Exploring The British And Filipino Cultures

[jane82]

I'm a young Filipina working student who has been living in the U.K for some years now and have regarded both my country of birth i.e. the Philippines and the U.K as my countries of residence and home. I've resided in both places for long enough to become quite familiar with both countries and continuing to learn some more.

Having lived and educated in the Philippines and in the U.K., I've made a few very good British friends too as a result I've had more contact with the locals than my fellow Pinoys.

Through college I've also had British boyfriends and my current bf really don't take notice that I'm racially different from the local girls because he regards me as a friend for years and then a lover and well my race comes lastly. I think this is really nice that he appreciates me as a person and not just my race. He's only noticing more lately that I'm Filipina and he could even now distinguish the differences between Filipinos from the Chinese and other Asian races. He has learnt this over time because he asks questions like "Is s/he Filipino or are they Filipinos?" and I'd try to listen to the dialect or language they speak as we come closer to the person we assume to be Filipino or not.

A few problems which I've encountered due to our inter-racial relationship (although we forget we are) is that a few Pinays have said like "Do you not date Pinoy men?” of which they seem to imply with their question that there is something wrong with Filipino men.

Yes I have had Pinoy male friends, crushes and brief boyfriends when I was younger, but I don't exactly go around looking specifically for a man of the same race as me to date. Besides, I don't have as many opportunities to meet Filipino men and I wasn't interested before in any long term serious relationships with the opposite sex when I've had the opportunity to meet Pinoy men because I was much younger and I'd other plans. Secondly, I date someone not because they are of the same or different race as me but because of the individual man's admirable characteristics and personality and even whether they are physically attractive in my eyes.

Another problem we encounter is that we both live away from the city in a small town near the country side where the folks living here are not as tolerant of interracial relationships, so sometimes we are careful about showing any public affection for each other depending where we are.

[GaryFifer]

Go watch DAVE ALLEN ON YOUTUBE. The man is a master of studying the little quirks in British culture.This one is on useage of English language. Interesting.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4IfoUM6a4bA
I hear a fella on the radio in Ireland, Burl Ives, the old American folk singer was in Ireland a while ago and I heard this fella, one of the local DJs on the radio say "Burl Ives is over here making a film and theres been lots of requests for one of the Burl Ives' songs, one of his big hits "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" So they played it. And then the fella comes back and he says "Well, that was Burl Ives singin "The Big Cock Randy Mountain" There were cars all over Ireland disappearing into hedges!

[KeithD]

For'andles

[keithAngel]

I can dig it

[GaryFifer]

yes. and "Mastermind Special subject: Answering the question before last."

[jane82]

For'andles

Sorry what does this mean?

[jane82]

I can dig it

What are you digging Keith?

[jane82]

yes. and "Mastermind Special subject: Answering the question before last."

Ok, I'm not much good in Mastermind.

Specialist subject "What the hell is everyone talking about?"

[jane82]

Go watch DAVE ALLEN ON YOUTUBE. The man is a master of studying the little quirks in British culture.This one is on useage of English language. Interesting.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4IfoUM6a4bA
I hear a fella on the radio in Ireland, Burl Ives, the old American folk singer was in Ireland a while ago and I heard this fella, one of the local DJs on the radio say "Burl Ives is over here making a film and theres been lots of requests for one of the Burl Ives' songs, one of his big hits "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" So they played it. And then the fella comes back and he says "Well, that was Burl Ives singin "The Big Cock Randy Mountain" There were cars all over Ireland disappearing into hedges!

Well I'm not really here to master the British quirks alone in particular. The blog was entitled this, simply because of having lived in both sides of the world and how I've tried to adjust from moving from the Philippines to the U.K.

The last part was clearly sharing the problems that I've encountered with having an inter-racial relationship which wasn't a big deal to me, but others makes a deal out of it.

[jane82]

Go watch DAVE ALLEN ON YOUTUBE. The man is a master of studying the little quirks in British culture.This one is on useage of English language. Interesting.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4IfoUM6a4bA
I hear a fella on the radio in Ireland, Burl Ives, the old American folk singer was in Ireland a while ago and I heard this fella, one of the local DJs on the radio say "Burl Ives is over here making a film and theres been lots of requests for one of the Burl Ives' songs, one of his big hits "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" So they played it. And then the fella comes back and he says "Well, that was Burl Ives singin "The Big Cock Randy Mountain" There were cars all over Ireland disappearing into hedges!

Thanks for the interesting choice of c/rude link which looks funny and I'll check it out later.

Haven't heard of Burl Ives.

Familiar with British English linguistics.

[jane82]

Basically this is my introduction to the forum.

[KeithD]

...and haven't figured out the MULTI-QUOTE button feature

[Piamed]

I've made a few very good British friends too as a result I've had more contact with the locals than my fellow Pinoys.

Through college I've also had British boyfriends and my current bf really don't take notice that I'm racially different from the local girls because he regards me as a friend for years and then a lover and well my race comes lastly. I think this is really nice that he appreciates me as a person and not just my race. He's only noticing more lately that I'm Filipina and he could even now distinguish the differences between Filipinos from the Chinese and other Asian races. He has learnt this over time because he asks questions like "Is s/he Filipino or are they Filipinos?" and I'd try to listen to the dialect or language they speak as we come closer to the person we assume to be Filipino or not.

A few problems which I've encountered due to our inter-racial relationship (although we forget we are) is that a few Pinays have said like "Do you not date Pinoy men?” of which they seem to imply with their question that there is something wrong with Filipino men.

Yes I have had Pinoy male friends, crushes and brief boyfriends when I was younger, but I don't exactly go around looking specifically for a man of the same race as me to date. Besides, I don't have as many opportunities to meet Filipino men and I wasn't interested before in any long term serious relationships with the opposite sex when I've had the opportunity to meet Pinoy men because I was much younger and I'd other plans. Secondly, I date someone not because they are of the same or different race as me but because of the individual man's admirable characteristics and personality and even whether they are physically attractive in my eyes.

Another problem we encounter is that we both live away from the city in a small town near the country side where the folks living here are not as tolerant of interracial relationships, so sometimes we are careful about showing any public affection for each other depending where we are.

My view is that every couple is heterogeneous. Whether 1 is Welsh and the other Scottish, for example. What matters most is what brings the individuals together.

The country, family or environments we were born into do not define who we are although they may have an influence. I believe that most of the problems in the world arise because people like to segment. They like to highlight differences and disaggregate because of those differences rather than to celebrate the significance differences as well as areas of commonality.

I was born in the UK to a Nigerian family. I take bits of the mixed cultural upbringing I had and temper them with bits that I believe will improve me as an individual. I am an amalgamation and so are you. Every Filipina is different although there will be many things that many, although not all, have in common.

One of the things that I find unfortunate, is that I can go to a Japanese restaurant in Leeds and find Filipinos and Thai working there but the average punter cannot discern the difference. I even heard one guy say they all look the same. It is ignorance as he simply did not know as he had not allowed himself the time and exposure to know. It is hard to tell the difference sometimes, it's true, but all South East Asians do not look the same.

There are some that look at mixed-relationships in a strange way. Mostly, it's because it's something they have never embraced and they are thus disapproving or envious. In any event ignore them. Humans love conformity.

I used to be in advertising and one of the best direct mail responses I had was when i sent a mailing out with a letter the corner of which was folded over. Under the folding was a call to action. We had a huge response as it is human nature to try to make things regular and confirming. So many think a relationship should be black-black, same age - same age, etc. There is nothing anywhere that says that is the right thing to do. Indeed, the bible has many examples where that was not the case.

Be yourself, live your life and welcome aboard!

Kuya Toks

[IainBusby]

For'andles

Sorry what does this mean?

You'd have to have been here long enough to have seen The Two Ronnies TV series to understand this one. You might still catch it on UKTV Gold these days.

[jane82]

...and haven't figured out the MULTI-QUOTE button feature

Yes you're right. I haven't learnt this yet.

Would you care to do it for me without changing my post altogether?

[jane82]

You'd have to have been here long enough to have seen The Two Ronnies TV series to understand this one. You might still catch it on UKTV Gold these days.

I've been here long enough to have seen Ronnie Corbett (short man) and Ronnie Barker (bigger, taller and I think maybe dead). I watched these two comedians when I was in High school.

[jane82]

My view is that every couple is heterogeneous. Whether 1 is Welsh and the other Scottish, for example. What matters most is what brings the individuals together.

The country, family or environments we were born into do not define who we are although they may have an influence. I believe that most of the problems in the world arise because people like to segment. They like to highlight differences and disaggregate because of those differences rather than to celebrate the significance differences as well as areas of commonality.

I was born in the UK to a Nigerian family. I take bits of the mixed cultural upbringing I had and temper them with bits that I believe will improve me as an individual. I am an amalgamation and so are you. Every Filipina is different although there will be many things that many, although not all, have in common.

One of the things that I find unfortunate, is that I can go to a Japanese restaurant in Leeds and find Filipinos and Thai working there but the average punter cannot discern the difference. I even heard one guy say they all look the same. It is ignorance as he simply did not know as he had not allowed himself the time and exposure to know. It is hard to tell the difference sometimes, it's true, but all South East Asians do not look the same.

There are some that look at mixed-relationships in a strange way. Mostly, it's because it's something they have never embraced and they are thus disapproving or envious. In any event ignore them. Humans love conformity.

I used to be in advertising and one of the best direct mail responses I had was when i sent a mailing out with a letter the corner of which was folded over. Under the folding was a call to action. We had a huge response as it is human nature to try to make things regular and confirming. So many think a relationship should be black-black, same age - same age, etc. There is nothing anywhere that says that is the right thing to do. Indeed, the bible has many examples where that was not the case.

Be yourself, live your life and welcome aboard!

Kuya Toks

Oops I just stumbled upon the multi-quote button feature that Keith is talking about. Thanks Keith for making it noticeable.

Go watch DAVE ALLEN ON YOUTUBE. The man is a master of studying the little quirks in British culture.This one is on useage of English language. Interesting.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4IfoUM6a4bA
I hear a fella on the radio in Ireland, Burl Ives, the old American folk singer was in Ireland a while ago and I heard this fella, one of the local DJs on the radio say "Burl Ives is over here making a film and theres been lots of requests for one of the Burl Ives' songs, one of his big hits "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" So they played it. And then the fella comes back and he says "Well, that was Burl Ives singin "The Big Cock Randy Mountain" There were cars all over Ireland disappearing into hedges!

For'andles

I can dig it

yes. and "Mastermind Special subject: Answering the question before last."

...and haven't figured out the MULTI-QUOTE button feature

You'd have to have been here long enough to have seen The Two Ronnies TV series to understand this one. You might still catch it on UKTV Gold these days.

Thanks very much for your reply Kuya Toks.

You've been the most sensible and very helpful person yet in addressing the post. :-h

Made a very good point about the nature of human relationships which is often heterogeneous really if you think about it more from a small to a bigger perspective.


In relation to this I'd posted this before-

The anthropologist or biologist, currently classifies all wo/men of whatever race as belonging to the one species- Homo sapiens. This is another way of saying that the differences between human races are not great, even though it may appear this way when you see differences in the colour of people's skin and distinguished physical features. Even more astounding is although someone's skin is white, his or her recent ancestors could still be traced back to Africa. All races of mankind in the world can interbreed because they have so much in common. The majority of the human population have ancestors from various countries. This is made easier by the advancement in technology which allows us to travel and settle anywhere.

What makes a person unique is not marked by his or her race, upbringing, the language s/he uses, religion, individual experiences, gender, sex, personality, social class or social status, education, physical and mental ability or age but it is a combination of all factors which develops and recreates the unique person that you are today.

[jane82]

Very much appreciate your very interesting thoughts and a wide range of view on the topic Kuya Toks.

Points I'll be noting Kuya Toks:

• Let's celebrate our differences rather than make our differences a huge problem.
  
• I wasn't born in the U.K, but I guess as I've got older I've become an amalgamation of both cultures. I agree very much on what you said about how you take bits from each culture that would help to improve us as an individual in learning and respecting our upbringing.
  
• I find it ignorant that some people try not to respect the differences between Asian races, but at the same time I realise that you can't force people to change because they can only do this themselves if there were willing enough to. It's true that some can't tell the difference because they don't show any interest to try to learn about others.
  
  Need time and exposure.
  
• Indeed most societies almost dictates us to conform to certain rules and be like everyone else.
  
  Be myself and minding my own business as usual.

P.S. Whilst on the subject of advertising, funny you mention it. What's this job like? I considered doing a Masters degree on this before, but I haven't decided yet.

[Piamed]

Thanks very much for your reply Kuya Toks.

You've been the most sensible and very helpful person yet in addressing the post. :-h

Made a very good point about the nature of human relationships which is often heterogeneous really if you think about it more from a small to a bigger perspective.


In relation to this I'd posted this before-

The anthropologist or biologist, currently classifies all wo/men of whatever race as belonging to the one species- Homo sapiens. This is another way of saying that the differences between human races are not great, even though it may appear this way when you see differences in the colour of people's skin and distinguished physical features. Even more astounding is although someone's skin is white, his or her recent ancestors could still be traced back to Africa. All races of mankind in the world can interbreed because they have so much in common. The majority of the human population have ancestors from various countries. This is made easier by the advancement in technology which allows us to travel and settle anywhere.

What makes a person unique is not marked by his or her race, upbringing, the language s/he uses, religion, individual experiences, gender, sex, personality, social class or social status, education, physical and mental ability or age but it is a combination of all factors which develops and recreates the unique person that you are today.

Hello again Jane

I find it astonishing that it's only recently that most anthropologists have come to regard race as a cultural notion rather than a biological reality. There is really no way to divide the world's human population in the cut-and-dry manner that the definition of race traditionally requires.

Since the Eighteenth Century academics have attempted to define different races. Ever since their first encounters with indigenous populations, Westerners have studied variation within the human species.

Interestingly, Professor Wesley C. George, Emeritus Professor of Histology and Embryology, formerly head of the Department or Anatomy, North Carolina Medical School, wrote:-

'There is no human race but a human species composed of four main racial groups: the Caucasoid, the Mongoloid, the Congoid and the Australoid all of which differ from each other far more than many animal groups which are scientifically accepted as being different species. These differences are fundamental being those of physique, psychology and intellect. There is evidence to show that the Caucasoid people, the white race, have creative abilities and talents that have not yet been demonstrated to any extent by the negro race.' It would appear that my attempts to write a book are doomed to failure.

Attempts to create categories of biological races have centered on phenotypic differences, e.g. eye colour and shape, body size and shape, hair colour and texture, and skin colour. As you suggest, no single group of people have exclusive claim to any set of these characteristics.

One of the key drivers behind an attempt to define race was for the purposes of discrimination. Southern Plantation owners such as Willie Vaughan, who owned my great, great, great, grandfather, Scipio Vaughan, relied upon the definitions of the day to support slavery. Slaver owners faced great irony though. Polygenism (the belief that Adam and Eve were not two individual persons from whom all human beings descended) was the antithesis of monogenism, which espoused a single origin theory of humanity consistent with the Bible. Ironically, proponents of slavery were, for the most part, monogenists, because polygeny was incompatible with the Bible. How they reconciled that I do not know.

Humans are obsessed with classifications. Do you know that according to some classifications, that if your middle toe is longer than the others you are highly likely to be a serious criminal and could have been burnt in 13th Century Britain.

Very much appreciate your very interesting thoughts and a wide range of view on the topic Kuya Toks.

Points I'll be noting Kuya Toks:

• Let's celebrate our differences rather than make our differences a huge problem.
  
• I wasn't born in the U.K, but I guess as I've got older I've become an amalgamation of both cultures. I agree very much on what you said about how you take bits from each culture that would help to improve us as an individual in learning and respecting our upbringing.
  
• I find it ignorant that some people try not to respect the differences between Asian races, but at the same time I realise that you can't force people to change because they can only do this themselves if there were willing enough to. It's true that some can't tell the difference because they don't show any interest to try to learn about others.
  
  Need time and exposure.
  
• Indeed most societies almost dictates us to conform to certain rules and be like everyone else.
  
  Be myself and minding my own business as usual.

P.S. Whilst on the subject of advertising, funny you mention it. What's this job like? I considered doing a Masters degree on this before, but I haven't decided yet.

Great summation! I think you have excellent opinions, express yourself well and are open to learn so I believe you can do anything you want to do.

Advertising is fun and offers a wide variety of careers, from creatives to suits. I was a suit, so interfaced with clients externally and creatives internally. When all went well, the creatives got the credit and when it didn't I got blamed by everyone.

I will always remember my career in advertising for one additional reason. The office i worked in was very trendy and all the senior execs had glass walled offices that overlooked the atrium where everyone else worked. My secretary sat outside my office.

Long lunches were the norm. My sec asked if she could have a long lunch, I agreed. Unfortunately after about 30 mins an urgent request came in from the client (Glaxo). I asked the head sec if she could spare someone for me for a short while. She asked where my own sec was and can I reach her. I said I didn't know where she was at that time but she is out to lunch.

Well! An hour or so later I had both women in my office, screaming and crying. The gist of it was that my sec was mad cause told me she was at lunch and i said she could go. The head sec was mad that i lied to her cause i said i did not know where my sec was. Everyone in the whole office was watching. The CEO called me into his office and i received a dressing down about how to manage my staff and communications. I went home early as embarrassed as can be.


Kuya Toks

[jane82]

Second time lucky hopefully because this wouldn't post properly a few minutes ago, so I'll have to re-type what I wrote.

Interesting read.

...so did you really write a book? Just wondering Kuya Toks.

Regarding your factoid which I didn't know, at a glance I thought you meant whether the toe before my big toe was longer which it is, perhaps because it's bent . Thankfully, I can't be accused of being highly likely to be a criminal.

"Why so serious?"- The Joker in memory of the actor Heath Ledger.

Any excuse ey to burn down people like witch hunting (perhaps even to control the Crazy female population- just kidding) or lock them in prison for deviating from the norm.

It would be quite boring and we might tire of looking at each other if we were all very similar or the same.

[IainBusby]

I've been here long enough to have seen Ronnie Corbett (short man) and Ronnie Barker (bigger, taller and I think maybe dead). I watched these two comedians when I was in High school.

That's them. By "For'andles" Keith was refering to a very well known sketch of their's in which Ronnie Corbett, acting as the storekeeper, mis-interpreted everything Ronnie Barker, acting as the customer, asked for.
i.e. "Fork Handles" , "Four Candles". As you thought, yes Ronnie Barker is unfortunately dead.
Iain.

[keithAngel]

What are you digging Keith?

fork handles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz2-ukrd2VQ

[scott&ligaya]

Hi Jane82 and welcome to the forum,
just an observation, my wife and I met and spent the last 5 years in Hong Kong. The expat population is an insight into racial harmony. I will give you an example, our regular diving/running group met at the same pub on Fridays after work and consisted of the following, 3 British/filipina couples, 2 British/HK chinese couples, one Canadian/ Canadian Chinese couple, One US couple, One US/Korean couple, and three singletons one Japanese female, one Norwegian male and one Filipina plus an Aussie and a Kiwi/Thai couple. Wow you can imagine the possibility for frictions, cultural mis interpretations, jokes, whatever but somehow being in an alien environment pulls everyone together and because we were all foreigners except two HK ladies maybe we just all got on.

Toks is so right when he says it is the personalitys and attitudes count and how we relate to each other that is important. Colour and race arguements are just completely disruptive and unhelpful.

I love celebrating our differences and our house here is an eclectic mix of stuff/memories from all over place we have collected.

welcome again to the forum

[jane82]

That's them. By "For'andles" Keith was refering to a very well known sketch of their's in which Ronnie Corbett, acting as the storekeeper, mis-interpreted everything Ronnie Barker, acting as the customer, asked for.
i.e. "Fork Handles" , "Four Candles". As you thought, yes Ronnie Barker is unfortunately dead.
Iain.

Oh I see, thanks for clearing this up Iain.

I didn't recognise the short version of it and the actual name of the sketch.

Having clicked on the link, I remember seeing the sketch a few times before on repeated programmes like classic British comedies.

[jane82]

Hi Jane82 and welcome to the forum,
just an observation, my wife and I met and spent the last 5 years in Hong Kong. The expat population is an insight into racial harmony. I will give you an example, our regular diving/running group met at the same pub on Fridays after work and consisted of the following, 3 British/filipina couples, 2 British/HK chinese couples, one Canadian/ Canadian Chinese couple, One US couple, One US/Korean couple, and three singletons one Japanese female, one Norwegian male and one Filipina plus an Aussie and a Kiwi/Thai couple. Wow you can imagine the possibility for frictions, cultural mis interpretations, jokes, whatever but somehow being in an alien environment pulls everyone together and because we were all foreigners except two HK ladies maybe we just all got on.

Toks is so right when he says it is the personalitys and attitudes count and how we relate to each other that is important. Colour and race arguements are just completely disruptive and unhelpful.

I love celebrating our differences and our house here is an eclectic mix of stuff/memories from all over place we have collected.

welcome again to the forum

Thank you for the welcome Scott and say hello for me to your wife Ligaya.

Scanning through the rest of the forum which I found a few useful insights on what I've also been experiencing over the past decade.