do you still follow Filipino culture even if you live abroad?

[Anck-Su-Namun]

It must be hard living in a land which has its own culture and which can be entirely the opposite ours. How do you manage to keep being Filipino in a foreign land? (Or maybe you don't.) What traditions or values do you try to keep alive? What can you say about Americanized Pinoys?

[§oulfulHunk™]

I teach my friends bad words in Tagalog. :D

§oulfulHunk™

[7's Baby]

Me too! They can all curse better than me now and they're white!!

I still mano to my elders, call my sister Ate, and even still say "Po". Other than that I've become rather westernized.

[topnotch97]

cursing!!!

eg.:
"hoy ikaw!!! anak ka ng ________ !!!!" lalo na kung kaaway mo `kano!!

"hoy ku---!!!" --> the most!!

[Tarzan]

The most insane way that Pinoy will gonna carry wherever they are is the Tsismisan and Inggitan!.....Super talaga ang Pinoy sa Tsismisan kahit saan........PINOY YATA YAN! Iba and Pinoy!!

[pula]

Originally posted by 7's Baby
Me too! They can all curse better than me now and they're white!!

I still mano to my elders, call my sister Ate, and even still say "Po". Other than that I've become rather westernized.

Is that really what is remaining in your heart and soul that is Filipino? Are you proud about that...that your are "rather westernized?" What do you mean by westernized, by the way?

[- Caligirl -]

We buy Filipino food sometimes...
I talk Tagalog, but only to my mom. My Filipino friends don't know the language (except for one or two who understand but can't speak it).

[Tarzan]

Originally posted by pula
Originally posted by 7's Baby
Me too! They can all curse better than me now and they're white!!

I still mano to my elders, call my sister Ate, and even still say "Po". Other than that I've become rather westernized.

Is that really what is remaining in your heart and soul that is Filipino? Are you proud about that...that your are "rather westernized?" What do you mean by westernized, by the way?

Im many cases, just like 7's baby, I myself would rather become westernized too. At least in the west, people don't care what you do and they basically leave you alone. Of course meron ding inggitan and tsismisan but not as bad as Filipinos.......I don't say that I am not proud to be a Filipino. I am. But I am hoping that in the future Filipinos will realize that there are hundreds of things in life that need to be prioritized other than gossiping and inggit........what do you guy's think?

[gumacanian]

When in Rome......If you don`t like it...Go home!!

[7's Baby]

When I used the term 'westernized', generally I meant that the general way of life which I have become accustomed to is not that which children born and raised in the Philippines may be used to. There are small things, like not having to wear slippers in the house. The major things though, often universal, like respect for your elders, I maintain those traditions. I still speak the language - I speak both Tagalog and English fluently.

Being Filipino is what is 'in my heart' (although I do believe that would be romanticizing the issue far too much). The fact of the matter is, and it will remain so, I was born to Filipino parents which makes me, by definition, Filipino. I will die the same way - Filipino but an Australian citizen. When I have children of my own with my Filipino significant-other, they will be the same.

It doesn't matter where I am, or where I've grown up, I'm every bit as Filipino as someone who has never left the Philippines. It's not attitude which makes me this but a 'status' granted to me at birth.

[Cali4Nia]

Anck Su Namun, I dont know about other Filipinos in other countries in situations where they don't have much freedom to express their being Filipino because of rampant discrimination like in the MiddleEast or HongKong, though.

But, I sometimes feel rather discriminated by some fellow pinoys that still live in Pinas, as well, when they find out that I moved to the States at an early age and grew up there. Why is there such bad stereotypes and resentment towards us?

I wish they wouldn't lump us into that one category ...snooty, show-offs, no respect or manners, don't give a damn about anything. So there are FilAms like that and quite frankly, I'm ashamed of them as well not because they are Americanized Filipinos but because they are poor examples of human beings.

Pero mayroon din diyan mga laki dito sa ibang bansa na nagdaan sa hirap, marunong parin mag tagalog, may respecto parin sa culturang Pilipinas at may pagmamahal parin sa buhay at gawain nang mga tiga Pilipinas. These FilAms know, realize and acknowledge where they and their parents have been. Tumitingin rin sila sa pinangalingan nila.

Yung mga parents and lola at lolo nang mga kabataan laki dito kahit na 20 years na sila dito and puso nila na sa Pinas parin...the motherland.

I wholeheartedly agree with 7's baby about being as Filipino as those who have stayed in Pinas not only because it is my birth status but because I can't deny the Filipino part of me that has been socialized that way since birth.
Filipino parents more than likely brought up their kids here with a little or a lot of filipino socialization at home.

The half of me will surely wither and die if it stopped tasting PATIS and BAGOONG or stopped uttering a tagalog word or stopped observing filipino traditions or stopped reading books about the Philippines or stopped reminiscing about my family's filipino life stories since way back World War II. It would be like cutting off half of my heart and soul. The innervoice inside my head is half tagalog and half english half filipino and half american. I wouldn't be able to function without both my Filipino and American side.

I know some FilAm kids out there don't speak tagalog or are way more americanized than others but...WHO CARES!
Ganoon talaga. Different circumstances in their lives made them that way. Doesn't mean they're less Filipino than others who never left the country. So their parents had no time to socialize em into perfect Filipinos, or the kids assimilated into the foreign culture into oblivion. Maybe the parents didn't wanna teach em the Filipino language and culture so the kids can gain an edge in the adopted foreign country. STUFF happens!

Spain invaded the Philippines so our country is more westernized than our other Asian counterparts...so what.....what can we do :D

:D Ahhh....anyway we're all human beings.....earthlings. Pareho pareho lang tayo kahit itim, puti, kayumanggi, dilaw o pula and kulay nang balat mo o saan ka man lumaki.

[virgo14]

let's face it, Filipino culture isn't exactly well-preserved in the Philippines either so assimilation into another culture isn't all that hard.

i'm not sure how to qualify my answer since we never quite practiced traditional filipino values at home. i've never made 'mano' to anyone in my life; beso was fine for everyone. we never got into the practice of calling anybody 'kuya' or 'ate' either. and nobody used 'po' or 'opo.' however, i do love filipino food and make it a point to buy some at least every other week.:yum:

but like the others said, it's impossible to staunch the influx of foreign cultural elements, especially when you see that it works better. it really is trying to have to constantly deal with the pervasive rumour-mongering of some Filipinos and the constant bid for attention via gossiping. i really do prefer the "none-of-your-business" approach of the caucasians to this behaviour.

and about Westernised pinoys...i really don't think anyone is in a position to judge, really. like Cali4Nia said, everybody deals with a different set of circumstances growing up. dunno about you guys but i'd be more worried about Filipinos who pretend not to understand Tagalog and feign a convincing American accent when they've never actually left the country at all! and i DO know some kids who are like that...

[topnotch97]

Cali4nia:

well don't blame...you see, some ( i said SOME) Filipino kids who were born and raised really disregard their culture, and while some really turn their backs being filipinos...so most of them think that they are whites...

now about the language they speak, and not speaking in filipino is self-explanatory. but i always wonder how come kids of hispanic origin (mexican, cuban, etc..) speaks in spanish despite their living, and raised in the united states....they know they are in the US, but how come they can speak Spanish? so how come Filipino kids can not speak filipino??
well, one time i asked a mexican mom and she told me that parents should teach their kids, right from the start. so that they would grow up like any other mexican.....so what about us filipinos??? well, i noticed that some (SOME) seldom teach their kids in filipino!!! so whenever when they talk to their kids...they speak in english!!! i don't know if this is some sort of mentallity among filipinos in the US that they underestimate and ignore their own culture!!! i can see that whenever i go!!! don't you think the parents are really to blame??? well maybe...but this has been the case ever since....if only the early generations of fil-ams really notice this before, and now it has become a widespread!!!! it can not be undone!!!

[Cali4Nia]

Hi Topnotch :)


Is it a mentality? Hmmm...I'm not sure. Here's my opinion. Like I said before, different circumstances made these Fil kids disinterested in Filipino culture or the language.

Iba ibang tipong pagpalaki nang mga magulang nila ang naranasan nila. Kung ako ay di ko nakasama ang Lola ko dito sa States at ang Mommy ko naman ay laging nasa trabajo para may ipang bayad sa bahay at pagkain sa amin noon umpisa kami dito ay siguro di na rin akong marunong magtagalog. Napabayaan narin siguro yung mga traditions and tagalog sa daily routine nang buhay namin. Ganoon na rin siguro ang mga ibang pamilya dito.

I see what you see, too and I'm sure most of these kids just practice the externalities of the culture like eating the food and hanging up a parol during Christmas and don't really feel it deep down in their hearts like somebody who never left Pinas would.

But IT IS HARD when you LIVE in A COUNTRY or SOCIETY where the DOMINANT CULTURE is not your own or that of your parents. When people IMMIGRATE they eventually ASSIMILATE. It is inevitable. You need to assimilate EVEN JUST A LITTLE to forge ahead in the adopted country. If not then why stay and permanently reside there. It wouldn't make sense to me.

Also, these kids may not feel that learning their culture or the language is of any benefit, economic or otherwise, to them. Many of them don't have any interest in re-acquainting with their roots or with Pinas because of all the bad stories ie. the govt/economy/corruption, etc. I know growing up here I heard that from my family although they told me about the good experiences and memories, as well.

Personally, I can't deny that I am both Filipino and American. I am very interested in preserving or learning the very best parts of what both cultures have to offer me.

I can only speak for myself but I made a decision to want to learn the Filipino part of me as a teen. I realized that losing touch with the culture would be like voluntarily entering an FBI Witness Protection Program. Like leaving behind your real identity and living a facade. Totally abandoning the Filipino in me is not being true to myself and how I was raised by my Lola and Mom.

I love my Lola to death and she had a profound influence on me. She's probably one of the major reasons why I made the decision not to lose touch with the Filipino culture.

But I cant speak for the rest. I can only observe and make comments.

[pNaYfLaVa]

I've only been here for about 8 years and I learned how to adopt the American Culture. Although, I still have the Filipino Pride in me. I may be in a foreign land, yet I still have pride in me. I am always proud to say that I am Filipino, and I can still speak my own native language.

Every year I always go down south california just to celebrate Filipino Weekend with my friends. I love going on to that one, not only Filipinos celebrates this, but the other ethnic as well. They feel that we have such pride and joy with our ethnic that we even speak our language during the celebration and yet it does not bother the others.

Being one of the youngest in the family who learned so much stuff about Filipino Culture, I share my stories and the things I've learned when I was in school in Philippines to the younger generations in my family. They have the urge to learn about their roots and I share things with them. It's hard explaining things with them, but I always have to set examples. The things I value the most are the artifacts that our ancestors saved. It's a great thing to show to the younger generation in my family and they also value the item as well.

[topnotch97]

kanina may minura akong `kano.......tawanan halos lahat ng mga pinoy students...yung `kano nag-mukhang kawawa :lol:

[topnotch97]

@ cali4nia

sniff...sniff....tama na girl

anyway just smile :)

just think of happy things....think of happy philippines......think of pinays on those car-shows....errr teka mali ata..unless if you're a guy... ngiting aso!!! bwahahaha :lol:

[Expat-n-Amerika]

:)I'm a Filipino when I'm with Filipinos and I'm American when I'm with Americans. But when my American friends and I have a barbecue party, They always ask me to bring lumpia, pansit, adobo and rice....

[Air_magic]

One of the best things about Filipinos is the ability to adapt to a foreign countries' culture...
How do I manage? I teach them my culture...Most of my Canadian/Caucasian friends eat tocino, longanisa, b-bcue, pansit and other select foods. One thing is for sure though, I can never live with somebody with a different culture. My ex caucasian GFs just fight all the time. Culture clash...

[pinay_love]

well for me.....
i dont call my sisters ate, coz i have never
learned to say ate to them.
well the tagalog language, i speak it
but i sitll make a lot of mistakes.
i was not born or raised in pinas, so i dont know the philippine culture very well.
and it is true, the western part dont respect their parent as how pinoys do. it is really 2 different worlds.
i even dont say po to elder people, coz i dont know how to use po in a sentence, but still i feel pinay
and i really have the pinay-pride in my, even i dont know the culture of the philippines.
hey, i cant help it!!!

[Cali4Nia]

Originally posted by topnotch97
@ cali4nia

sniff...sniff....tama na girl

anyway just smile :)

just think of happy things....think of happy philippines......think of pinays on those car-shows....errr teka mali ata..unless if you're a guy... ngiting aso!!! bwahahaha :lol:

Last time I checked I had a vagina here :D

ahmmm pinays in car shows don't really make me happy but you get good hair and makeup tips from them, seriously, well sometimes....bwahahaha....OH THE DRAMA :D

[latepinoy93]

Air_Magic: Yep, iba talaga mag-mahal ang Pinay! Swept off my feet back in MNL while in Uni!

Definitely carry the Pinoy culture wherever I go!!

It's not that western here in HK anymore and a lot of Pinoy culture also finds itself in the rest of Asia such as the food (Pancit, Lumpia are "Hokkien" really...), respect towards elders (the Kahzakstan ppl... also do the "hand to the forehead" greeting!) and so on. So I guess the general "respect" culture is always around!

The main ? is, what aspect of "Pinoy Culture" should we keep always?

[yndisfagur]

Absolutely! It's what i am.

latepinoy93: are you a student there in HK?

[DaZeD in HK]

i guess if you're secure enough about your roots and your identity, it doesn't even have to be a conscious effort. i hear cali4nia's remarks about assimilation, and i agree that it's something you can't do without. however, it's pathetic when people overdo it, and it gets irritating the more i see it... turning into a pet peeve :)

on a sidenote, speaking of cultural exchange, guess what's a pretty popular refreshment in japan? halohalo! (or haroharo) :D

i'm not kidding... heard it's pretty popular among young people. it's sad tho that they don't know it's filipino. they just think somebody invented the name or something...

[Cali4Nia]

Originally posted by DaZeD in HK
i guess if you're secure enough about your roots and your identity, it doesn't even have to be a conscious effort. i hear cali4nia's remarks about assimilation, and i agree that it's something you can't do without. however, it's pathetic when people overdo it, and it gets irritating the more i see it... turning into a pet peeve :)



Filipinos abroad pretending not to know how to speak Tagalog when spoken to or asked by a fellow Filipino is really overdoing it (faked assimilation, I guess).

I was at an electronic store once and the cashier was Filipino....I wasn't sure at first....maybe some other Asian or Pacific Islander.....but his fellow cashier buddy started talking to him in Tagalog right in front of me so I was sure then.

I started to ask him about the return policy in the store in Tagalog and he replied back in English.....the whole time....tina Tagalog ko na nga nahiya pa. :(

[topnotch97]

december na!!! and its putobungbong and bibingkas galore!!!!

[f0r5aK3n]

AirMagic: I don't think Filipinos adapt to cultures easily.. we ASSIMILATE easy... there's a big difference...


The way Filipinos follow culture abroad, I think, depends on the region.. For example.. In the U.S. California Filipinos tend to retain Filipino culture more than, say, Filipinos that live in the Midwest... No matter how hard our parents try to teach us Filipino culture.. most of our lives are spent either at SCHOOL or at WORK, where our culture is not predominant... well, like I said.. unless you live in California ;)

[sampaguita]

hmmm... i've wondered about this myself before. i'm in college now, away from family, though close with friends, but still away from anything filipino. living in a midwest state where it's predominantly "white", it's kinda hard trying to keep in touch with my culture. but really, who can pinpoint exactly what a filipino is? i don't think being able to speak tagalog, or loving adobo necessarily makes u filipino. there's so much more to that. as corny as it may sound, i think it has to do with how you feel about the culture.

what do you guys think about filipinos (fil-ams) who don't know how to speak tagalog, or their respective dialect? does this make them "less" filipino?

[f0r5aK3n]

sampaguita: exactly.. just because we cannot speak any Filipino dialect or have a hard time with it, it doesn't make us less than Filipino... Some people are just more gifted with Linguistics than others and it's easier for them to learn 2 or more languages...

btw, where in the Midwest are you at??

[tamisguy]

I'll always be a filipino at heart. I still know how to speak tagalog, ilocano and follow same ways I had growing up in the phils. :)