It’s no wonder Filipinos were again the subject of controversy in Singapore. There was some recent furor on Filipino celebrations of independence in the country. A group of Filipinos ran an ad where they announced a celebration of the June 12 Philippine Independence day happening on Orchard Road. This angered many Singaporeans, who expressed their opposition and said Filipinos had no right to hold this celebration.
Singapore PM Lee put in a word to help out Filipinos (photo courtesy of EPA/Nicolas Bouvy)
Luckily some other Singaporeans are more level-headed, criticizing the way fellow Singaporeans vented their anger against Filipinos. Singaporean Prime minister Lee Hsein Loong himself came to the defense of Filipinos, saying the Singaporeans who harassed Filipinos were “a disgrace.” However, it still led to the Filipino group’s ad being pulled out.
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Many Singaporeans still felt outraged by the idea. One article on the issue says Lee’s defense of Filipinos is only for gaining Filipino votes for the PAP (knowing that some Filipinos opted to change their citizenship to Singaporean). Someone may liken this to Filipino politicians pandering to squatters (oh, I’m sorry… “informal settlers”) to gain votes. This also demonstrated another facet about Singaporean society – that Singaporeans may be just as dissatisfied with their government as we Filipinos are with ours.
Anyone remember Steph Micayle’s little rant on Youtube about why she’s not proud to be Singaporean? She complained of skyrocketing prices and nicer benefits being given to foreign workers, and the needs of the local people being left out. It seems that the root of this anger is some Singaporeans have long been against the influx of planeloads of foreign workers, because they feel this has contributed to life in Singapore becoming more difficult. Once a foreign group decided to make a “pride binge,” it broke the last straw.
Even some Filipinos in Singapore are in disagreement on the celebration. At least one of them criticized their own countrymen for “going too far” in how they conduct their independence day celebrations. The writer of the article called for more discretion in the activity.
Perhaps the problem is not whether or not Filipinos should celebrate independence in Singapore: I’m fine with it. The problem is the way they wanted to celebrate it. Running an ad and holding it on Orchard Road was doing it the noisy way. It may have been a demonstration of another fault of Filipinos – being improperly noisy.
Yes, noise applies to more than talking unnecessarily loud on the phone while in a public place or vehicle (why can’t people just hold the microphone part of the phone nearer their mouths instead of shouting?). Filipinos tend to be too noisy in their activities. That includes even the manner of holding celebrations and even – wait for it – proclaiming their “Pinoy Pride.” Another thing is doing it in Orchard Road – some may compare it to commandeering EDSA for one’s little village parade.
Perhaps Filipinos are still seeing foreigners as their oppressors, and are doing this celebration to recover a sense of identity, or as a feel-good activity to get out of the depression of being OFWs (which has a tremendous social cost). But being loud about it sends the wrong message.
Here’s how Singaporeans my see Filipinos being loud about their independence day – that it is an act of defiance as well as a sign of disrespect for their host.
Photo courtesy of French Toast Mafia
And from the reactions of Singaporeans, it seems that this is the first time any foreign group decided to have a loud celebration of their independence. And of course, that would raise the eyebrows of the host.
While I agree some Singaporeans did go overboard on their raging against Filipinos, perhaps there’s still a lesson for us. I will repeat the message I earlier stated for Filipinos in Singapore (or anywhere) – we should not be a noisy people. Some Filipinos would say that being noisy is a sign of happiness. But this I contend against. Noise can actually be “pretend happiness” to cover up for their actual depression. That would make Filipinos dishonest in a sense.
Perhaps Filipinos also need to change their values on this – that even if discreet and quiet, they can still be happy. And being rudely noisy should not be accepted as a part of Filipino culture.
Some Filipinos would also say, what about the US? They allow us to do loud parades! Why can’t Singapore do that? The answer is that the guest should be the one to comply with the host, not the other way around. If your host allows such celebrations, fine. If your host forbids them, comply; a bitchfit means you are a bad guest worthy of throwing out. Imagine, if you had a guest that demanded that he do something you very much dislike in your own household, how would you feel?
I believe, as my cohorts here do, that what Filipinos embrace as their culture is what actually pulls the country down. And those who seem to be anti-dictators, who may also believe themselves to be “heroes,” are the real dictators.
Kinda odd that they’re celebrating Philippine independence, and announcing it way too early, in a foreign land when it isn’t as much celebrated over here (just some day off from work/school)
and wow, sense of identity? they aren’t proud of their local language and this is how they do this? Take a hint from your neighboring countries about getting a sense of national identity and doing it right.
Singaporeans seem to hate filipinos more than any other nationalities, not sure why. Maybe because of the luneta bus fiasco or something.
Probably because we burned their flag many years ago after the “Flor Contemplacion” case that many have seemed to forgot.
I don’t think they’re as butthurt as we are.
we actually don’t care about the flag
we bring up the case every now and then as an example of how filipinos don’t belive in the rule of the law and that’s all
we don’t have any particular feelings if you burn our flag. we just see it as a bunch of irrational unreasonable people who have nothing better to do then protesting for a convicted murderer
I’m sure it’s not that but apparently they believe we took their jobs away.
So what my friend in Singapore said is true? That Filipinos are the most disliked foreign group? I think it’s because of a lot of things, but probably more of the bad habits I described in my last article about it.
I had a girlfriend in Singapore who complained about ‘lazy’ Indian workers in her office, so they can be dicks about any immigrants they perceive as being lower class (hint: brown).
I imagine Filipinos would be lower down that list, since Indians are at least more culturally integrated (not to mention contributing great food).
I’ve been in Singapore for quite 4 months, I’m a filipino too. One thing, I really don’t like about the attitude of filipino in Singapore is that they are too vulgar and too noisy as if they have to shout when they’re talking to each other, imagine they’re just a couple of inch away. One thing I realized about the values of Filipino is that they’re too showy,they like to have the attention of the whole world and the Pride. Please fellow Filipino lets change ourselves, We could not always rely on our President to change us in fact he is not responsible to our attitude we are the one who is responsible, He is just 1 man and we are millions how can he change the whole country when everyone is against it because everyone expects him to do deliver a good result instantly just like a magic poof! damn! We are not in fairytale. Lets help the president, there are still a lot of corrupt and tyrant officials hiding at his back, He can’t see all those things but we are. Thank you. By the way the article is great! cheers!
yes, and mostly it’s because filipinos cannot keep their mouths shut and have the need to come up with a comment that stirs the hornet’s nest further
laughing at national service
making fun of malays (you can only make comments about the chinese, not the indians and malays)
comments on filipinos ruling singapore
comments on how singapore is rich because of filipinos
making fun of the poor
having the need to respond even more strongly after being singled out<– this one is a killer, if you follow the news reports generally when a foreigner commits faux pas people bitch and it dies out, when the particular incident is commited by a filipino the general response is to crowd social media and give death threats and proclaim filipinos are not communist/not chinky eyed/are miss universe/ not pagans …..etc
the strong anger against filipinos isn't really because of what they did, but how they usually responded.
and the general response towards singaporeans "you are racist because you don't give me what i want or you're disagreeing with me"
something that surprisingly isn't happening with the other nationalities
I doubt Singaporeans are as shallow as 90% of our Filipino brethren… but then again I don’t the Singaporeans too well.
Singaporeans are majority chinese. The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China may play some part in the closet-room anti-filipino feelings.
The Chinese people I’ve known in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan are keen to distance themselves from the politics and attitudes of the ‘Mainland Chinese,’ so I don’t think so.
In terms of the specific feelings Singaporeans have towards Filipinos, I think that really is just the reputation inconsiderate OFWs have made for everyone else. The word ‘Filipino’ carries connotations that ‘Indonesian’ doesn’t.
Yes, but then again the common thing about them is that they are all chinese and as has someone has said (a chinese) they are united when it comes to issues that is chinese in nature mainland or oversaeas chiense, and with the reputation of Filipinos as Singaporeans view Filipinos, it adds up (anti-filipino sentiment by singaporeans
Chinese in Singapore are not aligned with the People’s Republic of China. Be more discerning on that issue.
They may not be but they are Chinese also who has a strong attachment to mainland china.
yes we love china and we want to sign the south china sea away so hard to PRC like arroyo did
n.no..nooo wait a minute… Singapore made a strong stand on this one.. AGAINST china
and this kind of comments is why we dislike filipinos too.
some singaporeans viewed the shooting of the taiwanese fisherman in horror knowing it’ll push taiwan closer towards china. something you’ll never understand given the way you think
Sabi ko nga, matagal nang sira ang tuktuk ni Aquino…siguro advance party ni Aquino yung mga yun…para sakupin ang Singapore…Kasambahay invasion…
Hmm, here’s something I earlier missed. A forum post purportedly by a Filipino says Filipinos should “mark as a strong race in Singapore.” That kind of remark comes off as arrogant and boastful, even hostile toward other nationalities. And note this: “Malays were the original race here but overthrown by strong Chinese community here then last year., the Indians were the most number of immigrants and look at their influence now in Singapore. Hope next race would be the Filipinos. We can build this nation here in Singapore.” It implies that Filipinos believe there’s a contest between nationalities to project themselves as strong. In other words, pataasan ng wiwi. That’s a very obsolete and stupid belief, and reflects wrong philosophies about life.
LOL..yeah right. More like drain Singapore and do the same ol mistakes they’ve done in the Philippines is more like it.
and all of a sudden there’s such a thing as a Filipino race…when back at home a lot of them don’t acknowledge themselves as such. Ah, careers and all that stuff and what it does to a missing minority.
Are they trying to say:”We are here and we are going to take over?”, it seems that way. Arrogance at its most arrogant. Just think how loved the Filipino’s who made someone late for work that day will be.OR how the family of the person who did not make it to the hospital in time will feel towards the Filipino for blocking traffic? Filipino’s really should consider how they look when they do this sort of thing. IN someone else’s country no less,holy shit!
the irony of those who understood singapore’s history is the “ruling race” isn’t chinese.
just look at the signboard’s languages in singapore
and the sign boards and websites for philippines to see tagalog’s dominance to understand luzon’s political dominance.
A sensible and restrained post.
Allow me to put things in perspective.
The Singapore government strategy to grow the GDP is to attract people from the region and pay them very low wages (but high to foreign workers). This has displaced local workers and depressed wages for them.
And once here each community will recruit only their own kind. Singapore is only 700 sq km, smaller than Manila but 40% are foreigners, and they keep to themselves and don’t bother to integrate with the locals.
Orchard Road, where the Independence Day celebration may be held, is occupied by Filipino workers and maids on their day off every Sunday. Singaporeans have no issue with this.
In fact they add diversity and colour to the famous shopping belt.
But to hold an Independence Day openly in public is seen as going overboard and insensitive given the background I’ve just sketched.
If the event were held at the Philippines Embassy or at a private place, Singaporeans would not mind at all.
Pinoy people are generally seen as friendly and are more accepted than PRC people who mostly have zero English and lacking in social graces.
The issue is not about xenophobia but about being more sensitive in a foreign land where you earn your livelihood.
The idea that we hate Filipino is exaggerated and overblown. In fact I find the notion laughable. Don’t worry we don’t.
Hope this clarifies things.
Thanks for the perspective. I’m aware not all Singaporeans are against it, in the same sense that not all Filipinos are for the above-described manner of celebrating Independence Day. I believe these types of people are even the majority. I only wanted to call out some faults that I believe are really plaguing our countrymen. I’m happy to hear that you think nicely about Filipinos, and I hope that isn’t spoiled by the few rotten apples that turn up.
@ChinoF So do you see a problem among Filipinos when you, after hearing stories of bad things about us in Singapore, suggested that we are perhaps “the most disliked foreign group” in Singapore?
The problem I see here is that extreme self-deprecation and pessimism on ourselves. Yes, I know that we have a lot of problems but self-injury or even self-hatred is just going to hurt our international image a lot.
I see a lot of Filipinos here, without correct facts, exaggerate the problems of the country so they end up further belittling the country. If we need foreigners’ perspective, then I know a couple of foreigners and I saw some comments online that say that our sense of inferiority is a problem. Why degrade everything Filipino?
That’s just an aspect of reality I just want to say. Please do respond, I just want to know if I said something wrong 🙂 I’m just a guy saying that Philippines is not the worst place in the world.
@Joshua that’s true. Many Filipinos seem to be indifferent and not careful in the way how they construct their own statement. It’s like if your teenage daughter got pregnant and that is a very embarrassing thing to have happen and u want that to be kept confidential as much as possible so that it won’t embarrassed the daughter or the family if the whole town finds out, you would do your best to practice some prudency with what you say and if the secrets is all revealed you try and cushion the blow. But instead of doing that, mismo, some of use would be the first one to spread the embarrassing news. If we can we should not unnecessarily further embarrass the country with airing dirty laundry to the who public. It’s also like this….american political leaders might say something unflattering (for domestic audience or domestic consumption) about their country about how bad the government is being run or how their leader is a SOB in their estimation, but when it comes to talking about their country to a foreign audience, they would be very subdued and careful what they say because it is their country what they are talking about and they don’t want to put their country in a bad light even if they have something to say about that.. They know how to turn it on and how to turn it off what things they say. Wish our fellow kababayans should be more prudence in what we say.
The “the most disliked foreign group” is not my opinion, but a friend’s. Read more carefully. And I don’t think anything was exaggerated here. Please point out which here is exaggerated.
And on the issue of Filipinos being the ones airing their own dirty laundry, look at local Philippine media. They do that. Especially ABS-CBN under the helm of Maria Ressa.
Yeah, I read it again and saw my mistake. I apologize for that.
First of all, I’m glad that there is an acknowledgement of problems in this site and people here do know the problem.
The exaggerated and ignorant comments or analysis I’m referring to are in the other articles. I can put several of them but I’ll only put a couple.
One would be the notion that Filipinos must have cultural change then get their FDI’s to be successful. Well, our neighbors certainly didn’t need to change their culture.
Another one is a comment saying that we can’t manufacture trains. Well, guess what, there are locally-made agt trains in UP and a PNR coach prototype was manufactured in Laguna. It’s not yet tested and definitely not up to par with others but at least there’s development.
So, yeah…
The thing that is missing in many of these articles on this website is the feeling of “Us Filipinos”, “Your Kababayan, Our Kababayan” “Our People, Your People”, feel to it. There’s no “rallying cry” feel to it. It would be better if they tweak a little the way they write things to make it even more motivational for filipnos that are reading these articles.
“The idea that we hate Filipino is exaggerated and overblown. In fact I find the notion laughable. Don’t worry we don’t.”
This gave me a sigh of relief.. Thank you so much for being so open-minded. In fact, I’ve got plenty of Singaporean friends. And I haven’t noticed any bad feelings from them against Pinoys.
I dont get it why our Filipino Bro & Sister wants to celebrate our independence in a foreign land Publicly. I would have no problem if the Singaporean government requested for our Indpenedence to be celebrated in Singapore publicly. They should celebrate it privately or in Phil embassy. I hope a Filipino would make a anti group in FB. I would gladly support it.
Look at it in another way, Chinese celebrate chinese new years in other countries as well including in the Philippines. In the past chinese new years was celebrated and mostly confined into the chinatown areas but now with the large influx of Chinese nationals flooding into the Philippines it has become observed beyond chinatown unlike before and many filipino people could interpret that as the way singaporeans view Philippine INdepence celebration in Singapore as well. Indian nationals are also increasing their presence in the philippines and they do celebrate their stuff in the Philippines as well. But I think Filipinos in singapore should should do as the romans do if they wanted to celebrate PH independence in other country so that it does not cause trouble unto us.
Chinese New Year has a different connotation from Independence Day. It’s an Apples to Oranges comparison.
Maybe, but under the backdrop of territorial dispute with between China and the Philippines, Filipinos in the Philippines could be feeling the same way as singaporean sentiments towards filipinos in their country.
this one’s ironic too, due to the influx of foreigners , chinese new year , from my opinion and those around me, no longer feels “chinese new year”
most skipped town and go for a short holiday instead.
Celebrating ‘Independence Day’ in a foreign country? WTF?
Are they on drugs? Filipino’s are noisy. Unnecessarily so. One time I was awakened from my sleep at 3AM becuase a MARCHING BAND was going down the street,FULL BLAST!!! I was on the 6th floor of a hotel and they woke me up! I could not believe it!!
Being noisy is disrespectful to begin with and to celebrate the Independence of your own country in someone else’s country is downright arrogant.
Did people throw tomatoes and eggs at them?
****the hotel was in CEBU CITY*******
You didn’t get the point of the article vincensus ignoramus. It’s all about da pinoys like you being noisy without giving a damn on other people’s disturbance. I bet you always pump-up your karaoke’s volume to the max during at night while your neighbors are sleeping peacefully and quietly.
But what the heck. You’ll not gonna listen anyway because you’re a malakanyakanyang paid hack.
Your right, tying up traffic,making a spectacle of themselve in someone else’s country. Because,in the USA its OK for all the ethnicities to have parades because they all are citizens of a ‘melting pot’ society.Singapore is not like the USA,even if it is a weird situation. IDK who were the original inhabitants but Filipino’s having an ‘Independence day’ parade outside of their own country is absurd. Do the English have a ‘We are coming back parade’? that would be just as absurd.
Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year in other countries and Indians too. Some people could argue the same as well and find that as something not acceptable in a host country.
singaporeans generally consider new year’s day , christmas, good friday and easter sunday as holidays akin to chinese new year for the filipinos
Singapore PM Lee has spoken out in defense of Pinoy over the matter of their Independence Day celebration in one a famous shopping belt in the country.
What many Pinoy are not aware of is that PM Lee has an ulterior motive. He hopes to entice Pinoy to become Singapore citizens and then vote for him.
As the home to people’s power, I’m not certain if Pinoy who are singapore citizens would vote for an authoritarian party.
Pinoy are not fully aware that Singapore is the most repressive country in ASEAN and arguably in Asia. Singapore is a de facto police state.
Singaporeans are not against Pinoy but against their government who have stripped them of their civic and political freedoms.
As for Pinoy being noisy, it’s not the case in Singapore where they are mostly well-behaved. I interact with Pinoy every day, most of whom are domestic helpers.
How ironic? Domestic helpers having an ‘Independence Day’ parade. More like moronic, as the irony is most likely lost on them.
Filipinos should not be surprised about how they are being treated abroad. They should instead ask themselves, how are we treating foreigners in our own country. The answer is, very bad. Foreigner here are treated like second class citizens. NO equal rights apply. It happens a thousand times a day. Marcos passed an anti-discrimination law with regards to foreigners, but that is long forgotten and never applied. I could write a book about how foreigner are treated here and it would never be published, because no one would believe the outrageous stories.
Not sure where you get that sentiment, Do you see any anti-foreigner filipino website/fb page? Did filipinos ever organize anti-foreigner rally? (fyi they do in sg). Aside from foreigners being kidnapped for ransom from time to time I’d say Filipinos are less racist.
Um, many Filipinos actually DO organize anti-foreigner rallies. They happen frequently outside the US Embassy.
Those are usually leftist sympathizers. Or in some cases, they’re just their to get paid. You won’t see the same people organizing rallies outside of Chinese embassies.
Filipinos discriminate their own race. If you are dark skin, flat nose, speaks broken English, ect., your chances for employment are slim.
Oh? I wonder on what planet you live. What you just stated Jarvis is just totally naïve. Never heard the words, “you are just a foreigner”? Live in the province as a foreigner and see if you have the same rights as a Filipino. You have a problem there no one will be on your side. If you get killed, no one cares or investigates unless an Embassy is putting on some pressure. Then the constant basic “double charging”… I just had tourist friends come back from Malapascua where they took a boat. Filipinos pay 80.00 pesos, foreigners 200.00. When they complained the boatmen refused to take them. Try to get Philhealth. A foreigner has to pay DOUBLE of what a Filipino pays. How about legal matters? Good luck in court my friend! Ever drive a car in the Philippines? Being white is enough to be pulled over, even though you did nothing wrong. Some friends of mine were just robbed in plain daylight 2 weeks ago. When they went to the police station they were told that “it’s their own fault for taking a jeepney” and the cops just refused to move there asses. Can you own land here? How about a owning 100% of a company? I could go on, but I feel like I waste my time….. again.
Knowing I’m guaranteed some ‘hey, Joe!’s every time I take a walk doesn’t make me feel welcome here. I never visit my girlfriend’s family in the barrio any more because I’m too pissed off with the locals.
Obviously it’s in no way comparable to other racial slurs, and is usually more of a weird boast (“I spotted the foreigner first!”) without any malice behind it, but it still pisses me off. I get the feeling that I could live here for the next 50 years, raise a family, learn the language and culture and integrate the best I can, but still always be treated as the outsider because of my skin and nose.
@ Jim DiGriz, Yes it is just outrageous how ‘Kano’s’ are treated. It is just despicable and,Guess what? When you feel like leaving just so you can go back to your home country so you can beat the fuck out of the first Filipino you meet? That is when you have over-stayed and probably should leave the Fail-ippines and never return.The stories of experiences that have happened to ‘MOI’ are just un-believable/in-numerable , but true! Sadly, the Filipino NEVER considers that his/her countrymen will be treated maliciously by those they’ve preyed upon in their country…once the foreigner goes home and the tables are then turned.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the foreigner arriving in the Filippines will be robbed by the Taxi drivers outside the terminal at NAIA, and everyone in between, until their return to the terminal (however long that may be)they depart the country from, and then by immigration before actually boaring the plane to leave.Not a flattering picture of the country/people, but very accurate indeed.
A shitty reputation for such a beautiful country.
Oooh someone is going bananas again. FYI I’ve been to Singapore last year and I admire their discipline and their obedience with the laws and rules that I too follow them and apply it here in the Philippines as well. Oh and I’m a Filipino not a pinoy because the latter is a ghetto version of the likes of you dumb flip.
Thus the question you dumb flips can’t answer: so what? It doesn’t change the fact that dumb flips like you are undisciplined, dysfunctional human species. Face the fact indiot because you’re obviously in denial of your mediocrity embracing.
@domo yes a lot of Filipinos are like what you describe but rather than passing the buck, why don’t you take your fair share of shame as well and share the embarrassment of our country and our people
I do share the embarrassment of our country all thanks to victim playing apologists like you. And are you implying that I’m generalizing every single Filipinos when I already said about one of them specifically?
I”m just saying that we need to look at “them” as our own people, our own kababayans, our own countrymen rather than take liberties and be the “foreigner” of our own people. We all know we have a problem but let us all work together, them and us, to fix things from one countryman to another.
@Fake Winter Soldier
Jeez, this style of imitating GRP regulars again?
You malacañang trolls are sooo pathetic to think that we’d be fooled by something like that.
Besides, the GRP admin already knows that you guys are fakes.
Troll Harder
Apparently it hasn’t dawned on many Filipinos yet that noise is considered a form of pollution.
I live in a fairly decent neighborhood, but recently a few new people can’t get it into their head that they shouldn’t sing karaoke at full blast after 8pm. I call the cops on them if they go past curfew; works every time.
In the U.K we have noise pollution and environmental laws.
Even Heathrow airport has to abide by noise pollution laws.
Flights taking off from Heathrow airport head west and approach from the east over London, minimizing the noise impact on the densely populated areas.
If the wind is blowing from the west they change runways every day at 3 pm again to minimize noise pollution.
That must be it. Filipinos see noise as “happiness.” Probably Filipino smokers and smoke-belching car owners see their smoke as “happiness.”
Idiot…just because they’re noisy doesn’t mean we have to imitate their attitude as well.
Oh and stop using other people’s names and then telling us we’re the “kupals,” you’re an obvious butthurt and you don;t know it.
Looks like I missed something, but apparently, it really needed to be taken out.
The problem with Filipinos is the self centered mentality (Pinoy Pride). They should look at themselves from the international perspective. Their independence celebration were probably viewed by the international as a protest for not having enough independence from the host country.
Plainly stupid! Stupid. Again, stupid.
All your backward mentality will make your minute city-state decline. And let me tell you more of your arrogance. Singaporeans, although not all of them, are the most arrogant scumbags i ever met!
Here’s another article from The Real Singapore which describes how some Singaporeans see Filipinos
– “how come the Filipino organisers dare publicise the venue of the 8th June event even before they had applied for a police permit? Think they own S’pore and the police is it?”
So there is supposed to be a police permit for a venue, and you shouldn’t publicize before it is granted
– “S’poreans know how to organise, and do things the right way; Filipinos only know how to party. Taz why S’pore so rich and the Philippines so poor.”
– “… there are almost no murders or serious violent crimes here (unlike in the Philippines)”
– “At a lunch last Thursday with the above Filipino community adviser, he had to concede my point that S’poreans don’t go round with guns shooting people unlike what the Filipinos (“goons with guns”) do in the Philippines.”
– “As to why the adviser didn’t advise the Filipinos on the right way of doing things here? He typical S’porean. If he is asked for advice, he will respond. Otherwise, like a typical S’porean he minds his own biz.. He not like Filipinos who are always free with their advice.”
And the guy even mentioned the 2010 Bus Hostage Crisis.
Pretty harsh, but sometimes we have to think… aren’t these criticisms of us factual?
“So there is supposed to be a police permit for a venue, and you shouldn’t publicize before it is granted.”
‘Shouldn’t?’
I don’t think the comment was about legality as much as it was a criticism of the Filipino organisers being overly presumptuous in advertising the event several weeks in advance. Personally, I would be incensed if someone put up flyers inviting everyone in the neighborhood to a party at my home without asking me first.
I guess that’s common sense there.
Just like it’s common sense for Pinoys to invite themselves to lunch and overstay in time to invite themselves to dinner at the home of a friend of their second cousin twice removed. And then expect to be invited to stay overnight.
Just like it’s common sense for Pinoys to expect to be able to vacation with the friend of their old acquaintance in college who’s migrated to San Francisco without bothering to call first.
we actually see singaporeans who are robbed and shot in philippines as ” you deserved it” for going to such a lawless place.
likewise if the same attitudes are brought over we reject it and rather you bring everything back home
One of my former nannies who lives in Finland once posted about Finnish Independence Day celebrations on FB. I thought that’s nice until I saw one of her Pinoy mates suggesting they can wear their Pinoy native costumes to the Finnish Independence Day party they were going to hold at home.
Idiotic and Inappropriate.
that’s actually ok and understandable, you can even do that in singapore ( in small groups) during singapore’s own national day
what you shouldn’t do is wear something russian to the finnish independence day.
i hope this doesn’t come as something offensive but your comment is why no matter how nice and sensitive filipinos are to why we’re angry over the independence day celebrations you do not seem to understand our stance and views of sovereignty.
we do not wait for things to happen to us then cry about china.
there’s a reason why singapore is the heaviest armed nation in the region yet
(the little red dot has more combat aircraft compared to indonesia+malaysia)
keeps inviting the US to use us as a naval base.
China has repeatly invited the singapore armed forces to train at hainan islands but was rejected in favour for taiwan for good reasons.
i mean really , filipinos simply have no fear of what the future holds at all.
I have nothing much to say concerning their celebration. But we have sayings that says In rome behave like the romans. Therefore filipinos not only true they are noisy and they don’t conduct themselves well being a foreigner in a foreign land, they should abide to the law and behave like a foreigner not a national. Arabs are hated on such a manner so take lesson from that. You are REALLY NOISY people without dicretion so cultivate the manner as such.
I agree if you are in Rome do what the Romans do….I am a Filipino living in Australia for 3 decades…I was told by Filipinos who are in the Philippines that we, Filipinos are just a second class citizen…I say we are just following and doing what normal Aussies are doing…a bit of discipline does not hurt and it may probably earn respect towards us the Filipinos…I have a few friends in Singapore and they are well mannered, as I see they have no problems staying there…and lastly I salute to the Singaporeans for being disciplined people…remember we all come from the same Malay race…not being racist but what I mean lets respect each other and not be a bad guest of a beautiful country like Singapore….
While I can appreciate the joy in celebrating, I constantly get frustrated with the noise that others insist on imposing at all hours of the day that infiltrate into our personal lives and personal spaces. Although everyone most certainly has the right to celebrate and be joyful, one does not need to force others to celebrate with them by blasting loud music or other over exaggerated personal statements that are inconsiderate to neighbours whether it is in the Philippines or abroad. This is without a doubt one of the noisiest cultures and countries on the planet. Noise by-laws are non-existent.
I think it is but normal for an Asian to be noisy…perhaps we have a hearing problem or subconsciously we just have that want…want to be noticed…shame isn’t it?
I’m a Filipina. Yes, I have to admit that Filipinos are noisy but not all of us are made this way. Most of the time, I find it bothersome too coz some people just don’t know when to lower their voices or shut up. What can I say? Sometimes it’s excitement over seeing other Pinoys and so people talk loudly out of happiness and sometimes it can be ignorance or lack of respect or lack of education. And on the other end, there’s also this thing called intolerance.
yeah most filipinos are noisy. Not just celebration but even in just talking to each other 2 feet away. Pinoy pride is BS. its more of being boastful. Just celebrating one’s birthday. The whole neighborhood has to suffer hearing them sing on the karaoke.
agree and even here down under we have the same problem…I wish that they realize that we are not the only people living in the area…cheers to you mate!
Correct …about the noice I think most Asians are noisy typically…its just a matter of acceptance or buy an ear plug…shame shame shame
!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/27/us-philippines-usa-idUSBREA3Q05L20140427
Yep. The Philippines still needs her former colonial master.
Exactly what kind of independence are the Filipinos celebrating on Philippine Independence Day? Seems that Filipinos are dependent on other countries for just about everything.
Philippines OWNED by the USA
America’s whipping boy in south east Asia.
Isn’t that what most of you wanted?
It’s what a lot of bigoted Americans want. The need to feel superior by demeaning Asians.
Yawn,, please if you have nothing good to say,, better shut up. Stop non – sense in the name of the Philippines.
true mate!
Well, take it from Benign0:
The Philippines in 2013 (and 2014) remains dependent even on ‘Independence’ Day!
come on tell me what country in this planet that is not dependent to a country or other country…as you see we are so dependent to CHINA and that one day soon we are all going to be part of a greedy nation like that bully China!
Back then our people understood how bad it is being under foreign power.
nowadays we’re being made to realized that we need them since we don’t want to do anything for ourselves?
Is it really that bad to be under a foreign power?
correct but it also apply to all counties in this planet…we do rely on each other…better that way than fighting and killing people like a WAR?
of course Filipinos will complain, what more can you expect from people whose own national anthem proclaims:
“Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.”
Yes… there is more to that:
“sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil”
Hell, Filipinos must have realized na ang kay raming manlulupig ay nandyan lang sa senado at congreso. We have sleep- tight that these assholes (magnanakaw ng kaban ng bayan) had so much time to tread till they dried up the kaban ng bayan. Now Filipinos can start to sing ” sa manlulupig d ka pasisiil” tararan… taran…
I think this pinoy pride thing is pure bs. I mean why celebrate independence day in another country and be proud of your “race” while in fact you are staying/working there because you dont like it here or not competent enough to be a decent filipino in the philippines. I hate filipinos living abroad saying theyre proud of being filipinos. Theyre the worst people. they dont have a valid nationality. Palestine doesnt exist in the world map yet there exist the palestinians.
I believe OFWs and people who left the Philippines should not be censured just because they left. You can’t blame them for the lack of well-paying, safe and fulfilling jobs in their home country. Pinoy Pride is BS even when a Filipino declares it in their home country, simply because there’s nothing to back it up.
Yep. life here is a b*tch. but then again, if they left their homeland i think they have no right to be patriotic. They contradict the very meaning of it. Pinoy pride is a mystical thing used to justify our pathetic actions and promote it to the world because in reality, no one gives a shit about us because we dont give a shit about ourselves. That is why being patriotic abroad is pure nonesense.
That one though, being loudly patriotic as an OFW abroad being a dumb thing, I agree with.
Perhaps patriotic is not the right word. OFW Filipinos still like to get involve politically for the idea that someday they could go back home to retire or visits their love ones without fear from criminalities. But I agree that parading independence day from another country is not appropriate, because It could be viewed as a protest.
Let’s look at it from a different point of view.
Most free and democratic countries — especially multicultural ones like the United States — usually extend to their citizens the privilege of exhibiting and celebrating their individual ethnic identities. A way of acknowledging that their society evolved from the cultural contributions of various immigrant peoples. 17 March is the feast of St. Patrick. Originally a religious holiday, in the US it has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture and heritage. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals and a tradition of consuming large quantities of alcohol. This week, the US will see several celebrations recognising ‘Cinco de Mayo.’ In September, Mexican immigrants usually celebrate ‘Grito de Dolores’ — the declaration of Mexican independence. In October, Italian Americans celebrate Columbus Day with displays of their heritage. Neither of these activities are considered to be ‘protests.’ Local politicians often extend their greetings on these occasions. The only time you might have the local authorities interfere is if these celebrations become unruly or disrupt peace and order.
The bottom line is if you live in a free society that acknowledges its cultural diversity, your community will likely have the freedom to express and celebrate your cultural heritage. As long as you don’t break the law, you have nothing to worry about. If you are disruptive, don’t be surprised if your neighbors have a negative reaction to your behaviour.
As Johnny Saint says, it really depends on the host country’s allowances. Filipinos, no matter how different these allowances may be, should respect them.
Do you know what you are saying? Maybe Mr. Solid Snake you are not a Filipino. Am I right? Then, you follow up with the worst people. Are you out of your mind? How can you conclude in such a way? I know that there are lots of insane things in our country especially in our government but that is not enough to say that Filipinos are the worst people. Tsong superlative ang ginamit mo di mo ata alam ang meaning nyan eh. Well, I am not amenable to those people who planned to organize such big event in a foreign land because anywhere outside the Philippines we should behave in such a way that we cannot offend the people of the host country. Or else you will be confronted with the same embarrassment as what some of the Singaporeans did. They can celebrate such event without such loud speakers and noisy talking as if they are just the people around. Ano tingin nyo sa Singapore barangay nyo lang na kung saan pag magcelebrate kayo eh hanggang mag umaga di nyo man lang binigyan ng konsiderasyon ang mga kapitbahay nyo na gusto ng matulog at magpahinga. But to you again Mr. Solid Snake, do you mean that if you go abroad you lost your identity as Filipino? How come you say to OFWs including me that we don’t have a valid nationality? HUH! You’re a strange man. Maybe you are full of insecurities that is why you hate that much the OFWs. Now, if you are brave enough, you can come to NAIA 1 and tell those every arriving OFW that they are not competent, they already lost their nationality as Filipino because they stay and work abroad, and that they are worst people on Earth like that and like that. Try it! You are lucky if nothing bad happened to you there. Aside from that, do you know Philippine History? Do you know Rizal? Do you Filibusterismo? Do you know that some of the prominent families during the Spanish Colonialism did their patriotic writings abroad? If you don’t know that then you don’t have the right to tirade on us OFWs. We have done our part to help our country so, don’t say something that as if we are disgraced people. Kung makapagsalita ka ng masama sa kapwa mo wagas. Akala mo napaka intilehente mong tao. Dinamay mo pa ang Palestinians sa katangahan mo. Ewan ko lang kung masabi mo sa kanila mga sinabi mo dito pag di ka nila pinugutan ng ulo swerte mo na talaga. Nakasali ka lang dito sa Get Real Philippines napakataas na ang tingin mo sa sarili mo. Minsan nga tumingin ka sa salamin pagkatapos sa lupa ng makita mo naman kung ano ka talaga. Ganito ang gawin mo next time bago ka magcomment isipin mo maigi muna ang mga sasabihin mo pagkatapos gumawa ka ng draft kasi mukhang first timer ka lang eh.Ganyan talaga sa umpisa bira ka lang ng bira na ang akala mo ikaw lang ang magaling at matalino sa mundo.
Kaya nga tinawag ang sarili na Solid Snake e,, indeed a ‘snake’. By his words and writing, you can see how ignorant this person is, he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Me pinagdadaanan siguro ito sa buhay.
Thanks Kabayan, like you i am working overseas and being proud of my contribution to our country. As i was browsing the comment box, i found “Solid Snake’s” tirade so appalling but i choose to ignore the ignorance of this pitiful little person, i should have not. So thank you kabayan for putting your piece.
Regardless if the Independence Celebration of Filipinos in Singapore is acceptable to the Singapoean or not, the bottom issue is that a lot of Singaporeans do have a closet-room anti-filipino sentiment that they hold, the PH independence issue just brought it that out into the open.
the bottomline is – singapore belongs to singaporeans. their home, their rules.
Their government allowed it, my understanding is that they were granted a permit but due to the noise and issue raised by Anti-Filipino Singaporeans (just a loud few) our people heeded their call not to stage the celebration. We may be loud and proud but we know how to listen, its just this issue wa blown way out of proportion.
they actually don’t have the permit and it wasn’t applied and when it blew up , it was implied the police adviced them not to continue
and our countrymen should be grateful they’re there at all.
One of the counterarguments was that the Irish, Hispanic and other ethnic celebrations is places like New York are comparable to this Independence Day celebration. No, it isn’t. The Irish, Hispanic and other ethnic celebrations merely celebrate their culture, not independence. Filipinos meanwhile are trying to celebrate “independence,” it’s almost like declaring a rebellion in someone else’s town.
Independence is a celebration of our culture, its not that we’re staking our claim on their land by standing our flag up at CityHall or any other government building. Rebellion is when we carry arms and not flags or not pay our taxes in SG etc.. getreal!
given the often happening, and something that happened recently in hongkong regarding residential rights
and the frequent comments of filipinos on how they’ve contributed and singapore would die without filipinos and filipinos deserve to be in singapore
these comments often attract the attentions of singaporeans
especially things like ” singapore belongs to everybody” isn’t taken kindly
nor is the suggestions of “filipinos should make their mark as a strong race in singapore”
coupled with independence day ….
Can you please stop giving out a piece of your nonsense brain? Obviously you have no idea what is the difference between declaring rebellion and the celebrations of independence. freak!!!
I’m a pinoy. Yes, pinoy are noisy. It is the only thing that we have to celebrate. We are happy as we celebrate important day of our Independence. Remember, Philippines is a big help in singapore’s culture. We want peace in our world, but what kind of racist is this? Never EVER discriminate a “Pinoy” Or else. Let’s see Singaporean motherfuckers ./. Better watch out!
What the organizers missed (or ignored) is the growing sentiments here againts Foreign Talents (a.k.a Foreign Trash) which include Pinoys. Konting sensitivity lang ang kailangan and the independence day celebration would have been succesful. Pinoys just like Chinese nationals here are already branded as noisy people which is really evident in public places and transportation facilities. Maiingay talaga ang Pinoy 8as in MAINGAY.Ang mga Indians, maiingay sila kapag nasa Little India (area here)but when they are in other public places, tahimik lang sila (although melon amoy). Kung sana, they organized na lang sa isang ballroom area in a hotel perhaps – in short, rented a private place, they would have not faced such opposition. Para sa akin na matagal nng nakatira dito, the move was insensitive and if not offensive , the event would really be noisy. But at least the opposition is just from “few” people and even the prime minister himself was appalled by the threat from such group. Bottomline, these kind of things happens everywhere and here in Singapore, I don’t call it oppression of Pinoys but just a call to behave apptopriately. The relief is, Singaporeans themselves (including PM Lee of coyrse) who know Pinoys’ contribution to their culture came to our defense (please check this out) : http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/04/the-filipinos-who-made-singapore-singapore/
Di lang sa pagiging maingay ,,, discipline din po natin kailangan paigtingin. If we want to be proud Filipinos, let us show who really we are, marangal, masipag, mapagkawanggawa, me disiplina atp. Minsan, tayo din kasi nagpapahiya sa ating mga sarili e,, tapos pag sinita,, balat sibuyas tau at nagre-react in a negative way. PINOY tayo, panindigan natin yan sa tamang paraan.
National Pride. Filipinos in foreign lands, especially those who leave their families behind to work for a better future, sacrifice so much that it is in fact their identity, being Filipinos, is what makes them intact. It’s the only thing they could own when they are away from home. It is utterly unfair to say that patriotism dies when you go far away from your homeland. Singapore has always been a melting pot of cultures, so tell me Singaporeans, Who is the true Singaporean? You’re a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indians. Where is your loyalty, what bloodline do you possess?
singaporeans who suffered japanese occupation and were there post war singapore through the poverty years until recent properity are usually considered as “true singaporeans” anyone else who came in after prosperity is considered a “leech”
likewise when you ask a singaporean male who served in the army/police/civil defence what their views of national service is, the general response is to protect their nation and families
a recent faux pas commited when they interviewed Filipino citizens who served and regarding the issue of national service is ” I thank singapore for the opportunities given but i considered that repaid with two years of national service”
race =/= nationality IMHO
Japan is successful so far with blood rights though
Pinoy pride’s bullshit ? Excuse YOU sir . Don’t act like Singaporeans aren’t like that sometimes . In school people talk so loud theyre just right beside each other and samegoes in public . Honestly , SINGAPOREANS BEHAVE WORST THAN US FILIPINOS . Yeah you could say we ARE noisy as F*ck but hey we are noisy in the right way . Not noisy like having fights or whatever . We are having fun . Why can’t we be noisy at times and you can ? We never complained one bit about your celebrations here in Singapore, but why Singapore always complain one ? Please . Its already such a small country , you still cant stop being judgemental and cant stop complaining . I mean , sir , please lah . Learn to accept can ? Things cant always go your way and they cant go my way everytime as well . so learn to accept that you cant kick out the pinoys in sg okaycan ? And fyi , not all pinoys are how you think they are . You’ll never know , maybe we are the only way to get sg to turn into a better place because right now , i am glad i left sg cus its a place full of screwed up people , ungrateful ones . I admit , singapore WAS a beautiful country with awesome people . now , idk what happened . Its filled with pathetic people . sorry la i just have to say this since you can say what you want too .
because it’s ok to dirty your own toliet but it’s not ok for others to do so?
does that make sense if i put it that way??
What happened to the singaporeans …. This just shows how the society is screwed up already .
Again all of these are Opinions and not Facts. I certainly respect your opinions and sentiments. No one has the right to supress that opinion of yours CHINOf not even your mother or your own land you certainly know that and by that you are expressing yourself. isnt that a bit lightening? that you express and unload your stuff freely without being constricted or subdued, as long as you dont violate the law. i guess you can pretty say whatever you want. and so please look at our celebration the same way that you hold your opinion. in our culture celebration of Independence Day is the simple celebration of the Filipino culture, remembering that we were once enslaved but freed ourselves with unity. so i guess it would have been better if you try to understood the culture of the ones you just bashed. Your opinions certainly stung us Filipinos as a country but despite of that we dont need to kick your asses back the way you did to ours. It was your opinion and not of the whole Singapore. we respect and please do the same. refrain from using BS words.
@ProudPinoy: Just a side note to what you just wrote, historically speaking Filipinos did not “free ourselves with unity.”
Spain SOLD the Philippine Islands to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris; no state existent at that time recognized Aguinaldo’s declaration. In fact, if you look clearly at his Document of Declaration, the last sentence gives a clear indicator that the Philippine Islands were actually turned over to the United States.
“Independence Day” on 12 June is a sham.
Singaporeans are just like Chinky-eyed Chinese. They think they are more superior than any other nationalities in the world. Filipinos should leave and not work in this tiny country. GO TO HELL CHINKY-EYED SINGAPOREANS !!!
I am not a chinky eyed singaporeans but a round eye and yes I really despised these loud mouth filipinos
This guy can’t even get his stereotypes right. I apologize for my countryman’s behavior… He does not know.
I don’t understand the purpose of those Filipinos who celebrated in Orchard. I am wondering also if these Filipinos have already celebrated the same event in the Philippines, also why there are people who are very active showing their patriotism if they are out of their own country. In my personal opinion, celebrating your independence day outside your country is unbecoming, if we really like to show our love to our country, one must go home. Creating disturbance to other nation’s people just because you are celebrating your own is disgusting and you might be putting your country to shame, come home for the celebration where your audience are also of your kind.
embarassing…why they do that, it’s one thing to patriotic parading on your fatherland and conquered land, but on foreign land with milatary prowess able to kick your own military ass? they lucky they still able to be alive and well in Singapore.
If I live there and saw this I would have given up my Filipino citizenship immediately.
some, a very few noisy online minorities of singapore are butthurt that their maids can party at orchard rd. filipinos are one of the lowest in the social rung of sinkapore hence the punching bag insignia attached to us. they don’t make a fuss over july 4th, st patrick’s or boxing day. hmm. why is that so?
Alot is said about PHILS PRIDE but the Country is 99% Brown people and all media, movies, TV shows only have Fair Skin? That is Pride?
Very good observation. These media are the culprits of the Filipino problems.
It’s funny how some Singaporeans think and labeled the Philippines and its citizens to be “puppet’ of the US government. What a shame! They seem to have forgotten that Singapore is not what it is now without foreign interventions as well. No wonder mainland China was not able to conquer their land. Thanks to the the Singaporeans “fighters” – I mean foreign nationals who fought for the Singaporean people. They employ foreign nationals because they can’t do the work of wonders by themselves. They simply lack the skills, ingenuity, dedication, etc. Look at them now. Sitting pretty like queens and kings stooping down to other foreign nationals. They may look well disciplined outside but inside they are celebrating because at least they got some other foreign nationals slaves to them. So, if you don’t like filipinos, don’t hire them and blame them for your incompetencies. Shame.
It IS daft that they go about celebrating independence day Pinoy-Pride style. Even the Americans here in Da Pilipins don’t go so far, or otherwise only do so when they are wasted drunk.
They’re exactly like the Mexicans who celebrate Cinco de Mayo (which isn’t even a thing in Mexico itself) in Chicago, who claim they are being oppressed as a people but are only to happy to stay around albeit illegally to sop off the generous benefits.
I was riding a bus here in Manila just a while ago and it was full of Filipinos. Its just horrible. How can Pinoy’s be so insensitive?