10 Cultural Differences Between America vs. The Philippines

[@TheSavvyExpat]

If you want the similarities between America and the Philippines next, let's get this video to 150 likes! Subscribe to stay tuned for more U.S and Philippine content. Appreciate you Savvy Expats!

[@gregorypetty6887]

I been to both Japan and the Philippines, and I also noticed that both Japanese and Filipino people are sensitive as well. Plus, being polite is embedded in both Japanese and Filipino culture.

[@keemoe007]

I live in Hawaii. I was born here yet I am Portuguese. My friends growing up was of many nationalities. Many were and still is Filipino. I love the Filipino people here in Hawaii. Many words and expressions are the same as the Philippines in Hawaii.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

That's awesome! Must be cool growing up with such a diverse background and culture

[@keemoe007]

@@TheSavvyExpat the food is the best! As a kid I would have almost anything I wanted. All ethnic groups. I still get pasteles from my mom's friend. Plus homemade Portuguese sausage.

[@franzricajean8541]

I can testify the sensitivity here though. You have to avoid sarcasm and insulting statements to avoid disrespect and fights to Filipinos. I once dated a westerner and I also went to The US once I was extremely culture shocked because I was born and raise in the Philippines and We got to a lot of arguments for one year of dating because of my sensitivity.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I noticed that as well. Sarcasm is rarely every used in the Philippines while in the U.S it's a common form of joking. And at least know you know how westerners joke!

[@franzricajean8541]

@@TheSavvyExpat yes for us your sarcasm are disrespectful. While our jokes maybe are not funny in your point of view. I once made a joke to my ex then he got extremely mad to me.

[@gregorypetty6887]

I been to both Japan and the Philippines, and I also noticed that both Japanese and Filipino people are sensitive as well. Plus, being polite is embedded in both Japanese and Filipino culture.

[@lancecorporal7605]

6:50 When somebody says "Kain tayo" to a total stranger, they are just being polite. They don't really mean to invite you to eat with them. The expected answer is "salamat" or "sige" (down south in the Visayas)

[@peters7229]

Excellent video. It's always fun to learn about cultural differences.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Thanks Peter 🙏

[@gabrielamalaya5947]

Putting hands of the elders on your forehead is a practice that Filipinos share with our austronesian brothers in Indonesia and Malaysia where they call this practice "salim". That means they too take the hands of their elders and put it in their foreheads. Another austronesian practice we share with them is when the whole neighbor helps out in transferee houses by literally carrying it from one place to another. Remember as a Filipino do not forget that aside from our Spanish and American colonial roots, we also share strong ties with our austronesian brothers. Are you even aware that a lot of tagalog words are similar to Bahasa Indonesia. Yes.

[@christopherarmstrong2710]

Great tips! Very interesting differences.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Glad you think so!

[@RandyA7]

Thank you for doing this video. Love that we can learn about each other’s culture. I love that you know and can explain both cultures so well and can speak about them. 😊

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Thanks a lot Randy 🙏

[@theozman1]

This was really informative and helpful. I am looking forward to more of your videos. You have such a pleasant delivery.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

That means a lot Joe. God bless you.

[@beevjoy5133]

We are advice by the health experts to use umbrella to protect us from sun rays which is dangerous to the skin especially from 10am to 3pm

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I see why. One thing I definitely noticed was that the sun here in the Philippines is a lot more harsh on the skin.

[@dorisdalanon6663]

Your vlogs are informative and entertains your viewers. Keep it up & God bless!!!

[@waterheaterservices]

This information is very helpful, thank you for it. I hope to have a successful mission in Mindanao helping families. This helps with understanding from a USA point of view.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Glad I could help Jim. Praying for a safe mission for you down in Mindanao. Keep doing God's work. Blessings 🙌

[@waterheaterservices]

@@TheSavvyExpat Very thank you dear brother. Mission in Gingoog City. You will be in my daily prayers.

[@marcgoldbergdogtrainer]

Great video, thanks! I love hearing about the similarities and differences between us. You channel is gonna blow up. I have a channel also, the trick is consistent uploading and quality content. You’re on the way.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Appreciate the kind words Marc! Just checked out your channel and love the watches ⌚ do you prefer Rolex over Patek?

[@marcgoldbergdogtrainer]

@@TheSavvyExpat I do! Rolex is way more robust and you can swim or shower in them!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Right on!

[@marcgoldbergdogtrainer]

@@TheSavvyExpat I do. Rolex is way more robust and better recognized. Plus I like sports watches way more than dress watches. A Rolex can take a beating whereas a Patek wants to be babied.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

@@marcgoldbergdogtrainer Gotcha. I'm not too knowledgeable on watches but I've always been fascinated by the intricacy of a watch. Just like anything, it really depends on the person and taste. What brings you to the topic of the Philippines Marc?

[@kurttestruth7757]

Appreciate the info

[@johncaudle5914]

Well done buddy👍

[@joegim7680]

A tipping story. When I was in the Philippines in 2018 (I plan to go back permanently hopefully soon) my friends treated me out to a buffet lunch and the bill was about P1,500. I told them that I would give the tip. After they paid I pulled out a P500 bill for the tip and they complained that it was too much. My reply was "I normally give anywhere from $10 to $30 tips in the US so why shouldn't I give the same to my kababayan waiters?"

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I can relate so much to that story! Many of my friends and my grandfather as well said that my family tips too much haha. Thanks for sharing.

[@1966bluemax]

It’s a poor country. Money is hard to come by

[@gend8710]

If you look poor or not well dressed up they will not entertain you here in the Philippines, they are so prejudice to their own kind, it's sad.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I noticed that 💯 it's all vanity

[@SelwynClydeAlojipan]

The reason that Filipinos don't want to offend someone is that when another Filipino gets really offended to the point of feeling that his honor has been insulted, he may become violent enough to attack and fight to the death. This has happened a lot in the slums as recently as a decade ago, sometimes with firearms involved. In ancient times, a major insult would have resulted in a short but deadly duel using knives and short swords. Thankfully, that trait has gradually been reduced although it could still erupt into violence, especially in the smaller towns in the provinces. So be very careful not to insult a Filipino that he thinks he has no choice ("patay kung patay" = to the death; "matira ang matibay" = to the last man standing) except to slice you up multiple times with his balisong or bolo.

[@grobertson]

The number of times I have got on a plane in the Philippines and found a filipino sitting in my seat when the number of your seat is on every ticket is unbelievable!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

😂 ridiculous

[@jungochoco4016]

Sir, you have to understand most Filipinos seldom rode airplanes except for emergency reasons, so they dont even know that there is a seat no. they have to follow.

[@MegaPacosanchez]

@@jungochoco4016 You did not read carefully what he wrote. He said all the tickets have the same seat number printed on them.

[@Gaspar314]

Probably their first time riding a plane and they don’t know how the seating works. Could be daunting if it’s your first time.

[@AaronDoud]

Where in the Midwest are you from? Also considering this is a more polite area of America I can only imagine what someone from NYC must think about the politeness of Filipino culture.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I'm from Illinois! And I agree, when new Yorkers come to the Philippines, their socks are probably blown off at the politeness of the locals.

[@avaorpilla]

Lol i’m from nyc and my grandparents r filipino immigrants. i don’t think other people understand that ny isn’t rude at all 😂 to other americans ny culture might be considered “rude” but it’s perfectly normal and understandable from new yorker to new yorker. in ny, it’s more rude to take up someone’s time by being so slow, and more rude to stand in the middle of the sidewalk while others are trying to get to work, doctors appointments, etc..

[@avaorpilla]

@@TheSavvyExpat being from nyc and filipino heritage i don’t think filipinos are more or less polite that new yorkers at all, i just think it’s a diff culture and much more relaxed there than it is in ny, so it’s bound to have diff cultural/societal norms

[@ederreinaldo8648]

ILove Pilipinas, Brazil

[@franzricajean8541]

Yes, true I went to Disney there in Cali one time and we really need to prepare minimum of 4 dollars to a resto we had tried to in Anaheim, We were culture shocked again because in the Philippines we give tips but 4 dollars is already big.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Absolutely, I'm sure many other foreigners are shocked to see the big tipping culture in the U.S

[@renatzkigab2616]

In our country we are not used of being given tips because services offered to customers is a job. We're not use to it but some of us accept tips because of difficulties that their salary isn't enough for them for the month.

[@haroldking5856]

Thanks for this. Share more differences like this after 5 years of visiting the Philippines 4 or 6X a year I still miss a lot of different customs or nice to remember them. Americans you should still tip in the Philippines!!! Philippinos love us for this so bring it to them. But be careful there are Service Charges added, usually 10%, too bad for them because I tip 15-20% like the US custom so I just give them the 10% they demand. BTW I love the Lips pointing Info. I see that and I could not understand what that met. I thought they were making fun of me when I asked where something was. Usually I would say "Huh???" then they would say it in English🤣😜.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

😂 I hear you. Many different cultural differences but there great!

[@arvinLarguelles]

Thank you and im here n US but i kept my filipino culture! One more thing i will tell you the didferenece between pilipino and american.. here in america if you start looking at a person or staring they say to you WHAT THE F___ YOU LOOKING AT? America’s always take offensive… But if you in the philippines and people stare at you dont take offensive! When they stare at you that means someting positive on you number one you’re foreigner 2 you have a nice complexion or nice cloths.. so if you see people in phillipppines staring at you just say HI HOW ARE YOU DOING and they will give you smile

[@kopicopium6304]

okay one thing bout umbrellas, yes what you said is true (to some individuals) but tbh the reason why we use it on a sunny day cause holy shi the sun is really hot, especially in April and May or even June, bruh you dont want to be direct to the sun, the temp her usually is 28-32 but tbh if the sun decided to be a bijj it could even reach like 33+ , so yeh, some people also bring small water bottles just in case, walking around in the heat aint easy. and ways of saying yes well yeh the eyebrow but also u can use the western ones too, its understandable here (so yeh its basically 4 ways or who knows how many depending on the island) in well the ref thing, its actually both fridge and ref but ye ref is more common same goes for the off and on, its both margarine is actually a different product Butter is made from heavy cream, Margarine is made from vegetable oils

[@CasualTeacher]

It’s sooo on point! I get crazy when Filipinos break traffic rules.

[@timkahn2813]

shaking hands was first used to show you did not have a weapon?

[@amiraabeerasparklingangelv2846]

Thanks for sharing god bless u ameen

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Amen!

[@MichaelJDay]

I like the hula hoop personal space illustration. LOL! I'll try that around my Filipina wife

[@TheSavvyExpat]

🤣🤣

[@lancecorporal7605]

10:20 merienda is Spanish

[@InNOWvations]

You said Americans are direct when ordering food, but didn't mention how a Filipino would order food.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

At least from what I've experienced, Filipinos say "pwede pahingi" or "prede magkaroon..." So they speak with manners in most cases.

[@InNOWvations]

@@TheSavvyExpat can you translate that please, or are you referring to Americans ordering in tagalog?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

@@InNOWvations it means "can I have" 💯

[@InNOWvations]

@@TheSavvyExpat thanks for the great info!

[@arvinLarguelles]

Im here in america but i will never change my FILIPINO CULTURE …..

[@Midik5925]

A day off from work is a "rest day" as opposed to "day off".

[@gabrielamalaya5947]

Your 🇵🇭 flag in your background thumbnail is reversed, in a vertical orientation, the blue should appear on left from a viewers perspective

[@Midik5925]

A break room in an office is called "Pantry" instead of breakroom.

[@franzricajean8541]

It depends on the pointing though, I am Filipina I use finger to point, maybe it depends with the upbringing of an individual.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

True.

[@brianridlon4160]

There’s actually several ways to say yes, or OK, you can wink your eye you can look at somebody with a wanting of desire, which means yes you can actually Nagy your head yes you can lift your eyebrows in a very exciting manner that means yes You can also wiggle your nose in a funny way to mean yes you can also shake your ears if you’re able to move your ears to say yes, you can put the thumbs up to say yes you can actually doing OK Sam to say yes you can step one leg forward and move your hips and a funny manner to mean yes there’s a lot of different ways to express the joy of pleasure of seeing your approval is yes, in my country of the United States of America

[@superchoco5303]

Hahahahaha Yes, It's true 💯

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Thanks for watching Choco 🙏

[@superchoco5303]

@@TheSavvyExpat Take care always savvy. 💋

[@ederreinaldo8648]

Brazil

[@Hannah_BananaXO]

❤️💛💙

[@garyw3331]

Corruption! You forgot to mention that corruption and bribery is the norm in the Philippines. While it occurs here too, it is not the norm.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Good point! Can't disagree with you on that. Corruption is everywhere in the Philippines...

[@323ddg]

@@TheSavvyExpat It's just a prevalent in the USA, just not as flamboyant.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

@@323ddg I'm with you on that Don

[@jamesclaire115]

Tuli, How abou expressions: Push the envelope (take things to extremes) or shake the mouse, (use the computer). The being late for appointments kills me. Also if you are a friend of one Filipino you will A Friend of all his friends friends. Filipinos need less personal space. These are just examples...

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Great points James

[@allanreyes6873]

Hey Evan-- Well-meaning video with good info but It's the United States of America you are comparing the Philippines--not the overbroad "Anerica" AMERICA is too broad for you to use for this purpose--after all, Mexico Canada are part of North America. Brazil chile ecuador Argentina etc are an integral part of the Americas-- We all need to recalibrate and reflect. It's just more leaning into accuracy of going away from ethnocentrism and towards zeitgeist of emptiness-- Peace and good work overall

[@miniwolfang9563]

I like your videos, but the fact that you seem to be looking away is a bit distracting.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Gotcha. That's something I fixed in my newer videos. Trying to get in the habit of looking at the camera instead of the face.

[@Hannah_BananaXO]

🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@larryjones4760]

Oh here's another one that you didn't include in the list their women in the US are hot

[@valarmorghulis8139]

America (USA) is not that great anymore.

[@helloworld.1237]

Nobody is asking your opinion my dear.

[@lovely-lynruiz7815]

You have limited idea in Philippines cultures, anyways.