Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?

[don2222]

During my first trip to the Phils almost four years ago I quickly got
used to the fact that many Filipinos like to stare at foreigners.
It is just a curious stare, and it never bothered me.
Now, i am noticing a great increase in outwardly hostile looks
and comments.  I do not know if it is jealousy due to the declining
economy here, or jealousy  due to so many foreigners marrying Filipinas.
It is typically not too bad when I am alone, but when I am with my
girlfriend, it can get really bad.
We recently took a trip to Dumaguete, and it was almost unbearable.
We took a walk along the boardwalk, and the comments and hostile stares we received were
the worst I have ever seen.  As we were boarding the Supercat the next
day, i had to stop and glare at a couple of the employees that made
inappropriate remarks.  Maybe it is better that I stop learning the language :0)
I can handle comments made to me, but the gentleman in me has trouble ignoring comments made to a woman that I am with.
I am curious as to what the guys who recently made trips to the Phils have experienced.  I know that I notice more because I live here, but
I would guess others would also pick up on some of the hostilty.

Also, we had the pleasure of meeting Shadow and his lovely bride.
She is 24, but looks younger. I picked up on the Filipinos making
comments as to how old she might be, but that was understandable, because she does look much younger than her age.  But, all you have to do is talk to her to realize that lucky Larry found himself an intelligent and charming woman to marry.

Don

[Dingo]

... in response to Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

Crab Pot Mentality, Plus the image of American War Mongering of late.
Don, I was once in PI walking with a girlfriend,
a lady middle aged lady in a residental area said something
to my girlfriend. I asked what did she say? She said.
"When you are done with him can I borrow him?"....lol and Yikes!

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by Dingo on Sep 26, 2003

What's yours is ours mentality, Ha hehehehehe
That made my day, good one.  Better coz it was real live joking Philippine humor.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

Hi Don,

A recent big story in Dumaguete was that of a Swiss guy who allegedly raped a minor.  'Allegedly' is not the way the Filipinos saw it after the guy fled to Manila, even though he owned a house south of town by Dauin.  This was last December/January when we were there.  It was in the local papers quite a bit.

We walked that boardwalk many times and I noticed that people were not as friendly as elsewhere, although I didn't get any hostile stares; maybe because I was with a whole family of Filipinos most of the time or alone.  It's too bad - I had expected find that which they call the 'City of Gentle People.'

Also, a lot of foreigners hang out at a place right across from the boardwalk called the 'Why Not' - a restaurant/bar/nightclub/I-cafe.  It doesn't attract the best of people.  It's the only I-cafe I've seen with privacy booths for people who want to surf for porn.  The guy who owns it also owns the El Dorado and he doesn't have a good reputation (another Swiss guy).  The stories on him are that he tried to bribe his way into making the place a girlie bar but backed off after getting too much resistance.

It really is a beautiful spot, so the cool attitude kind of made me sad.

Jim

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Dumaguete, posted by Jimbo on Sep 26, 2003

I've met that Swiss guy who owns the Y-not bar and Eldorado resort he is quite the businessman. He owns more than one girlie bar in Angles City. I wouldn't be shocked of what he would do to make a buck.

Bribes to get business done in the Philippines? Seems the normal way of doing things in the PI. (here too let's not forget)

There's always a bunch of drunken Filipinos at the board walk lets not let a few a-holes spoil the fun! Learn a few not to insulting come backs (something funny) It makes me feel better to yell back something.
Hum

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: Re: Dumaguete, posted by Humabdos on Sep 26, 2003

I've met him too, he's not a bad guy, and his wife was very nice to Sally.  But the girls at El Dorado don't speak very highly of him!  He makes them wear these short-skirted uniforms and complains he's lost 7 girls to marrying foreigners in the last 2 years -LOL!

I wish I knew more of those come backs.  In Manila one time a couple of street-wise little kids were pestering me and Sally so I called them 'bahats.'  They freaked out, they didn't know what it meant.  My diving buddy on Siquijor told me it meant 'playboy.'

Jim

[Ray]

... in response to Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

You know Don, with all of the recent America-bashing in the Filipino press, the American press, in Europe,  the UN, and by the leaders of the Democratic Party, I would be surprised if you didn’t see a lot more resentment toward Americans over there.

Do you usually find that most people assume that you are American, rather than Australian, Canadian, or European?

Ray

[don2222]

... in response to Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by Ray on Sep 26, 2003

[This message has been edited by don2222]

Hi Ray,
 Many Filipinos seem to think all foreigners are American
until told otherwise. Only a few have thought I was something other than American. The more educated Filipinos typically are more enlightened, unfortunately they are in the minority.

Don

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigne..., posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

At the dive resorts there's always a lot of Dutch, Swiss and Germans, so often the locals ask me where I'm from.  After 9/11 I've been telling them I'm Chinese.  That always gets a howl out of them! )

Jim

[Humabdos]

... in response to Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

It's been a few years that I spent much time in Dumaguete but I have never had any problema there. I always found it to be very friendly. When there with my first wife I do remember a few low class Filipinos yelling stuff at us but I think it was the way she was dressed (short dress) I'm sure they thought she was a hooker. I didn't like her to dress that way but...  Most of the comments went like this
"hey Joe how much you pay for her" Or "Hoy indi how big is the Kano's oten" I went after a few of them and you should have seen them run like a coward! Lol Being 6'4" 220 lbs scares the hell out of them, of course there was the buang look in my eyes also. I also use to yell HOY IKAW PISOT! (un circumcised) Or F-U ungoy! son of a shark! Warning  be prepared to fight after yelling that!

Better to just ignore them... yea right! lol

Hum

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by Humabdos on Sep 26, 2003

Hi Hum,

Great Advice! I am practicing now as I write this. You have my wife ROFLHAOCUHLPIHP!!!

Dave H.

[Peaches]

... in response to Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by Humabdos on Sep 26, 2003


That's how they pronounce it there .  

My aunt  is calling my uncle "PISOT" all the time. It's kinda other
nick for him ))

Next time Hum if somebody will shout bad words  on you just yell
the word " paghilom" means keep ur mouth shut . Then followed by
"imong lubot baho" and  "imong ilong baho" LOL just ask Sally
what it means )

peaches

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Increasing Hostility to foreigners ?, posted by Humabdos on Sep 26, 2003

I wonder how they would feel if we yell stuff at them when they where here in the states?

Ya some bleeding heart liberal would rat you to the police here in the USA and they would have your ass in jail!

Pepper spray might be a good thing to keep with you. You never know when some drunken Filipino will come after you with a bolo after you call him Ungoy! If you just yell hoy Pisot most will just laugh.

Take care Don, Hum

[don2222]

... in response to P.S, posted by Humabdos on Sep 26, 2003

[This message has been edited by don2222]

I deleted my reply that used some bad visayan words, do not want to offend anyone.

Don

[Humabdos]

... in response to Hey Hum, posted by don2222 on Sep 26, 2003

Someone who calls you names?

Just get a T-shirt with a Canadian flag on it ;-)
Hum