Filipinos Wanting To Get Into Foreigers Personal Business

[Old55]

Sometimes Filipinos you don't know well or at all may unashamedly ask probing personal questions. Is it simple curiosity? Peso fishing? Is this normal activity between Filipinos who only just met?

What are your experiences with this phenomenon and how do you respond tactfully? :89:  Or not.  :devil:

 

[RBM]

Sometimes Filipinos you don't know well or at all may unashamedly ask probing personal questions. Is it simple curiosity? Peso fishing? Is this normal activity between Filipinos who only just met?

What are your experiences with this phenomenon and how do you respond tactfully? :89:  Or not.  :devil:

I have encountered this many times. What I do is turn the table, immediately start asking them similar questions about their life. Same when people whom understand you well but seem to drift into dreaming about lunch......what what...I always respond the same way, after their sentence I also respond what!!!!

Have found it effective.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I get it all the time.  comments about my weight, questions about why I don't dye my hair, how much do I make, why have I not married my girlfriend yet (I have now)... all kinds of stuff they just would ask a stranger in the US.  

 

I don't speak enough Ilongo to know if they ask each other these questions - but I just can't imagine they do.    :tiphat:

[scott h]

I am continually asked "Where are you going?" and it plain drove me wild. Until I figured out it that "where are you going" is a literal translation of "Sa pupunta" (spelling wrong im sure), Which is basically American for "Hey whats up?" or "How ya doing?". Still kind of bugs me a bit, but I shake if off lololol.

[Brucewayne]

Just smile ans say "Secret, secret", they all know what that means.

I find only the lower class/uneducated seem to be bad about being nosy and my inlaws are the only really poor group I associate with.

I'm not a snob, but after what I went through with so many ultra poor people, I avoid them for the most part.

[fred]

I am continually asked "Where are you going?" and it plain drove me wild. Until I figured out it that "where are you going" is a literal translation of "Sa pupunta" (spelling wrong im sure), Which is basically American for "Hey whats up?" or "How ya doing?". Still kind of bugs me a bit, but I shake if off lololol.

 

 

Sorry to be the one to tell you this but "Saan ka papunta" literal meaning is "where are you going" !!  LOL.

[robert k]

I guess the answer could be follow me and see. If someone wants to really get into my affairs I will ask them if they want to do my taxes and maybe a few spreadsheets for me. I bet they would get over wanting to know pretty quick. :rolleyes:

[scott h]

Sorry to be the one to tell you this but "Saan ka papunta" literal meaning is "where are you going" !! LOL.

 

Your exactly right Fred. I expressed myself poorly. To a Filipino "saan ka papunta" is used like us Yanks use "what's up" or "how ya doing" its seems more of a greeting then a real curiosity as to where we are going. :tiphat:

[Methersgate]

We must always beware of literal translations into English - for example "Sir" is used in place of  " -po"  "Sir" carries much more "baggage" than "-po" does!   :)

 

I found the Chinese to be much more intrusive than the Filipinos.

[Hey Steve]

My first forum post here so...(is there an initiation? lol)

My take on this is....

From where my wife is from (Davao)...and what I know in Bisaya/Cebuano, it's "Asa ka muadto?" (Where are you going?). The probing issue her family hits us up with (she's in her 40's by the way) is.. When are the babies coming? It seems they all want that "Kano/Phl"  pretty baby niece or nephew. I'm cut so no chance-lol. If I seem to have rubbed someone the wrong way (by accident)..I always try to recover and finish my sentence with "...joke lang".