Feeling Rich, Looking Rich And Claiming To Be Rich

[augustmoon]

This weekend, i got a comment from my sister who lives in NY that got me stumped... Sabi niya...bakit daw mga Pinoy has this NEED to establish in ANY social interaction that they are RICH..

 

Your thoughts please..

[masi]

This weekend, i got a comment from my sister who lives in NY that got me stumped... Sabi niya...bakit daw mga Pinoy has this NEED to establish in ANY social interaction that they are RICH..

 

Your thoughts please..

 

I believe that this dates back to the time of the Spaniards. Filipinos (er, Indios) were considered second class islanders or even lower. Even Mestizos (in the 60s these were know as the "mestizo de entre suelo) born in the island belonged to a lower strata when compared to a Spanish migrant. However, the process of social assimilation by the Filipino with the Mestizos and Spaniards had a pre-requisite of land and wealth. This was very evident in Rizal's novels, particularly, with Dona Victorina. Up to this day, wealth and influence became the standard of the Filipinos' acceptance in the society or community he/she revolves in, not just abroad but even locally.

 

The situation never improved because the Philippines never had the occasion to broaden its middle class. The landed and the hacenderos wielded power and influence during the post-Spanish rule. It got worse during Marcos' time, where only a handful of cronies benefitted. To have influence and wealth, cronies stole from that state. Corruption was a way to get rich. This carried on during Cory's, FVR's, Erap's term. Well, need I say more for GMA's term?

 

 

 

Filipinos are proud! Among the countries in Asia, we are one race where bowing is not customary -- Japan, China, Korea, India, Thailand etc. bowing is part of their tradition. Filipinos, they nod their heads by lifting their chin.

 

A false pretense from one of the poorest country in Asia!

Edited May 12, 2008 by masi

[augustmoon]

Thanks Masi ... i particularly liked your info about Filipinos, NOT bowing down as a sign of respect, like most Asians do ..hmm..How True !

[redshirt]

This weekend, i got a comment from my sister who lives in NY that got me stumped... Sabi niya...bakit daw mga Pinoy has this NEED to establish in ANY social interaction that they are RICH..

 

Your thoughts please..

Well. I believe that money makes the world go round.

 

The more money you have the more power you have.

 

Power = control. And everybody wants to be in control.

[augustmoon]

Thanks Masi ... i particularly liked your info about Filipinos, NOT bowing down as a sign of respect, like most Asians do ..hmm..How True !

[masi]

I had that observation for a long time borne by my trips overseas.

 

I have learned the art of bowing for a long time since I've been dealing with Japanese and Chinese (Taiwanese and Mainland) for more than a decade. The bow is the most respectful gesture a man could make to a man or a woman. I put it higher than our "mano po" or the typical "faux pas" of the "beso-beso".

 

 

Filipinos have an identification with Americana. The fake slang and twang, the Starbucks culture, the CA fashion sense, and showbiz. etc. Elsewhere in Asia, Asians have their own sense of identity -- the Malaysians, Singaporeans, Thais, Taiwanese, Koreans and Japanese. Tayo, we act as if we are the 52nd state (even at least in our dreams)!!!!

 

 

If every Filipino puts his mind, body and soul to productive work, we will have a wider middle class.

 

 

Then we can catch up with the rest of Asia, not only in having a truly Asian identity but in our economy, as well.

[lomex32]

Colonial Mentality

 

Filipinos have an identification with Americana. The fake slang and twang, the Starbucks culture, the CA fashion sense, and showbiz. etc. Elsewhere in Asia, Asians have their own sense of identity -- the Malaysians, Singaporeans, Thais, Taiwanese, Koreans and Japanese. Tayo, we act as if we are the 52nd state (even at least in our dreams)!!!!

[CNNSR]

Colonial Mentality

 

Oh but the hongkonese and the koreans try to look like the japs as well...

 

In fact I have complimented a good number of ladies in HKG about looking

japanese and it had been a thrill for many of them.

[Sgt Oinky]

i really never really thought about it til i read the posts here. you guys have something here. i sometimes ask some of my friends why they need to buy the latest most expensive mobile phones...some say coz it's better, some says coz it's new...but then thinking about what i've absorbed here in the topic, would it be perhaps along the lines of a short cut to people thinking you are rich coz you can afford such devices?

Edited May 13, 2008 by Sgt Oinky

[Darschemitt]

Maybe it is just human nature .....

We want something that we do not have, we want something that no one else have and we want it a lot more than anyone else ......

 

Oh but the hongkonese and the koreans try to look like the japs as well...

 

In fact I have complimented a good number of ladies in HKG about looking

japanese and it had been a thrill for many of them.

 

Remember the times when only a few have cellphones? ..... it was damn expensive and only the Richie Rich have....

Now that almost everyone has a cellphone .... Richie richies have or want to have the TOP of the line phone models with hi-tech features .. gold plated etc etc

 

Human nature ....

 

i really never really thought about it til i read the posts here. you guys have something here. i sometimes ask some of my friends why they need to buy the latest most expensive mobile phones...some say coz it's better, some says coz it's new...but then thinking about what i've absorbed here in the topic, would it be perhaps along the lines of a short cut to people thinking you are rich coz you can afford such devices?

[augustmoon]

This weekend, i got a comment from my sister who lives in NY that got me stumped... Sabi niya...bakit daw mga Pinoy has this NEED to establish in ANY social interaction that they are RICH..

 

Your thoughts please..

 

 

For SOME Filipinos, it NOT good enough to show that they are DECENT.. they need to show na AFFLUENT sila - whether real or imagined...my observation - bragging rights dinadaan sa anong latest acquisition nila, kung ano ang branded na mga gamit sila, ano at saan sila kumain, sino kasama nila....okay lang yon, actually, kung within CONTEXT but for the just so...just cause..maisingit lang mentions para lang magmukhang nakakahigit sila, yun ang PANIS :thumbsdownsmiley:

 

I agree with Masi..there is a psycho-socio-cultural explanation to this quirk. :thumbsupsmiley:

[bene_factor]

Something about the phrasing of the topic smacks of elitism (which may not be deliberate). Not everyone is 'organically' wealthy, most people work for it. And it may not be such a bad thing if they choose to reward themselves with the finer things in life. If a 'Class C' (economically) person has a 'Class A' (price-wise)phone we can't punish him for crossing the lines.

 

For those working abroad, it is such a strain being apart from your family and being a second-class citizen. The only way to press on is to continually remind yourself why you are there -- to earn. And I think there is a need to display or demonstrate that you are succeding at your objective. It is still a better thing to talk about. If OFW's abroad would only talk about their families or brag about their children they'd all end up sobbing in five minutes.

 

There is a lot to be said however for responsible spending and living within your means. But we have to be careful that we aren't looking down on people because they don't deserve to be rich, feel rich, or look richer than they may actually be on any other day of the week.

[mat#lab]

what ive noticed with some filipino kids/teens who has rich parents is that they brag about wat they have or intentionally showing it off to others. its not bad to have those but for Gods sake its not even theirs, it was their parents who worked for it.haha

[Sgt Oinky]

Something about the phrasing of the topic smacks of elitism (which may not be deliberate). Not everyone is 'organically' wealthy, most people work for it. And it may not be such a bad thing if they choose to reward themselves with the finer things in life. If a 'Class C' (economically) person has a 'Class A' (price-wise)phone we can't punish him for crossing the lines.

 

For those working abroad, it is such a strain being apart from your family and being a second-class citizen. The only way to press on is to continually remind yourself why you are there -- to earn. And I think there is a need to display or demonstrate that you are succeding at your objective. It is still a better thing to talk about. If OFW's abroad would only talk about their families or brag about their children they'd all end up sobbing in five minutes.

 

There is a lot to be said however for responsible spending and living within your means. But we have to be careful that we aren't looking down on people because they don't deserve to be rich, feel rich, or look richer than they may actually be on any other day of the week.

 

point taken. good points of view. i should have expounded more...well, there are those i know that would rather spend on this and that than take of themselves. like seeing a doctor or a dentist. or even going hungry for a while or living off their friends as long as they get their material want. For me, what people spend on is really none of my business. But it's more of the why factor. I suppose i should feel lucky i know how to spend my money the smart way.

[Google]

generally, people tend to give importance and first impressions on how an individual looks. so that started it all.