Smiling faces.... Are Filipinos truly friendly? Do you have Filipino friends?

[Terry P]

5 minutes ago, Kuya John said:

Time to put the kettle on, theres trouble at mill.

 

A true friend is worth their weight in gold.

Most Filipino are only 6 stone so you can afford a few

[stevewool]

4 minutes ago, Kuya John said:

Time to put the kettle on, theres trouble at mill.

 

A true friend is worth their weight in gold.

My Ems is my best friend, she can spend her weight in gold too , over and over again, plus no sugar in my mug .

[Terry P]

1 minute ago, stevewool said:

My Ems is my best friend, she can spend her weight in gold too , over and over again, plus no sugar in my mug .

My Jo is like fort Knox

Can't get an ounce out of there

[Kuya John]

3 minutes ago, TerryP said:

Most Filipino are only 6 stone so you can afford a few

No comment, I value my life too much So what was the openning topic ?

Oh yes; Unhappy Italian living in the Philippines plans to jump ship

[Terry P]

5 minutes ago, Kuya John said:

No comment, I value my life too much So what was the openning topic ?

Oh yes; Unhappy Italian living in the Philippines plans to jump ship

Nah!! Unsuccessful mutiny

[Shady]

8 hours ago, Gandang Smile said:

That lower class most foreigners end up deal with is exactly the type of people I would only consider superficially friendly...shamelessly leech on the OFW auntie or daughter, or on the foreign man who has married into the family.

If it was surface it wouldn't draw and keep foreigners here, the vast majority aren't meeting or hooking up with or marrying the elites of PH society.

I encountered some of the money issues you mentioned when I arrived over a decade ago, but that's not related to friendliness, that's 'family', specifically when your 'new family' thinks you owe them something. And that's remedied with experience too; find a partner who will put you, before them, whether it's because they aren't close to their family, or they don't have a family, whatever the reason. That could be the single most important quality in a Filipina.

[Snowy79]

Out of curiosity how many ex Pat's here are married to or have younger rich partners. 

[Old55]

2 hours ago, TerryP said:

Most Filipino are only 6 stone so you can afford a few

Not sure how to explain this to my wife. 

2 minutes ago, Snowy79 said:

Out of curiosity how many ex Pat's here are married to or have younger rich partners. 

My wife is young and rich! 

Nine years younger and rich in the love, support and understanding she gives me every day.

She comes with a shoe habit that I choose to ignore for the most part. But that's another topic.

[stevewool]

8 minutes ago, Snowy79 said:

Out of curiosity how many ex Pat's here are married to or have younger rich partners. 

Not a expat so I don’t suppose I count , but I am married to a younger rich Filipina , well she says what’s hers is hers plus what’s mine is hers too.

[scott h]

18 hours ago, Old55 said:

 Is this superficial, are Filipinos truly friendly? 

 Less than 24 hours and 7 pages of comments,,,,hot topic

Old's original question are Filipinos "friendly"!?............In GENERAL...my answer would be no. You hold the door open a friendly person says thank you. A friendly person helps change a tire and does not expect payment. A friendly person nods to you when you step out of the way. etc etc etc. Now having said that, the people of New York city are unfriendly, but the people of Santa Fe New Mexico and Bolder Colorado are friendly. 

But as want with the forum the topic evolved to can we as foreigner's be FRIENDS with Filipinos. My answer is yes,,,but it is hard.

In my view friendship is based on trust. Most of us come from an Anglo Saxon culture, Gandang is European, Jake is an American of Filipino decent. I submit that most of us agree with Ron Regan's "trust but verify" in my experience Filipinos verify then trust. 

In my 27 years of marriage to a Pinay and 8 years living here it has been my observation that Filipinos trust very few people. In order they are family, extended family, batchmates then workmates. This cultural trait goes towards them being "friendly". 

For example, I can not count the number of times in malls or at Immigration or the Hypermart I see (or am seen) by a foreigner, we usually make eye contact, nod, exchange greeting and often as not strike up a brief conversation,,,,,unless the guy came off as a complete wanker I now consider this guy a "friend and acquaintance".

My wife on the other hand is completely the opposite. Often while we were living in the states I would see others of Filipino decent, my wife pointedly ignored them as she was ignored. I once asked why she didnt greet them? Doesnt she miss speaking to someone in her native language? The response surprised me, she said "You wouldnt understand, I dont KNOW them".

In ending I think we all need to lighten up on Gandang a bit. His purpose and goal for living here are completely different from the most of us who retired here and plan on living out our lives here. He is just calling them as he see them.