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Foreigners think that Filipinos are the friendliest or
kindest people in the world. I can't begin to list all of
the times that I've heard that when either I've asked what
people like most about the Philippines or when the statement
has been offered to me. I have to laugh though since that
is the epitome of a generalization and, for the most part,
untrue. I concede that yes, Filipinos treat people that
they perceive to be "better" than themselves with the utmost
respect and courtesy. But that is the side that most of us
only show to foreigners. That is the definition of
“colonial mentality”. Most Filipinos who are not “Class A”
will bow down and kiss the butts of anyone or openly admit
their “unworthiness” to a given situation. Sometimes it’s
due to not wanting to lose a job…and I can understand their
submissiveness. But most of the time, it’s due to lack of
self-confidence and self-respect. Sometimes I joke that I
want to be white…but not because I want to look “white”.
It’s because if you have Caucasian features, you can walk
right past security guards without an anal probe. (Most
foreigners have no idea how guards treat non-foreigners when
they aren't looking.) It’s because you get incredible
service in restaurants. (Most non-foreigners don’t tip more
than P20 no matter what the check amount.) It’s because
people are afraid to act like snobs in your presence and
follow your lead in the social graces. (Even the “Class A”
will treat the maids well in your presence.)
But the
truth is, Filipinos are horrible to one another…and
Filipino-Chinese are no better with the richest ones setting
new standards in poor human relations. We discriminate
against one another in almost every situation. If an
“ordinary” looking person walks into an expensive furniture
store, good luck to him or her in getting any kind of
reasonable service. Even if this customer makes a clear
indication of buying, the sales person will not take them
seriously, even after the purchase has been made. The
mentality of the salesperson is that the money was likely
stolen or given to the buyer by their “Class A” boss.
“There’s no way this maid could afford this plasma
television and I can’t.” This attitude is projected
to an even greater degree by the “Class A” or “old money”
Filipinos or Filipino-Chinese. They believe themselves to
be superior and entitled by birth to their wealth. Anyone
who is a “1st generation” wealthy individual must
have created their wealth through corruption or dishonest
practices. To them, it’s impossible they could be self-made
through their intelligence and hard work through sheer brute
force, since these “Class A” children were sucking on their
parents nipples throughout every step of the way. I’ve
learned from my foreign friends that “old money” people
usually hide their wealth and try to project themselves with
the “new money” crowd…those who garner the most respect in
the West.
I know
the truth of what the “old money” individuals are thinking
when the wine hits their brains and they are alone. The
thoughts rush into their brains of how they are a fraud and
they have been born with every opportunity of which it is
theirs to lose. They are ashamed of how poorly they treat
their servants and how inappropriately they tip their
servers. They fear poverty and servitude and do everything
they can to take their wealth with them since they know they
could never duplicate the success of their parents. They
hate their parents for being so wealthy, smart, and creating
such a high standard for which they should aspire. It’s so
unfair…or is it? They realize how hard life is here if you
don’t have someone to give you the opportunity…and find yet
another reason for self-loathing. And if anyone ever
criticizes these individuals…thar she blows…you will
see anger and defensive behavior like you have never seen
before. Even if you take a shot in the dark, I guarantee
that you will hit a critical spot in their psyche.
So why
did I get on this topic? It’s because I was highly
entertained by someone this weekend. She is the daughter of
a developer of a high-rise. The only reason I don’t name
the high-rise or reveal her letter online is out of respect
for her father. Most of the time, the 1st
generation wealthy parents are decent people and very humble
while the kids (even as adults) are a self-centered and
self-serving turds. Honestly speaking, from experience, I’m
positive that the building will not get its occupancy
permit before July despite her claims (but quickly tried to
pass the blame should it not be granted). Furthermore, I
know the area, and it’s not a place that I’d recommend to my
readers. It might be fine for Filipinos, but expatriating
foreigners would not like the cess-pool that is the
surrounding area…full of prostitutes, vagrants, and
beggars. Finally they don’t pay their brokers properly. No
less than 5 builders have offered me 4% commission for
referrals. She offers me 2% and blows her top when I call
her on the three points I mentioned above, saying I know
nothing about the complications about selling condos.
Uh…excuse me…but copying a “contract to sell” from an
attorney and figuring out a mortgage from an online tool
doesn’t take much more than someone of primate
intelligence. If she had nothing to hide or to be ashamed
of, why should she reply at all or at least say that I’m
wrong and respectfully disagree? Instead I, as a “pathetic
call center representative”, have no right to question she
whose feces smell like roses. Err..if I'm so pathetic,
I wonder why she's e-mailing me to advertise her
condominium? Could it be because my site gets about
1300 unique visitors per day while her condo website has
received about 2300 visitors since its inception sometime in
2003? Ok... I admit that's probably an arrogant
sounding shot that's probably too easy to take, but it's too
damn funny (and argument justifying) not to do so.
She
perfectly gave credence to the generalization above. She
thinks I have some kind of personal vendetta and am using my
site to solicit help from suckers online. Ok…if that’s
true, why am I writing this now, and why have I written it
like twice before? It’s like I told her…I have nothing to
hide, and her engrossing defensive tirade only exemplifies
her level of insecurity and thinly-veiled inadequacy.
Girl,
get over yourself. I had fun at your expense and I openly
admit it. I’ve never had a person get so mad at something I
consider to be easily brushed off. If you're like me
(since you're convinced you're better than me) with 50
e-mails unread e-mails in my inbox from mostly intelligent
individuals, this should be no big deal. As I said, if I’m
totally wrong about everything I’ve said here, you could
have done what I did, laughed, and said “thank you, but
you’re incorrect, and here’s why.”
All
you’ve done is given me some great material…and for that, I
thank you.
May 25,
2005
Due to
(surprisingly) popular demand: How you can contribute to my
website.
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