I have been for quite a while in the Philippines, you know. In fact I am still here. Some people say I hate Filipinos (which is false, I don’t hate them at all) because I am always criticizing what I consider is wrong with them; simply because I am affected, but I really have nothing against them. I wanted to settled there but I don’t think that will really happen since I am extremely disappointed. There are a few exceptional Filipinos that I really appreciate and those have made the difference from the rest. However I am extremely unhappy here and YES I will quit the Philippines as soon as I finish what I came to do here, but it is so difficult to be patient. Getting assimilated into the society, no matter what you do (I have tried everything already) is totally impossible. I look myself everyday at the mirror and I see a very young and hansom boy, I often chat (mostly via web cam) with many girls and other people from around the world and everyone agrees on that. I am white, sexy, young (just 22 but I look even younger) – however sometimes it seems that’s already too old for some of them – I am considered very attractive by most people in all parts of the world. I have traveled a lot in spite of my short age. However most of the time I feel like I am wasting my youth in this place (I mean: in the Philippines).
For a foreigner (except Americans, those seem not to realize what I am talking about) it is impossible to be totally assimilated into the society, no matter how many years you spend there and no matter how hard you try. It seems that your only choice is to accept your role as a rarity that they apparently admire and discriminate at the same time, a provider for Filipinos an their families no matter if you are old or young, you are either seen as an American dollar or an investment for their future (for me as a young, vibrant, dreaming person it is totally unacceptable). Filipinos are capable of things that are inconceivable for us just for the dollar.
Some of their beliefs about foreigners are these: 1. White people have bad smell, including bad breath; which is a highly offensive statement. 2. Uncircumcised penis is dirty and smell horrendous (totally false). 3. All white foreigners are Americans. 4. All foreigners are rich. 5. If you have even some facial hair, or if you are the type of person that shaves every two days or such, they will assume you are not a clean person. 6. If you repeat the same clothes twice they will think you didn’t take a bath. The list is infinite… and if some of these things are sometimes part of your nature something that you can’t setup or adjust (like facial hair for instance, unless you undergo a laser depilatory procedure or something). Imagine how frustrating it is!
What I think about Filipinas is that they must be let to themselves. Why to travel there just to find a wife or sex when you can have it in your own country or somewhere else where they DO like you? There’s no need to get into a such an unpleasant role when you can live a normal life in your own country or elsewhere in the planet. I think this is true for most Asian countries. If you are white, Latino or else, just go to the US, Canada, Latin America or Europe. You simply don’t fit in the Asian cultural setting. This mostly happens in countries where everyone belong to a certain race, if you are different, people will react like that. Personally, I have given up; I have come to the conclusion that I didn’t come to the Philippines to find love, or a wife etc; I came to do business and that’s what I have to do. I think I can think of living and enjoying my personal life and keeping a healthy self esteem once I am back home. Hope it’ll happen the soonest.
KOMETA: I just want to live a normal life, be treated as a normal person. Why you don’t read the entire answer. I know it’s rather long but if you read it all, you will understand that I am not interested in being popular. I just want to be treated as a normal person. I am not much different form the average local Filipino guy, we are all human beings, same species; the only difference is skin color. I adjusted all I could but Filipinos do not perceive these things they are biased and will always make you fit in their AMERICANO STEREOTYPE which I refuse to accept, in the first place, because I am neither a tourist nor an American.
By J@ps on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
Wow I did not even know that you can ask a question that long. Anyway I wanted to answer this question but I am pretty sure that I can only adequately answer it by giving the same amount of time you put in, putting forth a long & detailed question like that.
But having said that I will try to put in a few things on mind right now & whatever else I can think of later, I would try to come back & add it or email it to you.
Okay first off. I think you will find it very difficult to find another nation/culture especially non-White (or even non-American) where you can easily assimilate in as in the Philippines. If it is that hard for you, it would be all the harder for any other country, but of course common sense would exclude countries such as England, Australia or even Canada if you are a White American. (Anyway you didn’t say what is your country of origin so this is just an example).
Second, Filipinos can very easily adapt/assimilate to almost any culture but it is a little different the other way around.
Third, there are many Filipinos that have travelled/worked around the world & are exposed to the many other cultures out there so many of them are not as hard to accomodate “foreigners” in their land. You do get to meet a lot of people who are either ignorant, unschooled or something else so you know what to expect. You should have some of those in your country as well, maybe even more so than in the Philippines if only you cared to share with us what country you originally came from.
Fourth, if you study the history of the Philippines a little bit more, you can probably start to understand why you are having such problems there.
Fifth, any foreigner will have problems assimilating anywhere in the world. And a few reasons I can think of right now is that if you do not have anything in common with the people living in your location then you cannot expect them to treat you as one of the guys especially if you have not grew up as hard up as they have or have gone through the things that they had to go through growing up, & essentially you will always be an outsider anywhere else you go to in this world.
By pLayah8rdiediebitch on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
Reading through the whole thing, your attitude is actually quite refreshing. I as a Filipino, have discriminated foreigners coming here because they are looking for a wife or for sex and act as if they’re kings or something. Like, I know my country is in economic shite, and as if to insult us more they “buy” a wife. But then I realized that it takes two to tango, a lot of poor women here will do anything to take their family out of poverty. Sigh..
Here’s something that might hurt a bit though. I loled at the discrimination part about being smelly but…it is sometimes true.. hmm well most of the time. The Philippines is a tropical country man, and its very hot here, unlike where you were from. As a result, you perspire more here. Bacteria thrives in heat. What’s more, your body is not accustomed to this kind of heat, so yeah, you should take extra steps for hygiene. For the facial hair is untidy part, I don’t believe that there is such a stereotype, since you are a man. It is expected. You might consider trimming them though, if you’re extremely hairy. No one wants to date someone who looks like Hagrid, would they?
Since you are young and are looking to socialize, socialize with people your age, such as college kids who don’t need your money. The last part is important. You can start from…lets see. What is your business here? Get in contact with young professionals who you can be business parters with. If you keep being in an environment that automatically puts you in the role you were discussing, it will keep putting you there unless you change your environment. How long have you been in the Philippines?
And I agree with Japs, Philippine History..
By ? on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
Never mind those b*tch sl*tty filipina girls. They think white people have body odor. But in reality- the odor of a filipina girl is much worse. Especially the odor of their breath. Their attitude is worse too. They are close-minded people. (not all of them- but in general) (I’m female by the way)
By SSS on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
I agree with the answerer above me (?)
Filipina girls also tend to have smellier butt and armpit odor than americans- even if they take a bath everyday : ) (the pinay girls are smellier than both american guys and girls)
Filipino guys are smelly too.
By Greevy Thom on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
I dont really agree with you generalizing/sterotyping all Filipinos with what you just experience with people you already met.
Even if some of these are true, there is a saying:
When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
And another one: nobody is forcing you to stay here. If you cannot adopt, you can get out anytime and live in any place you want. Filipinos are one of the most hospitable people you can find. Of course this doesnt guarantee they will live up to your expectations. Afterall, its their country, not yours. If you cannot take the fact that we live in a tropical country so we are sensitive to body odor, then go live in a frigid country like Iceland.
By David A on Apr 5, 2010 | Reply
Sometimes people have a prejudiced picture of a country’s nationals.You come across as an extremely arrogant person.I have lived in Cebu for over 4 years now.There are over 12000 americans living permanently here,2000 brits and many more europeans,australians and canadians.I have many expat friends here but also many filipino friends.My neighbours are local people and we get along well.I think it will be a happy day not just for you when you leave this wonderful country and it’s people.
By machoman on Apr 6, 2010 | Reply
Well it depends on the Foreigner…but most tends to like Foreigners more than their own countrymen which is wrong. most Filipinos think Foreigners are rich and their eyes goes $ $ $…but I am not generalizing. hey to all the racist comments above…smell your butt and armpit first before saying something…We Filipinos like to take a bath so seldom do have bad odour…well, I don’t know with you guys
Do you guys take a bath?
By Josey Wales on Apr 6, 2010 | Reply
I’ve been living in The Philippines for about 5 years. I am American.
1. I have never noticed any body odor from any Filipino
2. I have noticed some of my expat friends do have body odor sometimes. Some, not all.
3. I don’t get close enough to anybody to smell their breath.
4. I’m not going to smell anyone’s penis, circumcised or not.
5. I shower 2 times a day, every day
6. I have facial hair, neatly trimmed
7. You answered your own question in paragraph 3 which would qualify this question as “ranting” according to the terms of service.
8. I think we would all be happier if you return to your home country and get back on your meds.