I was thinking today about people who move to the Philippines. Particularly in my mind was a European fellow that I met recently. He moved to the Philippines to live, but he has only been here a couple of months. This morning, he came to mind, and I kept thinking about his attitude. He knows everything. Or should I say that he thinks he knows everything?
When I met him in a mall a few weeks ago, he kept telling me a lot of things about the Philippines and the Culture of Filipinos. In addition to living here for a couple of months, he had been here a few years ago for 2 weeks vacation. He was not married to a Filipina, but had a Filipina girlfriend. So, really his experience here was pretty limited. Yet, he knew all the answers and even argued with me if I felt that what he was saying was not really correct. Now, I’ve lived here for 7 years, and I’ve been visiting the Philippines for 17 years regularly. I know a little bit about the country and the culture here. I am not an expert, and I am happy to listen to others if they want to share their opinions. It’s a good way for me to learn more.
As I thought about this, I started thinking about myself. Before I moved here, I did some e-mailing with people who lived here already, sort of got some tips from them about life here and such. Some of what they said I disagreed with. I thought I knew. There are a couple of things I’ve learned in the last 7 years though:
- Our preconceived notions of the Philippines are not always accurate. In fact, they are probably usually not accurate.
- Coming here for vacation is nothing like living here. While you can count your vacation experiences as an indicator of what you might expect when you live here, your experience living here will never be the same as what you experience when you come for vacation.
- It’s always good to listen to anybody who has lived here and see what they have to say. The information they provide to you may come in quite handy.
As I thought about all this, I was amazed to realize that in many ways, 7 years ago, I was the same as my European friend that I recently met. I’m glad that over time, I’ve been able to relinquish my preconceived notions, listen to advice from others, and improve my life because of it.
Funny how we are all expert-expats, even when we have little information to base it on, don’t you think?
I have heard many Americans make negative comments about the Philippines when their experience is limited to the city of Olongapo when the US bases still existed there. Sometimes from people who have never even been to the Philippines. I always advised them to learn the history and culture first. Then travel to the different areas of the country. Maybe they were asleep during their high school history class regarding the former US colony.
I can recommend a great book "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines" by Stanley Karnow (which actually won the Pulitzer History Prize).
I read this after meeting my wife and it gave me a great insight into the Philippines and its people, as well as the legacy of Spanish and, more importantly, American rule.
I believe that the book was made into a TV series in the US but I have never been able to track it down. Has anyone ever seen it on TV ?
Hi Bob,
He'll learn soon enough that things are not always what they seem.
Bobby,
I doubt very much that Philippine history was/is taught in US high schools.
Hi Tina – Limited Philippine history was part of my high school US History class (mid-60s). It was pretty much "canned" material; snippets of history placed on an American time line. Dewey at Manila Bay, Aguinaldo and the Philippine Insurrection, MacArthur with Quezon in the 30s, Bataan & Corrigador, Landings in Leyte, Philippine independence and other topics were woven with other elements into a fabric called US History. Guess it was just a collection of highlights from the "American colonial" period; nothing outside of the ~50 years of US rule. My sons didn't have much at all in their high school US History class (mid-90s); only a paragraph or two involving World War 2. They've received most of their Philippine history from their Filipina mother and (to a much smaller extent) me.
Bob great insight. I can tell you that I have learned more from you than anyone. More of the good stuff anyway. Thak you. Ron
Hi Bobby – Your experience of hearing foreigners make negative comments about the Philippines, when they have only been to Olongapo is typical of a battle I'm always having on my Mindanao Blog. It seems that so many people are anti-Mindanao or fear Mindanao based only on rumor, not on actual facts. This even applies to Filipinos too. So many people who are from Manila or another place in the Philippines are very anti-Mindanao and advise others not to come to Mindanao. When I ask them when they were last in Mindanao, they say "never." Of course, I tell them that they can't possibly evaluate Mindanao if they have never been here! Amazing!
Hi Laurence – I'll keep an eye out for that book! Thanks for the tip.
Hi Tina – I agree with you. It is surprising how many people in the USA know little or nothing about the Philippines. A lot of friends of mine, when I told them I was moving to the Philippines asked me where it was located. Most thought it was in South America!
Hi Paul – I'm glad that at least there was some historical information about the Philippines taught in your school.
Hi Ron – Wow! Thanks for that nice comment. I try to be honest about my feelings, and I'm glad to know that you feel you have benefited from what I've shared. Thank you for visiting!
Hi Bob, you have built a very robust community around your websites, the paticipants whether they be readers or contributors are all here beacause they share a common desire to be in the "know" one of the things I commonly write on my own website is that no one is an expert on the Philippines, this has been endorsed by this post, there is no doubt that going to the Philippines for a vacation/holiday is never going to be the same as living there pemanently, having a community such as this one, markes us armed with information we will need to make it a better than average chance of success and acts as a protection, its always good to network with like minded ones, none of us are experts, smart people use the 2 ears they have and listen, they absorb everything they hear, and use it to the best advantage, thats why we are all here..thanks Bob, another thought provoking post, just look at how many people come here now to post and read, the reason is simple, we all want to be in the know.
Hi Pete – Thanks for your kind words! I do hope that this site is developing into a community rather than just a guy writing. I feel that there is a sense of community developing here, and that is a good thing! I appreciate your involvement here and participation!
Hi Bob–I believe in the old saying, "if you're going talk the talk, you better walk the walk". I tend to look for the action first before I listen to the news. By then it's history. Till next time….
Bob, when I told my high school friend I was moving here she said "Wow, I always wanted to move to Europe!" DUH
Hi Louis,
Ha-ha-ha! You made my day! "Europe" – that's a first! 🙂
Paul, thanks for the info.
Bob,
I find it very amusing when I meet people from Luzon or Visayas and they find out I'm from Mindanao, they're kind of in awe – as if they just met ET. Then, they ask me how come I don't have the accent? am I Muslim?, etc.
I tell them no I'm not but my grandfather was a headhunter – I just enjoy the look of shock on their faces! Gives me a good laugh for the rest of the day! 😉
Hi Julius – I am wiht you there!
Hi Louis – Typical American! 😉
Hello Bob and all,
I agree with most of the comments here, personally I think that the best way to adjust in a new country is to listen first, you get informations, you look around and you fit in. Whwn you go for vacation, everybody are happy to see you, but if you go to live there, you will be part of there everyday life, so I guess (thoses who live there can tell us) they might have a different relation with you. I will go this Christmas in Mindanao and in a way this will be vacation and also preparation for us to move there, I plan to look around, I will try to imagine myself living there everyday, like I said to my wife, I want to visit, but I also want time on my own to be able to feel the life there without being seen as a "tourist". I know, by reading the comments on this website, that it won't be easy at the beginning and that I will have to leave some of my preconcive ideas here in Canada. I really appreciate the chance that we have to have this website, adjustment will be , I think, more easy when I'll move there. Thanks to Bob and also thank to all of you who leave comments.
Hi Bob,
I am assuming that your friend is probably an expert on more than just the philippines! Possibly everything?
I stayed there for almost 3 months once to get a 'feel' for living there even though I had been a few times before on vacation.
At the end of the 3 months I was going crazy! I was badly prepared for it to be honest but it gave a better insight than 3 weeks vacation. Even so, 3 months is nothing compared to living there for years.
The kareoke machine at 7am on christmas morning didn't really help either!
Phil
I am not sure where most Americans get their knowledge of the Philippines but most of them are inaccurate. For example, when I tell them that I come from the Philippines almost always they think that I speak Spanish. They must be scratching their heads when the see that Tagalog is now the 6th most widely spoken language in the United States. According to the US Population Census of 2000, Tagalog is only behind English, Spanish, Chinese, French and German.
Hi Patrice – Yep, you have a good plan! Hey, it's good to hear from you! You've been absent here for a while, and I was wondering how you are doing.
Hi Phil – Yeah, you're right, some folks are experts in all subjects, or at least think they are! So, I'm curious, after your 3 month stay, do you feel you could stick it out for the long term?
Hi Samuel – Exactly. I believe that a huge number of Americans think that the Philippines is in Latin America, and it's a Spanish speaking country! Amazing!
Hi again,
Answer to your question: I am not ready for the long term yet, I have to be in a position to support my family financially over there, even though I like the thought of packing up and moving.
I haven't yet found a way to get through even a week without serious stomach aches!! Imodium is ok but you can't keep taking it for weeks or months. Any advice appreciated!
I will probably try another extended visit again in the future and put a lot more effort trying to adjust to how life would be everyday over there, which I didn't do last time.
After the shock of my first 3 months there all the holidays have been a lot more enjoyable and relaxing for me as I have a slightly better idea of what I'm in for!
Plus, I have my very own toilet now! ha!
Regards
Phil
comment # 15 by Samuel on the fact that Tagalog is the 6th most spoken language in the US reminds me of another fact. Of foreign born residents in the US, Filipinos are only outnumbered by Mexicans. To make sure I wasn't mistaken about this I just checked the US Census Bureau's website's webpage on foreign-born population. 1.3 million US residents were born in the Philippines.
Hi Kevin,
Your statement that "Filipinos are only outnumbered by Mexicans" made me very curious as I thought I noticed a lot more Chinese and Indians (at least here in NYC). Re 2000 census, Filipinos were #3 (see page 19 of link below).
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/p23-206.pdf
I wonder if the next census will have more Chinese or Indians? We'll see…
Hi Phil – sorry to hear about your stomach problems. Are you drinking mineral water when you are here? The local water can be a problem in much of the Philippines. I drink tap water here in Davao and it doesn't bother me. I couldn't do that in GenSan though without getting sick.
Hi Kevin and Tina – I didn't realize that Filipinos ranked so highly among the number if Immigrants in the USA. Interesting!