The cultural changes you will witness in the Philippines may not seem so drastic as other countries because the Philippines is not really an Asian country per se and very little about Filipinos can be characterized as Asian. As a matter of fact, whenever I am in Asia...i do feel as if I have left Asia and arrived into a quasi-Mexico when I arrive in the Philippines. Much of the country will remind you of Mexico...the crime, the filth, the dishonesty amongst its people, the language, etc. As a matter of fact, the last exit before you get to Angeles has a small community and the town is called...you guessed it...Mexico. The PI is a hodge podge of Spanish, American and hints of Chinese culture. It is more Americanized than other parts of Asia in some respects but more reminiscent of 3rd world Latin American squalor in others.

When you arrive in the Philippines, it may be your first time seeing real poverty and some of it may shock you. Filipinos are genuinely kind and generous people but it is also a savage culture full of dishonest people trying any trick they can muster to survive. The PI can be perplexing in that the people are two-headed monsters with kindness and generosity on one side and cutthroat deviousness on the other. Treat all Filipinos with respect and dignity and you normally wont have any problems but never be too trusting of any of the locals and always be on guard.

Some interesting cultural notes and language aspects that might help you in your assimiliation are as follows:

1. Nonverbal cues: Filipinos will point with their lips, raise their eyebrows as a greeting and yell "psst" with a waving hand gesture to get someone to come over. This may seem rude to us but its nothing to get offended about.

2. Filipinos are overtly friendly and flirtatious with foreigners. They are intrigued by you and admire you to some extent. Dont be suprised to see girls from all ages call you handsome or old ladies wanting to kiss you in malls and stores. Young girls will give you flirting smiles and giggle and even approach you because they are curious. Dont worry about it, just be flattered. This is not just bargirls either, Filipinas in general will be overtly flirtatious with foreigners. Some of it is that we are portrayed as potential income but some is just genuine admiration and/or curiosity.

3. Filipino men are jealous of foreigners and will talk shit while you are with your date. Ignore them and dont be confrontational with them. They are small and cant fight but they fight in packs and the police will always side with the local. We are better looking, have more money and have bigger dicks....its just envy, let it go.

4. Their are no bathrooms in the PI, only CR's. Filipinos call bathrooms or restrooms "CR" which is short for Comfort Room.

5. Filipinas think Yahoo Chat is a form of courting.

6. Filipinos have strange English terms that are old world and will throw you a bit. They also have terms that make zero sense. Here are some:

T-bird= lesbian
billboy= ladyboy
How are you now= How ya doing?
Good to you= thats great
Courting=Dating
I be the driver: I will be on top(for sex)
You be da driver: the man is on top or does the fucking
Bold Movie= Porno
Canteen: Roadside cafe
Add some more if you like

7. Some interesting tagalog words are as follows:

maganda= pretty
pogi or guapo= handsome
sari sari store: convenience store
suplado or mayabang= stuck up
baboy= fat or pig
diba?= right?
oo= yes
di naman?= isnt it
mahal= love
miss kita= miss you
mahal kita= I love you
mahalko= my love
arai= Ouch!
ano= what
sino= who
saan= where
kumusta ka na?= how are you
mabuti naman?= fine and you
mabuhay= welcome and sometimes used as a toast
bakit?= why
masarap= delicious or great
babae(pronounced ba-ba-eh)= girl
meron= have
etc.

"We are better looking, have more money and have bigger dicks....its just envy, let it go. "


comment: this is a classic-- can we offer that slogan up on the next batch of official CH tee-shirts?


one more saying for the touts: tegilan mo oko (sp?) = piss off

One word of caution: oo=yes BUT it sounds like the grunt Americans associate with NO.

I couldnt agree more. The places doesnt feel like Asia at all.

here are some more terms that might be beneficial.


mahal can also mean expensive depending on context
mura= cheap as in inexpensive not cheap bastard
kuripot = cheap bastard
and the all important

ma kaano = how much? (a's pronounced so ka a no)