Is not saying of "Po" and "Opo" to the Elders is a Sign of Disrespect?

I think it's okay with people who have little differences with age. But with a kid to an elder, they should say those words as sign of respect. Anyways, it really depends on how you talk to an elderly. If you talk to him politely without saying respectful words, it's still considered respectful (well, in my opinion). Have a nice day!

Personally, I would still prefer to practice using "po" and "opo"..and I would want to pass it on generations. For me, I am proud that Filipinos uses "po" and "opo" as a respect. Not everyone in the world has it. Its something that we should be proud of. We even have "kuya" and "ate". It would be better if other Filipinos (those who are not taught of) would make an effort to use it.

i agree with you. there is no basis for elderly people to brand a person disrespectful just because he or she is not saying po or opo in every answer of every sentence while talking to them. I think you are right. other cultures do have it, others don't. We do not say po or opo at home and we were not brought up to do so every time we talk with our parents so for us it is not a sign of disrespect. If you raise your voice while talking or trying to make a point, that i think is being disrespectful.

Well I just learned from others that these "po" and "opo" is not totally practiced by many since those in the Visayas and Mindanao do not practice this so we cannot really say those that do not say po and opo is disrespectful since it is commonly practice primarily here in Luzon.

It's not part of our culture, too, because I am not tagalog. But, I use po and opo when I speak in Filipino. Somehow, even if I was raised in another culture, I respect that po and opo and respectful gestures, so I do use them when I speak in Filipino (which, by the way is based on Tagalog).

Yeah, as long as you say what you have to say in a nice tone and manner. I guess that is an old tradition of ours. It is used then but now is different. Sometimes, I feel offended when someone use "po" and "opo" to me. I feel very old when said to me. hehe

In the Philippines its already normal specially in Manila to use PO or OPO as a sign of respect but in our province we normally don't use this kind of respect as calling Manong or Manang or Lolo or Lola to elderly either relatives or not is already a sign of respect. In manila yes specially if age gap is very obvious but for those 20's-40s some normally don't use it specially in our work as we considered ourselves equal in all ages even our boss we called them by first name but those Big boss we called my Last name like Mr. Santiago and etc.Using Ma'am or Sir is not even common as they said this can only be used in school which is actually true but this will apply if your boss is a foreigner but if its filipino then PO, OPO, Sir, Ma'am is very used.

Well, yeah.. in the Visayan language i don't think there is an equivalent word for that.. it just depends on the person i guess. the tone of speaking can be a form of respect..

I actually don't the actual po and opo these past years but I don't get it in the generation younger than me. I think that the youth today still use it but for the people who already past their middle age. However, I maintain a respectful tone and treatment of my elders even though they don't usually act like adults sometimes. it's a matter on how people see politeness from other people. For some, it

There's no po or opo in most parts of the Visayas, elders are addressed with words such as " nong" or "nang", tio or tiya, from the Spanish meaning uncle or auntie even if youj are not related (Letter "a" ending being feminine form ), so it's respectful to say "Oo" followed by the word nong or nang,tio,tia, pay or may in Bicol. With tagalog or Pilipino, i think po or opo should be used and i always practice it depending on the situation.

You're right, it's really part of a certain culture. It's good to respect other's cultures, especially if we are living among them. But I'm sure they will understand we do not mean any disrespect when we do not observe other's cultures simply because we are not aware of familiar with it.

We need to take responsibility of our own actions towards other people. It is simply because you don't want to hurt them and be done to you. The more you disrespect them, the more you will hated by them.

Yes. I agree with you. It doesn't really mean that it's rude and disrespectful if a child don't use it to an elderly. It's part of Filipino culture that one must say po or opo when they are talking to an elderly. Not using it is ok but using it more often is much better. Even me still use it when I talk to my boyfriend.

This depends on the culture, like for us Tagalogs, we use "po" and "opo" to show respect to the elders. But it still does not mean disrespect if you don't say such words. Sometimes, it would depend on the way how you speak with others or elders. Other cultures still sound polite and kind even if they don't use "po" and "opo" because of the way they speak.

I absolutely disagree that for not using opo or po is a sign of disrespect. I even overheard a tagala woman said "people from Bisayas are disrespectful because they dont usually use po and opo". Being respectful is not merely from our spoken words. I heard people using po and opo but for how often they use those two words thats how often they also speak that bad two words (PI)in a day.

The failure to use such words does not indicated disrespect at all. It is just being use to indicate politeness towards elders or other people.

Certainly not. "Po" and "Opo" is a word for yes and use instead of the usual "Oo" to show respect to the elders. This words are customary throughout the Tagalog region of the Philippines including Metro Manila. I think there are no equivalent word for it in other regions' dialect even in other languages of the world. So we can't expect other people specially people outside Tagalog Region and Metro Manila to use this words as a sign of respect. This culture is unique, so we can't base our presumption of respect or disrespect by using or not using this word. Have a nice evening. Ciao!

Well, for traditional Filipino citizens that has a strong devout true Filipino culture it can be a sign of disrespect. But for modern Filipino such as Filipino citizens that lives from abroad and has not practice such norm, it is somehow not a sign of disrespect since they are not known of the customs and traditions of Filipino.

Well, for the kids/young who are supposed to say it, they would agree that respect can't actually be found in po and opo, but to elders who are recipient of these words, yes it is still a sign, and will ALWAYS be a sign of respect!:) When an elder ask and the child answers YES or NO, it wouldn't sound awful but if the kid answers in Tagalog with OO and HINDI- surely it sounds disrespectful.. Here at Cotabato City, we still very much use these 2, and "mano" is also well practiced. Kuya and Ate are also practiced.. Just keeping the culture alive..:D My niece had been speaking English since she was born.. So out of her daily conversations, only 15-20% are Tagalog. But whenever an elder asks her "yes" or "no" questions--- even if the question is asked in English- she has been taught to reply in Tagalog... Opo/Po and Hindi Po are still better than plain Yes and No , especially versus OO and HINDI =)) haha

For someone who grew up speaking English at home, I was used to not using po or opo. Eventually when I started talking to elders in Filipino, I ended up overusing "po" several times in a sentence just so they wouldn't call me disrespectful. I felt silly :D I think it really depends on the person. I rather see how one speaks rather than if they use po or opo.