Based on some personal conversations lately, several expats think they have a voice in Philippine politics and believe that the laws of the country should be geared toward them and not the Philippine citizens. That is not happening.
Many Filipinos do not take it kindly when foreigners poke fun or say inappropriate remarks about the people, their country and the Filipino Culture.
I have personally witnessed the behavior of a few foreigners in public that was so terrible, they were told that they should move back to their own country.
The Long Arm Of The Law
I recall one trip on PAL from San Francisco to Manila some time ago. A small group of Americans were running their mouths on the plane about what they intended to do with Filipinas once they got here. They were also making off hand remarks to the PAL flight attendants and bashing the culture. One of the male flight attendants told me those guys would not make it out of the airport in Manila but would be put on the next plane back to California. The Americans had a welcoming committee waiting on them at NAIA when they arrived. An American friend here in Bacolod told me a similar incident that happened on his PAL flight from LA to Manila with another group of foreigners on his flight. They were also sent back home from the airport in Manila.
Foreign actors and actresses have been black listed from entering the Philippines because of the degrading comments they made in public about the Philippines. Especially on Talk TV programs. These people forget that many Filipinos have emigrated to many countries around the world. Some take this type of bashing personally and they report the incident to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a more recent incident, a foreigner posted scathing remarks about Filipinos, Filipino politicians and the Philippines on the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He said he was living in Angeles City. It got the attention of Ramon Tulfo in his column, On Target. He called the foreigner out by name, which was read by millions, including some Philippine government officials.
This is not the USA where there is freedom of speech to bash anyone that you choose and it can reach the level of being an actual crime here, not just a civil action.The law is the same for foreigners, as well as Philippine citizens. Libel and Slander are actually considered crimes in the Philippines.
Learn and Don’t Teach
The vast majority of Filipinos are warm, friendly and hospitable people. To be successful in the Philippines and to live in harmony, it is highly advised not to try teaching Filipinos how to do things the same as in your home country. Of course, I am not referring to situations if you are working as a supervisor and your job is to train Filipinos in a foreign company’s policy, procedures and employment standards in the Philippines. This is a totally different situation.
The Philippines is not trying to become the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada or any other country. Most Filipinos are proud of their country, heritage and culture, despite the problems and challenges. If you are asked, it is perfectly fine to explain how things are done where you come from. However, I have heard too many times, “In the USA, this is how it is done!” They then go on to explain very arrogantly how superior Americans are in comparison to the Filipino way of doing things. Wrong way to do things here. In fact, it can be dangerous. You should never embarrass or scold a Filipino in public.
It is actually fun learning the Filipino Culture in your new home country. It is a very vibrant culture and in my opinion, it is part of the adventure.You will be surprised what you will learn from Filipinos if you have an open mind.
We at RTTP want to you be successful in your new country and we want to help you transition as smoothly as possible. In most areas of the Philippines, you will be most warmly welcomed, being treated with respect and with fairness. However, there is a line you can cross. No one, including other foreigners, likes Ugly Foreigners in the Philippines. Unless they are also in that very same category and love bashing Filipinos.
I completely agree with your article. I wish more people would read and abide by it. It seems there are more loud and obnoxious Expatiates around lately. The things they do and say they would never do in their home countries.
Very timely post as I will be visiting the Philippines for the first time in just two weeks (Cebu)! Excited to be visiting but a bit nervous to be honest with you. One can only sit home in their home country for so long reading about it all before finally just experiencing it for yourself. So, after two years of talking myself out of visiting, I am finally pulling the trigger and coming.
Thank you for your blog. The information in it is partly responsible for my decision to come.
Traveling Firefighter
Hi Traveling man, I’ve been coming here for 18yrs now have a beautiful partner 2 lovely daughters and life is great so don’t worry. I think I have only had one problem in all those years and it was my own stupidity if you get a chance visit The Camoties Islands close to Cebu and do some diving with my cousin Mark its a beautiful chill out place, check out Ocean Deep Camoties.
The thing to remember when traveling don’t put yourself in awkward situations if you feel somethings wrong just say thank you and walk away, keep your wallet safe and if you are in a crowd pull your rucksack to your chest so you can lay your arm across it. The Philippine people are wonderful you will fall in love with the place I’m sure.
Have Fun……
Thanks for your comment Stephen. It’s the posts like yours, that I hung onto when planning this trip. About 80% of what I researched about the Philippines online was negative but there is something in the other 20% that has encouraged me to make the trip. I arrive on a one-way ticket next week (first week of March), so I can see for myself whether to stay 3 days or 30 days.
With all of my concerns leading up to this, it is posts like yours that shift my thinking back to the positive. Thanks for the encouraging words.
I came to the conclusion a long time ago that most negativity comes through some form of idleness. IF you do not have a purpose in your life then it is easy to see the bad side of things, thinking that it will make your situation more palatable. The reality is that instead of a happy fulfilling retirement, you are likely to grow into a whinging foreigner who most will try to avoid rather than befriend. I see it all the time on expat forums the sort of person who will always turn any subject, no matter what it is, into a negative one and end up throwing mud at someone. The reality is there will always be that sort of person around, but you just have to ignore them and form your own more positive opinions. Think troublesome thoughts and you will surround yourself with trouble!
Been in the Philippines since 2008 and of course there have been times of doubt, but that would exist anywhere in the world. The reality is that life is like that and you just have to get on with it, and work out your own way of dealing with the problems and turning them into positive situations instead. Life will pay you back with increased happiness in the long run if you persevere. All in all it is an easy going country with enough space to satisfy almost every type of character, and enough challenges to keep your brain ticking over as long as you don’t retire and vegetate. Find some form of activity to keep you active, which is the general rule of life anyway, no matter where you live, and especially important once you get to retiring age where many people think the ideal is to just sit in the hammock with a cocktail and relax your life away….that is my ideal too, but if you just do that, your health will suffer soon. One thing I am critical of about the Philippines is how little they grow up having hobbies other than cock fighting or boozing. Craft based hobbies do not seem to exist at all. Obviously hobbies normally come at a price that most average Filipinos cannot afford, so this is understandable to a point. Most of the countries we come from foster an active role in developing some form of personal hobby. Sitting at a bar and drinking your life away is not for me, although I do enjoy the social gatherings. I imported my stained glass stuff from the UK and also bought a lathe and make as much stuff as I can to keep active. You have the time, so why not use it to some advantage and maybe encourage other expats in your area to get involved too?
Good post. I fell in love with the Philippines on my very first international flight. On my second visit, I witnessed first hand the Ugly Australian aboard the Qantas flight to Manila. 2 ‘gentlemen’ in there late 40’s, dressed like beach bums and talking loudly about what they were going to do with the Filipina girls and how many times they were going to do it. As a patriotic Australian, I was ashamed and embarressed by my fellow countrymen.
I am certainly going to retire in the Philippines, for all the reasons you have spoken of in other posts. The Filipino’s are certainly full of fun, friendship and family. A bit like what Australia used to be when I was a boy.
Dear Mark, I have enjoyed reading your comments. I am sometimes asked by friends in America if they would like the Philippines. I just tell them that if they get off the plane and expect to be in an Asian version of Los Angeles they should just stay home. I have often wondered why some people travel internationally when they are so closed minded and judgemental.. Personally I love the Philippines “warts and all”. It’s their country and their culture and I Accept and embrace the things and people I enjoy and avoid the things and people I don’t. I think you are providing a valuable service with your posts, keep up the good work. P.S. will be married to a Filipina for 20 years in November. Best decision of my life!
Those guys who are bashing the Philippines are IDIOTS! I am planning to visit that beautiful country and meet my lovely lady there. I look forward to it and not to cheating on her with some bar girl. Those guys are what is meant by the term, “Ugly American”. They need to stay home and be idiots there.