Something happened recently. I don’t know, maybe it was 4 to 6 months ago, I don’t recall for certain. What I do know is that I was not happy, though.
One day, I did a Google search, and all of the search results were in Tagalog! What? I can’t speak Tagalog, and now everything I could get from Google was in Tagalog! Yikes!
In the past, this would happen from time to time, but on the bottom of the Google Philippines page there was a link that said “Go to Google.com in English.” If you clicked on that, it would set a cookie on your computer so that you would, from that point on, always use Google.com and it would be in English. If you switched to a new computer, you would have to re-click on that link to reset the cookie on the new computer, and you’d be back to using Google in a language you could actually understand! But, when I suddenly started getting Tagalog results from Google earlier this year, I looked and there was no such link any longer at the bottom of the Google page. I went through all of my various browser and Google Account settings. My language was set on my Google Account to English. Everything was set in a way that I should be getting English results on Google searches, but I was not. I could not read what Google was telling me! Very frustrating.
Another thing about this is that I knew it was not just me, because other expats living here in the Philippines had contacted me and told me the same story – they were also getting Google in Tagalog!
At first, I switched to Bing for my Internet Searches. I figured it would just be temporary and that Google would certainly fix the problem, but they did not. I got frustrated with Bing and found their search results to be not as good as Google, so I switched back to Google and just lived with the frustration. I also shot off an e-mail to Google’s Philippine Representative, who is a friend of mine, but to my continued frustration she never replied to my request for help. Perhaps it was beyond her ability to assist and that is why she ignored my plea.
So, for the past months, I have been suffering through getting Tagalog results when I use Google. If you are like me, you know that you use Google hundreds of times per day.
Earlier this week, I found the answer, though. Funny thing is, in a way Google is the one who gave me the answer! You see, I was browsing the web earlier this week, and I saw a Google ad for a company who was offering free VPN (Virtual Private Network) service for people living overseas. With this type of service, you could log on to the PC in the USA and surf, all of the Internet sites that you would go to would see a US IP address and think you were in the USA. With such a service you could do things like watch movies on Hulu and use other sites that were allowed for US use only. I decided to give it a try, since it was free anyway. I downloaded the software, installed it, and tried it out. All of the content that I had been blocked from was now working! Wow, very nice.
After a few minutes of using this, I needed to search for something on Google, and I went and did so. Before my search results came up, Google popped up a little box that said:
It looks like you have moved from the Philippines to the United States, do you want to use Google.com instead of Google.ph?
Wow! I quickly clicked “Yes” and Google came up in English! A big smile came to my face. I then turned off the VPN software, which gave me a Philippine IP address again, and I did another Google search. Now it popped up another message:
It looks like you have moved from the United States to the Philippines, do you want to use Google.ph instead of Google.com?
I clicked NO this time, and my search results remained in English.
Basically, for me, I found that the software was pretty neat, but I didn’t need it. So, I uninstalled it (and my Google is still in English, since I told Google that I “moved”). However, if you choose to keep the software it can serve other purposes for you, things like:
- watch YouTube Videos that are restricted from the Philippines
- watch content on sites like Hulu
- log in to your Bank’s website and they will still think you are in the USA
- anything where you need to have a US IP address
If you are interested in the software, it is called Hotspot Shield. They have a free version (ad supported) and a paid version with no ads. My primary purpose on this article is to help expats here and in other countries find out how to get their Google Searches back in English again.
Hi Bob,
When my son was here visiting we wanted to watch programming using his Hulo account. We kept getting messages stating that we could not access from our location. So the program that changes your IP might be useful for other things like Hulo or Netflix.
Sorry I just now saw where you mentioned Hulu!
Exactly Tom, it works perfect for Hulu, Netflix and such. I don’t need those, because I download all the TV shows I want via Bit Torrent downloads. But, you’re right, perfect for Hulu.
I am truly spoiled now surfing at speeds up to 12 Mbps. In a couple of weeks I will be back to my Philippine reality of maybe 1Mbps LOL How is your speed in Davao on average.
Hi Paul – My average internet speed is about 4.5 Mbps with my Globe DSL. You can get 12 Mbps here if you are willing to pay for it.
Impressive. Great news.
It has just been in the past year or two that we are starting to have these kinds of speeds available.
Bob;
I learn new things all the time, here on LiP. Thanks!
Hi Paul – I’m always happy to help! 😆
Hi Bob – I have had the same issue from time to time but unlike you not on a permanent basis.
It seems to happen more on my iPad than on my laptop though.
So far its not been an inconvenience thankfully.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim – I have heard from some expats that they don’t have a problem like I did, and I have heard from others that they had the same problem. I’m not sure what causes it to do like that, but I’m quite happy that I found a solution!
At least facebook and twitter aren’t “automatically” in default Tagalog yet. Haha.
I could really laugh on who translate those stuff. For most part, the translations are just “off”
That’s so true, Katrina… those translations always are “not quite right.”
Bob,
There is one other solution for the annoying Google problem: if you type http://www.google.com/ncr into the address bar to go to google (or you can use that address for a bookmark or a button), it will take you to the US English google instead of the philippine google.
Jack
Thanks for sharing that Jack, it is good information to know. I like to use the quick search on Google Chrome where I just type my search term in instead of a URL and it brings up my Google search results. When using that search method, I don’t have to “go to Google” first, so “resetting my address” with this software worked perfect for me!
I have always used Google dot com. Always in English. Let it go into auto detect and it is never in English.
Hi Gary – Glad you found a method that works for you.
Tried the VPN…but sigh…no version for Linux. 🙁
Yeah, this particular VPN client is a windows based software. Of course there are other Linux packages out there, though.
The VPN trick works great when sending yourself money from a US Based Bank via Xoom for a pickup in the PI. I used it on my last trip and it worked great. Saved me the trip to the ATM with its fees and restrictions on daily withdrawals. Cost $5.99 USD for a $5K transfer
I use and pay for a program called StrongVPN that can be sued via web based application if using a computer in a cafe or related situations. it even worked for me when I was in Shanghai and went around the “Great Firewall of China”
Hi Joe – I am lucky that I have a US bank account that I pay no fees on. They even reimburse if somebody else’s machine charges me! But, you are sure right on that, the VPN is a perfect solution for that sort of thing!
Bob,
Care to share the name of the fee free bank you use? I have been unsuccessful in finding one that does not charge ANY fee for foreign ATM withdrawals.
Hi Joe – I would be happy to share it, if it were available, but unfortunately it is not. You see, the bank that I had originally sign up with about 15 years ago has been sold 3 or 4 times already and is owned by another bank now. The “free” account is no longer available for signup, but I still am able to keep it because I was grandfathered in.
I send myself money all the time using xoom because the card my boss puts my money on doesn’t work in ATMs here. never had to use a proxy or VPN just directly online from the Philippines.
OOOPS……should read $2.5K transfer. XOOM only allows up to 2999. me and my fat fingers cant type straight sometimes, besides I never have 5k in the bank – haha.
Have never had the language issue with Google but sometimes do with Yahoo . Using Linux but don’t know if that would have any bearing .
Hi Alan – How are you doing? It’s been a while. I don’t know on Yahoo, I’ve never had the language issue with them, but maybe the VPN will work for them too.
Hi Bob – Great tip! for the expats! he he. I’m not one, but I don’t know what I did, but I used to get Tagalog searches. But since I only use one pc.. so I guess cookie is set? But why do I have Tagalog version of an English ad? I mean really it’s funny weird to see.
Hi Sugar – At least you can read Tagalog, though! 😯
Hi Bob. Joe asked about your bank. I can share that here in the U.S. Ally Bank is advertising the services he is looking for. I don’t bank there as I have been with NFCU for the past thirty years but its worth a look. Ron
Hi Ron – there you go! I knew somebody would come through with helpful information! Thank you for sharing that, Ron.
Hi Bob,
Do you have the Google tool bar on your computer? It has a translate feature on it also. I have mine set to always translate into English.
Hi Scott – Yeah, doing a Google translate is easy, but I don’t want to have to translate Google’s own search results into english, I want native english results. 😉
Bob,
Thanks for the info about getting the US Websites. Will come in handy when i make my move. Take care and have a nice day.
You are most welcome, Papa Duck.
Hi Bob,
I was using Hotspot Shield at home and it works wonders especially for blocked sites here. Although from time to time, I would noticed that my connection slows down so I eventually decided to uninstall the software totally.
Hi Jonathan – Yep, exactly the same reason why I decided to uninstall it too. Of course, it’s to be expected that any time you use a VPN or Proxy Server your browsing will be slower.
Bob,
Thanks for the tip about the Hotspot Shield VPN. I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. It works great even with my blazingly fast 537kbps internet speed from the good folks at SmartBro. I’m so excited to be able to see my favorite TV shows & listen to my favorite radio stations, that I no longer care about the lizards, frogs, roosters, swarms of mosquitos, & billowing clouds of smoke emanating from my neighbors dirty kitchen. If you’re ever in my part of this tropical paradise, let me know. I owe you a cup of Charbucks coffee.
Hi Ron – that’s great to hear! I’m glad I was able to pass along the recommendation. One of these days I’ll be up in your area, and we’ll sure have a cup of Joe! 😆