Miss May not Ate or Kuya

I went to the mall last night to buy a box of ensaymada. I saw a newly opened dental clinic so I went in and inquired. My schedule sometimes do not match with that of my regular dentist so it’s also good to have a back-up or dentist #2. I spoke to the young dentist who was a graduate of University of the East based on the diploma hanging on the clinic’s wall. The young receptionist / assistant was also able to answer many of my inquiries. The dentist kept on moving her arms, legs, body while she and I were speaking to each other. In some instances her movements were tantamount to dancing while she was standing. Her swaying was making me dizzy so I asked her why she kept on moving. She frowned and tried to keep still. As a mom, it was hard for me to keep track of bad habits or mannerisms my children were developing. When they wiggle their feet, legs while seated, naku I waste no time in stopping them. I’ve seen a family of 5 at a restaurant. While they were all seated waiting for their food, they were all glued on their individual cellphones, para silang hindi magkakilala kasi hindi sila nag-uusap and at the same time, their legs and feet were wiggling under the long dining table.

Since the dental clinic at the mall was about to close at 8 pm, I just took a copy of their flyers and told them I would call. I called up the clinic a while ago. When I asked the person on the other line what her name is, she said she’s Miss May. I asked her “bakit may kasamang miss?” She said that’s how she’s addressed and because they don’t use ate or kuya. I told her if I call her Miss May, parang boss ko sya eh ako ay customer. She retreated and said okay lang naman daw kung May na lang.

We Filipinos have become so polite in addressing others but sometimes medyo exaggerated or OA. Even our secretary here, lahat ng driver tinatawag nyang sir, or pati yung hardinero ang tawag nya ay sir Edwin. Dapat Ka Edwin. If you want to show respect in addressing workmates especially those who are older, pwede namang Manong or Manang. Nung araw sa Binangonan, Ka or Ale or Mama ang ginagamit. Hindi ate or kuya. Okay lang ang ate at kuya kung close kayo, magka-samahan sa trabaho, para kayong mga magkakapatid. I never addressed our neighbor as Tita or Tito dahil hindi naman namin sila kamag-anak. Ang tawag ko Ka Chayong, or Ka Neto, Ka Julia, Ka Pedring. Of course ngayon medyo modern na. It’s okay to be called tita even if you are not related by affinity or consanguinity.