These comments are sadly par for the course in the Philippines, there will always be a roup of locals who will comment in this way, is one type of resentment or jealosy that has to be endured.

Many times, Miss Gina told me what was said about me, i.e. he is big..or he is fat, I have noticed that those freinds of ours in the PHILIPPINES who are the educated ones, never pass such comments, they are tactful and polite.

Its mainly the Tambay who walk around in Barkada, who are normally the ones who pass what can seem at times to be hurtful comments, and sometimes its only later that your girlfriend or wife will tell you actually what they said.

At the same time your girlfriend or wife does not want you to have your feelings hurt by revealing the translation of what they said, and often it serves as a protection, what you don't know can't really hurt you.

We must remember, anyone who looks different, or out of proportion, or is a different colour, or speaks differently, always leaves themselves open to be commented on in a demeaning way.

I can remember when I was stood outside of the British Embassy one day, when a pretty big BRITISH guy was walking in the Embassy, I thought at the time that he was twice the size of me, there was at the time a very petite slim young lady with him, I could hear the guards laughing and commenting.

I am not sure what they said, but i had a pretty good idea looking at their laughing and body language, but its always the same thoughts, "Who are they to comment!" and in any event "What business is is of theirs".

I remember a time when Miss Gina and I were sitting in the L Fisher hotel in Bacolod City having the evening buffet that they do most nights, in the next table was a rather large American guy sitting having dinner with a very petite young lady, I have to say the young lady was dressed immaculately, a nice evening dress and lovely shoes, she was a credit to the Filipino race.

I noted that the American guy was a very large guy, probably weight in excess of 24 to 27 stones, in itself not a issue for me, but what concerned me most about him, was his style of dress in the L Fisher, this was of course cocktail night, when I looked around, I was always visibly impressed with the way that the Filipino man dresses.

If you look at them, they always are immaculately turned out, very nicely pressed trousers, sometimes Barong Tagalog, or a nice dress shirt, that is what I noticed about the Filipino when they go out as a family.

I occasioned to see one of my friends, a relative of a former employer of Miss Gina, he was there with his whole family from the Lolo, Lola and the whole generations down, I thought to myself, wow, that family is so well dressed for dinner, they all were dressed immaculately.

I contrasted them and my party, with this American guy, he was dressed in a track suit bottoms, that looked like he sat around in them all day, his shirt was like a black t shirt with a hole in it, he was unshaven, and generally dishevelled.

I could not help noticing that his dress sense, including a pair of old dirty trainers, did not give off a very good impression, I wanted to say something to him, but Miss Gina told me not to interfere, and of course its none of my business.

But I could not help feeling, that he would be the object of a negative conversation, thats why on my website, I caution visitors to be mindful of what they wear in the Philippines, especially at dinner, or when stepping out with their lady, because you are ultimately ambassadors for your country, it doesnt matter how big you are, what you look like, your weight, and general looks, are of no consequence, if you are smartly turned out, nice evening shirt, pressed trousers, a smart appearance, with clean shoes.

This guy sadly was the object of comments, not just from Filipino groups but also from myself, I told Miss Gina, this guy looks terrible, and in the L Fisher dining lounge a 1st Class hotel in the City.

Filipino's in groups have a habit of commenting, and saying things they would refrain from doing if they were alone, but then on the other hand, lets not give them a reason to do so, at least if they say, he is fat or he is big, or he will squash her, they cannot say, he is scruffy, he is badly turned out, all they can say is, he is big, but smart.

And I for one as a foreigner in country, CAN LIVE WITH THAT ENDORSEMENT ! How about you ?