathione is that it makes one’s complexion a lot lighter. With all these being said, one can conclude that skin color is a status symbol in the Philippines.

“With Beauty Comes Good Grooming”

The Filipinos’ focus on beauty as a social asset increases their awareness of good grooming. A Filipino knows that beauty is a lot more than the physical aspect; that in order for one to be beautiful, they must work on her cleanliness and grooming as well. Because of the Filipinos’ flair for fashion, stylish clothes, fashionable hairstyles, proper accesssories and jeweleries to match, good posture, poise and personality as well as special talents, in singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument (traditionally the piano), theatre, speech and declamation, cooking, or sports, and involvement in social organizations are highly prized.

The public base their assessment, first and foremost, to physical appearance, clothes, taste in style and color, use of valuable jeweleries (Filipinas definitely favor fine jewellery over trinkets), social graces, courtesy and displays of wealth and social status. Social gatherings are always abuzz with assessments of apparel and jewelers worn by prominent people. The public could be harsh on it’s scrutiny on people’s physical appearance that it is only in the Philippines can you find “tumataba ka a!” (you’re growing fat!) as a sort of greeting. The public feels it’s alright to criticize openly as long as their statements are true and that the person criticized should not get offended but to take such comments as “positive criticism”. This makes the average Filipina very consious about their looks, their weight, etc. at all times.