Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando called on all Filipinos Saturday to observe the “bating Filipino” way of greeting and gesture of friendship as health authorities warned of the emergence of a new COVID-19 strain which is potentially 70 percent more contagious.

Fernando aired he appeal as the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 8149 or the Bating Filipino Act before it adjourned for the Yuletide season over a week ago.

“In this pandemic, humanity should have learned to do away with the hazards of handshakes.  The High 5, the fist bump, and the practice of non-contact bating Filipino which is in every movement express sincere greeting, respect, praise and trust,” said Fernando.

The former Marikina City mayor authored HB 8149 which has gained bipartisan support in the House.

The House is expected to pass the measure on third and final reading when session resumes next month.

Fernando described the bating Filipino as a “humble and respectful way of greeting” especially when done “with grace” and with “our best very Filipino smile.”

With or without pandemic, there is a need to institutionalize this “safer way of greeting and gesture of friendship,” Fernando said.

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture strongly endorsed the passage of the measure as it swiftly approved it during a panel last month.

Fernando said the bating Filipino is simply done by “an act of gracefully laying the palm of the right hand over the center of the chest with simultaneous slight head nod, closed eyes, or looking down, and a happy Filipino smile.”

The Department of Health, represented in the committee hearing by Dr. Norilyn Evangelista, said the introduction of the “new way of cultural greeting which is an alternative to handshake” is welcomed by the DoH.  

Evangelista said this will help “break the chain of COVID-19 transmission.”
House Deputy Speaker Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero said the National Commission for Culture and the Arts submitted a position paper in support of the measure but with one amendment – changing the title to Bating Filipino para sa Kalusugan.

Fernando explained that while handshaking has been the internationally accepted gesture of friendship, trust, and respect that dates back during the 5th century BC, current health standards require an alternative to such display of camaraderie.

“However, the medical profession has established that the traditional, well-meaning, and innocent gesture of handshake transmits communicable diseases and is a risk to one’s health,” he said.