Is it rude to say, "MOMMA is Not Allowed Here?"
By Shavkat
@Shavkat (139933)
Philippines
May 2, 2017 11:51am CST
In some places in Cordillera Philippines, the local people are not allowed to spit “momma” on the street or public areas. “Momma” is referred to chewing betel nuts. It became common for some tribal people to chew betel nuts.
The betel nut is cut into small pieces and wrapped with the leaf. Once it was being chewed, it produces color blood spittle. Some tribal people will spit it in any places. A municipality ordinance: no spitting of “momma” was created to discipline them.
Image Credit: Shavkat
16 people like this
18 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
3 May 17
hmmm, and i misread the title of your post. i thought MOMMA as in MOMMY. and you mean the MAMA as in "Joy to mama, gawed, ken buwa. adda pay apog na", to the tune of "Joy to the sorld".
maybe in some places here, chewing betel nut is not allowed, but i think it has some benefits that others cannot see.
3 people like this
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
3 May 17
Chewing betel nuts is not an offense by spitting it in public is really bad..
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
3 May 17
@ridingbet I think it is not common in the other provinces of our country. They are more seen in cordillera provinces. I was also amazed that some people used bottles of drinks to spit on it than on the street.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
3 May 17
@Kuttu_007 The action of chewing the betel nuts, but the action of spitting of it is not acceptable.
1 person likes this
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
2 May 17
Chewing momma and spitting it in public is very common in my country also...
3 people like this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
3 May 17
@Kuttu_007 I think there is always a possibility to embrace changes in life.
1 person likes this
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
3 May 17
@Shavkat Unless the people think public places as their home nothing can stop them from spitting..
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
4 May 17
My almost brother in law usually get betel nuts here when ever they visit. He has coworkers from your place and they like chewing betel nuts. I thought at first he was getting them because betel nut is use for deworming fighting rooster.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
5 May 17
@diosabella Oh, I see. I hope he can stop doing it. It is so strong when chewing the betel nut from time to time.
@diosabella (4789)
•
5 May 17
@Shavkat I think so. He said the his coworker complains that its high a price in their place. 50 a kilo I think. So when ever they come here he ask me to get some for them.
1 person likes this
@Shwetasingh (1333)
•
2 May 17
Oh that's great heading. I thought it mom but it really comes out different.
2 people like this
@Shwetasingh (1333)
•
3 May 17
@Shavkat ya that's true.. it was great information.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
2 May 17
There was never a proven epidemic caused by doing that, exposure to the sun plus the anticeptic properties of that stuff is enough to kill pathogens, the White men brought far more deadly bacteria and viruzes when they did the stupid colonization 
2 people like this
@youless (112497)
• Guangzhou, China
3 May 17
I ever saw the spit marks when I travelled to Hainan Island in my country. I haven't tried it before. I heard it is not good for the health because it is easy to lead to have the mouth cancer. I am not sure but it will be horrible to see a person who is bloody in the mouth when he chews it. I think they can eat it because it is their habits. But it is better not to spit it because it will leave horrible marks on the ground.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
3 May 17
It's the same as a "No Smoking" sign in America.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
3 May 17
@Shavkat Honestly speaking, I'm amazed.For the first time in my life I have come to know that like us Indians people in Philipins also chew betel nuts and betel leaves.We , in Hindi, call it ' paan ' .Here in India also people generally tend to spit ' momma' anywhere they like.It's a bad habit.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
4 May 17
I also feel fascinated to know that some of the local people in your country chew betel nuts. I had read from the other members. I do agree it is a bad habit to spit in public places. It is a good thing that some of the places in my country had imposed the ordinance.
1 person likes this
@MsBooklover (3974)
• United States
3 May 17
This is a touchy subject, especially since I come from a different culture. Even in the USA, there are different states which have various codes of right and wrong. Where I come from, there are people who do spit. Depending on where you live, some people look down on it. For others, it is acceptable. In the USA, I think it would remind people of blood, and it would be looked at as something that is not good.
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
4 May 17
@MsBooklover I take it as a compliment. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@MsBooklover (3974)
• United States
3 May 17
@Shavkat That was a great discussion choice.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51964)
• Philippines
3 May 17
Okay, people might actually misinterpret that. why? does it hit tourist coming over there?
@JudyEv (340032)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
I guess if it is red and stains then this is a good idea.
