How did the Philippines end up in South East Asia?
on Phnom Penh Pal (Cambodia), 12/Dec/2013 15:35, 34 days ago
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Before coming to Cambodia, my only impression of Filipinos came from American TV which often portrays them as cleaners, maids or nannies. Living in Cambodia, I realized how highly regarded Filipinos are in Asia for their education levels, mastery of English and their active civil society. There are many Filipinos holding senior positions in international organizations working in South East Asia.I was slightly surprised at how large a role the Philippines plays in the region. In my head, I would not group the Philippines with other South East Asian countries such as Viet Nam, Malaysia or Thailand. Whilst I would be wrong geographically, I think I am right socially. The Philippines is not like anywhere else I have been in Asia. Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}He's feeling lonelyNormal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHMNormal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Philippines is predominantly Catholic and visibly so. Huge crosses are on top of buildings and there are bill boards advertising the messages of God or Jesus. At the start of the conference I was attending, all participants were asked to stand and sing a Christian devotion, which I imagine attendees from Cambodia, Viet Nam, Thailand and Nepal may have found a little strange. Even the Jeepneys have Christian messages (see the one on our right)Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Filipinos are also very expressive people, and one of the most joyous examples of this is the Jeepney. These are like public busses except they are individually painted, usually in bright and bold colours. Every time I saw one of these, it made me smile. And luckily, they are everywhere.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Their jovial skin represents a cheerful, social nature inside. Jeepneys literally bring people together as they are squashed together or hanging from the sides. When it comes to paying, passengers pass their money forward to the driver and the change comes back passing through everyones hands again.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEKHM/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}The willingness to express emotions and opinions are not things that I have witnessed or are associated with many Asian countries. The difference in the Philippines may arise from the youthfulness of the country. Countries like Cambodia have a high proportion of the population aged below 30, but it is still a society where age bestows power and authority.I was in the Philippines at the time of an election and I was struck by how youthful the candidates were and the deputy mayor of the huge urban area of Manilla that I was staying in was about 32. Youthful vigour appears to be a quality respected in the Philippines, which in other Asian countries would be taken for impetuosity. As well as the cool Jeepneys, they also have these wonderful things that zip around. It's amazing how many people can be crammed in./* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:DaunPenh; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}The vigour is also apparent in Filipino civil society, where the benefits of having a public argument are valued. Other Asian countries value consenus and view public argument, even if only in a meeting with more than two people, as something impolite that could cause a loss of face which will be remembered for years to come. This value of discourse and presence of Christianity comes from American and Spanish influence which courses through the culture, including the language. Ok, this is just a shop sign, but trust me, you would never see anything like this in Cambodia. Walking the streets, I felt that I was in Latin America rather than Asia and it was not just the different architecture. The clothes that people wear are different and the food that people eat, despite the ubiquity of rice, is different too.It is more Spanish with cured meats, stews and paella type things.And startlingly, when I was walking the streets, I was not alone; Filipinos were walking too. In Cambodia, I was once told by a Cambodian that Cambodians would drive their moto to the toilet to take a poo. All is not too different in the Philippines though, they still do some early morning aerobic dancing.ThanksGordon