Annoying Local Behavior

[OnMyWay]

Here is a good one.  I mentioned in another thread that we had a worker, R, at the house, but he left after we got back from Australia.  This was because he got a good job down on the dock here.  Before we left for AU, we gave him a small Christmas bonus, and he asked for an additional advance.  OK, it is Christmas.  So we get back from AU and he can no longer work doe us, even on a Sunday, because he was working 6 days a week long hours at the new job.  Ok, so pay us back the advance.  On the 15th, he said, and he did pay it.

I think every worker we have had over the years has ended up asking for advances.  If it was a good worker who we felt was honest, we did it sometimes.  Managing cash flow does seem to be a thing.  Also, I think all of the handyman / carpenters we have had, smoke cigarettes.  Seems to be a job requirement.

So out of the blue yesterday morning, my wife gets a text from R.  Can you loan me p2000?  I'll pay you back on the 15th.  2.5 months since we last saw him.  He has a good job, steady paycheck, and he still can't manage his money.

Ah, NO, thank you.

 

[mountainside]

3 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

I was afraid of the school principle's temper and belt

Me too.  No corporal punishment anymore in US public schools.  "Social promotion" up through the grades, pretty much regardless of accomplishment.  I better stop now before I really go on a rant.  The topic is Philippine Annoyances, and I'm gonna be a good boy and stay on topic.  Don't want a moderator taking a belt to me :)

[Gator]

13 hours ago, Mike J said:

I asked my wife about the often lack of "thank you" or any real sense of appreciation when gifting/giving to family etc.  Her response was surprising to me as it showed the difference in western versus Philippine culture.  Basically what she said was that the Filipino's expectation is that if you have the means you will provide small gifts, food, money, etc. for your extended family, if you are an employer it is your duty to pay  him/her.  These are "duties" on your part, expectations on there's.  We as Western's are surprised and disappointed there is not a "Thank You", and the Filipino may be disappointed and/or confused and don't understand why we expect gratitude for something we should be doing as family, friend, or employer, etc.  I think Filipinos see "thank you" as a gesture of gratitude, and why should there be gratitude shown when someone doing what is right, proper, fulfilling your duty, etc.   Neither party is right or wrong, it just is what it is.  I admit it used to bother my a lot, now not really, but I do enjoy it when I am thanked. 

My observation and opinion of course, and I am often wrong. 

Makes a lot sense Mike and puts into a better understanding of the culture here. But what about the lack of a thank you or even a gesture like a nod when you allow an elderly person to go first or hold the door open for someone? Rarely does that ever happen. I often say with a smile and in a slightly raised voice to make sure they hear it “you’re most welcome”. Get a lot of puzzled looks from them, but occasionally they will surprise me with a thanks.
 

A bit off the subject but also on point ….. for the line cutters “thanks for cutting in front me, don’t worry, I’m retired and not in hurry!”  Once again, the looks I get are priceless and usually at least one other person in line will crack up laughing. I know, I should be more careful and less sarcastic. Loss of face to them could wind up getting me shot, but I just can’t help myself sometimes. 🤣

[mountainside]

After living in the Phils for a while without a vehicle, I bought a new Mazda.  Backed into a rebar sticking up out of the ground and tore the plastic on the rear bumper.  Arranged with the dealership to order a new bumper and have it painted to match.  Showed up to have it installed.  They'd ordered and painted a FRONT bumper.  So they ordered a new rear bumper, at their cost, of course.  Couple days later a young fella calls me up in tears -- he was the one who'd made the mistake.  The manager had deducted the cost of the bumper and paint job from his pay.  Could I pleeeaaassse help him out?  He'd tried his best, he said, and it was MY car he was trying to get fixed.  Told him I'd call him back.  I was too stunned at the time to continue the conversation.  Calmed down and consulted with my wife.  She thought maybe we could help out a little and have a new friend at the dealership.  So I gave in and helped him out some.  Never anticipated that owning a vehicle in a new country would come with additional expenses like these.  Once I get back I might have to resort to trikes and Jeepneys again. 

[mountainside]

This thread got my wondering about Philippine laws that foreigners should aware of.  Ran across this gem:

"Anti-Singit Law- one of the more obscure Philippine laws is the anti-Singit Law. This law is designed to stop people pushing in front of others in lines. Even though queue cutters are often irritating, in the Philippines this is an offence that may result in someone being imprisoned for up to 30 days or fined up to 5,000 pesos. So it may be wiser to exercise a little patience whilst in line to avoid any punishment."

Where's an enforcer when I need one?

And another gem:

"Don’t be fooled if vendors tell you that they don’t have change when you’re paying your bill in any establishment. Unfortunately, Filipinos have a habit of using candies instead of coins as change. But RA 10909 prohibits businesses from giving customers insufficient change. So, if you encounter stores doing this act, let them know that they’re violating the law."

Well, not me.  My wife likes candy.  Can't wait to watch the author try this with a trike driver . . .

[OnMyWay]

9 minutes ago, mountainside said:

anti-Singit Law. This law is designed to stop people pushing in front of others in lines.

So many laws, and no enforcement. 

 

[Onemore52]

12 hours ago, mountainside said:

After living in the Phils for a while without a vehicle, I bought a new Mazda.  Backed into a rebar sticking up out of the ground and tore the plastic on the rear bumper.  Arranged with the dealership to order a new bumper and have it painted to match.  Showed up to have it installed.  They'd ordered and painted a FRONT bumper.  So they ordered a new rear bumper, at their cost, of course.  Couple days later a young fella calls me up in tears -- he was the one who'd made the mistake.  The manager had deducted the cost of the bumper and paint job from his pay.  Could I pleeeaaassse help him out?  He'd tried his best, he said, and it was MY car he was trying to get fixed.  Told him I'd call him back.  I was too stunned at the time to continue the conversation.  Calmed down and consulted with my wife.  She thought maybe we could help out a little and have a new friend at the dealership.  So I gave in and helped him out some.  Never anticipated that owning a vehicle in a new country would come with additional expenses like these.  Once I get back I might have to resort to trikes and Jeepneys again. 

I made the mistake of buying a second hand Mazda instead of a Toyota ,  it has been nothing it a headache getting parts from Mazda, to date I have been waiting 3 months for a part for the aircon unit, with no delivery date expected. The computer says NO.

Edited March 25, 2023 by Onemore52
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[RBM]

22 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

. Personally, I don't care if I have to walk an extra 50 meters to my car... 

Its painfully obvious my good man, there is a considerable way to go before you have truly fitted in to the local culture.

[Onemore52]

12 hours ago, Gator said:

Makes a lot sense Mike and puts into a better understanding of the culture here. But what about the lack of a thank you or even a gesture like a nod when you allow an elderly person to go first or hold the door open for someone? Rarely does that ever happen. I often say with a smile and in a slightly raised voice to make sure they hear it “you’re most welcome”. Get a lot of puzzled looks from them, but occasionally they will surprise me with a thanks.
 

A bit off the subject but also on point ….. for the line cutters “thanks for cutting in front me, don’t worry, I’m retired and not in hurry!”  Once again, the looks I get are priceless and usually at least one other person in line will crack up laughing. I know, I should be more careful and less sarcastic. Loss of face to them could wind up getting me shot, but I just can’t help myself sometimes. 🤣

As I have mentioned in previous posts I worked on offshore drilling rigs on  Malaysia for 15 years and the culture there is identical to the Philippines, eating habits. driving styles( where they make 3 lanes out of a single line of traffic). 

One day I asked one of the workers why no one says “thank you” when you do something for them. 
 

“ in our culture it is assumed “. That people say thank you without actually saying it. 

[OnMyWay]

13 hours ago, mountainside said:

Me too.  No corporal punishment anymore in US public schools.  "Social promotion" up through the grades, pretty much regardless of accomplishment.  I better stop now before I really go on a rant.  The topic is Philippine Annoyances, and I'm gonna be a good boy and stay on topic.  Don't want a moderator taking a belt to me :)

Over the past week, in bits and pieces, I watched the 1963 John Wayne movie McClintock.  You can find it on You Tube for free.  Comedy Western.

A couple of spanking scenes where the man thinks his woman deserves a spanking.  And the spank is with a fireplace shovel.  In the last big scene, Wayne chases Maureen O'Hara all over town so he can spank her, with the whole town cheering him on!  The good old days!