Mano (gesture)

Mano (Tagalog: pagmamano) is an honoring gesture performed in Filipino culture as a sign of respect and as a way of requesting a blessing from elders. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting asks for permission to initiate the gesture by saying "Mano po" or "[Pa-]bless po". They then bow towards the elder and touch their forehead to the back of the elder's hand. The person receiving the greeting usually offers their right hand and replies with a blessing, typically "God bless you".

The word mano is Spanish for "hand", while the word po is a Filipino honorific appended to sentences to convey respect (usually when addressing elders). Put together, mano po literally translates to "[your] hand, please".

The gesture is a form of greeting typically done for relatives that are older by at least one generation (grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles; but not older siblings or cousins). It is also commonly done for godparents, friends of older relatives, older relatives of friends or partners, and priests and ministers (traditionally at the end of mass). It can also be done for unrelated elderly acquaintances or strangers, especially when visiting their homes.

The gesture is also known as amin among Visayans, and siklod among Kapampangans. In Philippine English, it is also generically referred to as "bless". An identical tradition is followed in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia called salim and salam, respectively. This indicates that the custom dates back to pre-colonial times and is a shared tradition among cultures in Island Southeast Asia.

"Of the civilities, terms of courtesy, and good breeding among the Filipinos. Chapter XVI.
...As among them it is not courtesy to remain standing before a person whom they respect, they seat themselves upon the ground, or rather on their heel-bones. Seated in this way, with head uncovered and the potong thrown like a towel over the left shoulder, they talk with their superiors. The mode of salutation upon entering or meeting anyone is as follows: They draw the body together and make a low reverence, raising one or both hands to the face, and placing them upon the cheeks; they next sit down waiting for the question that may be put to them, for it is considered bad manners to speak before one is spoken to..." — Fr. Pedro Chirino, Relacion de Islas Filipinas

— Edited by Emma H. Blair and James A. Robertson, "The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XII" (1904)

"422. The natives of these islands employ innumerable other elegancies and courtesies, now in actions, now in words, now in names and titles, which they apply to themselves; these are various according to the difference of the provinces, and are too numerous to mention, for they are ceremonial, and they value their ceremonies highly. No one will pass in front of another, without asking permission, and in order to pass, he doubles the whole body with the most profound bow, at the same time lifting one foot in the air, and doubling the knee and lifting both hands to the face. If one has to talk to any person of higher rank, he shows all reverence and squats down [pone en cuclillas], with raised face, and waits thus, until he is asked his reason for coming; for to speak without being questioned would be a point of bad breeding." — Fr. Juan de San Antonio, Cronicas (1738)

— Edited by Emma H. Blair and James A. Robertson, "The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XL" (1906), Chapter XLI