We Filipinos continuously pride ourselves on our so-called “Filipino world-class hospitality” — we like to say that we’re the most hospitable race ever, always so generous to each and every one of our guests! Hence, it isn’t such a no-brainer why we believe our country is suited for tourism, as we go to lengths to make our visitors welcome during their stay.
And then, there’s our humor. As well-meaning as we may be, we Pinoys have a lot of self-deprecation in our humor, and so “teasing” someone about their physical attributes or characteristics (“Balyena”, “Baluga”, “Intsik baho” come to mind) is pretty much harmless. What we seem to be unaware of, however, is our tendency to be unintentionally casually racist and discriminating.
So it’s not so hard to see, really, when someone outside our culture comes to visit and comes across this aspect of our culture, it can be jarring and offensive. Take Youtuber Elayne Peddy from the United Kingdom, for example, who recently visited the beautiful island of El Nido, Palawan — named as the best island in the world– and though she found the Philippines to be a “truly beautiful country” with our blue waters and pristine natural resources… it wasn’t enough for her to refrain from referring to her trip to the country as her “worst holiday ever”, being called by locals as a “fat ugly monkey”, “big black fat girl”, among other names.
Watch the video here:
The Youtuber teared up in her video as she recalled being asked to “pay twice because I was fat, fat” and that she’s never been so disrespected in her life. Elayne also said that her trips to Cebu and Manila were fine, but the four days she spent in El Nido were the worst.
Whether this was just all a case of cultural difference or not, I’d like to offer my sympathies to Elayne over the mere fact that she had experienced discomfort during her stay in the country, as Filipinos are truly kind at heart.
Still, respect for one another should resonate above all.
Thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!
People really need to know the definition of RACISM! The word you are looking for is BIGOTRY or PREJUDICE! Racism is systematic!
When I am in UK they called me “PAKI” (Pakistani) like I am terrorist because of my color is different from them. Everytime they saw me they threw hard objects to me,tried to bully me.Thats what I encountered culture shock in UK
We’ll feel sorry for the discrimination you’ve experienced.Thats life! Everyone have different characters. Its the way you handle.
Dont be sorry for yourself, those who did that you needs to feel sorry for themselves… Thank you for sharing your story.
I love the closeness of family in the filipino culture, they fact that so many people are very talented in singing or dancing in the country is amazing, I have witnessed people singing in the streets, always happy, always smiling. I am not racist, My fiancee is Filipina and a lovely woman whom is well educated, non-judgemental and exceptionally intelligent. However I must say that when it comes to tourism, Filipino’s are their own worst enemies, they yell hey Joe to every white man at every second corner in the streets, even if we are not american. It’s offensive, they are very blunt, calling people very big or very fat. so many there will try to extort an overpayment from a foriegner and I do mean MANY, its seems to be looked upon as acceptable practice when it very much is not. and the resorts although beautiful in nature are most certainly not 5 star, yet they charge so very much, when Bali or Phuket or Danang Offer equally beautiful locations and much better accomodations at much lower prices, why so much? I look at Pearl Farm, very beautiful, but not even close to a western 5 star hotel, more like a 4 star (Maybe) and yet the rates are more expensive than a 5 star hotel in the western world? it seems they want to be insanely rich overnight on foreigners hard earned money.
I would assume that she went to a part of the Pilippines that was more provincial than city. I’ve been through this kind of thing myself. I am a Filipino that grew up stateside, but now stay in the Philippines. I still get the same type of reactions whenever I go somewhere less modernized (for lack of a better term) I get a lot of people staring and saying things out openly. I don’t think they mean it to be necessarily rude. It’s more of them just saying what they see. When I’m in Manila or Olongapo or any other “modernized” part pf the Philippines I don’t get that type of treatment. I was never called “black” or “fat.” But because I’m bigger than the average pinoy, I get called every name of any “big guy” they have seen on TV. whether it’s cartooons they have watched or any shows. They rarely get exposed to anything outside of their community. So I would hear Taguro, Big Show, Batista just to name a few. Kids will walk around with their chests puffed out and flex their biceps as I walked by. In the begining I felt it was rude but I learned to ignore it. I’m sorry that you were offended by them but be tough, everybody is beautiful in their own way, don’t let anybody bring you down. No matter where you are.