The Barkada, And A Person's Barkadas

[Methersgate]

I have a quote from one of my tribe of sisters in law:

"Barkadas have two ways: Mostly someone loves you because you have money so they can drink and eat for free, Second there are some barkadas teaching in a good way like business etc."  

I'd welcome comments.

 

The barkada "thing" has bothered me for a long time; I think my SIL's suggestion that there is such a thing as a "good" barkada quite novel but I think she is alluding to friendships which are useful in business.

The way in which Filipinos, male (usually) but also female will "batten onto" someone with money and abuse the social insecurity which their victim, like most Filipinos, will feel, just for free food drink and entertainment is one of the least attractive aspects of the Filipino culture.   

 

What do others say?

 

I loathe the entire "barkada" phenomenon. I would translate the word as "gang" and have done with it. 

[JJReyes]

The British have their old boy network; fraternal organizations; alumni clubs; etc. The Philippines has their barkada. The correct translation is not gangs with its negative connotation. The translation is close friends who do things together. My sister for example would call all her former classmates (barkada) before going on a holiday to Baguio. If there are less than 6 or 8, the trip is cancelled. It is not my style, but that's part of the barkada system.

 

I am sure many of you have drinking buddies. Three or four who regularly meet is a barkada.

[jon1]

I think that the barkada thing is more in line with how filipinos get by. Either by a group (barkada) or family.

 

I agree with JJ's perspective on our own close knit groups. We get together and have a few with select friends. But the difference is that the Barkadas go further with trips, etc. 

[Methersgate]

"There is no such thing as "a Filipino" or "a Filipina". They must always be in a group."

 

But with respect I will cautiously differ from JJ. I think the "internal dynamics" of the barkada are different to those of an old boy's association, the local golf club or whatever. You can take or leave your old boys association (if you have one - few do) and you can take or leave your drinking buddies and your golf or yacht club. But a barkada exercises a compulsion on its members to do things together - there is a "face" dimension to it. You are more or less obligated to show up and do what your buddies do. That makes it more like a gang.

[Jake]

"There is no such thing as "a Filipino" or "a Filipina". They must always be in a group."

 

But with respect I will cautiously differ from JJ. I think the "internal dynamics" of the barkada are different to those of an old boy's association, the local golf club or whatever. You can take or leave your old boys association (if you have one - few do) and you can take or leave your drinking buddies and your golf or yacht club. But a barkada exercises a compulsion on its members to do things together - there is a "face" dimension to it. You are more or less obligated to show up and do what your buddies do. That makes it more like a gang.

But a barkada exercises a compulsion on its members to do things together - there is a "face" dimension to it. You are more

or less obligated to show up and do what your buddies do. That makes it more like a gang.

 

Hey Andrew,

 

I have to agree with you.  These days the words batchmates, click or barkada have that compulsion to stick together whether

in a street fight or maintaining a buddy-buddy system of the rich and powerful.  It's called utang na loob -- a serious debt of

gratitude that must be paid back.  

 

Drinking session, gambling, sabong and womanizing are favorite pastimes with your barkada.  During Easter celebration, you

may find large groups of barkadas (tricycle and jeepney drivers, street gangs, batchmates) willing to endure the hot procession

of self flagellation.  And then they go for a drinking session on who showed more blood and pityness.

 

Es mo pun suffering together, I guess.......

Edited August 30, 2014 by Jake
spil chek

[Hey Steve]

I learned a new word, thanks Andrew! I guess this also explains some pictures on FB from my wife's (seemingly endless) family relatives that show them in large groups on trips in Hong Kong and Thailand with the same T shirts on. There's usually a theme to the gatherings too. There's a lot of grouping of all sorts-even my wife had a huge family reunion and each family had their own color T-shirts-kinda like ""sub barkadas"", in this case I guess, for lack of a better term.

[MacBubba]

^{"Barkada" is a very general term.  When bad things happen, it gets blamed on the barkada, hence the negative connotation.  My perception of it is more positive - friends who've known each other for long, usually with similar backgrounds (neighborhood, school, family circles).} 

^{My wife was always encouraged to have her friends over, so her parents had a fair idea of what her friends were like.  Frankly, I do not think they could have been any happier with my wife's barkada.}

[JJReyes]

Methersgate is correct that the dynamics of the barkada is closer than the examples I gave . There is an element of obligation and mutual assistance if you are part of the group.

 

A close friend had purchased a small chain of restaurants. The new management improved the financial performance. His barkada wanted an opportunity to buy shares in the closely held corporation. He did not need the additional capital, but the obligation to share his success outweighed other considerations. The additional partners made the decision making process much more complicated. On the positive side, his barkada and their friends patronized the restaurants which contributed to the chain's prosperity.

Edited August 31, 2014 by JJReyes

[Methersgate]

Thanks for that very interesting example, JJ.

 

I read it and thought, "Ah, yes!"