Filipinos are Filipinos whatever nook of the universe they are at. Here are some quirks that, whether perceived in a good light or not, ultimately make us proud to be Pinoy.

You get kilig.

No single foreign word can translate “kilig,” but it’s closest to the warm fuzzy feeling one gets when something romantic happens. We manifest it in many ways, from showing a shy smile to shaking the nearest living being in an outburst of happiness. Bystanders be warned.

You curse in Filipino.

Our archipelago’s rich history as a trade hotspot has made us multilingual. But when it comes to cursing, our mother tongue will always have more bite than the curses of a foreign language. As we say here, malutong.

You slyly take everything from hotels.

We take the phrase “make the most of your stay” literally—Pinoys have been known to hoard everything from toiletries to breakfast buffet bread rolls. This extends to blankets that say “for cabin use only.”

You (not so) secretly like Filipino movies.

Though we call many Filipino movies baduy, we can’t help sneaking into a movie theater or snuggling up in front of the DVD player with a bowl of chicharon, awaiting the jokes and the drama (slapping is a must).

You sing your heart out.

May it be in the shower or at a karaoke bar, we all have a favorite power ballad or Pinoy classic that we belt out until our lungs give out—or until our companions beg us to stop.

You text all day and all night.

Thanks to the sensation that is unlimited text messaging, Filipinos are the only people worldwide who can chat, gossip, flirt, send photos and share their whole life story through SMS for days on end.