Although I have lived in two different places in my life as an Expat – South Africa and the Philippines, the Philippines has been my long term expat destination. I lived in South Africa for only 2 years, while I have lived for 15 years now in the Philippines.
I have been living in the Philippines for so long that in many ways I have taken on the persona of being a Filipino. I think in a Filipino way for the most part. I have many Filipino traits. In some ways I am even more Filipino than my wife, who truly is Filipino. When my wife lived for 10 years in the USA, she became very American. So, I suppose that we are each somewhere in the middle.
Hey Joe
In the Philippines, a practice that goes back for many years, in fact since World War 2 is that the local people call foreigners “Joe”. Like GI Joe. Filipinos came to know Americans as “Joe” during the war. Today, some 60 years post war, not only are Americans still called Joe (in some areas) but all foreigners are called Joe. In fact, if you are a foreigner, no matter what country you come from, you are American. You are called a “Kano” short for “Amerikano”. French? American. British? American. Russian? American. Without exception, even if you don’t speak any English at all, if you are not Filipino you are American.
If they see a foreigner walking down the street, many Filipinos will shout out – “Hey Joe.” For the most part it is a friendly greeting. However, sometimes it is not so friendly. Sometimes there might be a group of teens and they will smirk at you, “Hey Joe” with contempt. It is just so obvious that it is not a greeting of friendship, rather it shows resentment, even dislike. But, most commonly, it is a friendly thing.
Dislike
At first when I came to the Philippines, I didn’t mind being called Joe. But, it wore on me. After a couple years I came to dislike it intensely. I would just cringe when I would be walking down the street and hear – “Hey Joe” being shouted at me. Even if I knew in that case it was being used in a friendly way, I just didn’t like it. I am not Joe, after all.
A Fading Part of the Culture
From 2000 until 2002, I lived in General Santos City, in the very southern part of the Philippines. In fact, GenSan as it is called, is much closer to Indonesia than it is to Manila. While not totally remote, GenSan also is not a huge city, and gets a lot of influence from the provincial type of people. GenSan is a big farming and fishing town. This “Hey Joe” culture was very, very strong in GenSan. I could not go out around town and not hear the shouts for even a single day. Frankly, it wore on me, and I came to despise it.
In 2002, I moved to Davao City. Davao is about 3 hours drive north of General Santos. Still in the southern part of the Philippines, far from Manila, but a lot more cultured than GenSan is. In fact, Davao is one of the largest cities in the Philippines. It is the largest city in the world in terms of land area, and the 2nd or 3rd largest in the Philippines in terms of population. When we first moved to Davao, I still heard a lot of “Hey Joe” shouts. Just about daily, but not as much as I heard it in GenSan.
Over the years, though, the calls faded and I have to say that it has probably been at least 5 or 6 years since I have heard “Hey Joe” even a single time. Truth is, for the most part I had forgotten about the whole thing. I mean, I could still remember it, but it was not something that I even thought about any more.
Weekend trip
This weekend, though, we took a trip to General Santos. We rode the bus down for our trip this time. When our bus arrived at the terminal, my wife and I got off. The second I got off the bus, somebody yelled it out… “Hey Joe”. All of those memories came flooding back to me! I was actually pretty surprised to hear those words! But, you know what? I blew it off. I didn’t let it bother me. I even kind of chuckled. Here I was, back in GenSan, and it seemed that nothing had changed during the years since I had lived there.
Oversensitive
Was I oversensitive back during those years? Maybe so. Probably, I should not have let it bother me. But, it did. It did not matter to me at first, but it just built up when I heard it many times every single day. I was happy, though, when I heard the words again this past weekend, but I let it roll off like it was nothing. Nothing more than a quick laugh. Nothing to worry about for sure.
I suppose I have overcome that cultural sensitivity that I harbored for a long time, so many years ago. I’m back in Davao again now… and I have not heard those words since getting home. 🙂
Bob! I love that Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food truck. It actually comes right to my door at work every week on Wednesdays. I get the crispy pata. Yummy! I laughed when I saw the truck. It’s right here in my city!
Wow, Mike, that is pretty cool! 🙂
Great homecoming yarn, Joe! Really good resolution, too.
Thanks, Godfree!
It’s amazing how it took all those decades after World War II before the “Hey Joe” greeting finally faded away. Great story.
Glad you enjoyed the story, Jim, thanks for reading.
Davao It is the largest city in the world in terms of land area, hmm
It is unsettled, Michael. Both Davao and Mexico City claim that. It is very close between the two.
Hello Bob.
In the several years that I’ve been going back and forth to the Philippines, I’ve actually rarely heard “hey Joe!”. Although, it may have been said more times than I know. When folks switch from Ilocano, I sometimes don’t recognize that they are speaking English due to the heavy accent and the Filipenglish. Being half deaf doesn’t help with that either.
Once Marlyn and I were walking down the street in town and she said “Didn’t you hear that? Why didn’t you answer him?”. I said “Hear what?”. Marlyn said ‘He said hey Joe.” All I had recognized was Ilocano.
Our barangay is on the very outermost edge of Solano. Our ranch is a few kilometers farther into the farm and grasslands. Once I was walking past the very last house in the barangay. It is a nice little hollow block affair with a well kept yard. I had never seen any people there before. But this time, there was a lady with a toddler on the front stoop. She said, more to the toddler than to me, but in very clear English “Oh look! Say hey Joe! Say Heeey Joe!” All I could do was smile and wave at them.
Those are the only two times I can recall anyone saying that to me.
Take care,
Pete
Hi Pete – My experience is that over time, the whole “Hey Joe” thing is becoming much less frequent… in the bigger cities. But, in more rural areas it seems to still be a staple. I am betting that you just didn’t catch it due to accent or whatever, since I believe that you tend to be in the more rural areas here.
I think that would be a safe bet Bob. :).
Take care,
Pete
Hey Joe ! Oh sorry Hey Bob
😉
Hi Bob,
Being an American women II don’t get the “Hey Joe!” that you males get.
If I do hear some strangers call to me it’s sometimes spoken softly “Amerikana” like some exotic species:) Usually I’ll say something in Binisaya which gets me a shy smile in return.
Hi Queenie – Ha ha… thanks so much for sharing your comment! I had never really considered about a female foreigner and what they would be called. The thought never even entered my mind! Interesting!
Bob:
Sometimes I am amazed how much your experience and mine have matched.
Like you, when I first moved here, it did not bother me so much… I thought it somewhat quaint and mildly amusing, most of the time. As time wore on, it really sometimes started getting irritating.
I still sometimes will hear it in Manila, usually around the palengke, street vendors, or when I am near the BI or other government office. 9 times out of 10, when I hear it now, it usually means that someone wants me to buy something or are panhandling (at Christmas last year, the same tricy drivers outside of our compound, who have seen me for the last 7 years, said “Hey Joe, Merry Christmas! You buy us a Red Horse?” I know that no harm or insult was intended, but a little annoying, nonetheless.)
** As a side note… There is a house in our compound owned by an OFW where some of their extended family earn a living by doing odd jobs, panhandling, and occasionally being pests. I am not unsympathetic (we have bought medicine and such for the lolo a few times), but this year at Christmas, several of them approached Rebecca and myself 4 or 5 times wanting “Merry Christmas” money. As in, I was in front of my house having a conversation with someone and they interrupted repeatedly… VERY annoying. You know how we handled it? We went to the store and got the little red envelopes. The next time they approached us with hand out, we put the empty envelope in their hand before they could say anything, and said “Merry Christmas”, and stood there with an expectant look on our face. Worked like a charm and they backed off quickly.
Hi John – Your first sentence was really interesting to me! I hardly ever hear from people how our experiences have been so similar. I hear all the time people say that their experience is very different from mine, some even say they don’t believe what I am saying, etc. All I know is what my experience has been, and it’s good go hear some confirmation!
I have been pretty generous here in the Philippines, but I have also experienced the “where is my Christmas” thing way too many times, and it annoys me. I handle it a bit differently from what you did. When I am asked where their Christmas it, my reply is “where is mind?” That causes them to step back and think for a minute, then I usually don’t hear from that person again! 😉
Big Dave ! I am so surprised at your dislike of “Hi Joe”. From following your blogs I see you as a more laid back type of guy enjoying your retirement life in the Philippines. Once I move there to Bohol in a few months, I am looking forward to a friendly greeting by total strangers acknowledging me on the street. I think I will wave and say “HI”. I don’t know your sign, but I am Aquarius and laid back. As a child of the 60’s and 70’s – Peace and Love brother !!
Hi J K – I am not sure who “Big Dave” is. I will just say, that often “Hey Joe” is said in a quite spiteful way, mean and derogatory.
Heard it a few times in Manila but generally from young kids with smiles on their faces…Here in Dumaquete almost non-exsistint
Hi Lenny – Not really surprised about Dumaguete, because there are so many foreigners there, they are quite commonplace. 🙂
Hi Bob,
I’ve noticed the decline of “Hey Joes” too ! Years ago it seemed like every time I stepped onto the street I would hear it.Nowadays the only time I hear that phrase is if I’m in a place where few foreigners go like Baclaran or Divisoria. The guy making the comment is usually a worker from the provinces.Come to think of it, I heard many many more “hey joes” when traveling around the provinces than I ever did in Metro Manila.
Seems to correlate with your Davao and General Santos experiences 🙂
After the first 1000 or so “hey joes” the novelty did wear off and I became quite bored of it all. Presently, it seems to me that the half joking “where’s my pasalubong” has replaced “hey joe” as the standard shout out.
Hi Bobby – Yep! Everything you said exactly matches my experiences. Although it was something I didn’t care for much, I guess that the “Hey Joe” saying moving to become a thing of the past is a bit sad, I guess! It was so Filipino!
when I lived in Manilla I got quite a few “hey Joe”, I used to reply “alright Phil” with a smile……. it always confused them 🙂
Phil – short for Philippines of Filipino 🙂
I’ve been called a lot worse in my life so I take it all with a pinch of salt !
Hi Gerry – I usually say “OK, lang, Juan” or something like that, which leads to the same confusion that you mention! 🙂
My reply for adults “Hello Joe” is cheerfully answer “Hello Jose! Dili Joe, ako si Leo, amigo!” Many times it gives us both a good laugh and some small chat as far as I can Bisaya (not far 🙂 ). Kids in the neighborhood greet me now “Hello Leo!” Walking in the city I just don`t hear “Joe” too often…thanks for the traffic and my bad hearing!
Nice attitude, Leo! Glad it worked for you! 🙂
Hi Bob,
I see a lot of parallels with the ways Hispanic people are treated at least in the Southern USA. All Hispanics are assumed to be Mexican and are often called Pedro. They are also presumed to be in the USA illegally.
Hi Jay, interesting observation. I never thought of it like that!
Late reply here but very true. From a real (legal) “yes way” Jose. 🙂
Never too late to jump in, my friend! Nice to hear from you!
i hear Hey Joe quite often here in Digos. When said in a friendly way, i wave and shout out a friendly greeting. When said in a hostile way, i answer Hey Juan! They always have sour looks on their faces after hearing this.
Hi William, I understand that. Some people can’t understand that “Hay Joe” can be said in a way that it is obviously friendly, or equally obviously hostile! It is easy to detect the difference between the two as well.
While I was in Sundagan and in a couple fishing villages, I heard that a lot from the kids. I just made a game out of it with them.
When one would say “Hello Joe”, I would answer Hello Pete, Sam, Jose, and any other names I could think of. Each kid would say hello to see what I would name them and then laugh at their names.
I almost always had relatives kids or from the children’s home with me calling me daddy and the other kids would usually start doing the same.
I have not been there long enough to get tired of it but it might be possible.
It is hard not to get tired of it over time, LeRoy. I am thankful that it is something that I hear very rarely now, at least here in Davao.
“Hey Joe!” is still relatively common here in Tagum, though there has been a decline over the eight years I’ve been here.
I harbour some small resentment not only because it implies that I come from the ‘wrong’ side of the ‘pond’, but it is also the name of my (Filipino) father-in-law – don’t these people realise that Joe isn’t just a ‘foreign’ name.
However, this does give me some cause for thought – would I be any happier if I heard shouts of ‘Hey Tommy!”?
Hi Pete – Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I am not surprised that the calls of “hey Joe” are still common in Tagum. Although not too far from Davao City, Tagum is still a rather provincial area, so it kind of ties in with what I experienced in GenSan as I noted in the article.
The POMMIE guy ( English Gentleman ) went to meet his fiance in Masbate City, when he arrived he got the” HEY JOE ” treatment. So seriously he said —– Merna everybody knows me here all ready . JOE was his given name . I cracked up laughing , he thought he had won a popularity contest .
Hi David – That is an old joke, but if it realy did happen to this fellow, it i truly a classic! 😉
Hi Bob
Never been called Joe. More likely to here “Kol” in Davao City. It is supposed to be short for uncle and designating you as an older person.
I take great pleasure in reversing it and calling every male Kol. the younger ones always stop and think “he’s got it wrong” then realise that I’m merely joking. A good ice breaker.
Cheers
AJ UK
Hi AJ – Interesting. I have lived full time in Davao for 13 years, and 2 yers in GenSan… never heard of “Kol” before! We must run in different crowds!
My nieces and nephews do call me “Uncle” but never heard of Kol. 🙂
I have to chime in on this one. Even though I was a Marine; I fully understand why the locals call us ‘Joe’. To be honest, I never liked it from the onset. I would not ignore the kids because I know they mean well. I figured that would be rude.
However, I will stop and ask them if their name is ‘Joe’. If they respond, “No”. I would politely tell them mine is not ‘Joe’ either. I would then tell them my real name.
Once I’ve taken the time to do this they always call me by my real name and I know they appreciate the time in which I took to introduce myself. For some reason many of us military folks don’t like being called ‘Joe’. Just based upon my experiences and observations.
Enjoyed the article.
Bill
Almost forgot, it’s been my experience here the kids call me ‘Joe’, but the adults will shout out, “My Friend”. I don’t have many adults calling me Joe. I don’t know why that is. I find it interesting.
I wonder if Cell Phones may have something to do with less ” Hey Joe “. It seems so many are so preoccupied with cell phones, portable internet devices, etc. It’s not just The Philippines, it is getting that way here in the USA too. I am not a frequent cell phone user myself. The only time I have and use one is when I am in The Philippines to keep in touch with many friends there.
Sometimes I wonder, who are these people talking or txting to day in and day out ? If it is not talking or txting, it’s Facebook or other internet activity with WiFi being more and more available. After reading the article and many of the comments it got me to wondering, who has time to say ” Hey Joe ” anymore.
Hi Bob – Nice to hear from you! Hope your trip home was a safe one.
I never really thought about it that the fading of “Hey Joe” may be cellphone related. My initial reaction is that I don’t think it is related to cellphones. On the other hand, I can’t say that it is not, that is just my feeling. Thanks for giving me something to consider. 🙂
A good trip back Bob, concluding another wonderful visit.