Stories on racism against Filipinos

[Vera]

I had my one and only racist experience once inside a GAP store in San Francisco downtown.  First day ko pa lang, my mom and I went to Gap to shop for goods.  I noticed that the fat, afro american security lady were looking at my direction as I went inside the fitting room.  Then I noticed on the crevice of the door, she was looking inside, making sure that I don't put the clothes inside my bag.  At that time, I was too happy to be annoyed kasi I just arrived.  That was the only instance that I experienced discrimination in the US.  In my two months stay, everyone was so nice.

Maybe it's her / his job to make sure nothing gets stolen and she / he's doing that to everyone?

It's kinda weird to experience discrimination in San Francisco -- i mean it's the hot bed of civil and gay rights movement.

[akthung]

yes. hindi mo din kasi masisisi sila.

we look like malaysians, indonesians, Thai etc and may mga chinese na mukhang galing sa Malay race.

so sabihin natin na may group of malaysians na nagnanakaw ng mga damit? damay na tayo.

anything can happen.

[simplysweet]

Ako naman, I've suffered from racial discrimination while I was in my teenage years in Saudi Arabia.

I attended an American school, and it was only until high school that you really get to know how culturally different you are from the others, even though you've grown up with them.

Doon naman, napaka-biased ang mga caucasian. (But I'm not saying all of them are). My mother who is a graduate of UP, has all the requirements of being a high school math teacher, but based on the American/Canadian staff, she won't get hired because her english isn't perfect! So she settles on being a teacher's aide (diba, ang saklap naman). Also, in the workplace, she told me most Filipinos work hard and quietly, but they don't get noticed. While other workers do nothing but kiss up to their bosses, but get rewarded.

As for my experience, there are some who feel their race is superior, so whenever I achieved something during high school, they would just ignore me and pretend I wasn't there.

Hindi naman maiiwasan na masaktan. But moving on and accepting the fact that there are people who are closed-minded and generalize makes them less superior than they feel. Racism is also a type of immaturity, I'd like to think.

Also, tungkol sa racism among Filipinos; colonial mentality kasi. Tinuruan tayo noon na superior ang mga mapuputi through education. At pinasa iyon through generation to generation. Actually ngayon, ganun pa rin dahil ang pinapakita naman sa media ay ganun rin: na mas maganda maputi ka, straight ang buhok, matangos ang ilong...parang Little America daw tayo eh

[xtine]

Maybe it's her / his job to make sure nothing gets stolen and she / he's doing that to everyone?

It's kinda weird to experience discrimination in San Francisco -- i mean it's the hot bed of civil and gay rights movement.

Nope.  I remember correctly, there were dozens of people inside the fitting room.  I didn't notice her until yun nga, when she was looking from the crevice of the fitting room. 

There was also one instance when my mom and sister was touring Unversal Studios.  There was this guy, greeting everyone with a cheery good morning.  When it was my sister and mom's turn, he just stopped greeting until they were inside and continued to greet the other guests.  How rude!

[akthung]

ignore na lang sis. best way is to get back at discrimination is to get physical evidence tapos isumbong mo. lol

pero kung verbal mahirap nga.

[Remi]

^sis sana nung sinigawan na 'Paki' sinigawan mo naman ng 'pakyu' juk lang

Hi sis Lyrah!  Oo nga!  Sana sinigawan ko rin, natawa lang ako kasi di naman ako from Pakistan, hehe.  Sa work, nice talaga alang racist, extra nice pa nga ata sila kasi foreign ako.

[piggyxoxo]

Ako naman, I've suffered from racial discrimination while I was in my teenage years in Saudi Arabia.

I attended an American school, and it was only until high school that you really get to know how culturally different you are from the others, even though you've grown up with them.

Doon naman, napaka-biased ang mga caucasian. (But I'm not saying all of them are). My mother who is a graduate of UP, has all the requirements of being a high school math teacher, but based on the American/Canadian staff, she won't get hired because her english isn't perfect! So she settles on being a teacher's aide (diba, ang saklap naman). Also, in the workplace, she told me most Filipinos work hard and quietly, but they don't get noticed. While other workers do nothing but kiss up to their bosses, but get rewarded.

My fiance works in the IT sector and he won't hire people (even if they're really good) if they have poor communication skills. When I worked in the recruiting field,  I've turned qualified candidates in the past for certain jobs because they do not meet the "communications criteria". I think that the best way to overcome this is to perfect the language,  get additional education and to find a mentor who will support and encourage you.  I always tell new comers (to Canada) to go back to school whether to get a certificate, a diploma or a degree. Continuing education is very important in the eyes of the employer because it shows that you are improving yourself and are open to learning.  Also, it will show that they've studied in a Canadian institution and hiring managers (IMO) prefer hiring people who have studied in the country. It sucks but that's the way things are. You either conform or be left behind.

It is also important to document EVERYTHING so that if you're haggling for a raise or filing a lawsuit you will have the necessary information. David Suzuki once said that in order to succeed in the "white man's world", we have to be 10X better!

[prisma]

Yan ang problem sa ating Pinoy...pagtapak palang natin sa bansa ng mga Puti, naka set na ang mind natin to-->"We are inferior to caucasians."--> colonial Mentality.

In fact they  are no better than us.  Pareho lang.  Tamo, once you've settled in your chosen countries, mas mayaman pa kayo sa kanila.

Ang USA bankrupt na.

Sana magka Japanese mindset tayo.

[akthung]

yes Japanese mindset....and japanese level humility too...mapa bagong tapak lang or hindi

[akthung]

get additional education and to find a mentor who will support and encourage you.  I always tell new comers (to Canada) to go back to school whether to get a certificate, a diploma or a degree. Continuing education is very important in the eyes of the employer because it shows that you are improving yourself and are open to learning.  Also, it will show that they've studied in a Canadian institution and hiring managers (IMO) prefer hiring people who have studied in the country. It sucks but that's the way things are. You either conform or be left behind.

THIS IS VERY TRUE.

problema kasi sa karamihan sa atin, a lot of us "frown" on "furthering education" lalo na kapag narinig ng mga taga Pinas yung mga ginagawa mo. your friends and loved ones will criticize you talaga.

Tipong, "bakit ka pa mag aaral, eh tapos ka na?" or "bakit ka pa mag aaral, dapat nakafocus ka sa paghahanap ng trabaho."

When i visited Manila last year, i overheard the gf of my close friend who went to canada say "parang ayaw ko na sa bf ko kasi, parang walang pangarap, aral ang inaatupag imbes na magfocus sa paghanap ng trabaho"

pero yung friend kong yun, may pangarap. hindi pupwedeng forever gas boy, grocery boy, cleaner etc.

kaya minsan, hindi mo din masisi na ayaw nang mag further studies ang isang tao--dahil sa pressure ( or hila ng talangka?)

sa akin naman, yung mga ganun, IGNORE na lang. either they support you or NOT. flock and hang out with people who support and nurture you.

ganun talaga karamihan sa atin, kapag wala ang tao...puro pintas...iiwasan, pag namumunga na, todo sip sip naman.

***

of course, why hire someone na hindi alam ang culture. catastrophe in the waiting yan. Madali pa mag demandahan sa first world countries. from a certain point of view, madaling magbayad, eh yung reputation? yung abala?

by studying din kasi napapractice ang english natin. and, iba talaga ang Filipino-English. maaring tama sa atin, pero pag ginamit sa canada or australia, ay mali naman.

[Remi]

Well said, sis akthung! 

Taking further studies is the way to go.  Or taking extra exam to adapt your qualification. 

It's good as well to improve your English.  Quite a few of us are so proud of the way we speak English and sometimes think we're better than the Americans or the Brits.  So we don't want to try speak like native speakers.  It won't hurt if we try tone down our Filipino accent.

For me, I like it better working overseas than in the Philippines.  I think they respect you more.  They are very polite and they don't work you hard.  Uwian ko ng 5:15pm and I can go home at that time.  If I need to do overtime, 1 hour lang and it's very much appreciated.  But of course, swertihan rin sa employer.

[mommynin8]

for all the times i've been with 'aliens', siguro once lang ako naka experience ng racism.  it was in hongkong, when i was shopping in one of the stores (i forget na which one, hindi kasi maganda experience ko dun eh).   there was this SA who followed me around, and telling me outright how much each item is that i held.  so ako shop around lang, and lugged around those that i liked.  shempre gusto ko i-fit, she followed me again.  i noticed that so what i did was hand off to my hubby my bags (naka NF ata ako nun) and went in the fitting room with the items.  when i went out shempre i handed off to her those i didn't like, and paid for my items using my gold card, making sure she was there to see it.  tapos i told the manager, who was handling the sale 'hi, i appreciate having her follow me around, but next time i would appreciate it if she can help me carry my choices.'  sabi ni manager, certainly mrs x (she looked at my card, and assumed <correctly> that i'm a mrs kasi i did have my hubby and my son <who manager thought was super cute - her words>).  tapos me sinabi sya in chinese ke shadow, mukhang pinagalitan.  kainis!

sa airport naman, there were 2 pinays who held lvs while going through customs and they were held there for a few minutes; they had to put through their bags thru the xray thingy 3x ata.  ayun after a while they were let in.  siguro the customs peeps (hk airport) thought they were carrying fakes.

i guess the racism comes from ignorance, and fear perhaps, that there's this person who may be better than me.

[eeyore5147]

I had 2 terrible experiences in Japan.

1. In tokyo station, may mga stalls kasi dun selling souvenirs and cookies. Last day ko yun sa Japan and it was a monday, meaning lahat ng tao naka office attire and nagmamadali maglakad para makasakay ng train. Syempre ako stroll lang, hanap ng souvenirs. Then may lumapit sakin police in civilian clothes asking for my passport.

I forgot to bring my passport that time buti na lang i have my company ID and it's the company anniversary kaya walang pasok ang employees from the company I work for (it's a known company in Japan). Pero when I talked to a Filipino working there she said na common nilalapitan ang pinays dun dahil madaming TNT. Mababa daw talaga tingin sa pinoys dun, lalo na sa pinay.

2. Sa immigration in Narita airport. My stay was extended beyond what was stated in my visa, pero by 2 days lang naman. The girl in the immigration nakasimangot na sya, I explained calmly the situtation then shock ako as in sumigaw sya (napatingin lahat ng tao) "you are over staying in Japan!". Buti na lang may lumapit medyo matanda na sya saying that I should pay a fine. He said "do you have money? It's very expensive." I asked how much, he said "4,000 yen". I was like, dahil sa 2,000 pesos sisigawan ako??? Sinabi ko na lang ok I will pay  .

[mommynin8]

ay oo nga japan....

several experiences -
1)  on my trip to fla, us - me stop over sa narita.  we had to leave the plane with all our things, and then fall in line, then go back to the plane.   ang nakaka inis, the japs go to the plane first, and then we (all non-japs, including caucasians and whatever else) go after them. 

2) same trip, i had the unfortunate luck of sitting beside an elderly jap.  pagbigay nung immigration forms sa plane nun stewardess, this drunk jap asked me 'you know how to fill that up?'  sabi ko 'yes, you need my help filling up your form?'  GGGRRR!!!  sabi niya 'oh sorry, i thought you need help' sabi ko 'oh sorry, you thought wrong'

[twentysomething gal]

^ natawa naman ako dun sa dapat mauna yung mga hapon. Power trip ba! LOL! Naalala ko tuloy yung joke sa isang movie, yung mga hapon daw hindi makapaghintay, kahit fish (sushi) kinakain ng hilaw!
maybe it has something to do with what happened in the past, during WW2? naisip ko lang.

In a way, mas ok na nga yun kasi sa bansa nila, pinapahalagahan nila yung citizens nila. Sa Pinas, siguro uunahin ka lang kung PUTI ka or any race other than Filipino!

[laey]

^hehe. Parang alam ko yang movie na yan, ke Adam Sandler ba yan?

Well, eto narinig ko lang sa radio station, meron daw hotel somewhere, i think in Singapore or Hongkong, me floor daw dun for Pinoy Tourists. Tapos parang naka-glue daw or nakaattached somewhere yung vase, lamp and other things. Sa halip na mainis ako dito, natawa ako. Mahilig kasi ang karamihan saten maguwi ng souvenir.

Maybe they're like that because of past experiences na din. Minsan ganyan din naman tayo. Hindi lang naman ang ibang lahi me saket na ganyan. Tayo din. Nakakasama nga lang ng loob minsan at nakakalungkot.

[piggyxoxo]

^ I second that thought. I think that everyone suffers from a bit of racism. It's hard to avoid because of the stereotypes that are ingrained upon us from a very young age. I think that it is important for parents to teach their kids NOT to stereotype and to keep an open mind.

[purple_bear_hugs]

i remember a long time ago when my mom was applying for a US visa,at the embassy in manila.She came well-prepared and brought all her documents,bank accounts,etc...the consul didnt even glance at her documents and proceeded w rapid-fire questioning,and told her maybe you just want to get a visa so you can live and work in the states.He was also alluding that my mom will go TNT!...Not used to being talked down to,my mom said,"That's it sir,can i please have my passport and my documents back?taken aback,nagulat ang consul and asked her why? sabi nang mommy ko, "you know sir, my reason for trying to get a visa is to actually try to see for myself if there really is truth in what people say that the US is a beautiful country,but at this point if i'm experiencing this kind of treatment right here and now,then i don't think i would like to visit your country anymore,because you are what you represent!..and by the way,why would i want to live and work in your country when here i can live like a queen! i have my own properties,my driver and maids etc..etc...never mind, i will just tour some other countries.So pls once again,i'm asking for my passport!" ...sobrang nagulat ang puti,ayun binigyan siya ng visa! multiple indefinite! uso pa kasi yun noon!... ...lesson learned,sabi nang mommy ko,don't ever let anyone talk down on you!

[twentysomething gal]

^hehe. Parang alam ko yang movie na yan, ke Adam Sandler ba yan?

yup sis, CLICK.

Basta my advice to everyone out here, fight back! don't ever let anyone do this to you. This is our generation's way of standing up and letting other nationalities know that they can never do this to us! Kahit mageskandalo ako, gagawin ko, just to show everyone na hindi dapat ginagawa satin to. Look at the african-americans. Talagang pag natatamaan ang kulay ng balat nila, they will always air it out, and now they have gone a long way from being slaves and being looked down upon. So dapat ganun din tayo.

[akthung]

from a certain point, yes i agree. tsaka mas open naman ang tao ngayon kesa noong panahon na mababa tingin sa itim. lets face it, noon, ewan ko lang anong tamang term, kung hatred or what, pero ngayon, most often, ignorance. konting katok lang sa ulo nila, eh naeenlighten na sila.

meron nga dito, hardware, noong una, palibhasa bago kaming lipat ng bahay, maraming kailangan sa hardware, hala todo search yung bag ko, pero yung iba hindi naman nila isearch. ginawa ko lagi akong nagpupunta na may dalang bag, kahit wala pang laman. just to spite them. nagsawa din sila sa kakacheck.

pagnalaman din nila na may pera ka aatras din yan. it pays to know the laws too. kaya maganda din mag aral ulit. lalo na ang law (kahit for personal knowledge lang.) may mga tao na they try to get over you, mag banggit ka lang at makita nila may alam ka sa batas nila, aatras mga yan. like one defective item that we bought, ayaw nilang tanggapin, wala daw silang responsibility o sige..lawyer na lang kasi...section this and that of trade practices act blah blah...ayun atras na sila.

hindi kasi tayo mayaman na bansa. parang individuals din yan. look at pacman, ginagalang na kahit saan, kahit bungi bungi ang english. kung mayaman ang pinas, mayaman sa mata nila ha, kahit anong depekto natin, titiisin nila yun at makikisama. like the chinese students in my school, bulok magenglish, pero tinanggap pa din, kasi malaking pera ang involved sa bilateral agreements with china. masteral level students pero bulok ang english. the school even exerted effort in providing a law textbook in chinese.