Browsing through the PI threads came accross this

[Calypso 464]

I find it embarrassing to read comments like that from people. I don't want people generalizing that we all think we're ugly. I don't want people to think that we all worship the grounds foreigners walk on and think lowly of ourselves because not all of us have insecurity issues or have that medieval belief.

I can't just sit here and read on the misrepresentations some people are making regarding Filipinos. I just can't.

Have you visited this thread earlier?

[skidivawannabe 2]

your own country? i've spent just a little time there (I guess compared to you), and it doesn't take long to know about the whole skin whitening thing, the whole mix with white person thing so i'm really surprised you are sounding the alarm. maybe you took "genes" too literally.

it seems, in order to be a model or a star in the RP, you need to lighten up your skin. i rarely saw any dark newscasters, models or TV personalities.

it is okay to be a dark politician b/c usually they are part of the ruling clan so they are in from birth.

Did I say I agree with the media?? Like I said, I will be the first to admit, media has been feeding the public with this narrow definition of beauty back home. But c'mon, you don't need the media to define what you think of yourself.

[Calypso 464]

Did I say I agree with the media?? Like I said, I will be the first to admit, media has been feeding the public with this narrow definition of beauty back home. But c'mon, you don't need the media to define what you think of yourself.

If you keep watching local TV shows in the Philippines, you'd notice that many commercials sell something that whitens the skin and straightens the hair.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I am well aware, thank you very much. I'm not surprised either. I know our history and our culture. I know how it's hard define our cultural identity because we've been colonized by countries in the past. But c'mon, it's 2010 and yeah, we're all in the United States already, so, such ignorant remarks should be addressed and pointed out.

I find it embarrassing to read comments like that from people. I don't want people generalizing that we all think we're ugly. I don't want people to think that we all worship the grounds foreigners walk on and think lowly of ourselves because not all of us have insecurity issues or have that medieval belief.

Someone pointed out that it's sad that there are people who think so lowly of their own. I agree with that person 100%.

I can't just sit here and read on the misrepresentations some people are making regarding Filipinos. I just can't.

I agree and I can imagine it being an embarrassment. I can't speak for the Pinay who made that statement, but I know that a lot of Pinays talk about mestizo babies as being beautiful and they aren't necessarily saying that because they have no pride in their heritage or looks.

As DEDixon mention earlier, look at the TV personalities in the PH as well as musicians. Perhaps that is eventually changing? I hope so. I think it's happened here where beauty has a much broader popular definition.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did I say I agree with the media?? Like I said, I will be the first to admit, media has been feeding the public with this narrow definition of beauty back home. But c'mon, you don't need the media to define what you think of yourself.

May I ask, what province are you from? And did you ever confront other Pinays back in the PH about these negative attitudes?

[DEDixon 39]

the attitude he doesn't like is very wide spread in the RP and as long as the whitening soap and lotions are on the grocery store shelves, nothing has even begun to change. very poor people spend hard earned money on these products to this day.

here in america, i have already pointed out to my wife that more often than not, filipinos marry filipinos instead of white guys. in the past, i dated some fil-ams and often attended huge family events and most of the time, i was the only white guy around.

i'm not sure if it is a big seller, but seafood city (filipino grocery store) has the whitening soap on the shelves here in america.

[skidivawannabe 2]

May I ask, what province are you from? And did you ever confront other Pinays back in the PH about these negative attitudes?

I am from Metro Manila. And yes, when I can, I correct perceptions. When people call voluptuous women back home "obese", I'm the first one to react and say they are not (because they are not!). When people say "oh she's so pretty, but she's dark", I'm first to say "who says her color has to be changed?" And, note, I am sickeningly white (LOL) not because of all those whitening stuff but because I'm just fair skinned and have been known to expose myself to the possibility of acquiring skin cancer because I want to get a nice golden tan =D Ha ha ha.

Okay, forgive me. Maybe my perception is entirely different because I'm from the Metro and yes, I reject mainstream media. La vie boheme.

[sachinky 465]

I'm terrified my kids will have my brown skin and my husband's red blazing hair. Aw, lordy!

[skidivawannabe 2]

If you keep watching local TV shows in the Philippines, you'd notice that many commercials sell something that whitens the skin and straightens the hair.

That's why I stopped watching local TV since gawdknowswhen. I am appalled by the idol worship of talentless straight haired fair-skinned people and the criticisms of people on those talented dark skinned folks (Charice! I'm not a Charice fan though...). I can only endure Bubble Gang (Yaya and Angelina!!!!) and perhaps a few showbiz oriented talk shows. Wowowwee makes me want to smash the TV. LOL

[Calypso 464]

That's why I stopped watching local TV since gawdknowswhen. I am appalled by the idol worship of talentless straight haired fair-skinned people and the criticisms of people on those talented dark skinned folks (Charice! I'm not a Charice fan though...). I can only endure Bubble Gang (Yaya and Angelina!!!!) and perhaps a few showbiz oriented talk shows. Wowowwee makes me want to smash the TV. LOL

I totally agree with you about all of those. I am really disgusted with Wowowee... and how the contestants make fun of themselves on national TV just to get extra cash from their god Willie. I think I have only watched it once out of curiosity.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

here in america, i have already pointed out to my wife that more often than not, filipinos marry filipinos instead of white guys. in the past, i dated some fil-ams and often attended huge family events and most of the time, i was the only white guy around.

That's very true. Almost all of my wife's extended family here in the states (and she's got a lot here), have married other Filipino-Americans. In fact, she's got a cousin on Facebook in NJ who boasts about going out and getting a tan. Cultural attitudes are really different between the fresh-off-the-boat Filipinos and the ones who've been here in the states for awhile.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's why I stopped watching local TV since gawdknowswhen. I am appalled by the idol worship of talentless straight haired fair-skinned people and the criticisms of people on those talented dark skinned folks (Charice! I'm not a Charice fan though...). I can only endure Bubble Gang (Yaya and Angelina!!!!) and perhaps a few showbiz oriented talk shows. Wowowwee makes me want to smash the TV. LOL

I'd be the same if I had grown up there as well....a non-conformist. That's good though. More power to you. I'm sure you will acclimate well to living here in the states.

Edited February 9, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Tahoma 2,292]

I want to get a nice golden tan

Hollywood needs you!

[skidivawannabe 2]

Hollywood needs you!

I'm more of the Broadway type LOL.

[skidivawannabe 2]

That's very true. Almost all of my wife's extended family here in the states (and she's got a lot here), have married other Filipino-Americans. In fact, she's got a cousin on Facebook in NJ who boasts about going out and getting a tan. Cultural attitudes are really different between the fresh-off-the-boat Filipinos and the ones who've been here in the states for awhile.

Care to expound on "fresh-off-the-boat"?