Filipino-isms

Biases:

Two skin tone for Filipinos: ITIM at PUTI (white and black)

In 2000 the word “fair” started to emerge “for fairer and whiter skin” a phrase that dominates skin whitening ads

Our idea of beauty for women is white, skinny and tall (meaning at least 5’3) - Our actresses are generally half cast Filipino and european

Our idea of handsome men is tall, dark and rugged

Filipino women are suspicious of white, clean and fair skinned men. Chances are they could be gay.

When one can speaks English fluently one gives people the impression that he/she is intelligent and rich.

Conversation Starters:

Saan ka pupunta? (Where are you going?)

We are not being nosy. We are simply orientated that way.

Whenever we meet someone we have not seen for a long time, these are the things we say to them first:

Tumataba ka. (You’re gaining weight)

Pumapayat ka. ( You’re losing weight)

Pumuputi ka ( You’re getting whiter)

Umiitim ka. (You’re getting blacker to mean ---you’re tanned)

Nowadays in the advent of globalization, it is sad that most of us see this as more of criticism than just merely part of culture and our way of remembering how one was physically the last time we saw/spent time with her/him.