If someone leaves the house while others are eating, turn your plate for their safety

Liza: Hey, wait! You’re leaving already? Let me turn your plate first.

Marco: Turn my plate? Liza, I just stood up to grab my keys.

Liza: Exactly. If you leave while we’re still eating and the plate isn’t turned, something bad could happen to you. My mom would panic if she saw this.

Marco: laughs So the plate is my protective shield now?

Liza: Don’t joke! My aunt swears this saved my cousin once. He left without us turning his plate, and he almost got into a motorcycle accident. After that, everyone follows it.

Marco: Or maybe he almost got into an accident because Manila traffic is chaotic and motorcycles are risky?

Liza: You always explain everything with logic. But traditions exist for a reason. Even my lola does this automatically. It’s like… muscle memory.

Marco: I get that. Traditions can feel comforting. But think about it—how does rotating a ceramic plate affect what happens outside the house? There’s no physical connection.

Liza: It’s not about physics. It’s about intention. You’re wishing the person safety.

Marco: That part I actually like. Wishing someone safety makes sense. But the plate itself is just symbolic. We could just say, “Ingat ka.”

Liza: Saying “ingat” is good, but the plate completes it. When I turn it, I feel calmer. Like I’ve done my part.

Marco: That’s psychology, not fate. The action reduces your anxiety, not danger in the real world.

Liza: Maybe. But if it makes people feel better, why fight it?

Marco: I’m not fighting it. I just don’t want people thinking something terrible will happen if they forget once. Fear shouldn’t be part of dinner.

Liza: Hmm. You know, my little sister cries if we forget. She thinks something bad will happen.

Marco: See? That’s where it becomes a problem. We can keep the care without the fear.

Liza: So you’re saying… keep the intention, drop the superstition?

Marco: Exactly. Turn the plate if you want—but know it’s love, not protection magic.

Liza: smiles Fine. I’ll still turn your plate though.

Marco: And I’ll still come back alive. Deal?

Liza: Deal. But still—ingat ka.

Marco: Always.