How Filipinos look at foreigners

[Balisidar]

So I was just thinking that most topics here are from a foreigner point view, naturally.  I wanted to start a topic though, hopefully lighthearted, that will show many times what Filipinos think of Us.😂😁

So I'll relate a couple of stories just to get things started.

Back in 1984/85 when I was stationed at Clark AFB and was dating my wife, I asked her to marry me.  She said Yes (no wisecracks, please😁).  Then I asked her if we could visit her province (Batangas) so that I could meet her family and ask her Dad's permission.  She got kind of a shocked look on her face as this totally surprised her that I would want to do this but agreed.

So we went to her province, met her family and I asked her dad who told me "Hmmm.  So you want to marry my daughter huh?  Ok.  I let her marry you.  If she give you problem you tell me.". 

 So we stayed a couple of days and I took my first bucket shower.  They had an outdoor pump so I figured I'd shower there and just wouldn't remove my shorts.  So I merrily asked my wife for some soap and asked her to pump the water for me.  In the meantime, I hadn't noticed that her oldest brother and brother-in-law had taken a seat nearby to watch this 22 year old 'kano take his first bucket shower.  So I was just blithely tossing the water over my back (missing myself half the time) and they were snorting hard not to laugh.  Years later they told me and just about burst themselves laughing.  I did too and my wife was laughing so hard she was crying.😂😂

Next story is quicker.  I was a pretty new Dad and my oldest son came down with a case of stomach worms.  We took him to the doctor and the doctor prescribed some pills.  The next morning my son threw up and I saw these worms, which I thought were Huge!  Well, I went in a rant about how this could happen and how I thought this was such a nasty country and rushed off to take the worms to the doctor, who calmly explained how this was a normal parasite here.  My wife's younger brother was staying with us at the time and after I had left to see the doctor, asked my wife what was all the fuss about? They're just worms.  My wife just shrugged and said        " You know how Americans are..."😂

 

Edited February 29, 2020 by Balisidar
Clarity, spelling.

[Gary D]

I think on the whole the Philippines is quite xenophobic, they like our money though, The generous visa allowances are really no more than a revenue stream. The poorer members of society can be jealous of our perceived wealth and the well off have very little to do with foreigners.

[Balisidar]

31 minutes ago, Gary D said:

I think on the whole the Philippines is quite xenophobic, they like our money though, The generous visa allowances are really no more than a revenue stream. The poorer members of society can be jealous of our perceived wealth and the well off have very little to do with foreigners.

I don't think your quite into the spirit of what I'm trying to discuss here.  I hope this doesn't develop into a bash session.  Definitely not my intention.😁😁

[scott h]

30 minutes ago, Balisidar said:

I hope this doesn't develop into a bash session. 

bet you 5 pesos it will 

[Marvin Boggs]

My PH family here regards me I think with a sense of amusement.  Loving amusement.  Why does it take him so long to get his feet in the slippers, why does he eat his rice separate from his meat, why doesn't he know all these karaoke songs, etc.  On the other hand, they seem to think whatever I push to do must be a good idea, almost by default.  "So THAT's the way Puti does things...."  

 

[manofthecoldland]

Offhand, I'd guess that most Filipinos would have the same outlook that other peoples have toward foreigners, i.e., they are pretty much ignorant of our culture, customs and way of life and the realities of how we live and the reasoning behind it.  And we don't usually understand their's. 

The common cross-cultural attitude is, 'We're right, and you're wrong', unless you can somehow overwhelmingly convince us and leave our self-esteem intact. 

Due to the fact that good reasoning takes place when emotions are kept under control and in check,  careless criticism often triggers resentment and defensive emotions. Ill-will results and the barricades go up. 

 Diplomacy, tact and civil manners are the tools of choice  Absent that, and all you have left is power in the forms of legal force, physical force or the use/enticement of  money.

Wealthy nations and foreigners usually can buy their way through many of the hidden resentments they provoke.

The thing about this culture, is that the ubiquitous smiles you encounter are a wonderful part of living here.  Mostly sincere and genuine, they are freely and quickly given to most strangers. Not so in most other other countries. Stone faces or even scowls greet you in most others. 

Here, the auto default normally seems to be 'friend' until proven otherwise. In the USA we expect new acquaintances and service people to put on a happy face on initial contact. Not so in many other Asian and certain European countries. Some places assume 'foe' or 'possible predator'. 

Maybe its because here, the people feel that there isn't much to be gained from them by any human predator.  Ha-ha.

So, in short, I think Filipinos look at foreigners as someone to better their lives with new financial and other types of positive opportunities. In other places foreigners are looked upon as possible threats to one's own well-being.... takers rather than givers.

IMHO. 

[Jack D]

I found out that many Filipinos were brainwashed (probably by the Spaniards) to believe that they are inferior to Westerners. So, as a result, they will either look up to you as a superior or in some some cases, they will resent you, and there is very little (or nothing at all) that you can do to change their mindsets.

 

 

[JDDavao II]

When I was a daytime janitor at a (now famous) Seattle tech firm, I had a young FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) Filipino guy  come on to take over part of the building.

We were talking one day and he asked me, "Why do you do this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I understand why I do this and I understand why the blacks do this but you're white. Why are you a janitor?" 

Edited March 2, 2020 by JDDavao

[Joey G]

Cell phones and the internet have definitely changed their view.... 40 years ago they thought most were rich... now... not so impressed.

[AusExpat]

How Filipinos look at me?

The locals in my area are all incredulous that a foreigner would buy an old owner type jeep and not a new car, I like old cars, work on it myself and it has  one benefit of them not thinking of me as the rich foreigner. Had a urchin waiting out hte front of a 7-11 come over with hand out asking for pesos, I looked at my car and said "Do you think I have money driving a car like this" he looked at the car and walked away :)

Another thing was back when my girl and I had been together for about a year she decided to leave me for various reasons, I bought her a ticket back to the province to think about it and while there her Grandfather turned around and told her to stay with me as I was a good man, it's just that foreigners have different ways that she must learn. Thanks Grandpop we're still together years later even though he has passed.