When I first heard that Binay was going to be the new Vice president, I wondered what aside from the behind-the-scenes machinations would make him popular. He was a surprise winner, after all. Then I heard from someone that in Makati, he gives a lot of freebies. For example, senior citizens could get free birthday cakes, or even money from government offices. It makes sense that a politician who will give dole outs often will be very popular.
But this reflects another bad side of our culture. It is a culture of dependence on or desire for dole-outs.
Aren't most Filipinos like this in Spirit?
Ever heard the funny lyrics, “bili mo ko n’yon, bili mo ko n’yan, ha?” That typifies many Filipinos. There is still the cultural desire to have someone else give it to them.
For example, imagine yourself as a working class Filipino, eldest among the children, with a job and salary. You arrive home after work, and you hear the screams of “where are our French fries!” from your siblings. Your parents, who are already senior citizens, will demand, “when are you going to bring us to Boracay?” When you reply that your salary is too low for that, they’ll scream, “then go abroad!” You’ll go abroad, you earn enough to send them to Boracay, but your family goes there without you. Lugi ka. Add to that the hassle of going abroad, adjusting to another country and culture, separation from your own, etc.
In addition, Filipinos seem so afraid to work. Stories in Maalaala Mo Kaya to go like, “mula ng magkasakit si tatay, lahat kaming magkapatid kailangan magtrabaho.” It’s understandable if they have to stop schooling and go to work. But it gives the idea that it’s wrong if all siblings go to work. But there are stories where the children have graduated, but don’t go to work, and remain fed by the overworked parents. You should send your kids to school, but it’s a sin so send them to work? That’s one of the bad things our local media feeds our lazy people.
In addition, consumerism is tremendous in Filipino culture. Everyone desires to have the latest brand or be part of the latest fad. And to do this, they’ll ask for dole-outs from mama and papa, or from their working sibling.
And this affects the way our people vote. When candidates like Gordon come in offering the attraction of foreign investment to the country to generate jobs, they become less popular than candidates who offer freebies to people. “We will give you want you want, and you don’t need to lift a finger.” This is the most likely criteria that our people have for choosing their leaders. And this is what makes our country an idiocracy or kakistocracy.
Thus, I point you to Rafterman’s article that stated this undeniable truth: the reason for Filipino corruption and dysfunction is laziness. Filipinos, most of them for that matter, are lazy. And laziness can be found in all classes, from the richest to the poorest.
But I have to point this out: just look at most of the people who receive dole-outs from popular freebie givers. They’re still poor! Most of them are still poor because they wanted to receive fish. They refused to learn how to fish, all because of laziness. Then they’ll play the victim card again and say they’re poor. They’re not just poor, they’re pathetic.
I also have to mention this comment I saw from Ilda’s Offical Profile of Noynoy, which has the sense of a dole-out seeker:
Binay's Platform: "Let them eat cake..."
CONGRATULATION !!! PRESIDENT BENIGNO NOYNOY C. AQUINO III. FOR BEING A PRESIDENT OF PHILIPPINES.I AM JUST A ORDINARY FILIPINO HOPING AND WISHING TO HELP OUR COUNTRY.BY YOUR HELP I WILL NOT HESITATE TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE PARTICULARLY AIR POLLUTION THAT CAUSE A BIG PROBLEM TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.I AM WISHING SO MUCH TO HAVE ASSISTANCE HELPING ME ON WHAT I HAVE.IT MAY COME CLOSER TO DEVELOP TOURISM ANDENVIRONMENT IF ASSISTANCE COME IN PLANTING IN ROAD ISLAND AND FRESH AIR THERAPY FROM GARDEN FLORAL FLOWER ANCIENT PLANT. FOR ME I JUST WANT TO DEVELOP THIS.I ASK A ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FROM YOU BECAUSE I AM COMFORTABLE IN YOU.I AM HOPING TO BE INTERVIEW REGARDING THIS AND SUPPORT BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL HAVE A POTENTIALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT MOSTLY PREVENTING AIR POLLUTION AND OUR HEALTH. CP#(taken out for privacy). NOEL B. DALISAY.
Ayos. That keeled me over.
Though it’s for a business, Mr. Dalisay is still asking for a dole-out to help him start up. Darn, for support for his anti-pollution focus, why didn’t he think of Perlas? And if he wanted real support for his herbal business, why doesn’t he ask for funds from investors abroad? Problem is, our protectionist clauses are inhibiting investments from abroad, so people like Mr. Dalisay are kept poor by our pro-oligarch policies.
Hence, our culture today has become a “libre me this, libre me that” culture. It not only affects our lifestyles and family stability, but it also affects the way we vote. We have to break this culture of laziness and make it a value that everyone should work for their own keep.
About the Author
ChinoF has written 30 stories on this site.
Chino, a freelance writer and aspiring artist, believes that Filipino culture is backward, repressive, corrupt and defective, so if you want to do something right in this country, you have to go against culture. He also knows that in doing so, you risk being called "anti-Pinoy" by the defective and deceived people, and hence he feels at home in this blog site. Chino is also a former Google Answers Researcher who went by the username techtor-ga.
Comments on “A Libre Me This, Libre Me That Culture”
I’ve pointed this out in a previous comment, of how the lower classes have the faux idea that the government should give, give, give, and when they (the gov’t) say it’s time to get their butt cheeks shaking, they relent and say–”you’re not doing YOUR JOB”. That is a big bacterial sickness, and a big bacterial sickness needs medicine not supportive treatment. Antibiotics come in the form of Gordon and Gibo…sad people abuse antibiotics.
But I have friends from this, social class who believe that the government is only **** like The Hills, and that if they’re not joining networking clans or working under bossy and abusive school heads they won’t get anywhere. I admire these kinds of people, who believe that THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU, WON’T HELP YOU OR WON’T FEED YOU. IT’S YOU WHO WILL.
When Gibo lost and Noynoy won I like cried and was in grief for days. My mom gave me a hard pep talk and said those words on caps and yeah, to be honest, Noynoy’s FINE, as long as he does not get this country in **** like he promises. Anyhow, the senators are the ones who you should be watching out for.
NOTE: I am a Makati dude and yeah like it’s true, Binay gives freebies and benefits like free movies and cake for senior citizens and free school supplies. I am not ashamed to say I took advantage of free Makati stuff as a student, but I believe that as a city with income like that of Pennsylvania, kidding, maybe it’s something of a complimentary benefit we receive as hardworking citizens of the city and being its loyal citizens. I am genuinely hurt by Mercado supporters who began bashing Binay after he let his son run for mayor while forgetting these benefits he gave them. I don’t speak for Makati as a whole, but I speak as a regular Makati dude from the “poorer” District 2 with a laptop.
Maybe it’s seen as dole outs, but Makati people are smart. It’s not a dole out. It’s a benefit for living here lol.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 6:30 am
Thanks for clarifying that, Guilbauted. I would think there are other things to take issue with Binay on rather than the freebies… though I think, if we have to give birthday cakes to 10 million seniors each year, times P250 a cake, would that be P250 million spent from the budget each year on cakes?
I did use it as a springboard for discussing that dole out-seeking attitude Filipinos tend to have… and it’s not only in Makati.
[Reply]
guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 7:55 am
Well, Binay, I believe, won’t be doing the cake giving on a national scale. But in Makati idk if it will continue. However, the cake giving is a benefit cycle. The cakes are baked by Makati’s livelihood sector and dunno if the City Jail Livelihood Program is also part of it. The cakes are bought by the gov’t and then distributed to the senior citizens on their birthdays. Everyone benefits. I just hope the free school supplies can continue.
If done outside Makati, it’s not glamorous LOL. You know in Makati, it’s like New York. It’s either you’re on welfare or you’re on work. Sad thing though– the yellow card, our universal health care policy in Makati, is now abolished. NO!
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:32 am
Winnie Monsod just wrote a recent commentary on Inquirer about voters being self-conflicting… they balanced out an anti-corruption candidate like Noynoy with a corruption icon like Binay. LOL.
I think those benefits in Makati are not bad in itself… especially on the health care thing. I just used them to introduce my thesis in this article. I wonder though if Binay will pull it off on the national scale. Not a bad idea, but let’s see if the incoming administration can pull it together… or else.
sky Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:52 am
Speaking of the cakes, they say the Binays actually profit from the sale of the cakes since they are made in no other than Abigail Binay’s *the congresswoman for the second district of Makati) bakeshop.
HalleluyaHymen Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Chino
The Binays of Makati, the Aguilar Villars of Las Pinas and the Fernandos of Markina have provided its citizens freebies on welfare areas such as public schools, hospitalization benefits, senior citizens privileges in movie houses and restos… etc… that is why most of their political ads have axioms like…if i can do it in my place… i can do it in Pinas… the BUTT there is that majority of the population on those areas are TRANSIENTS. in a not so educated parlance… it means it is a DORMITORY ECONOMY. their constituents live in those cities but work on another city. another fact is.. more than 80 percent of their constituents are IN-MIGRANTS from the provinces who are residing in in the slum areas… or what we usually define as squatter areas. .
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:56 am
That’s the problem. That’s why I want voting to be a privilege, not a right. Squatters are among our problem population, where all the corruption of the country reaches its end product. Poor people who are themselves corrupt, uneducated, and population number boosters who even steal utilities – and our votes. So dapat walang right mag-vote ang mga squatters. Else, move to a system where you can only vote the local candidates, and they will vote the top leader for you.
brianitus Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:18 am
I’ll guess that Makati people think of Binay as “marunong mag-alaga.” It’s like having Robin Hood as the mayor.
[Reply]
guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:16 am
It’s not really a city-thing. If your locale is determined to make change, even if it’s as poor as like South Dakota or something if you want it you will get it.
brianitus- not really. There are still things in Makati that need some serious shaping up.
[Reply]
InYourFace Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 9:57 am
@ guilbautedsookie
boking na boking na SQUATTER ka lng kase u rily had to say u had a laptop noh?. di nia mapigilan ang sabihin may laptop cya. it’s a big thing na to him. haha. u even placed an apostrophe on the word “poorer” abwt urself kase ur in denial that it’s rily true na patay gutom ka lng. haha
[Reply]
InYourFace Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 10:05 am
BYE SUCKER! HAHAHAHA
[Reply]
Very True! Marami sa mga pilipino laging kabig hindi naman tumutulak.
Whats there for us and not what can we do to help.
Kapag election mo mas lalong makikita ang ugaling yan ng mga pilipino. Sari sari na ang hinihingi sa mga kandidato, mga pa- liga sa barangay at pa sponsor ng fiesta, mga pagpapasamento ng kalsada, mga abuloy sa patay, at meron pa ako nakita libreng gupit ahahaha! Eh kitang kitang vote buying na yan in a sense. Kaya naman hindi pa nahahalal ang kandidato malaki na ang gastos. Syempre babawi yan hehe.
Tama rin na dito sa atin para lumakas ka sa tao dapat mapagbigay ka. Kailangan madali ka lapitan, binobola – bola mo ang mga tao “ako para sa mahirap” or “tatapusin ko ang kahirapan”. Namimigay ka ng pera at madali kang utangan.
Dito satin madali maging pulitiko, konting boka at dukot sa bulsa ok na. Kahit wala kang alam at wala ka nagagawa basta may pangalan ka or sagot mo ang mahihirap iboboto ka na.
Sarap dito
[Reply]
What is it with average Filipinos and the Left? The way hoi polloi act, it’s as if they think that Communism is the best thing for this country…
[Reply]
LOL…I think that comment on my blog slipped under my radar. My inbox was probably full that day. I have a feeling the guy actually thought it was the official profile of Noynoy, lol. I’ll try to find him on FB and reply
What I hate the most about us Pinoys is the habit of saying “Uy libre naman dyan!” I know of someone who always say that to me after the annual salary review has been released by the company. She always wants to find out how much I am making. Some people do not know the meaning of the word confidential.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:47 am
Yeah, he probably thought it was an official Noynoy page… he even left his cell number. Be his textmate, Ilda, hahaha.
Yeah, that libre naman dyan, even in jest, is annoying. And people do it so often, you wonder if they really mean it the next time. There are just some people who want to have a piece out of your pie. Sometimes you wanna shove that piece in their mouths with a little kick, hehehe.
[Reply]
merl56 Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:57 am
really hate that phrase….people think they are cute when they say it….duh
[Reply]
May Party Sa Dasma Wala Akong Wheels Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:58 am
I won some easy cash once in a company Christmas party and for some weeks following (we usually had Christmas parties on the first week of December so that employees would be fired up for the holiday stretch AND function rooms and catering are a bit cheaper farther away from Christmas day) I had this officemate who bugged me daily with “Libre naman dyan, ‘dami mong pera.” Irritated the hell outta me but I couldn’t show it. Right before holiday shutdown, I was able to say to her after another “Libre naman dyan, ‘dami mong pera,” “Nagastos ko na para sa mga inaanak ko. Get over it. Merry Christmas na lang.”
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:47 pm
You shoulda said, “Nag party ako sa dasma. Naubos nga sa pamasahe ko dun kasi wala nga akong wheels.”
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Yung ‘Uy Palibre Naman’ isn’t too bad once in a while (once a year or something). Problem is, you know who the real friends are and the real moochers when they incessantly come along like roaches and keep asking, almost as if being serious.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:33 am
Yeah, it should be kept in its place… a joke, not as something serious… because as something serious, it’s bad.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 5:24 am
well for me, its just something I do as a celebratory bash. I won’t be doing it often and its just something to have fun with. Also the people who do it to me understand my situation anyway and I understand theirs. They don’t abuse charity or benevolence, unlike what GabbyD thinks which is those with the ‘haves’ should be all socialist-like and share with the have-nots because its moral that way an the church does it like that [/sarcasm].
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:14 am
It’s OK when you want to do the libreing, but when you’re forced to do it… cry murder.
what can we expect from a country where shows like WOWOWEE thrive even after that stampede tragedy? The Filipino then and now is a good example of what moral degradation looks like. May I repost this on my blog…http://politika-et-kultura.blogspot.com/? I will properly attribute this to you of course. Thank you!
[Reply]
guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Hi merl. Filipinos kinda got worst actually. Before, when I was like 8, people weren’t really that dependent on variety shows. Only those with talent go there and win money because they deserved it.
But now, (drum roll) make a fool of yourself and you get instant 20k. ABS-CBN IS A GENIUS AT MAKING PEOPLE IDIOTS.
I still cannot get off my chest why my mom believes Habang May Buhay over me–an actual nurse! WHAT **** IS THAT
[Reply]
There’s also that ominous greeting when the ‘ber’ months come around in the Philippines: Merry Christmas.
Normally that’d be a welcome greeting in other societies. In the Philippines, it comes across more as a reminder of your “obligations” to the “less fortunate”.
[Reply]
GabbyD Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:24 pm
” it comes across more as a reminder of your “obligations” to the “less fortunate”.”
yeah. charity and compassion are so over-rated.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:34 pm
GabbyD, not when it is abused. But oh, people in pinoy society like YOU NEVER THINK that charity and compassion, much like other human good qualities OF ALL THINGS, CAN’T BE ABUSED!
Once in a while, stop letting the point go over your head. The point is that pinoy society have long been used to dole-outs that they expect it from everybody, NOT as something beneficial given to them. And worst, they expect it in a very selfish manner.
[Reply]
GabbyD Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm
oops. forgot the quotes.
i should be “charity” and “compassion” are so over-rated. can’t forget the quotes, ala, B0…
[Reply]
Miriam Quiamco Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Yeah, the Philippines probably needs some dose of Ayn Rand type reality check. We are held hostage by our cultural trait of wanting to be festive and share our rewards with friends even those who are not necessarily members of the less fortunate. It reminded me of going to a high school reunion once, and even classmates who earn a lot more than I do asked me to pay for their entrance fee to the beach resort where it was held all because I live abroad and earn a different currency. I took it really badly because I was aware that some of those high school classmates certainly are earning a lot more than I do, being Chinese businessmen.
[Reply]
HalleluyaHymen Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 pm
the RCChurch had this sort of axiom… the CHURCH OF THE POOR… while their bishops and their leaders live in palaces and high end condos, the brainwashing still goes on within their services that invokes the passage in the bible…it is better to give than to receive. dapat magtayo na lang tayo ng relihiyon sa AP. gawin nating pastor o obispo si GabbyD. Halleluyah Hymen!!!!
[Reply]
Ma Xianding Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Aba? GabbyD as a pastor? Sigurado mas hit yan kaysa kay Pastor Eli Soriano! Ang magiging relihiyon natin ay ADD… hindi Ang Dating Daan. Attention Deficit Disorder.
[Reply]
palebluedot Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 4:41 am
…and they ignore concerns of volunteer parishioners – telling them “God will repay you!” up ’til now, after institutionalizing their so-called church programs that offer free services to the poor, the volunteer parishioners are still kneeling down asking God for concrete gainful jobs, while the so-called leaders of the flock are sporting brand-new cars, blackberries, top-of-the line laptops and shiny yellow bands around their wrists.
maybe we should seriously implicate the RCC for propagating the culture of poverty, culture of dependence and, therefore, culture of corruption in our society.
[Reply]
I also had this “libre mo ko” dilemna up to this day, I easily get pressured by people around me and more like it becomes an obligation. God, I hate myself.
[Reply]
luraaa Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
You’re not the only one. It was my birthday and my friend was telling me ‘Libre naman dyan, bertday mo e.’ even after my birthday has passed, because I was MIA that day (and it was a long weekend). Their chants didn’t stop, even flooding my FB page. After 3 months, I was finally able to treat them for dinner. But they contributed some too (and at least they felt bad that I had to pay an amount).
I wasn’t mad about what happened on my birthday, but I did this willingly, because of my [I] utang na loob [/I] to them. They’ve treated me to a lot of parties, picnics, and parties, so I felt kind of guilty that I haven’t contributed any food whenever we have an event.
But going back to the topic, laziness has something to do with this Filipino attitude because people have been so used to free things that they would think that they don’t need to work anymore because they have someone they can rely on. Independence is one trait that all Filipinos should have, such as to not depend on their parents when one has graduated from college and can buy what they want.
It’s like a neverending cycle. Bakit tamad ang mga Pilipino? Walang trabaho e. Bakit walang trabaho? Walang ginagawa ang gobyerno e. Bakit walang ginagawa ang gobyerno? Walang kwenta/ silbi (and other insults you can think of) e. Bakit walang kwenta/ silbi ang gobyerno? E yung mga bumoboto kasi e.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:18 pm
sa totoo lang, may trabaho. Just not the one they want. I know that feeling. Those who don’t have diplomas are going to have to suck it up and take whatever is out there and make a career out of it. But once again, you can attribute it to laziness because if da government don’t want to work, they won’t.
[Reply]
HalleluyaHymen Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Gasgas na yang pagsasabi na Gubyerno ang dahilan ng kahirapan. If we stratify our society we have the academe, the media and the market; and government is just one of the social entities… the CLANS control them. administrators or owners of these social entities are members of these clans. election process is just a transitory stage where 80 percent of the dumb electorate choose their preferred collusion. what do we have now in the Abnoy admin… the Kamag anak inc… the Cojuangco, Tanjuatco and the Sumulongs, the Pokwang clan from the tribe of tabako, the Lopezes, the Ayalas and the Pangngilinans. And the freebies are: beer, cellphone load, free movie tickets, a chance to join wowowee parlor games… etc. Dumbness works both ways… may matalinong nanloloko… at may mahina ang utak o tamad mag isip na niloloko. the 13.5 who voted for the Dumb Yellow One can only be classified as mentioned…. yun lang yon at wala na… 20 percent opportunists… 80 percent dumb… Hail Pareto!!!! Halleluyah Hymen!
[Reply]
sky Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:58 am
Being raised in the U.S. for a good portion of my childhood, I find it weird that here in the Philippines, you have to treat your friends out to birthday dinner when, as far as I know, it’s supposed to be the other way around. -_-
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:40 am
Exactly. Kaya I will risk being called bwakaw or selfish during my birthday. I never had a good salary. And I will risk being called “unnationalistic,” since I prefer that US tradition of birthdays over the Filipino one. In fact, I believe the Filipino tradition was made to ensure that a person stays poor.
luraaa Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Oh, sorry for the typos. I wasn’t myself when I typed it (read: lack of sleep).
HalleluyaHymen: Isn’t this what most people in the slum areas say in when they’re interviewed in front of the tv? That they’re asking the government to help them feed their 10 kids, send them to school, or just give them a temporary satisfaction as long as these government officials would look good.
I also hear from some people na kasalanan ng gobyerno kung bakit mahirap sila, at kung bakit wala silang trabaho.
Jay: You’re right. There is work, but it’s not enough to accomodate everyone of their diplomas and degrees. For those who don’t have one, they would rather someone would feed them of their needs, because it’s easier that way instead of looking for a job. Because once they hear/ see on tv that another batch of new graduates are joining the workforce every March, they lose hope thinking the employers would pick the fresh ones than them.
And yes, I know what it feels too to have a job that you’re not happy about. But there’s nothing we can do right? We need to earn money for ourselves.
Funny, because right now my mind is playing Manny Villar’s jingle way back in 2001 when he ran as a Senator. ♫ Villar, Villar, sipag at tiyaga, Manny Villar para sa Senado. ♫ It’s really random, but the guy has a point.
Another fact about this Filipino mentality: When a balikbayan goes for a vacation in the Philippines. Being gone for a few years would want this balikbayan to stay longer. But because of balikbayan’s relatives, he/ she decides that the less he stays, the less he pays (hey, that has a nice ring to it.).
[Reply]
Ma Xianding Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 2:36 am
If they have 10 kids it is not anyone’s fault that they are poor. It is their fault for being stupid. Let them die so that their genes do not spread. Oh Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, the Great Songun General, please kill all Filipinos except AP Authors, AP Fans and Renat0 Pacific0.
I hate this Filipino mentality.
Eldest of six (6) siblings, I have been working since I am nine (9) years old (Yaya) to help feed my family. Fate was good to me and I was able to work abroad for seventeen (17) years to satisfy the needs of my family and relatives, sacrificing my own needs and wishes. The saddest thing is that once you give less, people forget what you have done in the past. The one who is giving more today is the one who smells good and kind.
Through the help of some German friends, I was able to put up a child-help project sending poor but deserving children to school. After eight (8) years of doing this, I came to conclusion that parents of these children become more demanding without considering the fact that my funds are limited. The most disappointing moment was when a parent suspected that I am making money out of these sponsored children, as I refused to give more.
Yet to this point, I have developed an attitude of not feeling bad when I say no.
[Reply]
Amino Acid Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:30 am
“Yet to this point, I have developed an attitude of not feeling bad when I say no.”
That’s actually good because if anyone should feel bad when you say no to their abuse, it should be them, not you. Need to speak up against some of these f*ckers especially those who suspected you of profiting out of it instead of thanking you. It’s, as you said, disappointing to hear that people are complaining even though you are helping them just because you refuse to live up to their standards.
[Reply]
Ma Xianding Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 2:33 am
That is the bad thing about helping Pinoys. You give them your left hand and they ask you why you are not giving your right as well. I just hope Kim Jong Il rains TAEPODONG Nuclear missiles on Philippine soil until the population gets wiped out.
[Reply]
Pinoy society is built on co-dependency. You see it in family ties, among friends, and of course, politics. It is the culture of co-dependency and patronage that enables certain groups to take control and subjugate the rest.. They are able to stay in control precisely because those below want them to “libre me this”. Classic example: the pork barrel in Congress. Whoever holds the purse strings has the upper hand. Noynoy Aquino and Co. wanted to take the power away from Gloria when Gloria was the President, but now that Aquino is incoming President, they’re advocating the opposite–now they want the President to continue controlling the pork barrel. Read up on this latest bit of irony coming out of the Aquino camp.
[Reply]
Shoot, you people have a hard time with each other, you ought to try being me. It’s taken me a long time to get the people around me over the notion that I am some sort of walking ATM machine. Here’s an example: round Christmastime, my wife got a call out of the blue from an Aunt in QC she hears from maybe once every two, three years — they wanted to come visit. “Can we take a taxi there?” Auntie asked. (we live in Cavite, mind you)
“Sure, you could,” my wife answered. “But it’s expensive. They might charge you a thousand or more. Why don’t you take the bus? It stops just nearby.”
“Oh, you’re not paying for it?” Auntie asked, not disguising her irritation. “But isn’t your husband an American?”
At this point my annoyance meter red-lined and I took the phone. “The American would take the bus, because it’s cheaper,” I told her. “The reason I have money is because I don’t toss it around foolishly on stuff like taking taxi rides to show up uninvited at someone’s house.”
Needless to say, Auntie and her kids stayed home. She’ll call again when she needs money for something.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:45 am
That’s the problem with this stupid materialistic consumerist country. And that’s why I guess Filipinos tend to be hospitable, why we treat foreigners too nicely… because foreigner = atm machine.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:50 am
Hmm, why can’t they do it properly and make foreigners the investors instead of atm machines, by removing our protectionist clauses?
[Reply]
luraaa Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Wow. That’s… too much. I actually have nothing to say about your Aunt. She’s just …. wow. That’s incredulous.
[Reply]
Ma Xianding Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 2:31 am
What a leach that aunt is!!! No concept of shame or pride at all. I should get an AK 47 and use it in those kinds of situations in case a long lost relative tries to ask me to pay their taxi fare.
[Reply]
Paolo Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
OK na sana kung sinabi mong “Ako na lang magbabayad,” kaso e “Bayaran mo.”
Minura mo na sana.
[Reply]
I know its satirical, but the song “Kill The Poor” by the Dead Kennedys spring to mind.
[Reply]
My opinion is that this palibre attitude is in a way a result of colonizations where power and riches are not earned but given and so the premise is that since these were given to you you should also give and in the course of time it has evolved in to its present state. It still pervades to this day because in so many ways in the Philippines, powers and riches are given and rarely earned.
[Reply]
This reminds me of the refillable drink in Burger King years ago. Customers need to pay only once and they’ll be given an empty cup which they can fill as many times as they want. The problem is, Pinoys are so opportunistic and abusive, refilling their glass more times than they really need. Having enough of this, Burger King removed this privilege.
Same thing with Wendy’s Burgers years before. They had an eat-all-you-can salad bar. Customers were given an empty plate and they were free to get as much as they want from the bar. Once again, Pinoy gluttons will shamelessly stack their plates so high (obviously hoping to get enough servings for their companions too) that I get so embarassed if there’s a foreigner around. Like Burger King, Wendy’s removed this feature. I wouldn’t be surprised if they, and other food chains, will soon remove their free gadget recharging benefit after they realized that even non-paying customers are also recharging their cellphones at their joints.
It seems Pinoys don’t know the difference between a privilege and a right. Sometimes, restaurants will be generous enough to offer freebies, eat-all-you-can’s and other concessions, trusting that Pinoy diners will be decent enough to exercise moderation when taking advantage of these offers. But as I’ve said, Pinoys are very opportunistic and this could be one of the many reasons why we have a culture of dole-outs. Of course, Pinoy sloth is #1 on the list.
I hate it when a young, able bodied person is asking money from my aging and working mother (she refuses to retire despite my pleas.) Walking away after giving that beggar alms, my Mom will sometimes look back and catch that person pull out a cellphone…
[Reply]
benign0 Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 3:02 am
@ Mad Man, the above is SO spot-on! Here in Australia as in many parts of the advanced world, there are so many freebies, and for the most part, none of it is abused.
Pinoys love to bandy around the “delicadeza” word and self-righteously point out how our politicians lack it. But the TRUTH is that a lack of delicadeza is prevalent at every social class and is in plain view in the masa even (contrary to all our populist emo-politics that paint them as such saintly “victims”).
[Reply]
Paolo Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Victim complex? Heck, they were never victims! They are THINKING they are victims but they aren’t! If they want to be a victim, PAGBIGYAN!
[Reply]
Mad Man Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Thanks! And you guys are spot-on as well. I was trying to remember that Pinoy (or should I say Spanish) word so I could express myself well. Yeah you’re right, “delicadeza” was the word I was looking for. I guess delicadeza is no longer evident in our society, that’s why I forgot.
It’ll be no surprise to me that Wendy’s and Burger King’s free treats are still available in every country except ours.
[Reply]
I wanna share something.
Here in Makati, there are three men running for mayor: Binay, Mercado and Genuino. I voted for Genuino, not because he gives away money or burgers, but I voted for him because I believe, like Barbara Streisand said at the Oscars when Kathryn Bigelow won, “the time has come”. All sides were busy giving “insurances” and I received some, and I’m not ashamed to say I used them for things I need.
To cut the story shot, Genuino lost, and a few days after the elections, a huge crowd of people (Genuino supporters) went on a rally because they did not receive the money he purportedly promised them. LIKE OMG! I mean, the guy lost, is depressed and probably grieving, AND THAT IS LIKE ****. Now don’t they f’ng use the palabra de honor **** cause it isn’t any good **** at all at this case. I kinda felt sory for Win because, these people were only after for the money. Our family endorsed Vice Mayor winner Kid Pena WHOLEHEARTEDLY, without any fees or prizes in return. WE SUPPORTED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS FIT. Unlike Genuino, some 80% of his supporters were for the money. I am not washing my hands, yeah I was running for my share post-election, but I figured out–”I voted him for his platforms TO BEGIN WITH”, and I gave away my ID to my niece who has a crush on him.
Yesterday also, Mercado sympathizers staged a rally at the city hall. Most of them from our ghetto area because they are in danger of being evicted, cleared out and relocated now that Binay won. They’re spreading rumors like “Mercado was robbed cause Binay gave money.” Like okay, I received 1k from the former.
These exhibitions of political consumerism kinda made my heart sink. IS ELECTION DAY THE ONE AND ONLY DAY POLITICIANS DO THEIR JOBS? It is sad that what we fought against during the Spanish era– the corrupt officials, the injustice, the class wars, the oppression, all that corruption–is being repeated. IT’S SO SAD. If Rizal were alive, maybe he would be French by now.
And now someone posted a Gibo=Bigo Facebook Page! And is that what Noynoy is teaching his morons–TO PERSECUTE THOSE WHO WENT AGAINST HIM? Is he an Al-Qaeda?
I want you to watch this guys…here is the link…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFj0HdW2iDs
It’s a documentary about the recent demographic shift in South Africa, where blacks are now calling the shots and white people are now in shanties. They fought against racism and inequality, but then, it’s like they’re uplifting it again in the form of “black revival”. This is to give you that feel of “fighting for something that would be again fought against again”
Here in the Philippines, it was never any different. It’s still the corrupt ones calling the shots, and to think that was what we fought against a century ago…
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
This is an eye-opener. What you also pointed out is also what I surmised in one of my articles. The Filipino people who harp on wanting GMA out, who like Noynoy, who dislike Gordon and Bayani, who insist on dole-outs and believe that Filipino culture is flawless and superior, do not want a democracy where equality is key. They merely want to reverse the inequality, like in your example in South Africa. They will use the guise of a “just society,” but it is only just for their side. Either Filipinos do not understand what a just society really is, or they know and they do not want it, and prefer to serve their laziness that leads to the dole-out culture (In short, Filipinos are evil too
). I hope it’s less of the latter.
[Reply]
guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
The oligarchs you know hate the poor. They feel that the government should not be at all tending to them and make their asses straight like how they did to get there.
The poor hate the rich because they feel that they get all the special treatment out of nothing.
In short, FILIPINOS HATE EACH OTHER
[Reply]
As much as I hate paying taxes, freebies and dole-outs done by the government are OK if it is properly managed and given out only to those who genuinely need them. It is called socialism and you need that in a society if you want to avoid greater evils, like having a permanently impoverished second class citizens and a high crime rate due to poverty.
Capitalist socialism is the best form of government today and there are plenty of progressive countries like Australia, NZ, UK and Canada which practice various degrees of capitalist socialism. These countries have much lesser amount of indigent people compared to the richest country in the world USA with its more purer form of capitalism. On the other end of the scale is communism which doesn’t work well either as evidenced by the fall of USSR. Even China since the 1980s have realised that pure communism is only good on paper so it has opened its doors to capitalism and has shifted more towards the middle ground of the political spectrum, and this has led to its economic miracle in recent times.
[Reply]
HalleluyahHymen Reply:
May 26th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
In terms of government interventions…
Socialism in its purest form is (C)ommunism. (A)narchy is at the other end of the spectrum or the farthest right. Laissez-faire is half way between democratic capitalism (DC) and anarchy. The two points between communism and democracy is socialist democracy and democratic socialism.
C—–SD—–DS—–D—-DC—-LF—–A
[Reply]
killem Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:37 am
i think the more appropriate term is not socialism, but social justice. =)
hey, if a state can afford to give dole-outs, then why not?it helps those people who who cannot afford such freebies to have a taste of it..
the only problem will dole-outs is that it encourages political dynasty here in the phil, since its part of our culture to have ” utang na loob…”
[Reply]
I know people who were once supporter of Gordon. But after getting few favours like getting gifts from another candidate, they changed loyalty like they change their clothes.
[Reply]
Just saw this bit of news coming from Noynoy’s Own Propaganda Machine: People were actually lining up outside the Aquino residence in Times Street for jobs! Its as if Noy and his ilk would actually help them! Noy is not a businessman, he’s the President! He’s no Santa Claus, as pilipinos think.
REALLY?! Just because Noynoy is the president of this Godforsaken country it means that paradise here we come? Look, jobs come if the government can PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE. If the situation is bad with a capital B-A-D to begin with, there’s definitely no confidence in investment, may it be local or foreign. Noynoy has not been sworn in and people are asking for miracles already? Its not as easy as pilipinos think it is!
Wake up! Noynoy his ilk are not Santa F’ing Claus!
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 9:52 am
These people are that idiotic to think that the Aquino Legacy is like one giant benefactor? Wow, I hope they continue their emotional attachment because when the truth comes down on them, its going to make their backlash just more sweeter.
Link on the news please.
[Reply]
Paolo Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Jay, I saw it on TV Patrol.
[Reply]
Paolo Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/29/10/job-seekers-flood-time-street
GOT IT!
ChinoF Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 5:11 am
The Idiots’ Queue. hehe
I’ve been reading so many interesting articles here in anti-pinoy but this would be my first time to comment.
Anyway I also blame this “gimme” mentality to the Church. Not that the Church intended this but it just had this effect. They showed that they glorified poverty with quotes like, “Blessed are the poor” and “Smite those who are rich.” Plus the Bible says again and again to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked and basically to provide for the sh*t-poor. This in turn led the impoverished, which is roughly 70% of the nation’s population, to think that it’s the rich’s obligation to feed their far too many mouths.
I also look after a store and those damn solicitors are a worse headache than rude and abusive customers. Many times they make rude comments if you don’t hand them money. Just because I’m an entrepreneur doesn’t automatically mean I can give away freebies that easily.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
You hit upon another idea I had been thinking about too. Those quotes like “blessed are the poor” are from the Beatitudes, Matt. 5 I believe… and they have been taken out of context. They were intended to criticize the lack of social justice in that time. They were never meant to encourage the dole-out mentality – which the church uses to encourage poor people to stay poor and demand dole-outs. The Catholic church has certainly given its own meaning to some Biblical passages which are not even correct. One thing people should know is that “blessed” is different from “holy” or “saintly.” Being blessed doesn’t make one a saint or give them moral superiority of any kind.
Thanks for the comment.
[Reply]
This is the paradox of the Filipino mindset. They expect: that everything; good things especially will fall onto their laps. They always want to be FREE RIDERS. “What can you do for me?”, instead of :”What can I do for you?” Politicians know these idiotic mindsets of the Filipino masses. You can see the Plunderer: Erap Estrada, distributing free: rice, noodles, “tuyo”, etc…to the people living in the Squatter areas; just to earn their votes.
It is how our Colonizers twisted the mindsets of the Filipino People: they made the colonized fully dependent on them. So, these traits continues, until our present generation.