Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Filipino Sense of Entitlement

Share |
I have made the point that a great many Filipinos have a sense of entitlement that stretches around the world. Here is a dialogue between my girlfriend and a relative that strikes me as not too unfamiliar. See 'A Sense of Entitlement'. The targets for such behaviour are foreign boyfriends (sometimes called sugar daddies), siblings and cousins living abroad. Fortunately these Filipinos abroad are greatly influenced by their foreign cultures and the way their relatives treat them, so enventually I think they tend to confine their gratuities to parents, and maybe siblings.
Usually the foreign boyfriends die, as they are usually old men chasing young girls.
---------------------------------------------------
Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

As I told you in your blog about DJ Montano and some things you totally dislike about the Philippines and the people there "You are a smart person" but you really dont know what you are trying to discuss or sort out in this blog or even your life.

Your blog says "Political Rage" but it is not, it is a "Personal Rage". I have also read you "sense of entitlement" article but I am asking "what is the bottomline of your article?". Are you just simply saying that most of the Filipinos that you are dealing with are asking for MONEY or KWARTA from you? It is quite simple mate you just simply have to say "NO", "WALA" or "HINDI" or in bold and capital letters just say "I DONT HAVE ANY MONEY" and they will NOT PUSH YOU. Pretend you are poor and EVERYONE will ignore you aside from the fact that you are tall and you shine because of your whiteness there(no pun intended). In that way you will know who your real friends are, Filipinos or otherwise.

If you will not say anything then who will know, that you are suffering in silence that is why you have to place them in this blog.

Like any other country there are good and bad people there. The Philippines have corruption, bribery, political disorder, nippotism, laziness and whole lot more that comes up with having a population of over 70 million people. But it is not like other countries too. There is really no point of comparison, you just have to take each country as they are. Others hate India - some love India for its character, isn't that as simple as it should be. Others love Australia some hated it - but they still keep going there.

These young Filipino women with their sugar daddies are in that situation because of their circumstances.

For a person of your intelligence can you try understanding the economics of simply being poor and not having things that others dont have.

Some relationships dont work - some do. Most are aware of Europeans of Caucausian men married to Filipinas who are QUITE HAPPY - and there are plenty of them, maybe you should be talking to them not the unhappy ones.

If you are staying in the Philippines you should be happy - you are in a sunny place and it is CHEAPER there than in Australia. Remember, the sun is always on your side there no matter how hard the lives of others are. People still manage to smile besides their hardship.

As for girlfriends you should look harder, examine them very well, dont look beyond feeling sorry for them. Use your intelligence as I always said before you ask them to go to bed with you.

Just make sure you try to be as KURIPOT(STINGY) as you could be in your next dates. Then you will know what the person is really up to and make sure to ask the right questions like "Are you working?", "Do you think that a man should support his wife?", the best question to ask is "Do you or your family own a piece of land or a "supot" of land in anyway?", and the most important question is "Do you support your brothers and sisters even if they are already grown up?".

All these questions are valid - and will not put you as "bastos" they are all honest questions and they make real sense. That is if you don't want to go home to Australia and you just want to stay there and meet your future wife, girlfriend or cash holder.

Maybe you should help the Philippines IMPROVE in some ways, then your stay will be worth it.

Take these simple advice from your Auntie/Tiya Gab.

If you don't delete my comment I will thank you very much. Please learn to love everything about life and most of all the Philippines.

Gabrielle Silang -Bourne
Apo ni Gabriela Silang
Pamangkin ni Lapulapu

Andrew Sheldon said...

Anonymous, the 'political rage' stemmed from my first post on the political implications of Brian Gorrell. Subsequent posts were intended to keep the content together. I cc'ed other related blogs.
The purpose of the blog article was to draw attention to unhealthy Filipino values. You have chosen not to respond to those issues. Asking for money or having an expectancy of getting it from foreigners is the unsavory element of too many Filipino lives. I see it in so many contexts having lived here for 1.5 years, and travelled here 8 times. Why do I keep coming back. Now? Because my Filipino GF, before for biz trips, and visa renewals for Japan.
Yes, I can say I have no money, but they dont believe me if I have a $400 pair of sunglasses. Funny I dont even notice when Filipinos are wearing Oakley sunglasses, but they notice mine. There is just an expectation that if you are white, you are rich. Also if you are white, you are an American. Frankly I would like to invite them into my home, some of the ones I have befriended, but I know it will turn ugly because they will have cousins who will invite themselves, and suddenly things will go missing. So instead I tactfully say my GF doesn't want me to have guests in the home. By the way, its not just because I'm a foreigner. They will do it to their relatives overseas or friends. Its a culture of dependents, suckers, perpetrators and victims. Its the reason why you have gated communities, to an extent I've never seen in other poor countries.
The only thing I suffer from in Philippines is bad diet because of the local taste for fat, oily, sweet foods. Hard to get healthy food (vegetables) without giving myself food poisoning, or cooking at home.
The problem Anon is simply that you were 'collectivising' some criticism I made about the Philippines and its values. If you read my posts it should be clear that I recognise there are good & bad Filipinos. My GF is Filipino. First you should judge from 'your' personal identity, not as a representative of your country, as no one can. I'm merely commenting on Philippines because I'm living here.
"These young Filipino women with their sugar daddies are in that situation because of their circumstances". Actually no. Its a choice they make. They are no coerced, they are not threatened with any dire shortage. They are just very materialistic, or will compromise their integrity for the sake of a comfortable life. Yes, came can be said of Australian (say prostitutes), Japanese, Koreans, and people from a great many other countries.
Yes, I can empathise with people with little, I'm surrounded by them. I also reflect on their choices. Thats why I write these postings to change values. Some Filipinos appreciate my comments.
Yes, some Filipinos are fine people, and if they have respect for Caucasian men, and if the Caucasian men are respectful, then they can have a very fulfilling relationship. I am one of them.
Aside from collectivising values, you seem to want to believe I am only aware of the bad Filipinos, but that is merely because that is the problem to be solved. I dont intend to educate bad people. They are not ready to listen to these arguments. My debate is targeted at Filipino intellectuals.
Yes, I agree Filipinos are very affable. Very pleasant to first meet. Wish they were more confident with English, or I could speak the language, but its not going to happen. I might add that there is a negative to that 'easy going' side, not just for Filipinos, but Australians as well, a self indulgence, lack of organisation, or lack of self-discipline. Thats the negative side if you are interested in that???
I have a GF thank you. Your tips would have helped a decade ago when I was a frustrated intellectual. Trusr me Australians are recognised for their stinginess (KURIPOT), I'm reminded constantly. But see, I see this as a guilt trip. Rest assured it doesnt work. Actually I wouldnt ask a girl if they own assets, though I did appreciate that my GFs siblings are adults and a doctor & engineer.
Sorry I dont like everything about the Filipino people. I dont focus on it because you know it already. I appreciate virtues when I see them in individuals. When I see patterns I generalise. I see that as healthy conceptualisation. You might think otherwise of me if you realised the extent to which my thinking is integrated. Sorry you will not get the whole story until I write a book. But basically I require your objectivity if this blog is going to reach you. It reaches some Filipinos.
Rest assured I dont delete constructive arguments if they are so formulated.

ConvinceMe.Net - Anyone up for a debate?