"Kaiina" LETS EAT.
There is hardly a day goes by when the above filipino phrase does not ring in all the households of the Philippines..."kaiina" or Lets eat...iis a famliar past time with Filipinos in general.
Eating is a social occasion for the family...so much so that families will generally eat together...
This perhaps conrtrasts greatly with UK Culture..where sometimes but not always...families generally do not eat togther...this may be due to work shifts...commitments at the office...late arrvals...and many other situations where the family does not eat together...allthough now in the UK...there is an encouragement for families to try and sit down for at least one meal per day.
In the Philippines Eating as a family is considered to be very important...there is nothing better than the whole family gathering to sit down and enjoy a fine meal together..Lechon Kawaili..Grilled Squid...Chicken Adobo..and Salad...perhaps Sinigang...Bagoong...all of this is the Filipino past time of eating.
This is a very important local custom to get used to...not so much for th eating which is of course something we all have to do...but more so for the social intercourse that takes place...relatives chatting away to each other in full flow.
As a Western Man you may be invited to join the family for dinner... or Hapunon...and you may hear one or two of the relatives shout "Kaiina" which as you saw means Lets eat.
If you are invited to this important social past time..again be yourself..but behave as a gentleman..but dig in and eat...you will be expected to do so...if you dont like something..its ok...your filipina lady..will no doubt be aware of your likes and dislikes..she may even have made special arrangements to have something cooked for you...such as steak or fries..so that you can also enjoy the experience...even better though if you like Adobo or something similar....you may find also that you are the center of conversation.
Remembering that most Filipinos when it comes to Western people or in fact strangers...will be quite and shy at the table...they may only speak when spoken to...and will probably sit silently and listen to your conversation..it may be just that they are tickled by your prescence...do not think that they are being dull...its just their way.
I hope that you do ennjoy the experience in the Philippines of eating with your future family...and get used to the fact that you may inherit hundreds of relatives...if you do decide to progress to marriage with a Filipina...hahahahahah she has lots of them.
Relatives will appear out of everywhere....its normal its the Philippines...if you wanted a big family...marry a Filipina.
Good Luck with Kaiina hahahaha
