Being an American in the Philippines has its Disadvantages

Yes, being an American in the Philippines has its disadvantages. In a twist on the word, the disadvantages are that Filipinos try, and sometimes do, take advantage of Americans.

My wife is in the US or I wouldn't have to worry about it. Being a Filipina herself, and the fact that she dresses just like the other Filipinas, she doesn't get taken advantage of. She's been gone two weeks and Filipinos are already taking advantage of me. If I attempt to buy something from a local store, without having a Filipino relative with me, the sales person attempts to charge me more than a Filipino would be charged. This has happened more than once and the only reason I didn't have to pay what they wanted was because I know how to speak the language and can cuss them as well as any Filipino. They change their tune when I throw the lingo at them.

Today, after I spent quite some time waiting to get my money at the bank, I headed over to the Royal Subic store on SBMA to go shopping. This was only my second time ever driving on SBMA. I had always let my wife drive there in the past because she's a pain to listen to as a back seat driver. After I finished shopping, I was looking for another store to get things that Royal Subic doesn't carry when I went down a road I wasn't familiar with and failed to stop at a stop line. You see, every stop line has either a stop light or a stop sign next to it. This one didn't have either one. I got pulled over immediately.

The police officer told me why he pulled me over, and after I explained that I didn't see a stop sign, he said it was in the middle (there wasn't one in the median because I looked). I had my brother-in-law with me (June) and he asked the officer for a warning because I wasn't familiar with the road there. The officer wouldn't entertain the idea. June knew they could give warnings if they wanted to because he had seen it happen before. I got a ticket and it wasn't very much (200 pesos or a little over four dollars) but it's the principle of it that ticks me off. If I had been a Filipino, I would have received a warning, but because I'm an American (and Americans always have money because they're rich) I couldn't receive a warning.

I paid the ticket at the treasury office near the exit gate and drove home. I didn't feel like looking for any other stores on SBMA after the incident, even though there are some supplies I need that I can't find out here in the city. I was pretty pissed off. I watched Filipinos speeding past me and driving recklessly not more than 5 minutes before I got pulled over and my vehicle wasn't the only one that failed to stop, but I was the only one to get pulled over. I shouldn't complain. I was guilty of breaking a traffic law, even if I was singled out.

Outside of SBMA, no one obeys the traffic laws and you never see anyone getting pulled over for anything. In fact, I hate driving in the city because of how congested it is, the fact that people stop in the middle of the road just to talk to someone on the side of the road, the people that like to walk in the road and won't move off to the side for vehicles approaching, double-parked vehicles, and many other obstructions. The roads are barely big enough for two-way traffic when they're clear. Imagine how they are when they're not clear.

I wonder if these people would try to take advantage of me if they knew me personally. What if they knew that more than a fifth of my monthly pension goes out for support of other people?

***

I love being linked to when I don't ask for it. Whether it's in response to my own outbound links or some other innocuous reason, it shows that I'm doing something right and I appreciate it tremendously. Looking at my most recent inbound links at Technorati, I saw that Goldcoaster added my blog to his part of "The MyBlogLog Community Exchange", 40s Singleness-Making Money Online linked to my article about the BlogCatalog Bloggers for Good Fundraising Challenge (and I have never even been to that blog before), and Jonathan at SmartWealthyRich "shouted out" for the same thing (and actually inspired the previously mentioned linker to write about it). I have only one thing left to say about it: Thank you. My thanks also extend to anyone I have ever failed to mention in the past. I'm not perfect and I'm sure I've missed at least one person at one time or another.

Subscribe To Untwisted Vortex:

Full Post Feed |

Summary Feed |

Comments Feed

hari on 2007-06-04 at 6:28 pm (Reply)

It's the little things which add up that hurt more than outright discrimination, I guess.

With outright discrimination, you know where you stand as an alien on foriegn territory. With these subtle inconveniences, you are always unsure and on edge and never know when to protest at it.

It must be hard for you.

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-04 at 8:27 pm (Reply)

The subtle ones are the ones that irritate me. Outright discrimination is fine since I'm just a resident and not a citizen.

goldcoaster on 2007-06-04 at 6:32 pm (Reply)

I might be silly or maybe just tired but what does SBMA mean?

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-04 at 8:28 pm (Reply)

It's okay. I've mentioned it before and most people know it means something local. It stands for Subic Bay Management Authority, but since that's hard to remember, it's easier just to remember SBMA.

The Curmudgeon on 2007-06-04 at 11:57 pm (Reply)

It's not necessarily being an American — although I'm sure that's part of it. I think it's more being a "foreigner." My mother-in-law speaks with an accent; she is constantly charged more for less by auto mechanics, home repair contractors… you name it.

And try driving in Wisconsin with Illinois plates. (Actually — don't try it unless you're prepared for the ticket. Which you will get.)

I read once that an expert is someone 50 miles away from home. But so too are victims….

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 2:01 am (Reply)

I would normally agree with you, Curmudgeon, but in this city, it's entirely Americans that get singled out. There are other nationalities here that do not suffer the same. It all has to do with the fact that the Navy base was here for 45 years. The sailors and marines that came here on deployment were easy marks. Some of the people here think that the Americans living here are just as easy.

hari on 2007-06-05 at 12:18 am (Reply)

I sympathize with Americans living overseas. It must be tough for them in every aspect, because in the US, people live in relative affluence and comfort and have so many material things that make life easy for you. Americans take a lot of things for granted that some other parts of the world are struggling with - like a reliable power supply, telephone and internet connectivity, water, well-connected transportation systems, easy air travel, comfortable and independent houses and so on.

I've seen a lot of Indians who are born and brought up in the States who find it hard to come back here. Even my cousins always get some illness or ailment when they arrive here and try to acclimatize to the harsh weather and the less-than-100% purified food and water. It leads me to believe that people who are born and raised in a rarified atmosphere tend to have weaker immune systems. I'm not saying that all parts of the US are like that, but compared to many parts of India, I'm sure the US is far more hygienic and sanitized. Even their language and accents are so Americanized that I find that their whole culture is totally different and I find it hard to converse with them normally.

I also think that the US government's overbearing attitude on foriegn affairs has a lot to do with the attitude of resentment at American nationals.

Edit: I ought to say, I am not targetting anybody here. These are very general statements and should be read as such.

Things to think about.

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 1:56 am (Reply)

For someone who has never been to the U.S., Hari, you certainly know a lot about Americans. I'm positive you read a lot and understand more than you let on. Good for you because your observations are right on the money.
2. hari on 2007-06-05 at 10:25 am (Reply)
  
  Certainly most of my information have been picked up from other people who have visited/lived in the US and also from the Internet. I do read a lot and I think it's a combination of these things.
  
  You're right in that I have never been to the US. Did I mention this somewhere earlier?
  2. RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 3:33 pm (Reply)
    
    By email at one time or another. I don't remember when exactly.

K-IntheHouse on 2007-06-05 at 1:50 am (Reply)

I'm sure if they knew you personally or read your blog, you wouldn't even gotten a warning.

It is a very cool idea to publish the blogs that subscribe to your feed. Just noticed the 7 lucky entrants in my feed reader. Would love to be in that list, RT.

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 1:56 am (Reply)

I can take care of that.

Dick on 2007-06-05 at 6:59 am (Reply)

I have lived in the Philippines since October 1988. The first 18 years I lived in a rural area where most people live in Nippa huts. The people are very friendly and helpful. I now live in a city. I have noticed that the city people, like everywhere in the world, are more distant,all for ME type attitude. On traffic tickets a person in the know told me they give tickets too westerners because Filipinos just ignore paying the ticket and westerners always pay them.

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 2:28 pm (Reply)

Well, Olongapo City is different in that there have been Americans here since WWII. You don't see many foreigners here other than Americans. The Asian foreigners blend in a lot better.

Tammie Salke (Cunningham) on 2007-06-05 at 11:28 am (Reply)

Can't say I feel sorry for you. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you moved over there. Especially after we lived in Hawaii. Only what is Josie doing in the US without you?

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-05 at 2:34 pm (Reply)

I knew and I still came. It's not the same as it was in Hawaii. The locals are not instantly hostile here because of your color (or lack thereof). In fact, it wasn't the Filipinos in Hawaii that were a problem either.

Josie went to the U.S. because she wanted to. I'm not going to stop her. She wants things that she doesn't want to wait for. I'm more patient.

Dave Zan on 2007-06-08 at 6:07 pm (Reply)

Pambihira. Sorry to read what happened to you.

Kinda a bright side, though: at least there's a place where traffic rules are followed.

Matthew Jabs on 2007-06-09 at 1:44 am (Reply)

@Dick:

On traffic tickets a person in the know told me they give tickets too westerners because Filipinos just ignore paying the ticket and westerners always pay them.

Why do you think this is? Why won't the nationals pay the tickets? Then again, why WILL the Americans.

@Hari:

It's very good that put your "general statements" disclaimer in your comment, because it is very hard to stomach generalized statements, especially from someone who has never been to the country of topic. ***PS…I don't mean this as a bash on hari's statement…it's just the way I feel about the topic.***

People around the world think life is so easy & so great in the U.S., and how United Statesers are spoiled & rich & comfortable & happy-go-lucky & stress-free…it's a bunch of BS. Life is just as hard here as it is anywhere else…it's just a different "hard". In the States we have to deal with a lot of problems that affluence affords, problems that others have no idea about. Also, Americans may make more money & have more things, but 95% of them have earned them through hard work. Also, most Americans are in debt up to their eye-balls, so they're not really rich at all…in fact they're poor! It's just that they're able to live on credit here, for a little while anyway, before reality sets in.

***Rant Over***
As an American citizen I am so tired of the bashing that occurs, seemingly all over the globe these days. What foreigners should hate is our gov't, not our people…but it all blends together for them.

That's my worthless view for anyone who cares.

Dick on 2007-06-09 at 8:40 am (Reply)

You have hit the nail on the head in what you said. I try too explain too people about America but all they can think about is the "land of milk and honey",
RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-06-09 at 9:56 am (Reply)

It's hard to explain this to my own relatives. Imagine how hard it is to explain it to someone who has no relatives in the U.S.?

The attitudes of Filipinos, and other people who go to the U.S. for the first time, change when they find out that a dollar is worth less in the U.S. than over here.

I always ask people, wouldn't it be great if you could work in the U.S. but not have to live there? Teleportation would be awesome.

m. ople on 2007-06-17 at 11:28 pm (Reply)

Cool beans. I drive like a lunatic and I have yet to score a ticket.

Next time they pull you over, just tell them you're in a hurry to meet the President. Seriously. It works.

Dick on 2007-06-19 at 6:33 am (Reply)

You just prove my point Filipinos don't get tickets like westerners.

Michael on 2008-07-29 at 8:12 am (Reply)

You are not alone. every American living in the Philippines has the same complaint about how unfairly they are being treated. Most filipinos see americans as an ATM machine on two feet and will try to suck you dry if they can. One day I wanted to treat my wife to Shangrila Hotel in Makati for a weekend getaway, when I asked the clerk how much is the room? she told me 7500.00 peso per night, then, I asked my wife who was standing next to me to ask her, she told her the rate was 3500.00 peso. When I confronted the clerk about the disparity in the rate, her answer was: "well, u are a foreigner, you can afford it." Taxi drivers are another bunch you don't want to deal with - They never have change. NEVER try dealing with government officials here in the Philippines at any level unless u are willing to dish out some serious dough. The whole country is corrupt from top to bottom and sadly enough, they have no shame about it. The whole world opens up their arms and receive filipinos to work, live and enjoy the same laws and privileges afforded to their own citizens. But, when you come to the philippines, you find the laws here to be zynophobic, in that, a foreingner can't buy land, can't buy a car can't, can't can't do jack unless he puts everything in the wife's name. I would like to see a filipino go overseas and put all his cash into someone else's name. that's why my friends have left and others including myself plan to follow suit. Let them swim in their stupid mentality and find their own way out of poverty. This place is hopeless.

RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2008-07-29 at 11:05 am (Reply)

I think certain areas are worse than others. Lately, I've been doing everything myself here in Olongapo City and haven't run into any problems. I learned to drive like they do or I can't get anywhere very fast at all.

Foreigners can own land and property now, even though I choose not to. Putting everything in my wife's name isn't an issue since we've been married over 23 years. It might be if it was a relatively short time.

Granted, there's a whole lot of corruption going on. I've had good experiences with a lot of places though, even the local bureau of immigration.

I like the ATM analogy because when the beggars on the street see us, their eyes light up just like they got paid.
darkisato on 2008-10-18 at 7:43 am (Reply)

After reading this i can say this. WTF are u complaning about! people look at you like a ATM? what about the people here? Can't but land? well dua i why buy land in the US for about a mil if u can get it for a fraction of it. Look I've lived in the gutters of the US when i was growing up. I have to say I can't complain if they take advantage of some people who look like suckers. most people would. even in the US. So when i see people saying that your not getting treated fairly because your from the US, as a guy who mix with a lot of races and get told by every one that your worthless. hell a person who might use me to improve there life eh. i've seen it done but I know how to look for it. I won't help them I'll just point them to um….. you!

An American Living in the Philippines

Being an American in the Philippines has its Disadvantages