How Are Afro- Americans Perceived By The General Population Of Filopinos

[JJReyes]

All the posted comments so far are excellent and accurate. You will come across, from time-to-time, a question that will be totally inappropriate. Please remember there is no malice involved. Some questions are not considered taboo in Philippine society.

[OnMyWay]

also looking for info on best banks to deal with. searched the forum but havent seen anything current.

I had a recent thread going about US banks to use:

http://www.philippines-expats.com/index.php/topic/12419-us-bank-recommendation/

and there is some related information there. I read that HSBC may scale back in Phils so double check that angle before getting too dependent on them. For a US bank, USAA comes highly recommended so I am going to try them and close some of my US accounts.

For Phils banks, I have a BPI account via my girlfriend and I have been happy with it for the limited time I have had it. I will probably go with BPI for my banking there after I move. Other members had fairly good opinions of BPI.

[billten]

also looking for info on best banks to deal with

Yup i agree with OMW, i use Metrobank as they are very professional but i have heard the same about BPI. Just stay away from the smaller banks and you will be fine.

[nor cal mike]

also looking for info on best banks to deal with

Yup i agree with OMW, i use Metrobank as they are very professional but i have heard the same about BPI. Just stay away from the smaller banks and you will be fine.

I have used BPI and BDO for sometime now and have been quite pleased.

[Mike S]

Bank of Commerce is also a good bank and is owned by the San Miguel holding company so it ain't going anywhere soon .....

[wayneseymour]

I don't think you will be treated any differently then any other "kano", you will be assumed to be rich and have an endless supply of money because you are "American", even if you have never been near the US. They tend to lump all foreigners together. But you will stand out a little more and get more stares, much more so if you go to the province. There are so many foreigners of every color visiting Cebu City and Manila, it's not a novelty. I live in the province and I hate being stared at. In Asian cultures, including Filipino, it's considered extremely rude to the point of aggression to stare at others but it sure as hell doesn't stop them from staring at us. You may encounter hatred and hostility anywhere in the world and it will have nothing to do with your race or nationality. But you said you have traveled extensively and lived in 3rd world countries so you know that already. The visitors who have problems here usually cause them by their interactions and lack of respect for others, not their skin color.

Since you're in the Cayman Islands I would open an account with HSBC, if you haven't already, there are branches here (but not many) and no fees for withdrawals. BPI is a major bank here, ATMs everywhere.

.

Thanks vry much..my sediments exactly I also try to respect ones space their culture and traditions if I have over the years learned much that way and have developed a knack for being able to fit in wherever I go once I know the atmosphere..Thanks also for the banking info ,have a HSBC acct but will take your suggestion and do research into the other selections...Thanks again. Have other inquires but will direct them to the appropriate forums

[joeatmanila]

HSBC is a great bank for all other countries THAN Philippines.

I MIGHT BE WRONG SO DOUBLE CHECK!!! As far as i know if you have an account with HSBC in hong kong to say so, you cannot go to an HSBC branch in manila and access it. yes you can withrdraw money from an atm machine but that you can do with virtually any account of any bank in the world. To access your HSBC (which was not opened at Philippines) you just cannot do it from here but from any other country in the world. I am not so sure about it so please double check it.

[shiredevon]

HI Wayne there is a bit of a stigma here with regards to colour in as much as Filipinos all want to be white although the vast majority are not,

When i asked my wife why she replied that to be dark skinned implies that you spend time in the son planting rice etc so are not considered to be affluent, bizarre i know, likewise to be plump isn't considered unattractive, again it implies that you have money to buy a lot of food,

I remember my wife having words with a girl who showed to much interest and she was rebuked with"your nothing but a skinny black girl" , mind you non of the above will apply as your a foreigner hehe, good luck.

Edited July 26, 2012 by shiredevon

[Julia]

The visitors who have problems here usually cause them by their interactions and lack of respect for others, not their skin color.

 

:th_exactly:

[fred]

One of my nieces came from the province to apply for a job in Robinsons shopping mall..

She went in the following day and failed her application as she was too black to satisfy requirements!!

She had to spend nearly two weeks inside the apartment whilst her completion lightened to a satisfactory tone for Filipino sales women.. She then got a 6 month contract!!

Most Filipino`s that I have known over the last 35 years get over the colour thing in regards us Kano`s (Black or white) after the first of 2nd tagay (Alcohol shot)..

For me,it seems that 9 times out of ten they are simply just inquisitive about us strangers..

On my first trip here we visited an island off of Mindoro..I felt a bit like E.T on his first trip to earth.. I loved it.

Enjoy! 

Edited July 31, 2014 by fred