Facebook Filipinos.

[Jollygoodfellow]

What did they do before the digital cameras came out?

 

I believe they drew pictures in the sand.  :mocking:

[Jake]

This led my wife and myself to come to several possible conclusions, all of which were pretty depressing, about the Philippines and its people:

 

1. It was almost like most of the Filipinos were ashamed of showing where they came from- at least for it to be shown to the rest of the world? 

 

 2. The Filipina obsession with posing for photos and seeking approbation for their looks and beauty appears to be so ingrained that it dominates most of their lives. If this was true they would be some of the most superficial people on earth. Now- I do know from personal experience that this is NOT true. But to outsiders, with no contact with the Philippines, it must show the ladies in a pretty negative light i.e. the stereotype of Filipina women is a person so narcissistically obsessed with her looks as to be totally empty headed and insignificant. My wife certainly doesn’t conform to this picture- please tell me that I’m speaking through my backside and am completely wrong!  Chris Mcguffin.

 

Hey Chris, sorry it took me awhile to respond to this interesting post.  As you can see, I have dissected your comments above, just to gather my thoughts......

 

First of all, I totally agree with you and your wife's conclusion that many Filipinos/Filipinas spend unnecessary time and money for their self beautification.  That term became popular when formal first lady Imelda launched her opulent plastic life style.  She is the queen of drama with wheel chair Gloria wearing a fashionable neck brace, coming in at a close second.....he, he.  

Since my wife Judy first immigrated to California back in 1983, she/we had some interesting observations regarding her fellow kakabyans living in the states.  For example, she tried to greet a Walmart cashier in Tagalog but was abruptly corrected by the cashier responding in English.  At the time, Judy was feeling homesick but felt rejected by her own people.  What's so funny about this encounter was the fact that the cashier's English was described as Carabao English -- heavily accented with a plastic mind set.

 

Speaking of which, you gain automatic status symbol if you proudly display gold around your neck and pull up to a local Catholic church in a Mercedes or BMW.  Our family car is a late model Honda Accord with bald tires, so I banish myself from trying to keep up with the Filipino aristocrats.  

 

Back in the mid 1950's when I first immigrated to the States, thank god I learned the American way of life at the ripe old age of 6.  The golden rule taught by my father was don't puck with me and I won't puck with you.  I also learned that good honest hard work really pays off rather than hide behind self perceived inferiority complex as a non Caucasian.  Things were pretty rough back the mid 50's and 60's.  So I tried real hard in school, excelled in sports and 21 years in the US military, so that I would have the confidence of getting equal opportunities afforded to every American.  

 

Yeah, I'm proud of my skin and my American take no chit attitude.  On the other hand, I would give the common courtesy of conversing in Tagalog if the need arises.  Yeah, I am homesick of my native land but must refrain myself of displaying a superiority complex simply because I speak perfect English and my bank account is in dollars.   

 

I know my limitations but plastic......I am not -- Jake

Edited June 2, 2013 by Jake
spill chek

[Thomas]

First of all, I totally agree with you and your wife's conclusion that many Filipinos/Filipinas spend unnecessary time and money for their self beautification.  That term became popular when formal first lady Imelda launched her opulent plastic life style.

But didn't she got that by USA influense?   :)

 

We have got to much such plastic chit in Sweden too, I guess it started by we look much at American TV programs.

[AnnieLopez]

Philippine people are very much fond of facebooking, I myself is guilty of that  :lol:  we are all about digital gossiping these days

[Americano]

Whenever there is any kind of picture taking opportunity my wife's cousin who lives with us is so busy taking pictures and viewing them that its hard to get her attention and I'm not talking about 5 or 10 minutes, it could last for an hour or two.

 

Her Facebook must have 40 pictures that she made of just her face in different poses.

 

Last week I returned from a 2 weeks trip to Bohol where we were visiting my wife's sister. One day I was driving all of us to see the Chocolate Hills in our multicab.  I could see the cousin and my wife's sister sitting in the back through my rear view mirror taking pictures of each other. They were using one cell phone and passing it back and forth after each picture. For at least the first 30 minutes of the trip they made pictures of each others face with the same background since the back of the multicab is covered. It makes no sense at all to me but I guess that's the Filipino way. Usually it doesn't bother me but when its time to go somewhere or get something done it can be very irritating.