Inconsiderate or Just Filipino Culture? After 20 Years Abroad, Even I Forgot!

[00:00:01]So you want to tell my viewers what you were telling me on our drive to Solano?

[00:00:08]>> Well, so all right. So we've been here for 7 months >> and I can honestly say that the Filipino people have been inviting. They've been warm. They've been real caring. They've accepted me without a doubt. Right.

[00:00:25]>> Friendly.

[00:00:25]>> Very friendly. But at the same time, could they be considered inconsiderate?

[00:00:34]>> Yeah. So inconsiderate. So yeah, you I think coming from your perspective as a foreigner and I have to say myself because I've been out of the country for what over 20 years. I live in the US for give and take uh 20 years. So there's a lot of things that uh I kind of like forget or practically things have changed but at the end of the day I really think that they're not being considerate.

[00:01:05]>> Well let me give you an example. So I probably get in trouble for this but so we were going to s the other day and and you know driving here is just crazy. I mean it's absolutely nuts. There is no there aren't any rules. The only rule that they have is don't hit me. That's the only rule that they don't have. So, because the other day, I don't know if you remember, we were driving along and this trike just they just pulled out and turned around us. Didn't look our way.

[00:01:33]Didn't even glance our way. And they were just smiling as happy as they can be. And I got to slam on my brakes and make sure I don't hit them.

[00:01:40]>> Yeah. So to be honest, it's like every time I come here for vacation before, even when I was working in Hong Kong, I always told myself just like, "Oh my god, I can never drive in the Philippines." more so when I started um driving in the US because we have strict rules that we implement on the roads, you know, before you cross the street, if you're merging to the freeway or to the highway, you always have to look right and left and you let everyone pass first because >> there's a right of way.

[00:02:11]>> Yeah. Because it's their right of way, right? But but here in the Philippines, it is very different. Like I said, I just like just watching all this before, I was just like, "Oh my god, I can never drive in the Philippines." But the reality is at first I thought again because I've been away from the Philippines for so long. So I was thinking like maybe it's just our way.

[00:02:35]It's just a cultural thing, you know, just just we just go. That's just how we deal with it. And to be honest with you, if you remember my cousin Gigi Bragado, she told me that I can never drive in the Philippines. I will get stuck in one place. I can never move >> because she said that she will just everyone go first because that's just how we drive.

[00:02:56]>> That's only one example though because we have another example. We were driving down the road >> and obviously the trikes slow everything down, >> right? Trikes slow everything down. So everybody wants to pass the trikes. But >> is it everybody though or it's just us because we're always in a hurry? That's the way.

[00:03:14]>> No, no, no way. I mean, they're always passing the trikes. I mean, it's crazy the way they they pass.

[00:03:19]>> We have to at some point.

[00:03:21]>> Yeah. So, but but the way they do it though is they just they just hop in the oncoming traffic lane and they expect you to move out of their way.

[00:03:30]>> Well, yeah. Well, the thing again is is like because what happened, pardon me guys, but reality is I've been away from the Philippines for 20 years. And when I was here in the Philippines, I never drove. So, I don't really know like the signals that they do or whatever that might be. I just don't know. So, funny enough, I have to go online and look for it. And like what was the meaning of a flashing light or whatever it is that they do the honking and stuff like that.

[00:03:56]But going back to what you were saying that like they will just pass you through. Well, they the reason why they pass through is because whoever is the person that's coming this way, they trust this person that they have to give way, right? Because that's what is called as um pakikis sama courtesy. We have to uh work together so the road is going to be safe. That's the mansion of the Filipino because it's not really like oh this is the strict rule just like we do in the west. Not here. here is more like we kind of like correct me if I'm wrong guys for me is like the way I see it is like they created this things for them to be able to have a safe environment a caring environment wherein everyone still have to understand each other again go back to what I was saying if you're I'm pretty sure we've seen it many times is like there's these cars that's like uh going so fast I don't know maybe because There wasn't a speed limit.

[00:04:59]>> I know. I know. Maybe because they were speeding really, really fast because first maybe they have to get to a certain point at a certain time for the most part. Or maybe they're already tired driving and they already want to get to where they want to be. So what they going to do? You see the trikes?

[00:05:15]There's like two lines of trikes. And guess what? They will pass the strikes even though there's this oncoming another vehicle >> or they're going around a curve and they'll still pass Yeah. Or go around the curb. Again, that I think that will go back to, hey, I'm passing and I trust you, my friend, that you will give way for me because I'm coming true.

[00:05:37]>> Yeah. It's it's kind of hard because it's it seems inconsiderate, you know, and the reason is so you just take them one there. And now this is maybe, you know, this is has more to do maybe with the LTO or or whatever, but >> um stop signs are on the other side of the street instead of on this side of the street. So you come up to a stop sign.

[00:06:01]>> The stop sign's on the other side of the street. What the heck's it doing over there?

[00:06:05]>> No one ever No. Does anybody use a stop sign? No. Do they use the stop lightss?

[00:06:10]Rarely. And >> Oh, you're talking about in Bayong where there's a stoplight.

[00:06:14]>> Yeah. I mean there's a lot of place there's a lot of places like that or Manil say some areas in Manila they implement it really well some areas like >> same thing in Cebu too they but they use this nudge kind of traffic where they they just kind of nudge the way into traffic and so they stick their their vehicle out into the street and oncoming traffic who should have the right away they have to stop and they have to let this person nudge their ways in. And so it it clogs up traffic. if it doesn't make it flow smoothly.

[00:06:45]>> That's how you see it, Bob. Because that's how you see it. The way I see it is that um how can they even function like this, right? And then we the craziest part is like we talk about this over and over again in our it's like a topic of conversation, guys. Every time we >> are in the street and for the most part, I'm driving and that's another topic. But usually I'm the one who drives the car and you drive the the scooter. Now then there's a reason behind that but that's going to be a different subject uh topic of conversation but anyways when you're talking about like going to the curb and then just passing somebody else even though there's someone in coming in again the way we think as Filipino I have to say we now because even though I wasn't there before because I look it up it's like why it's like this I have to really understand again guys this is coming from a Filipina who was born and raised here in the Philippines, but I've been out of the Philippines for many, many years. So that I really there's a lot of things that changes. So when I look it up again, when they're um passing someone on the curb or >> nudging into traffic.

[00:07:57]>> Yeah. Or then they're passing somebody when they know that there's this big rig or a big truck coming and like they will just go again. It's because there's this um thing that I think they have established that hey, if I'm passing through and you're incoming, if I'm flashing my light, it means what? I'm not saying that, hey, I need help.

[00:08:19]That's not what it means at first.

[00:08:20]That's what I thought because you're flashing.

[00:08:23]>> When they're when they're flashing the lights, from what I understand, it means that I've got the right away now. I'm taking the right away. I'm coming through. less of the flashing light >> that that's well that's what it means after I I researched it because I just didn't know what that means at first I thought this is like oh my god it's like an emergency I have to give him way so my my the way I thought was that okay I have to give way because he's passing his lights but turns out after researching all these things the communication that this motor that motorist does in the Phil uh in the Philippine streets is that when they're flashing like you were saying that Hey, I'm claiming this road now. Please don't proceed. You have to slow down. If you're coming, you have to slow down because hey, I'm passing somebody else.

[00:09:08]I have to go.

[00:09:08]>> Right. Cuz I've decided it's my turn to be on the road and I'm taking the road >> no matter what.

[00:09:14]>> Yeah. I mean, I think that happens usually though when there's a long line of traffic. Usually that happens when you have like two big truck and then maybe another two cars who are very scared to pass and then more tricycles almost like it's so hard and I understand. Yeah. So that but >> coming from us as westerners, you just don't do that because that's not what it is.

[00:09:40]>> Like when they when they honk their horn, they're really not in a lot of times it's just a greeting or or they're just saying, "Hey, I'm here."

[00:09:49]where we honk a horn. It's like, "Get the hell off the road. You know what the hell you doing?" That's when we honk our horn.

[00:09:54]>> I know. So, it's funny that um at first we were so scared. We were so scared, guys, to use the hunk because obviously in the US almost like we're coming from California. There's a lot of traffic as you might know. It's probably one of the most traffic uh areas in the United States. And at some point, you're already tired. So when someone is honking on you, they're telling you it's like, "Dude, get off the road. If you are slow, don't be on the left, go to the right." Or, "Hey, what you doing?

[00:10:25]Are you texting and driving?" That's what it means. Or someone sometimes it's like if someone hunk on you, some crazy person will probably shoot you. That's the mindset in the US, right? Well, guess what? Here in the in the Philippines, if they according to my research, because again, I have to research it. It says that if you honk one, again guys, I have to research it because I just didn't understand. I have to know all the things that they do, the honking, the flashing of lights, because as a new driver here in the Philippines, you need to learn those signals.

[00:10:58]>> So, what did it say? If a one honk, that means that, hey, hey, I'm here >> or you're just telling them that, hey, I'm here. I'm passing through or just a greeting saying wave, hi, hello. I was driving down the down to the house the other day.

[00:11:12]>> Yeah.

[00:11:13]>> And I'm on my scooter.

[00:11:14]>> Mhm.

[00:11:15]>> And I had my blinker light so that I could turn left.

[00:11:18]>> The cars behind me didn't care that I was turning left.

[00:11:22]>> They passed me anyway. And when they did, they honked to let me know that they're there.

[00:11:27]>> But did you know did you didn't look in my mirror?

[00:11:31]>> Yeah.

[00:11:31]>> I would have turned and probably gotten hit because, you know, I guess I'm used to. And let me Yeah. Let me premise this here. I'm not challenging the Philippines to change what they do.

[00:11:44]>> Yeah.

[00:11:44]>> I'm just saying this is how I react to it.

[00:11:47]>> Mhm.

[00:11:47]>> Because I would have put my blinker eye on. I look real quick and if I can turn, I will turn. But all of a sudden, these cars and they're going fast. All of a sudden, they're beside me. They go they go around me instead of stopping cuz I have a my my uh blinker light on.

[00:12:03]>> Yeah.

[00:12:03]>> So, they just go around me and they honk and I go, "Oh, I got to understood that she's telling you that he's not allowed. You understand that?

[00:12:11]>> It got my attention is all it did. I didn't understand it. I mean, it just got my attention, >> guys. Now, that's the thing. That's the very reason why for me, I actually have to go to the internet and look it up all these different signs that uh we do in the street. So, like you were saying, now that you understood that one hunk means that hey, I'm behind you. I'm going to pass you. I'm here.

[00:12:35]>> You're right. I understand that now. But I mean that's because we decided to look it up and get that information. But >> when it happened it didn't it wasn't I wasn't registering oh well that's what that means. It was it just startled me and so that was enough for me to you know go oh I can't turn.

[00:12:51]>> Yeah.

[00:12:51]>> You know where normally that'd be a dangerous situ and that's the whole thing.

[00:12:55]>> Yeah. In the US you just put your blinkers on and then they say hey I'm turning.

[00:12:59]>> Well there's no oncoming traffic so I can turn. Yes. You know, here if there's no oncoming traffic, you still have to turn and look, you know, look in the mirror and make sure no one's trying to pass you >> and pay attention to the honking.

[00:13:12]>> Well, if they honk, cuz sometimes they don't honk.

[00:13:15]>> Yeah.

[00:13:15]>> They just go around you.

[00:13:17]>> Yeah. You know, especially like other scooters and stuff like that where the days, oh, you're turning, they just zip around you.

[00:13:23]>> Yeah. So now you have to not just look at oncoming traffic, which is what we would be used to. Yeah.

[00:13:29]>> No oncoming traffic. I have my blink light on. I can turn on my ear. It's not like >> Yeah. So that being said though, again, so for our viewers again, if you are like a Balik Bayan or you're a foreigner expat who's coming to the the to the Philippines, there's really is a lot to understand to to to understand and the culture, the way we communicate and things like that.

[00:13:55]And I have to include myself because I I'm already an expert because I've been away from the Philippines for so long, you know. So, just like like I said, I didn't understand all these things. But going back to what you're saying, if you um you know that every time I hop on the bike and we turn, what do I do? I always put my hands right saying that I'm signaling people that are >> I have to tell her don't don't turn your when you put your hand up don't put it up too high because you block my mirror and I'm going to look in the mirror to make sure nobody's coming that way.

[00:14:27]>> Yeah. And the the craziest part with that is they Shima he might look on the mirror but reality is they probably are port paying attention more on my on my hands because it's more like a visible gesture because >> they'll still go around me. They'll still go around and they'll honk whether your hand is out or my blinker is on.

[00:14:45]Yeah.

[00:14:45]>> They'll still go around you. That's why I have to be able to look in the mirror.

[00:14:48]>> Yeah.

[00:14:49]>> And so I can see whether or not that's what I'm saying is that oncoming traffic, if there's no oncoming traffic, my blinkers light is on, I can turn, but not here. If there's no oncoming traffic, my blinker lights on, I still have to look in the mirror to make sure there isn't a car that's going to pass me or a scooter that's going to pass around.

[00:15:07]>> That is true. And at the end of the day really if you combined um the your knowledge of following the traffic rules in uh in the US good point and uh combining it with what we have learned here in the Philippines you will are going to be safe. I know guys >> because those are the rules here. Yes, you have to combine. And for all our viewers who are I don't know there's a lot of you guys who are experts and coming in the Philippines and you don't want to drive. But really, it's just like if you combine those, you're going to be safe in the road because for like Scott was saying, it's just like he's going to look on the mirror. I'm going to put my hand wave and then there's like two things, right? And to to Scott's point, sometimes even your blinkers on your blinkers are on, they'll pass you through. Well, because sometimes people put their blinkers, but they forget to shut it off. So, they're turning left for forever or they're turning right for forever. I'm just like, "Come on, bro. Are you turning left? Are you turning left?" So, sometimes you really have to take time and like um um observe what that person is doing because no one is perfect.

[00:16:12]Again, here in the Philippines, I I think what really creates a safe uh road is that trying to understand each other.

[00:16:23]They called it the pakisama kind of thing that you always have to um we have to understand that because someone >> we're connected as people that that kind of >> Yes. Because someone who have probably cut me in the street and maybe at some point I'm going to see them somewhere else going to say they're probably offering their food because again those things that they do in the street is not really rudeness. That's just how they communicate. That's how they uh keep the traffic going and and stuff like that.

[00:16:54]>> It took me it's it was a hard lesson to But >> here's another example though. So let's >> we talked about driving. Yeah. Now, let's talk about the infamous karaoke.

[00:17:06]>> Oh, >> so now you got people who will be singing until >> 2:00 in the morning.

[00:17:12]>> 10 at least is the cap.

[00:17:14]>> It's supposed to be, but that's not what happens, you know. That's not what happens. They sing anyway. And >> sometimes, not all the time, >> but they're singing really loud. And not everybody sings good, as you know, although there's a lot of wonderful Filipino singers, don't get me wrong.

[00:17:31]And by the way, I have to correct that too. Even in the United States, everyone will sing thinking that they don't that they cannot really sing. You know, I think it happens all over.

[00:17:39]>> Different point though, but that's a different point though. That's whether or not they can sing or not. My point is that you've got someone that >> that can sing or not can sing. And they're so loud. 2:00 in the morning, you can't sleep.

[00:17:53]>> And because they're having a party.

[00:17:55]Yeah.

[00:17:56]>> And it's just as loud as can be. And it's like they don't care. They don't care if you can't sleep. They don't care if your kids can't sleep. They don't care if you got to get up in the morning. They're partying.

[00:18:05]>> Well, again, that's because again, that's there's this pakiki kapua or pakiki bag or um the community kind of thing, you know, who are in, hey, I'm having karaoke day. We're going to be partying probably at the 10:00, which by the way, there's an orderance at 10:00.

[00:18:27]But you know what? Sometimes people just want to have fun. They will be I I'm not saying that it happens a lot or whatever that might be.

[00:18:36]>> It does happen a lot.

[00:18:37]>> Okay. So if you say >> we know it happen just you know our neighbors not not not >> Oh because that's a wedding. A wedding is a different story. Wedding can be up to midnight. So they will they'll start at 6:00 overnight. A wedding I think is an excuse. I don't really know. But knowing from way back when, the way I remembered it is there's no such thing as you stop at 10:00. It's a wedding.

[00:19:01]It's like a one-time thing that they're going to have a wedding. So, they can be as loud as they want to. And guess what?

[00:19:08]Every single neighbor will understand that. Probably the exception of you, Mr. White Boy. Because in the US, there's an ordinance on being loud, right? So, here, yeah, there's an ordinance on 10:00, but if it's a wedding, it's a different thing, you So you're saying so not only that maybe >> if it's a celebration >> it's a different story >> that I have to accept that there's a celebration going on and maybe I might be celebrating someday too and then I can do the same thing.

[00:19:34]>> Yeah. And guess what? They're not going to call the cops. They're not going to call the brand captain or they're going to call anybody like hey my neighbor is very loud. Can you come and take a look and shut that down? In the US, we do that because obviously it's just like we have to go and work the following day or it's just something that we establish in the US, you know, and here in the Philippines, it's kind of like give and take kind of thing. Hey, I might be loud right uh today tonight because I'm having a party. But guess what? When it's your turn to have fun, I will let you as well. That's the same thing in the road, you know? Just like it's a give and take. I think it's like piki kapa pik sama. this is how we do it, you know, and kind of thing. So maybe it's a cultural thing, too. And the craziest part is I have to relearn again because again, I I've been >> gone for too long. So small things like that, you know.

[00:20:28]>> Well, how about there's one more then?

[00:20:30]>> So you also have how about and and and we are guilty of this >> because of the dogs outside. We have four dogs outside >> and it's always >> and they're all chained up and all they do is bark bark bark all night long. I mean they just bark and bark bark and you just you end up falling asleep to the sound of barking. That's yeah >> that's what it is. I mean you just have to and they don't consider that other people want to sleep or they need to get up in the morning. The dog is barking. Doesn't >> And mind you guys, he's actually talking about our dogs.

[00:21:10]>> Not our dogs.

[00:21:12]>> My my my uh >> brother-in-law, >> my my my sister-in-law and my brother's dog. I mean, there are times when they're really noisy. I have to admit that even us ourselves cannot um >> uh cannot sleep. And this probably out of topic, but I will include it. And there's a reason why. We live very close to the free to the highway. And guess what? There's a lot of cars that passes by. So, at some point, you get used to that. Yeah. It's just like I think here in the Philippines, no one is going to say, "Oh my god, my neighbors, the dog are barking all night long. I can't sleep." One is what I'm thinking. One is like they're already used to it, right?

[00:21:50]Sometimes you get used to a lot of things, you know? So, they're already used to that. And it's not every night though. Maybe for the most part sometimes, but not every night. But not only that. I mean, it's like their dog is probably barking at some point, too.

[00:22:02]And guess what? Again, we're not going to complain because we do the same thing. So, uh, here in the Philippines is very common to have, we call it the aspen, the pinoy dogs or the ascal ascal. So, those dogs are like for the most part, they're really not trained.

[00:22:19]The the sole purpose of having those dogs is >> warning. Uh, so that if someone's coming to your house, they're going to bark. is telling you that hey there's some there's an intruder or there's like a visitor or whatever that might be. Uh but during night time it's mostly like oh at least you have a dog that's going to bark telling you that hey someone is coming along your perimeter but then again it all will come down to like pakiki sama um um uh pakiki capua like I said the the neighborhood is be a good neighbor is basically saying for us in the US when you say good neighbor good neighbor means that hey you have to make sure that >> you're taking care of your house. You know, you have to make sure that the front of your lawn is beautiful. You're not throwing trash. You're not being noisy. Your dog is not barking all night long. When you party, you need to know when to stop, otherwise they will call the cops on you. Those are the things that um make a good neighbor. Here in the Philippines, good neighbor means we're trying to understand each other on different situations because maybe at some point you will be in that situation too and we will understand you. Does that make sense?

[00:23:36]>> Yeah. I mean the craziest thing about the whole thing is it works. I mean all of this stuff.

[00:23:40]>> Oh god. It's just >> it just there is an element where it seems inconsiderate and until you understand I guess what we've learned to understand >> and I because I know many other expats will feel the same way that I have felt is that there's a certain amount of inconsiderate to that.

[00:24:00]>> But now the more I understand it, the more I realize how well it actually does work. It's a total different way of life.

[00:24:07]>> Yes.

[00:24:07]>> But it works.

[00:24:08]>> It works. And >> thanks God because before we retire, we told oursel that we will be the one to adjust because and be patient. and be patient because we know that coming to the Philippines um the system is going to be slower.

[00:24:24]>> Always adjusting to living here.

[00:24:26]>> Yes. And the system is going to be slower. And when I say it's slower, well, when when you go get get a car, getting a car here, it takes a long time. It's a holiday event. If you're going to go open a bank account, it's it >> takes a long time.

[00:24:41]>> It takes a long time, too, because they're requiring a lot of proof compared to the US. Like a good example is they will ask you where's the source of the money that you're going to be depositing. They will never ask you that in the US. So at first I was so shocked like why would you care where my money is coming from? It's my money, you know.

[00:24:59]I'm I'm I'm going to open a bank account. But those are just the things that you have to adjust, you know, and at first I felt like, oh my god, so you're invading all my privacy by asking all those questions. But it's just the thing I think for them to do because I think the last time I checked it says this like they have to avoid the money laundering or whatever. But do I look like I can launder because I don't even have money. Hello. You know this is like you can tell me it's just like do I look like I can lunderer on money? Oh my goodness. But >> you cannot personalize those kind of things. They are just following the system. you know, whatever you do here in the Philippines, it takes twice as much. And a good example, I think, is when we get the car, >> how we we probably signed how many times?

[00:25:49]>> Oh, God. I mean, I don't know 20 pages.

[00:25:53]>> You actually signed papers compared to >> Not just one signature on each page, three signatures. Yes. On every thing that you have to sign, it's not just one.

[00:26:00]>> So, those are just the examples when we uh when I say that the systems here are just just slower. It's just a totally different thing. But I have to tell you guys, kudos to LTO in Bayong Bong because every time we go to LTO, it's very quick.

[00:26:15]>> It is fast. I'm surprised how fast that is. Yeah, the LTO is the same thing as a DMV, just so you know.

[00:26:20]>> Yeah, but but anyways, uh >> I can imagine though that there are things that the Filipinos think that us foreigners do are inconsiderate.

[00:26:30]>> Well, yeah. Again, like I said, um what a foreigner thinks as considerate in the uh in in the US. Here in the Philippines, we call it pakikapua, being a very good neighbor, because we always think that um maybe at some point you're going to be doing this what they're what your neighbor is doing right now. Maybe you're in that point too. A good example is I will go back to driving, right?

[00:26:56]There's probably going to be a time wherein you miscalculated you passing somebody else and guess what? You were in there and then there's oncoming traffic.

[00:27:07]But I'm talking about, >> you know, things that we do as foreigners that the Filipinos might think are inconsiderate. Like if >> like it would be inconsiderate to a Filipino if we were to call the police because, you know, there's a lot of lou loud noises going on or something like that. That would be inconsiderate and very rude because >> here in the Philippines if your neighbor is having car uh having fun until an example is a karaoke until 11 or 12 or whatever. They don't do that often, right? Maybe a visitor just don't want to stop. Even though the host will say, "Hey, it's 10:00. We have a stop." But maybe this this visitor just wanted to have fun until 12:00. Guess what? If you call the cops on them, >> you're a bad neighbor. you're a very bad neighbor. You're inconsiderate. You are rude. And you put that person.

[00:27:57]>> Another thing that that that I noticed that >> I think is interesting is that >> um I'm always called Poe, >> you know. I'm always I'm always greeted with a sir, >> sir, ma'am.

[00:28:10]>> Or a ma'am or a sir. But we don't do that in the United States. We are not like that. And so I imagine that could be considered inconsiderate. Yes, that's that's uh I would say so that for for the most part a lot of Filipinos understood that whites has different ways when it comes to the respect part.

[00:28:31]I think that part a lot of Filipinos understand that uh we don't really use the sir and mom kind of thing and reality is I was surprised when I left the Philippines we call our the only people that we call sir mom to or correct me if I'm wrong guys but I've been outside the Philippines for many many years so I always only remember calling a people who are elderly than me I would call them ae kuya uh or auntie uncle.

[00:29:02]The the people that I call sir are the sir. Mom is like my teachers, the the the cops and stuff like that. But here >> they call anyone elderly, they call them po or they call him sir.

[00:29:16]>> Po is like a is a sign of respect.

[00:29:18]Anyone who is older than you, you call it po. But what's new to me is the sermon. anyone who you hire if they're working for you. Good example right now is we have workers doing our uh fencing >> and they always say yes ma'am.

[00:29:34]>> Yeah. They always say sir mom instead of saying just like adding which is um in ilocano adding means uh little sis uh little sister. They don't call that anymore. They call you sir mom. So I was like oh my god things have changed. And when we were in Sabu they always call us mom and sir. It's like oh my god I was so new to that. So then and it's funny because when I was when I used to talk to our engineer, I just call him his name. Well, he keeps calling me ma'am >> or or they say madame.

[00:30:05]>> Yeah, madame. So I was like, well, I guess this is a thing in the U in in the Philippines. So now if I talk to if I talk in person or in text or when I'm on the phone with my engineer, I have to call him sir. But sometimes I still don't because I'm not used to that. I don't even call my boss sir. I called him by his first name.

[00:30:27]>> Yeah.

[00:30:27]>> So things like that. But >> I I think that um it is proper to call your elderly like when you say if you're not sure they say po. But other than that it's not much considered as rude as when you call the cops because they're having a karaoke or you're urgently like honking like crazy. Although they don't consider honking a lot of times um rude.

[00:30:56]It's just telling you that hey, if you're honking multiple times here in in the Philippines, that means that hey, pay attention because you might create a um an accident or something like that.

[00:31:08]So, one hunk, two hunk, multiple hunks, guys, all those have actually meaning.

[00:31:13]It's not it's not being rude in the street. So I suppose things like taking off your shoes before you come into the house >> that that would be inconsidered if you just wore your shoes into the house.

[00:31:24]>> Yes. Because here in the Philippines and just like we we always think that the shoes you use your shoes your slippers going all over. You probably step on the poop or whatever. And just imagine you you use that shoes stepping on the poop or whatever. That's disgusting. And you use that to go inside your house. You're bringing the dirt. So here in the Philippines, we don't do that. So if you if you see slippers or shoes outside someone's house, you're expected to do the same thing. Otherwise, you are being inconsiderate on the fact that they want their house to be clean and you are you just don't care about it. Yeah. So that's considered rness. And not only that, if you're eating something, you're expected to offer them, let's just say if you're eating right now dinner or lunch, which we don't do very well.

[00:32:12]Shame on me. Well, there's a reason behind that though.

[00:32:15]>> Yeah. Even though even though you know that they don't like the food, it is considered polite to always every time you're eating, you have to offer it. You want some even though they want it. Even though you already know they don't want it, you still have to tell them just like you want some or if you're eating here, you say.

[00:32:33]>> I thought that was so interesting because the other day we were at the market and the lady was I can't remember what she was doing. She was getting some food for snack. She was she was in the market napalenke and she was at that little shop and she was getting some bread and she was getting some food and we walked by and we said hello and stuff like that. Yeah.

[00:32:52]>> And um >> then she you you were talking to her and she asked us if we wanted some of her food.

[00:32:58]>> Yeah.

[00:32:58]>> I thought that was really really quite something.

[00:33:02]>> Oh yeah, that's true. Yeah. But that's just so much about the Filipinos though because >> you know they have a little >> Yeah.

[00:33:08]>> They'll offer it to you.

[00:33:09]>> Correct. because this is the Filipino thing we like to share and it that's polite. So basically if you're eating something and everyone else is not that is that's rude you know just like you have to at least offer even though you don't have much to share you already know it's just a gesture you're expected to offer it if you're >> so instead of um and and this is this has changed my mind understanding these things but because I used to think that the Filipinos were inconsiderate and I used to think well you know, you're not caring about the wealth and the safety, the welfare and safety of other people when you're on the road. But that's really not the case because what it is is they are um they're they're connected as people.

[00:33:54]You're connected as family and as um and so they're as community. And so they're um the expectation really is is to learn how to be connected in the same way that they are. So it's not really being rude.

[00:34:07]It's just the way that they do things and you have to learn to adjust to that and it and it works.

[00:34:12]>> Correct. And the thing is that a a very good lesson for me here guys is like because I already considered myself Oh my god, the room in my nails. Um as an expert because I consider myself expert one because I've been out for so long and I wasn't a driver when I came here.

[00:34:29]So if you don't know things, it always helps to look it up in the internet because everything that happens here in the US, in the the Philippines, it will give you an answer as to why there's one honk. Why why is it that even though there's incoming traffic, they are nudging you to go in? Well, guess what?

[00:34:46]>> Or they turn their lights on and tell you that they're taking the right away.

[00:34:50]>> Yeah. So things like that because if you look it up in the internet like oh my god this so I was I'm new in the Philippines but I saw this car he already knows that there's a lot of incoming traffic he still put in his nose uh well the the front of his car knowing that there's a lot of income in incoming traffic. Well guess what here in the Philippines they expect you to actually nudge or go in a little bit so you the flow of traffic will keep coming. Don't just stand there and wait for somebody else because everyone will pass and guess what? You're going to create a line of people on the back and you're they're going to be mad.

[00:35:26]>> And you've learned that because we've pulled into places to like when we were shopping for tiles for our house and stuff like that where you'll pull in and you literally have to back into a lot of traffic, right? And so you slowly just kind of nudge your way in, nudge your way in and then they stop. the the traffic actually stops for you, allows you to get in and then you go and then everything goes back to the craziness that it is.

[00:35:50]>> Yeah. But also with that being said, there was one time wherein we're turning because we are learning the Philippine ways that that you have to um nudge yourself way in otherwise you can never go. That's just what it is. And you trust everybody that will let you because we already understand that that's how we do it here in the Philippines. But you still have to combine what you know driving in western because a good example is one time you remember we went and checked for that um water filter.

[00:36:21]>> I was turning and there's this um scooter coming in. He saw me already that I'm turning. He never slowed down.

[00:36:30]Just imagine that because he I I have I was thinking he claimed his right of way. So you have to combine those knowledge to be able to drive.

[00:36:40]>> And that's just the awareness that you learn from being in the in the west because you really learn how to be aware of what's happening around you.

[00:36:48]>> Yeah.

[00:36:48]>> You know, because the traffic is going very very fast. We think it's fast here, but >> when you go um 80 kilometers here, you're only going 60 miles an hour. In the >> That's very slow in the US. In the west, 80 m an hour is common on the highways >> or at least in California 60. When they say that 60 is the limit in the freeway, >> that's just a guide.

[00:37:13]>> Yeah.

[00:37:14]>> Everyone drives 80 miles.

[00:37:15]>> You go to the flow of traffic. You know, traffic's going 80 m hour. You're going 80 miles an hour. But in here, there is very common for them to be going 60 km, which is only 40 m an hour, >> you know. So, it's much slower than it is in the United States.

[00:37:31]>> Yeah. If you remember it correctly, I was telling myself it's like because obviously that BYD is so fast. It's electric. It's quick.

[00:37:39]>> Mhm.

[00:37:39]>> I step on the gas and it's just like it's a 70. I'm like, "Oh my god, I'm driving at 70."

[00:37:45]70 means nothing in the US. But here, especially on a places like around school or there's a lot of houses, you can't. There's no way I'm driving fast because you just don't know when somebody's going to got cut through or when a pedestrian is going to cross. So, >> especially here because because the way things are here, you've got, >> like I said, trikes are just going to go into the road or um you a dog, >> you dogs, there's a lot of across the street and stuff like that. Um, you know, another thing that happens is there's a a parked vehicle and when >> and when a car is going to go around that parked vehicle, they just come into oncoming traffic. And again, you've got to know now that you've got to give them the room to get around that and and move over so that they can get over where it first happened, I thought, "What the heck are you doing? This is oncoming traffic. You're not supposed to be doing that."

[00:38:43]>> So, you learn, I guess. You know. Yeah, there's a lot of things that you have to learn like but like I said me I myself is like I was thinking like a westerner because that's that's what I've been trained for many years driving in the under in the streets in in the US but when you come to the US it's like oh my god this is a wild wild west reality is it's not how we do it here in the Philippines works the only thing that you have to to learn is learn what >> those signals those signals and pay attention to what they're doing. What they're doing, you just have to copy.

[00:39:20]The first thing that I copy here in the Philippines is that >> to push yourself in, to just have to make sure you nudge your way in. Because if you don't nudge your way in, you can never turn wherever you where you go.

[00:39:34]And not only that, they're not going to they they're not going to be they're going to be honking on you in a way, hey, what are you doing? because you're creating a long line behind you. You always have to make sure if you're not sure then just like open your windows just like hey I'm passing through or like hey something. But for everyone out there who are planning to come here in the Philippines and planning to drive on the roads, do yourself a favor, Google it up. This is like what what what's one honk mean? Two hunks mean? What does a flashing light mean? and and things like that and you will understand because honking in the Philippines doesn't mean it's rude. It's actually a courtesy.

[00:40:18]It's a way for us to communicate, you know, and actually you haven't do the mano in here because mano is another thing that we do here in the Philippines. If you don't get their hands and put it on your forehead, >> those are things that happens for me because I'm a senior citizen. So yeah, >> so the younger people when they when I greet them, they'll take my their their hand and they'll put my hand to their forehead and that's a sign.

[00:40:48]>> You have to say, "Bless you."

[00:40:50]>> Oh, you do? I bless you. I didn't know.

[00:40:52]Yes. Yeah. And it's funny because I was just thinking the other day that there's a lot of things that's being lost here in the Philippines and that one thing is Dano. Now if I see relatives I haven't seen for a longest time instead of getting their hands and putting at my forehead I give them a hug because that's what I've been used to to do. So I think I have to be conscious on on doing that because those are the things that um it's like that we call it takilipino you know or is is it's is uh one of the gestures of respect that we shouldn't uh let go you know. Yeah. So for you um what what are the things that confused you most when we landed here in the Philippines?

[00:41:42]Oh, I I don't know. There's so many things that that confuse me, you know. Um, but I think that we've kind of gone over a lot of those things. And I wonder what other expats want u what what confuses them. So maybe they can help in the comment section, other expats, what confused you guys when you came here, when you first came here. Let us know in the comments. and maybe even for the Filipinos, you know, what do foreigners do that you think are inconsiderate? Let us know in the comments. It'd be really interesting to hear what you have to say.

[00:42:16]>> Yeah, that would be great because it's like reality is we've been here in December and the more we drive in the streets and the more we do a lot of things, we we're trying to understand more how system works.

[00:42:30]But anyways, really guys, uh if you are watching out there and you're planning to retire here in the Philippines and you already have it in your mind that you will never drive in the Philippines, well, guess what? That's exactly what I thought before coming in the Philippines. But the first day that I sat on our on our car's driver's seat, that went out the door. I I just have to be very confident and just have to learn the roads and like don't hit anybody is the rule, right?

[00:43:06]>> But so >> Google it up too. The things that you don't understand that you you see in the streets because Google will tell you.

[00:43:13]>> So the things that you might see guys when you come here that you might think are what the heck's going on here or you're bringing your values here to the Philippines. That's where you have to stop and think again because the Filipinos aren't inconsiderate. They're actually very loving, very caring, and they're very accepting, you know, but we're it's so hard to shed some of what we've learned all our lives. And so we come here, we think that those are what should be the norms, but that's not always true.

[00:43:41]>> Yeah. Talk about accepting and welcoming. Yeah. They accept you and welcome you to a point where in sometimes they stop us because we are bloggers. They they stop and they don't take photos with me. Even though it's my page, I'm the blogger. They take photos with him, you know, just like they saw him just like, "Hi, can we take photos with you?" This how accepting friendly the Filipinos are. This is like what Westerners might think as rude. It really is not. It works here and there's always a reason behind it. It will all come down to being a bakiki capua, being a good neighbor. It's a um communityhood kind of things. But anyways, like we were saying a while ago, I'll post it in here. What confuses you the most or what do you think uh is the cons uh is considerate uh inconsiderate coming here in the Philippines? And if you are a Filipino expert myself, what were the noises or the things that you have to get used to again as a Filipino expert? But anyways guys, till next time. Thanks for watching.