Stranger things have been said...BUT

[A and T 82]

More than racism, its just xenophobia. You will experience it all in Asia, no matter what part. But if you prove yourself to fit in the culture you will be just fine. Often times i get dirty looks for doing something outside of cultural norms. It just takes time

[ThomKimQC 14]

Not sure why you seem surprised by this. It's a foreign culture with different attitudes. You're looking at things through American eyes.

No I am looking at this through human eyes...has nothing to do with being American...that is a totally different discussion.

[ThomKimQC 14]

Its a direct indication that these people are ignorant. I met black people from my previous work and they are highly educated (with masters and PhD from respected school in America), very respectful and down to earth people. It is unfortunate that you meet these type of people that judge according to the color of skin.

Regarding your comment of filipinas marrying white guys..Here is a tidbit about the Philippines. Other filipina might shoot me on those but they can fire away...

Filipinos prefer white/fair skin. Majority of filipinos prefer to have fair/white skin. If you want to verify this statement, ask your fiancee teh number of commercial in TV selling whitening products (i.e. soap, skin toner, tablet, spa whitenin procedure.. the list goes on). This kind of attitude goes back as far back as the spanish era. The Maria Clara as described by Jose Rizal in his book Noli Me Tangere with her demure attitude has "fair skin". And the elite of the Philippines are majority mestiza with fair skin. On the other hand, the poor or the obrero in the philippines are dark skinned for working so much under the sun. So between a black guy and white guy... majority prefer white guys.

The only thing that matters is that your fiancee loves you. :-)

Yes I am well aware of the zillions of bleaching products found in Phils, which totally bends my mind . It's funny because whenever I return to Phils so many folks there always ask me what am I...when I tell them I am black American their eyes light up and say no way...you are not black, you brown like me pinoy. My goodness if I had a peso for every time I was told this...

[Mariye & Ky 172]

That last word should be wrist not risks...LOL

LOL I thought you were being clever and a wordsmith!

[Richie Rich 70]

Thom --I feel for you brother . I am of predominant indian ancestry ( my nose is straight and morena in color ) . When I was in the Pi to see my Fiancee --many persons stared at me and my fiancee also in the malls and in the parks . When they did that my fiancee held me tighter and even kissed me .It was funny --they say to me that they love my straight nose (like a white guy )--lol . Her parents and family loved me . Maybe as many said they prefer ''white complexion guys '' . Or just maybe they see many of the music videos and rap songs where the lyrics is demeaning to the women . I know your fiancee loves you and you love her . Thats all that matters . Hope you can get her out of that place and from amoung those ''steropying ladies ''.

[tokyobelle 2]

Richie, may it be black, white or any other color, you would really get stares in the Philippines as long as a Filipina is with a foreigner. people stare too when you are wearing shorts or anything unusual. most people stare at anything out of the ordinary or something that does not conform to their norms.

[B_J 2,752]

Richie, may it be black, white or any other color, you would really get stares in the Philippines as long as a Filipina is with a foreigner. people stare too when you are wearing shorts or anything unusual. most people stare at anything out of the ordinary or something that does not conform to their norms.

Wait a minute. I thought everybody stared at me because I was so good looking. You mean everybody else got stared at too?

[ThomKimQC 14]

Wait a minute. I thought everybody stared at me because I was so good looking. You mean everybody else got stared at too?

LOL! good one.

[ThomKimQC 14]

Thom --I feel for you brother . I am of predominant indian ancestry ( my nose is straight and morena in color ) . When I was in the Pi to see my Fiancee --many persons stared at me and my fiancee also in the malls and in the parks . When they did that my fiancee held me tighter and even kissed me .It was funny --they say to me that they love my straight nose (like a white guy )--lol . Her parents and family loved me . Maybe as many said they prefer ''white complexion guys '' . Or just maybe they see many of the music videos and rap songs where the lyrics is demeaning to the women . I know your fiancee loves you and you love her . Thats all that matters . Hope you can get her out of that place and from amoung those ''steropying ladies ''.

Thanks Richie you and I are both in the same situation but its fun isn't it? I am not angry at anyone and my lady made me realize that some are just not as educated or cultured as others. America is going to be an eye opener for a few and will make them or break them.

[graceroxas 17]

Yes I am well aware of the zillions of bleaching products found in Phils, which totally bends my mind .

I used to tell my fiance that I'd probably stand out in my dermatologist's memory as her only (Filipina) patient more concerned with a good tan rather than digging into her epidermis for long-lost evidence of a hidden Spanish ancestry

For people so racially oppressed in the past (or maybe because of it),many Pinoys can actually be quite bigoted, as has been said by others here. On the face of it, the Filipino words "tisoy"(short for mestizo) and "egoy" (derived from Negro) are supposed to be neutral terms, but we all know they're not. One would sooner call someone "tisoy" to his face than call someone "egoy," even if all we want to do is describe and not judge. These words have evolved thus.

If you do encounter bigots in Manila or elsewhere, I'd say that with their parochial world view, arising most likely from a limited education, they have a bigger problem than you. You probably won't want their company anyway even if you're Brad Pitt.

Grace

Edited April 27, 2011 by graceroxas

[edp333 9]

From a social perspective there is good and bad in all ethnicities except the one you belong to (all good) and the ones you dislike (all bad).

Except when you bring this to a person's attention then most likely the attitude changes temporarily.

Being stereotyped happens to all of us at one time or another. But some do get more than their fair share.

@ bj > Funny.

[Richie Rich 70]

Thanks Richie you and I are both in the same situation but its fun isn't it? I am not angry at anyone and my lady made me realize that some are just not as educated or cultured as others. America is going to be an eye opener for a few and will make them or break them.

You are right about that Thom . Maybe if they go to N.Y or california --it will be a cultural shock for them , and they better adjust fast . Its funny --when I was there , I told them I was a negrois (native filpina)--(I hope I get the spelling right --lol) They are darker than I , and their hair is more ''kinker '' than mine --lol . I wonder if they have the same opinion of the natives as they do of us .

[queenofharts 1]

Wait a minute. I thought everybody stared at me because I was so good looking. You mean everybody else got stared at too?

FUNNY

Edited April 27, 2011 by queenofharts

[graceroxas 17]

You are right about that Thom . Maybe if they go to N.Y or california --it will be a cultural shock for them , and they better adjust fast . Its funny --when I was there , I told them I was a negrois (native filpina)--(I hope I get the spelling right --lol) They are darker than I , and their hair is more ''kinker '' than mine --lol . I wonder if they have the same opinion of the natives as they do of us .

You must mean the Negritos. The term refers to a number of aboriginal tribes in the Philippines (e.g. Aetas, Dumagats, Agtas) with negroid features.

These people are mostly in the boondocks, very clannish and largely economically marginalized, even in their own turf. These things make the race question a bit more complicated. Whatever race-related feelings the "unats" (the straight-haired i.e. the rest of the Filipino population) may have for the "kulots" (curly-haired) also tend to be mixed up with perceptions of these aborigines as isolated primitives and beggars.

Grace

Edited April 27, 2011 by graceroxas

[jrmejia 31]

To make you feel A LOT better. I chatted with many Pinay before I met my future wife. 99% of them look at the skin color as a big DEAL. Many of them use whitening cream because they don't like to be dark skinned. Few of my friends even told me they hate their color because they were not white but brown. They make fun of each other and look down on brown skin or dark skin Filipino.

They have MAJOR issue with skin color. Hey it is their problem no mine. If they are VERY happy worrying about skin color BEAT it!

But honestly, that is why I never asked any of those girls to "net date me" because reasons like those.

One more thing before I forget, one of my friend is having a baby and I told her, congratulations and hope it is the gender that you want. She said, nah, she would take any gender as long that it is not dark. (Shocking sad reply) I have no idea if she was joking but why did she mention it?

My 2 cents.