Pinoys have a way with their hands

CEBU, Philippines - We Pinoys are known for a lot of things. Our hand gestures are definitely one of the things that make us unique.

We do excellent work when we use our hands. Just watch our craftsmen as they do their thing - like the wood carvers of Paete or the guitar makers of Cebu. Just feel the relaxing and always therapeutic massage of your barber after he used his hands to cut your hair the way you want it. And who among us have never experienced the thrill of those jeepney rides as the drivers maneuver their way through traffic with the precision of an F1 racer.

Speaking of jeepneys, even its passengers are fond of using their hands. We wave our hands to flag it down even when we’re standing under a “no loading” sign. And we always defy that prominent sticker - “Ang katok ay sa pinto…” posted behind the driver’s seat every time we want to get off. Worst part is, if we forget to “hand-over” our fare to the driver before getting off.

Our hands also figure a lot in our friendships. Each time we meet, come to an agreement, or win at something - we give “high fives” that are most popularly known as “Apir!” Those barkadas that have already formed a deeper kind of friendship even invent their own handshakes and hand signals. I’ve particularly witnessed this non-verbal dynamics in a group of friends in our neighborhood. Just by using gestures and hand signals, they can practically express joy, and even irritation.

We also use our hands to praise other people. And our gestures of admiration are usually dictated by the age or status of the person we are giving it to. We mess up the hair of kids. We pat our peers at the back. And we wave our arms up and down to honor those who are older than us and have reached idol status. But of course there’s always the “thumbs up” sign if you’re not too conscious about age or status.

We Pinoys really love using our hands. We always believe that this makes our lives less complicated. It’s easier and more enjoyable to eat with our hands. It’s less effort to catch the attention and stop people with our hands. It even simplifies the way we show who we’re voting for during elections.

It’s also more instinctive to scratch our heads when we don’t know the answer. More emphatic if we raise our arms when we wish to surrender.

Of course, we all know that we can make our lives a lot easier if we know the right hand signals to use in bars and restaurants. There’s a hand signal if you want to get the menu, order water or want the salt shaker.

But something happened recently that changed the meaning of one of the most popular hand signals in a bar and restaurant… the “chit” sign.

Ever since that TV commercial featuring the barkada of Vic Sotto, Michael V., Derek Ramsay and Efren “Bata” Reyes came out, the “chit” sign has lost its traditional meaning and is now being used to make ordering San Miguel Pale Pilsen a lot easier and faster.

The “chit” sign cuts through all the clutter of hand signals in a crowded bar or restaurant. It catches the attention of waiters and waitresses unlike any other because it represents the most important part of their job – collecting your payment. But what if you’re the customer and your order of San Miguel Pale Pilsen is your top priority. You better start using the “chit” sign to order because it works. Go ahead and try it. I’m sure you’ll be very amused and amazed by the result. (FREEMAN)