Why do Filipinos pose an “L” sign when photographed?

They do it for fun like a frame around a handsome or pretty face.......

Some people may have turned it into more than that, but it is just meant to have fun, like we will make a big smile and say Cheese when we are horsing around in the states....or we will through on a funny looking pair of sun glasses and pretend to be a star.....

They do the same thing with framing their face for a photo, if you will notice everyone around will be cheering them on with "hu-hu-hu....Gwapa or Gwapu" which means handsome or beautiful.....(not sure the spelling.)

RE:

Why do Filipinos pose an “L” sign when photographed?

In photographs it’s common for Filipinos to make an “L” sign just below their mouth with their finger and thumb.

Why is this?

Of what significance the letter L?

At first that is also my understanding on this peculiar gesture of Filipinos or Pinoys flashing of the "L" sign thinking it is the former sign for "fight" or Laban gesture during the 1978 election of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino that decided to participate in the election of Congressman/woman against the machinery of the late President Marcos and Imelda Marcos for the seat in Congress.

But now, I think it is like a FRAME of some sort when you photograph an individual using only one hand with the L sign underneath the face often seen on each photos correct? For example, we can make a frame out of our two(2) hands by flashing L in both hands correct? Which is 4 sides. But by using only one hand, the idea is still the same. So the "L" sign is inverted in some sort not necessarily the L sign for fight because that was long time ago. Why would young boys and girls do that when they are not yet around in 1978 at that time to flash every now and then the L sign for fight or laban.

Just like TONS of people do a "peace" sign - Y

It's a "join the crowd" thing. Maybe it has a meaning, but most people doing it are just doing it because everyone else is doing it.

It's something that the media has shown to the masses in order to create some sort of a trend towards being pretty/handsome

1, It will look awkward if they make a 'W' sign with two hands.

2. 'L' is currently trending.

3. Could be a misinterpreted 'V' sign.

4. Stereotyped and unimaginative.

Because the other people do. Most of them do not know or care what it means only that other peope do it. Just like the wannabe gangsters wear their pants low & 5 sizes too big.

On the forehead - L sign means loser

On the side, chest level - it symbolizes a political party either LDP or Liberal Party

Below the chin - it's like saying "Im the man". Guys think it's cute/a "handsome pose". That's what we call "pa-pogi effect" in Tagalog.

L = "Lakas" means STRONG

they can apply if any situation like STRONG ATITUDE, CONFIDENCE, PUNCHLINE, JOKE and to ANYTHING.

la means laban meaning fight!