How Do Filipinos View Balikbayans?

[Chi-Chi]

The fact that you use the abbrev "PI" to refer to my country already betrays the bias that you grew up with. Don't you know that "PI" is a pejorative? It is a drawback to the days when the great white American colonizers considered the Philippine Islands as a backwater hardship posting.

 

Balikbayans are the result of darwinian selection. They could not take the environment (political, economic, cultural) of the mother country and decided that they had better move to a different (I don't know about better) place else they perish becuase they are not equipped with the right survival skills.

 

And then, when they feel that they have somehow managed to establish themselves in their refuge countries, they troop back to my country as if to validate their decision to leave by bitching and complaining about how we prefer to do things. They forget that they couln't really cut it in this country in the first place--that is why they left.

 

I lived abroad for close to a decade but I turned my back on the foreign exchange, the nice cars, the cool shops because:

 

1. I wanted to live in a big house that I did not have to clean, with a big yard that I did not have to sweep and tend, eat any kind of food I want without having to cook it myself, take as many showers as I want and as many changes of clothes I want without having to wash and iron them myself. For these, I could afford to hire househelp which even with the optional social security and health insurance, is still affordable.

 

2. When I step out to the garage the cars will always be washed and waxed and vacuumed.

 

3. I, my wife, and my kids can decide to go anywhere in the car without having to drive themselves if they do not want to drive.

 

4. I can eat as well as what Americans eat if I choose to and yet I know where to buy the best lechon, inihaw na bangus, talaba, and sinigang na maliputo that even the most resourceful balikbayan would have a hard time finding in the country he has ran off to.

 

5. My kids go to nice schools, pass the UP entrance exams with no problem and act responsibly. They keep their word on our deadline agreements and don't answer back the way I have personally seen American kids do and threaten to call "911".

 

6. When I get home, I ask for slippers, newspaper, and coffee and they appear by my side.

 

7. Where is no snow to shovel, no yard to mow, no leaves to rake because what little needed to be done is being done by someone else.

 

8. My wife does not have to work to provide supplementary income. She does not get stressed by having to do housework either. When I get home or meet her somewhere after work, she looks 15 years younger than her cousins who hied off to the land of milk and honey where you do all the work.

 

Some of you may thinkI inherited all to these. No. I am a product of the Philippine Public School system. Toro Hills Elementary School in Project 8, QC, Quezon City Science High School, and UP. In college I was a working student. I worked my way through. No one said it was easy, but I achieved the Philippine dream and I tell you, it is a lot better than the American dream because it is so much better to be comfortable around your own kind.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Amen to that.. and thats exactly the reason why I'm going to go back to the Philippines after I finish my degree:)

[storm]

I view the Balikbayans as Filipinos who missed the Philippines and fellow Filipinos that's why they come here when the opportunity comes. Wala silang pinagkaiba sa mga probinsyanong nakatira na ngayon sa NCR.

 

The song "Manila" by Hotdog exemplifies the feeling of a true Filipino Balikbayan.

 

Wala akong problema sa kanila. Mas pinoproblema ko pa ang mga kapwa ko rito at siotwasyon na habang lumalaon ay pasama nang pasama gaya ng hirap ng pagkita ng pera, mga kurakot na taong gubyerno, parumi nang paruming kapaligiran, paglala ng krimen at pati ng trapic dito sa Pinas na para bagang wala ng pag-asang makaahon kasi walang planong magbago para umunlad.

[a_ngel]

1. I wanted to live in a big house that I did not have to clean, with a big yard that I did not have to sweep and tend, eat any kind of food I want without having to cook it myself, take as many showers as I want and as many changes of clothes I want without having to wash and iron them myself. For these, I could afford to hire househelp which even with the optional social security and health insurance, is still affordable.

 

2. When I step out to the garage the cars will always be washed and waxed and vacuumed.

 

3. I, my wife, and my kids can decide to go anywhere in the car without having to drive themselves if they do not want to drive.

 

4. I can eat as well as what Americans eat if I choose to and yet I know where to buy the best lechon, inihaw na bangus, talaba, and sinigang na maliputo that even the most resourceful balikbayan would have a hard time finding in the country he has ran off to.

 

5. My kids go to nice schools, pass the UP entrance exams with no problem and act responsibly. They keep their word on our deadline agreements and don't answer back the way I have personally seen American kids do and threaten to call "911".

 

6. When I get home, I ask for slippers, newspaper, and coffee and they appear by my side.

 

7. Where is no snow to shovel, no yard to mow, no leaves to rake because what little needed to be done is being done by someone else.

 

8. My wife does not have to work to provide supplementary income. She does not get stressed by having to do housework either. When I get home or meet her somewhere after work, she looks 15 years younger than her cousins who hied off to the land of milk and honey where you do all the work.

 

Some of you may thinkI inherited all to these. No. I am a product of the Philippine Public School system. Toro Hills Elementary School in Project 8, QC, Quezon City Science High School, and UP. In college I was a working student. I worked my way through. No one said it was easy, but I achieved the Philippine dream and I tell you, it is a lot better than the American dream because it is so much better to be comfortable around your own kind.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

add mo pa,

 

be able to go to the hospital, without driving myself, knowing that somebody else will always be there to take care of you throug whatever illness.

 

and this my dear is why, I am saving up an retiring in the Phil.

[a_ngel]

It's not those who grew up abroad (such as yourself)  who really get on our nerves, but those who grew up in the Philippines then come back and act like they own the world, just because they've become US citizens (or British or whatever).  "Walang ganyan sa States!"  That sort of thing.  Some spend several years abroad and come back with an American or British accent.  Hell.  The current California governer has been living in the US for so long, but he still speaks the way he did decades ago.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Guess what bro. it’s not only when they are in the Phil. that they act this way, kahit dito sa US, ganun din po sila umasta.

 

I met this Filipino guy at a bar who claims he can’t talk tagalog/Filipino anymore but could still easily understand the language. I assumed he was born/raised here only to find out later in the conversation that he’s been here for a meager five years. Sa isip ko, kung nasa Pinas lang tayo, sinapok ko na to, Hangeeeeennnnnn!!!!!

[the0mouth]

@a_ngel

 

hehehe...

[Guest Leviticus]

Guess what bro. it’s not only when they are in the Phil. that they act this way, kahit dito sa US, ganun din po sila umasta.

 

I met this Filipino guy at a bar who claims he can’t talk tagalog/Filipino anymore but could still easily understand the language.  I assumed he was born/raised here only to find out later in the conversation that he’s been here for a meager five years.  Sa isip ko, kung nasa Pinas lang tayo, sinapok ko na to, Hangeeeeennnnnn!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly!

 

Kapag nandito sila sa Pilipinas they better act like the rest of us; hindi yung acting as if nasa US. What does a balikbayan expect by acting as if he's still abroad? Iaccomodate or magadapt ang mga tao around him? No way!

[tazzy]

Guess what bro. it’s not only when they are in the Phil. that they act this way, kahit dito sa US, ganun din po sila umasta.

 

I met this Filipino guy at a bar who claims he can’t talk tagalog/Filipino anymore but could still easily understand the language.  I assumed he was born/raised here only to find out later in the conversation that he’s been here for a meager five years.  Sa isip ko, kung nasa Pinas lang tayo, sinapok ko na to, Hangeeeeennnnnn!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

sinabi mo pa. i know some people who can't speak tagalog without an accent when they've only been here for a few months. they talk about leaving the philippines the same way a vietnamese would talk about leaving vietnam during the war.

 

i've only been away for less than a year and i want to go back already hehe. i am happiest when i have daing na pusit for breakfast, chocnut for merienda and itlog na maalat for dinner. i miss the philippines very much. kaya uuwi ako pagnatapos ko tong aking pag-aaral. hindi kayang tapatan ng dolyares ang pollution at traffic at kaguluhan na namimiss ko sa pinas.

 

pero di ko din alam, kasi baka ganito ang naiisip ko kasi i lived a comfortable life sa pinas. yung ibang tao wala din naman choice kung hindi mag-stay overseas. pero hindi pa din excuse yon to turn your nose sa sarili mong heritage at culture.

[Ron Hunter]

well, sarap pa rin going back to homeland Philippines...

[Agent_mulder]

For me, i think that most Filipinos view balikbayans as having a lot of money and that they can spend a gross amount of money here, but what they dont know is that balikbayans may have been earning in dollars say they came lived/migrated in the U.S. but they are also spending money in dollars over there...

Edited June 10, 2005 by Agent_mulder

[miss_managed]

tourist or balikbayan... its but fair to treat them well

i've travelled a lot and i never forget my manners

i dont look down on people even they're beggars or of other nationality

i'll be a balikbayan someday,

and im sure my family and relatives will treat me like a queen as they always do even when im still based here...

[budhaman]

When you live in a foreign country you tend to compare the lifestyle you had back in the Philippines and were you are currently living. Different strokes for different folks. I in the other hand like it here in the U.S. You get to be more independent, you get to be more agressive(since you are the "different person"), and more hard working. No doubt i love the Philippines, but with the way things are goin' on right now you gotta wake up. Corruption? Poverty? s**t the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.. Whats gonna happen to the Philippines in 10 years? How are your kids gonna survive? I took the chance here in the U.S. and thank god I'm doin' ok. You see here it doesnt matter what you do for a living, as long as its a decent job and it feeds you. so what if you work as a waiter or janitor or whatever kinda job you diss back in P.I. its still gives you a home to live at and food on the table. You work minimum in the Philippines how could you survive? 3 kids? milk, rent, food, kulang pa sweldo mo.. Sayang ang Pilipinas sa mga KURAKOT nating gobyerno. You get what im saying? well to each is own.. this is just my opinion.

[irishgirl]

a couple of years ago, my friend was going out with this guy, i thought he grew up in the states bec. of the accent and the way he complains about everything which is by the way nakakairita. one time nung mineet namin sya sa porch jan sa makati, i couldnt help myself asking him of how long he actually stayed in the u.s and what he's doing back in pinas. f*cking A, i couldnt help myself replying with sarcasm "1 year ka lng pla sa states and ur claiming uve forgotten tagalog, kakatawa ka namn". talamak kc eh, hahhahaa... ive got a friend who's on vacay ngaun sa pinas and im pretty sure magyayabang yan doon, kc ganon na sya dito super social climber eh di lalo na pagbalik nya sa probinsya nila, i can just imagine her speaking with a western accent na trying hard ung dating plus malimaling grammar hahhahhaha. well most of the balikbayans i know from friends to cuzzins, even if they stayed half of their lives sa states or europe, they still talk tagalog, they do converse in english but hindi ung O.A. na talagng lahat ng tao eh nakakarinig. usually ung mga mayayabang yon ung naapi kung saan man sila galing be it from pinas or wherever in the world.

[irishgirl]

pero iba ang pinas, masarap mabuhay sa pinas, at ang masarap sa pinas mura ang red horse beer at pulutan hehehhehehehe ang saraaap ng sisig tsaka chicharon bulaklak hehehehe highblood central ito!!!!!!

[heartbreak18]

a couple of years ago, my friend was going out with this guy, i thought he grew up in the states bec. of the accent and the way he complains about everything which is by the way nakakairita. one time nung mineet namin sya sa porch jan sa makati, i couldnt help myself asking him of how long he actually stayed in the u.s and what he's doing back in pinas. f*cking A, i couldnt help myself replying with sarcasm "1 year ka lng pla sa states and ur claiming uve forgotten tagalog, kakatawa ka namn". talamak kc eh, hahhahaa...  ive got a friend who's on vacay ngaun sa pinas and im pretty sure magyayabang yan doon, kc ganon na sya dito super social climber eh di lalo na pagbalik nya sa probinsya nila, i can just imagine her speaking with a western accent na trying hard ung dating plus malimaling grammar hahhahhaha.  well most of the balikbayans i know from friends to cuzzins, even if they stayed half of their lives sa states or europe, they still talk tagalog, they do converse in english but hindi ung O.A. na talagng lahat ng tao eh nakakarinig. usually ung mga mayayabang yon ung naapi kung saan man sila galing be it from pinas or wherever in the world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

couldn't agree with you more on that one.. most of them pagbalik nila dito feeling superior na sa atin kasi nakarating sila doon. <_<

[budhaman]

those are two different thigs, kapag pinagyayabang mo na nakapunta ka sa ibang country and when you are trying to live there for maybe a better future.. B.S. yun na they cant speak tagalog anymore.. pa-cute lang yun.