Today's experiences in the Philippines.
I'm posting this as a warning. Don't come to this country. These are things that happened to me today in the provinces. Some people said I must be provoking something, or that it's because of my appearance. That may be true. In 2025 and 2026, if you're not Filipino, you have to look intimidating, focused, wealthy, or big in order to avoid harassment. For reference, the people of other ethnicities I've met have been consistently kind.
What happened during one hour I spent walking around among these "people" to run errands:
- While I was trying to buy something at a small shop, a group of Filipinos looked at me with hatred and mockery. Sneering stares, aggressive attitudes.
- A young boy looked back for a moment, hissed at me, and quickly turned away again. Like a badger hissing, not human at all.
- A "Hey Joe" catcall started out friendly and turned into ridicule, and the group of Filipinos demanded that I buy them something.
Bonus: Two days ago, a mentally unstable Filipino man approached me in a coffee shop and shouted that I had stolen his land. I couldn't understand what he was saying. After he left, I asked the female barista what he had said. She refused to tell me. I asked six times, and each time she made excuses to avoid helping a foreigner.
For foreigners and white people, this country is becoming increasingly dangerous. If you still want to live cheaply, I recommend Vietnam or Thailand. If you decide to settle here, it could become your final resting place.
You have to look intimidating, focused, wealthy, or big to avoid harassment as a non-Filipino in 2025 and 2026. Total nonsense.
I'm not trying to put you down. That's your impression and I respect it. But an impression is just an impression, and it can't be a judgment unless you've met Filipinos from all walks of life for at least a few years. Keep meeting people. If you really can't get along with locals, you could also try changing cities or islands. I found that in big cities people react differently because they're much more used to foreigners. Good luck.
There's an old saying: "If you meet three jerks in a day, the chances are you're the jerk."
Everyone, check the original poster's post history first and then come back to this thread. It'll give you more context.
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