The people of the Philippines are the most wonderful people in the world and it is because of Filipino Culture. The best people I know, at least in the world I’ve been too. Respect is central in Filipino culture and I think that plays a huge role in how Filipino treat each other. Greetings with smiles and open arms and open hearts. Respect is assume but can be lost. Even when lost Filipino will usually still act respectful to the fallen countryman. I have deep respect myself for Filipino as a whole.
Someone might wonder why an American would be writing about the Filipino Culture. Since it is new to me, and since I’m the kind of person that analyzes everything down to a molecule, I make observations that most wouldn’t make. Things Filipino have grown up doing and don’t realize how unique or foreign it is to me.
If you’re Filipino and grew up in another country, then this culture will be almost as different to you as 
it is to me. Oh, not completely. I doubt you’d have the same degree of misunderstanding that I did when I first moved here. You would know more bout Filipino culture than I did. I’m sure you have family members that have shared much with you. You’ve probably had a pigs head on your table at times. And you might have a heck of time saying fork. 
I saw a sign the other day where someone spelled “Spoons and Porks” on sale here. And there was a picture of fork and spoon next to it with a price. Now, I wouldn’t dream of making fun of it. I have a smile on my face. I find it amusing but not in a negative way. My Filipino girl friend does too.
Foreigners come to the Philippines with a lot of wrong ideas and it is my goal to try to educate them. Some don’t want to be educated.
Understanding The Importance of Respect In Filipino Culture is Crucial
The truth is that often spoils their time here. If they could learn to be a little bit more open minded. Stop with the “Respect has to be earned mentality” and instead try to act in a respectful way they might learn a bit more and perhaps even be treated better.
I tell you though, I admire Filipino for putting up Americans that are acting rudely and most of you continue to show respect. For me, that is what Filipino culture revolves around. Yes, I give elders Mano Po, sometimes even those I don’t know. I realize that Family is the most import element in the lives of many Filipino but respect is deeply embedded with that too.
I found this video about Filipino culture on YouTube and thought I would share it. I have personally witnessed most everything mentioned here. It is an accurate lesson in Filipino culture. If I had become married here, I would have seen all of the Filipino culture mentioned in this video.
Filipino Culture and Traditions
When you come to the Philippines, I don’t think anyone expects you to like everything about it. No one should expect you to like all parts of the Filipino culture. But please, don’t try to change it. Don’t tell everyone how fouled up it is. Don’t jump to conclusions. Spend a little time here. Do a little research. Understanding why differences occur might make the differences in Filipino culture from your own make a lot more sense.
As always, some Filipino culture is highly localized. What some Filipino do in their region would be unacceptable in another. Even a Filipino that travels to another region of the Philippines is sometimes surprised at how some aspects of the Filipino culture are vastly different from what they are use to.
Sharing in Filipino Culture
Are you being taken advantage of because you’re a foreigner. The answer is no.
However, I think some clarification may be in order. While sharing is a big part of Filipino culture, I don’t think asking for people to share is a part of the Filipino culture for most. Offering to share is part of the Filipino culture.
- Filipino Culture At Duty Free Cebu
The temptation to ask for help can be strong though. Suppose you are rich in the USA. Do you think people will not be asking for favors? Suppose you win the lotto in the USA? You hear of people that do, suddenly hearing from relatives they haven’t been in contact for decades. These lucky winners usually mention that everyone wants to be their friend and most have their hand out hoping to participate in your good fortune. This behavior isn’t limited to Filipino culture. It is common throughout the world.
Having a Westerner join the family is often like winning the lottery in the Filipino Culture. I don’t think the response in the Philippines is any different than most of the rest of the world.
Sharing is huge in the Filipino culture and seems to be universal. When a friend bought Juliet and gave her to me, the farmer that she bought it from had a mini-party. Inviting his friends over for a night of bonding. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but this bonding usually includes significant amounts of Red Horse, San Miguel Beer and Tanduay. Friendship is also a major influence in Filipino culture.
Filipino often offer me food and drink when I walk around Bogo. They do this because it is part of Filipino culture. Sharing is a part of being Filipino.
Filipino are usually all about family and they often hang out at each others homes and come without invitation. Its not you. It isn’t because you’re a foreigner. It is because it is what many are use to doing. Now I’m not going to tell you how to react to that. Just don’t feel picked on. You may not be as important as you think you are! It is kultura Filipino or Filipino culture.
Probably the best way to avoid this if it concerns you is do not live near your wife or girlfriends relatives.
Filipino Culture — Bad Manners
I have seen foreigners complain about poor table manners. They may be bad to you but these are not
- Child at the BBQ in Cebu
bad traits to many Filipino! Filipino are not being rude in their culture and you are no longer living in your own culture. What makes you think your way is better? Because you were born into that. If you were born into a Muslim family, you’d probably be Muslim. It is what you know as proper. That doesn’t make it proper for everyone else.
Many Filipino eat completely up to Western standards. In fact a lot of them do. I’ve never seen my girl use her fingers to eat rice. Now her boys do and I’ve seen her friends do it. Honestly, it is different to me and not overly pleasant but that’s just my culture. I don’t harp on it, I just look away. I don’t understand why others can’t do the same. I think they just like to complain myself. It is a wonder Filipino put up with us at all.
I’ve had a couple of Americans tell me Filipino are rude. What? Where the heck did he go in the Philippines? Maybe Angeles City? I’ve met quite a few Filipino that worked there. No, I didn’t go there. I made friends with them online. They were always very nice and respectful to me. One of those guys is a very rude person. He use to visit the site a lot and I put up with him for a long time. He finally pushed me to far. I can see why Filipino would be rude to him. The way he talks about them, someone should have him blacklisted. I think he sent me a message today and cursed me. I don’t know, I found it humorous and childish. I have never been treated rudely by a Filipino. I have lived here for more than four years.
So many come to this land and expect 90 million people to change their ways to please them. Then they are the first to accuse others of what it is they do. We all do have our faults I suppose.
Humility and Pride In Filipino Culture
Now I understand when I’ve told a Filipino something they have is nice they will downplay it. I have seen this but didn’t understand it until just now. I’ve heard “Its not good” when I made a remark about something. I didn’t understand the reaction. Not good to me means bad. Now I understand they didn’t mean it was bad but they probably just didn’t want to feel proud.
Many Filipino do not return home every year though. The cost to do so is probably the main reason. I think most would like too.
Now I have a cute little story that just occurred between Jessie and myself. In one of the videos I published here, Jessie admits she is wrong. That is the only time Jessie has ever admitted that she is wrong. I made the comment someplace the only time she ever did was when the camera was running.
Last night Jessie told me that the Bogo would have a brownout at 8pm. She wasn’t sure if it was 8pm or 8am though. Since they didn’t turn the lights out at 8pm, it looked like we’d have an all day brownout in Bogo City today. It is now 9am and the lights are still on. I had told her I thought it was a textmate rumor. But I turned my PC off and the aircon down as far as I could get it. All to prepare for this dreaded brownout.
Jessie kept insisting the lights would be turned off. That it had been announced and even “The Professor” had confirmed it. The professor is a Filipino that lives in our compound. He is a dean at one of the local colleges and people call him “The Professor.”
After the lights failed to be turned off, Jessie discovered it was a “miscommunication” and I discovered a chance for my brand of fun.
I asked her if she was wrong. She said no, “It was a miscommunication. I then asked if she had told me that the lights would be turned off at 8am. She said “I did.” I followed up with asking if the information was wrong and she confirmed that it was wrong. So I asked again. “Were you wrong when you told me the lights would be turned off at 8am.” Her reply was “Hush, I wasn’t wrong. It was a miscommunication.”
Now I don’t know if all Filipina refuse to admit they are wrong but this one does, unless she is on 
camera. Filipino culture? I don’t know. Filipino culture is made up of individual Filipino of course.
There is a lot of pride packed into most Filipino but I agree that it is usually aimed toward their country and the Filipino culture. As there should be pride toward the culture of the Philippines.
Many Filipino will talk of helping their family. They tell me they want to earn more money so they can send it home to their family. I know a Filipina that works in a factory seven days a week. Her salary is about P4000 if she doesn’t earn overtime. She usually does though. She sends P4000 a month to her parents! That really does take a great deal of humility. Putting others before self. Sending money home is common in Filipino culture.
Filipina And Family
Yeah, you marry the family not just the girl. Unless you want to make it hard on your Filipina, this is part of living in the Philippines.
Families often have “Elders” that decide important family issues. I know Jessie was at one point very concerned about disapproval from the elders in her family. I have yet to figure out just exactly who these elders are. But we don’t live near her family. What I know is that this group is extremely important to her.
This devotion to family is a very strong part of the Filipino culture and I think we should envy it. I’ve noticed a huge decline in this value among many families in the USA.
Embrace and Learn From Filipino Culture
Frankly, if you’re the one that is voicing your opinions about the way of the Filipino and thus trashing the Filipino culture, you are the one that is rude. You cannot possibly visit another land and speak of rude Filipino and not be rude in doing so.
I think a lot of these perceptions of rudeness and other things Westerners don’t like about the Philippines is because they fail to understand Filipino culture. Or maybe they are just so full of themselves that they think their way is the right way.
If you’re living in the Philippines or even if you’re visiting here, embrace the Filipino culture.
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Tagged with: Cebu • Filipino Culture • Living In The Philippines • Sinulog
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ok, i agree.. iam in dubai.. let me share my experience i had about filipinos.. now, u tell me what culture is that..ok. 1) in my previous office, there was a filipino girl , she would sleep with our boss today, her pakistani husband the next day, then an outsider the third day.. What culture is that??? Her pakistani husband divorced her, by the way. Later, she became pregnant from a man, she went back to philippines, gave birth to a girl, came back. i asked her. ” Does the child’s father know about her?” She told me” he doesn’t know that Iam pregnant even from him. I didn’t care to see him”.. Ok, i thought maybe it is a peculiar case.. 2) Then I saw another philipino girl. she would flirt with our boss in office while after office her dedicated boyfriend of several years will come to pick her.. She is a cheat.. Am I right??
I don’t know what she is. I won’t label her. why do you care? Why does it matter. Your jealous?
An OFW is not exactly your average Filipino. You’re average Filipino doesn’t live in Makati or Manila. Most live in the province in small towns and villages. Many have never left their town except to to the nearest city for shopping as so many things can’t be found in the small towns or even in small cities.
A typical Filipina wouldn’t even use the word flirt in regard to herself with most people. A woman that managed to get herself to another country is not your average person. There are always deviations within a culture. I can really only talk about the center and no one lives exactly on the center. Jessie does in some ways and in other ways she does not. Now secretive does seem to be common with Filipina.
I really just don’t get your point at all.
ok, you are right. Among the 11 philippinos i have known here, i found only one that might fit your GOOD description. she is working as a maid , loves her husband & son in philippines. she is really good. All 10 seem KACHDAS.. means waste. thats the term reffered to them by most people here. Iam sorry to say that. Now, in my friend’s office,there is a philippino. she has an illicit relationship with a married man here. she got kids & husband back home. again, our delivery boy was found to be stealing & his friends supported him, even after the shop owner produced proof from CCTV.. I dont know.. why, but, majority,like 99% here don’t have ANY MORAL VALUES.. maybe, the ones in village maybe too good..like you say..then i really like them, but outside these bad ones are really causing shame, giving a really bad image to phillipines..iam sorry.. Also, Iam not jealous as you say, iam a person who raise voice if i see evil deeds..Also I help people in need. I try to be honest .Iam faithful. I simply cannot agree with illicit relationships especially when married people are involved in it…sorry. Hope your jessie is a good faithful, trust worthy companion in the long run…Bye.
Personally, I don’t think it is any of our business.
Second, I have a definition of good and his name is God. Only the father is good. You seem to be basing your moral judgement based on Christianity yet when you do that I can’t help but wonder if you are not violating the same book you use to judge. I would think a person that does so is equally wrong and in no place to be throwing stones at what they see as evil.
So you know 11 Filipinos that you judge. I have encountered thousands of Filipino. I don’t have the need to tell a single human how to live. I have not walked in their shoes, I don’t know how they got to the point where they are now. You don’t either. There is a hard fall on a lofty perch.
I tend to keep my judgments based on who I want to associate with and whom I do not want too. Those 11 Filipinos do not give Filipinos a bad name. They might be giving themselves one but that’s according to your own flawed human thinking. I know one person that I think might be evil but I don’t know. Not for me to decide what is evil. It is above my pay grade. I don’t even judge you. I do think you’re wrong.
ok, fine.. keep moving in life.. i keep my ideas with me.. you keep yours.. there is a clash of different views over the same community.. lets stop this here.. by the way, nice meeting you…. !bye.
I think that culture can be changes based on the environment where you grew up, or the people around you, in this blog, it seems that the author just said that those are the common behavior that a true Filipino have but you see not all people are the same, those Filipino that you encounter who have the opposite traits listed in this site, maybe they grew up in other environment or the people around them influenced them.
Hello HamHam, dang I wish I had some ham lol. You made me think about it.
Yes, exactly. When you speak about an entire country one is talking about what is common. Of course, there are always differences which humans. We are unique. But general trends do emerge.
Hi Rusty, that is only my nickname, thank you for responding to my post
I used your blog in my assignment, hope it’s okay, i put you on the reference
I can say that I am proud Filipino, but you see, everything has it’s ups and downs, there are positive things about Filipinos and there are also negative but most of the things have both right?
Ham, all one has to do is look around and see all the smiling, friendly and happy people to know that it is mostly positive in the Philippines. But as you pointed out, we have no paradise on earth.
Ham, there are a lot of Filipino that do their homework off my website.
I can tell from the search strings people use to find the site. Sometimes I also see a lot of the same search terms on a topic. Lots of law students find my site after searching for libel and slander and unjust vexation and it happens all at once so I suspect some law professor made an assignment about it.
Of course you can use it, just keep in mind, you know more about the Philippines that I do.
Mostly what I have to say is based on my opinion. So if you get an F don’t blame me. haha Good luck with your paper.
You know,I’d love to go to a university in the Philippines just to see what it is like.
You’re right, I live here in Australia now but i was born and spent 20 years of my life in the Philippines, most people love about us Filipinos is the way we smile ALWAYS even if we have difficult problems, it’s really nice to know how others appreciate us, like you by doing this blog, it’s like you are one of us,
I also notice about the post here that mentioned OFW’s sending money back to our family in the Philippines, I just want to say that we, Filipinos our number ONE priority is our FAMILY, you have a point in saying that by sending money, we just teach them to be lazy, but for us it’s the way we HELP, it’s like who else would help YOUR family but also the members of you FAMILY, i know that it is somewhat wrong but we don’t have many options.
Sorry for my bad english
And about the university, I studied in Bulacan State University, you know education in the Philippines is important but Philippines is a poor country that is why Schools and campuses in there is not high tech, rooms are not enough for students, sometimes we just study in a court or other places inside the campus, specially in public schools and in province
So why does Filipina send a money back home? To make her seem like a realy good person? To make her look like popular? Like a hero?
Sending a money only make the relative very lazy and rely on another one to not do any work for themselfs.
Sending a money is not help to anyione but in fact is making everything more worse for every one.
In some cases it could be to feel like a hero but that is not generally. Generally it is because her family’s well being is more important to her than her own. I know many Filipino that spend most of their time trying to make money. They are not lazy, they work all day long for $2. It doesn’t sound like you have a good grasp of the poverty here. I really didn’t either until I actually saw it and watched so many Filipino busting their butts everyday for very little.
If everyone in the family is working hard for the family then the family is more likely tp have what they need and all member benefit. She’s likely been raised from the crib to serve. Once my GF said to me “please let me serve you.” When I said the same thing to her, she looked repulsed so I explained why I said it.
I say in most cases a Filipina sends money back home because she is a giving and loving person and she believes it is the best thing to do.
I’ll definitely agree with Rusty on this one. By the way, I’m Logan, a 21 year old Filipino – American college student here in the Philippines. After growing up in the Philippines for almost a total of 15 years (after going back and forth from the United States), I will agree on Rusty’s line “She’s likely been raised from the crib to serve.” Filipino upbringing is very particular on being hard-working.
Filipinos have been raised to be hard-working so that they can lift their family from poverty. However, poverty here in the Philippines has became so severe that working here in the Philippines wont just cut it. This is the reason why Filipinos and Filipinas would “hold onto a dagger (Kapit Patalim in the language which figuratively means will do anything)” just to free the family from the chains of poverty. The most common scenario is working abroad. The OFWs as what they are called are still striving for their families, while working as maids, laundry attendants, and even the degrading jobs like prostitution. (but what heck, prostitution is a world wide problem, not just for Filipinos.)
The best example that I can give is my own mother. She’s a OFW for 16 years in the United States. She has been working as a laundry girl in a known hotel. She never ever gave it a second thought of the job being low in salary just as long as she has a job. Now look at her, after 16 long years, she’s now an assistant manager for the House-keeping department of the very same hotel she worked for as a laundry girl. Every two weeks she sends $200 for all the bills and everyday expenses here in the Philippines and all these were made possible because of my Philippine grandparents who raised my mother. (God bless their souls.)
I’m not saying all these to brag but to open the eyes of all those who take filipinos for granted and those who hate the filipinos.
You make a good point about the OFWs. I’ve heard do many Filipina say “I just want to help my family.” Though most, if not all were working or trying to work in the Philippines.
Your’s is the intleilengt approach to this issue.
Logan, please completely ignore the morons that trash “All Filipinos.” it doesn’t deserve a moment of your time and it is a waste to spend any time on it as those people can’t think right. Something is wrong with them.
I know, I’ve seen it too. There are a couple of loudmouths that go around posting under various names. Ignore them.
i send money home (philippines) and i do it coz i love my family i want them to have better life and i know how hard life is back there and i can see u dont understand and probably never will..im only half filipina but i love them more than myself and ill do whatever i can to help them out..they are not lazy and i dont care what people like u think about it i will continue to do it.not trying to be a hero by the way it comes naturaly to us to help out..whats up with the attitude?
Hi Louise, I’m so glad you posted.
Don’t let these jealous girls get to you. now the Westerners that don’t understand. I’m not Filipino and even I get frustrated wth the stupid and hateful comments I see others make toward Filipinos.
When it is an American doing it, keep in mind that I am beginning to think is it a part of our culture to complain. I wish families in my country were so loyal. Americans could learn a lot from Filipinos.
Though I don’t think all the uniformed comments in this thread came from Americans. And many of us don’t think the way I often see expressed on blogs.
Thanks for your post!
Filipinos are envy people and it is horroble to work with them.
Angel, why would you say that?
sounds like you are the envy one to me..
you are the only person who talked about filipinos like that…I am a Filipina working here in UK but our colleagues always wants to work with Filipinos…It’s a shame you talked about us in that way.
I enjoy working with Filipinos!! = )
Just want to share my thoughts. I’m a 31 yr old Singaporean. i have worked with many types of people and the most i detest working with is Singaporeans themselves. I’m happy that Spore brings in FT from the Philippines. They are patient, service orientated, caring… I’m glad i have met so many wonderful filipinos ..they sure listen to you when u r down, they r humble, they are not backstabbers..i enjoy being their friends. All i can say i’m lucky i have met winderful n great filipinos..of course in any race there’s sure to be a black sheep..mosty probably some of you wld have met the bad ones..
Most of all i envy the filipinos is that they LOVE their family so so much. Most of them may be emotional but for a reason..Not like some Singaporeans i’ve met, they r so cold, and selfish only care for themselves. I guess we need to learn from them coz i think they would have gone through alot..Their closeship with their family is amazing and commandable!!
i love my filipino friends and if you have a problem with it dont read this anymore and move on..
The problem is the Filipinos have been told, and few Westerners will disagree in essence, that supporting their family is noble.
For it is. The problem is how the family look on being ‘supported’ and how noble they really are about it when they smell your dollars for real.
Does suddenly ordering king size pizzas, buying Addidas shirts instead of home made 50 cent ones (as they normally do) sound supportive, not least of you the foreign husband who will be asked for this ‘support’? (This always happens when I visit and with no word of thanks)
All I will say is have this conversation about expectancy before you marry or even fall in love. I have found my wife just will not compromise at all or understand when I say no, she should not send $300 a month of my/our money home now, just because I earn more. She used to give her parents $50 when she was there, so no way will I accept such nonsense and set a precedent of greed. I am disgusted the family abuse her like this and make her feel she even can ask me for such nonsense.
If she does that, her parents will expect and demand this ‘support’…which if course it isn’t, it is total abuse and complete lack of respect for the foreign husband.
The frightening thing for me has been seeing how my wife shuts down and just will not accept my calls for compromise, or entertain the thought her parents are being nasty as they know this will put a on strain their daughter’s marriage.
To be honest, as costly as a divorce will be, I think it is all we can do. I am not going to become poor myself or deprive my own kids and wife in the name of false and hypocritical ‘noble support’ of selfish parents.
Sort if out before you fall too deep! Either say you will never do it, or that you don’t mind sending food parcels 2-3 times a year. Send cash and you will slowly but surely be asked for more, more, more.
Two problems here. This is not always true as you claim.
Two, you can stay in the West to find a girl, no no twisted your arm to come to Asia. You did it because something about it appealed to you. You’re dealing with people and you are going into their land. You can be expected to follow their ways or be disliked by them. that too is your choice but choosing your ways may make it hard on your girl. so you should decide to make her happy or make yourself happy or just stay home.
Not always true, that is correct.
However, the rest of your reply does remind me of my wife’s first response ‘you married a Filipina’ ie ‘you must just accept this’.
Not at all. Marriage is about compromise, it has to be. It is not about the man (alone) making the girl happy (or, as is my point, the family happy).
It is about aggreeing limits, standards and levels of behavior with mutual (key word) respect.
I do agree my post perhaps reads more angrily than I intended – I am just so incredibly frustrated by the lack of compromise in my situation.
If others have found ways to settle this amicably, not only is they great, please let me know how!
Otherwise I fully stand by my advice that the ‘how much do you expect I should send to your parents’ talk should be taken early – the earlier, the better.
I support you James.
MOST of the filipnos have kids, leave the kids under the care of their grandparents ,go abroad. These filipinas may or maynot have husband/boyfriend back home.
In foreign land, they find men (with money) to squeeze money from them.
This money, they send to the beloved ones (kids, her parents, husband/boyfriend(if any)).
Thus they show love.
Most of them are like that.
Rusty , I have witnessed this many times.
You gotta agree.
May be u cannot agree coz u r sleeping in filipines..
Iam not saying ALL filipinos are like that, but,
70% , roughly, are like that.
No, sorry I don’t agree even if I didn’t sleep in the Philippines. Oh yeah there are scammers and mouchers but no where near 70%
James, sorry for my late reply, I’ve been away.
I fully agree that this conversation should be part of the planning before you become a couple. The sooner the better.
Hm, you see, People are like see-saw. There are the good ones and the bad ones, the cold and the warm, so and so. But the behavior of these People are contingent on the society they dwell on and who started it (yes, history). I know you’ll agree guys that there are bad people everywhere, from west to east, down south to up north. Point is, there’s always a ratio.
I’m a Filipino and I am proud, but also not proud of the Philippines as a whole. There are so many great things here in the Philippines but also there’s definitely a hell. I have been observing and understanding the (general)reasons behind the behaviors of my fellow countrymen. First is corruption, and it is getting worst and more worst. These are practiced by most of the politicians and businessmen, far worst than that, even 6-year-old kids(poverty stricken) do the same. Why? because adaptation is one way of surviving (I can say that because I did the same thing back when I was a kid). Perhaps the golden rule applies on this one. Second is poverty, poverty has the same faces all over the world, esp the third world countries and these lead to forced diversion of what we call “good life” – - a quality education, food, clothes etc. These were not the choices of the younger generations, the culture we have now is corrupted, plus the advent of technology have worsened(not all but mostly) the situation. Just imagine you can’t complete three meals a day, in your whole life, do you think your brains can work properly? without the necessary nutrients? Plus taking the pressure from your parents, and the crisis?… These are just examples that can severe a human mind, the emotions and may influence a person’s behaviors and actions which will eventually transform into a “now” culture, a culture that can be passed down to the next generations.
There’s a complex world in here, well you can say what you can say, you’re not us. I’ve experienced these and I did’nt break. It’s not the fault of we new generations on how we shape our lives today, but of the old generations who planted the seed years ago that grew a thousand thorns.
If I have to sum up the “what you labeled as” bad Filipinos, well, it’s huge in number. But if you can friend just even a single “good Filipino”, that will reduce the doubts. Hope you guys understand. True that I envy other cultures, views, opportunities, yeah the life. What spice up our lives is how we manage to solve a problem in a day, a week, a month or a year, and how we smile at the end of the day with our family.
Since you didn’t reply to someone else, I assume that your talking to the author which is me. If so, it is clear you didn’t either the article or you didn’t understand it. You’re English is good so I’m leaning toward you not reading it.
My guess is you read the captions in the article only as there is no way on earth to take the meaning you implied here
[blockquote]If I have to sum up the “what you labeled as” bad Filipinos[/blockquote]
I don’t see Filipinos as bad at all. There is no way someone could read what I write and come away with that idea if they understood the article.
I don’t even go as far as you do. I don’t make excuses for those that do wrong and some do. Though I am the first to agree that an empty belly or even worse, knowing your child is hungry will cause nearly all of us to do what it takes to survive, even it is wrong. I’m sure I’d find a way to eat no matter what I had to do. That is human nature.
I think the Filipino people are a wonderful, happy, loving, caring and moral people overall. You will find me defending Filipino a never attacking them.
I had a woman read one of my post the other day, actually I think she read the headline. She didn’t read the article. I’m finding some Filipino are not reading what I write. They read the headlines, the titles and not the article and then decide I am anti Filipino because so many that visit here are.
I am not one of those people. It is very frustrating to me to be taken this way. It is a threat to my security and it is unwarranted. I avoid labels but if I gave Filipinos one, it would be very positive one.
And I would never call a Filipino a monkey. I use to use the term Filipino monkey to refer to the Philippines monkey but that was just ignorance on my part. I didn’t know that it was a slur. Actually, I don’t think it should be.
A Filipino recently pointed out where I did that in an old article. I fixed it as I know better now. 
Sorry you misunderstood, I hope you come back and read what I actually have to say about Filipino, its mostly good. Sure there are bad apples here. I was relieved of my phone and wallet a couple of months ago. I blame myself for that. I let my guard down and put it in a place it shouldn’t have been, my pocket at Sinulog. I still enjoyed Sinulog, can’t wait to go back.
Please don’t assume I’m like so many others, read what I have to say before forming an opinion.
Sorry, I should have replied to those who are against the Filipinos. But I don’t need to reply to all them instead making a new statement about ‘behaviors’. Just explaining why are we like this. Actually I am neutral, staying in the middle makes me understand what’s going on.
I have read your article, and I agree with it, and I like how you describe the two faces of a coin.
Moreover, I can see how compatible your experience to our culture. A reason that many others could not see. Compatibility happens in a family, in groups and even in races.
I am not calling Filipino a monkey, but just as labeled to us by the Americans. It’s natural to put labels on people, which I don’t mind that much, but it is a pretty symbolism. Please don’t mislead my nickname here… it’s just came out of whim.
Btw, your from cebu? your talking about Sinulog, is it the festival? I thought it already passed.
Nothing to be sorry for. I worry about offending Filipinos and sometimes people don’t understand what I’m saying.
You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m a bit sensitive on that topic because I love living here so much.
I hope to hear your thoughts very often. When I get it wrong, I want to hear that too.
Did I comment on your nickname? I started to and deleted it because I decided it was not necessary.
Sorry, I must have left it in. I deleted something haha 
Wonder what what it was. You know, I’ve seen other writes make the mistake of calling it a Filipino monkey so at least they will be warned about it if they do it. I had one guy really jump me for that.
I did have a Filipino take something wrong recently and being misunderstood is something that could cause me problems.
Feel free to talk about anything.
I wasn’t in anyway upset with you, I just needed to make it clear how I feel about Filipinos. For those that do visit or live in the Philippines and the talk badly of it are not people that are well received. If it so horrible, why do they keep coming back or not leave? it drives me a little batty to hear all the negative talk. It is different, it isn’t always bad.
I found you comment to be thoughtful and realized you were well educated so I knew you could understand what I wrote. Thanks for your feedback. I really do relish feedback from Filipinos.
I went back and looked at the older comments. There sure was a lot of misplaced hate CM. They just want to feel better about themselves. I don’t think James is to be included in the hate though. Just pointing that out in case James is out there. If he can’t deal with the culture then he can’t. Not the right place for him.
But some of the comments here, wow. Notice how I tried to pin some of them down for their statements? No luck because they couldn’t back it up.
Hi Rusty,
You know I have a girlfriend who is from the Philippines. (Manila) I have had the opportunity to make recommendation to the Indian casinos on employment and hiring practices of OFW’s. We now have about 80 OFW employees that have graduated from our training programs. It has been a pleasure to watch some of my personal recommendation excel in their positions.
Some are now in upper level management and are great department heads. There is a difference in customer service here in our casino operations than in the Philippines. But it’s just not the Philippine employee we send through our mandated service training it is every employee. Each class has a honored graduate. The Philippine OFW has won 39 of those honors. The same dedication they have for their families is the same dedication they apply in their jobs. We cherish each one of them.
just thought you should know,
Jim
Jim, what, you mean all Filipino are not lazy? You mean all those expats that told me that they are lazy were wrong?
Yes of course they are wrong. Walk to any seashore and see the people out there working hard along the sea. Gathering whatever it is they harvest from the sea.
Watch a boy catching his supper by hand. I have seen it.
Watch them in the fields.. That’s hard work! Not many big combines here either. 
Jim, be very careful with that if you live here. Even recommending a Filipino for to be considered may require a license! The USA put pressure on the Philippines regarding human trafficking and isn’t an imaginary problem. You’ll need to talk to that Manila lawyer friend of yours if you haven’t already. I don’t remember if it is with or without consideration. But since you’re connected to the organization, you’re walking in dangerous ground. You may know all of this but just in case…
I LOVE IT.
really good niformation.