Do Filipinos take kindly to constructive advice/criticism from foreigners?

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i go loony

It depends on the kind of criticism. Some people think they give the constructive ones but they're not really constructive at all. It would be better if the person giving that so-called constructive criticism know something about the lives of Filipinos in the past that could have affect its present status. Filipinos are open to criticisms but I don't think we deserve the abusive words they use to attack the Filipinos. Actually it makes me think that anyone outside the Philippines thinks he or she is perfect.. Sometimes people tend to think that its the Philippines they all can see... and they (foreigners) can't see their own flaws...

windblown

First is where to draw the line between constructive or not. Maybe to the person speaking, its constructive but to the one receiving it, no or yes. One factor to be considered is the culture. Most westerners can say things 'directly' (without choosing or thinking the words) but they do not want to offend anyone. They're used to it. While Filipinos, by nature, will carefully choose words because they do not want to offend other's feelings. Sometimes its called onion-skinned but the reason behind is the culture and we have to respect that. This does not apply to everybody in the Philippines.

If you are in the Philippines, embrace their culture and traits. Just like in any other country. The saying goes, 'If you are in Rome, do what the Romans do.' If you do not want to embrace the culture, just get out of the country and stop criticizing its citizens or maybe the least that you can do, is how to understand the traits.

Just like this question, its full of (not so) constructive and quite arrogant if the Filipinos will read this one. How can you ask for the Filipinos to take a contructive advice or criticism if you do not know how to make a constructive question?????

Marie Grace

The culture differs a lot on how they deal with criticisms. Filipinos value their pride even in the midst of anger & poverty. While it rocks we don't let foreign people's opinions damage our ego or dictate our lives.We don't need constant feedbacks from people outside our country, good or bad, because we have a strong sense of self. We don't really waste time deconstructing petty things from foreigners. If we hear something like that, we might fume for a second but catch ourselves & think, this is ridiculous. It's important that certain people respect us, but we won't let a few snipes from the rest of the world affect us. So there you go.

vibal

This is one good question I almost miss.
After I read a hate letter against Filipinos going around in the internet few years back, I said I will stay connected with the internet to take my revenge. This may be the reason why sometimes I feel bad really reading some questions as if criticising us Filipinos.
I welcome constructive criticism. But the way some questions are constructed, intentionally or otherwise, raises my pride as Filipino. .
We are so messed up here. We hate corrupt government officials. Corruption is a big deal. Just recently, one man created trouble in Manila taking hostage his own 26 pre-schoolers in a bus for I think 9 hrs,, condemning corruption in the country and demanding free education and housing for his wards. Of course, we are so worried. For me, he has the right to air his grievance against goverrment corruption.

But for a foreigner to ask me, Is your country corrupt? Whatever his good intention might be, he has no business to ask me that question. I will retort back with madness.

We are raised with different cultures, different traits. What is common to us is the English language. We can speak what's in our hearts in the language you understand.

Filipinos undertand the world. Filipinos are everywhere. Filipinos in America understand that Americans hate illegals who will compete with their jobs, pull down their wages, medical care, social welfare, etc. Anyone who will defend the illegals, will hear nasty Amercian words

It's the same thing.

As I said, I welcome constructive criticism from foreigners but they have to consider local sentiments.

♥^-^♥ Mabuhay! ♥^-^♥

Mabuhay! My thing is, if you don't know me, then I don't care. If you know me & you are my friend, then I care. If that criticism is true, then fine. I don't care. Foreigners can make comments/ criticisms to us. They can say whatever they want and do what they want, you know... within the guidelines. But just make sure that it's the truth because I only work on distinguishing the VIP views from the petty ones. ♥^-^♥

?Cleopatra?

As a Filipino, I couldn't care less about criticisms. The comments from fellow Filipinos matter; foreigners don't. It's not like we have to follow other's advice all the time, but we try to listen without dismissing the so called constructive advices/ criticisms from foreigners that have nada to do with us, and it's not your problem to worry about.

sansrival

Anybody can accept constructive criticism if said on the right way! I had encountered alot of criticisms to Filipinos in this site. Most people connotate Filipinos with domestic helpers and prostitutes! I beg to disagree!
I am a Filipino American but I want to correct what most people think of Filipinos! Filipinos value education alot and if there is really a way, then COLLEGE graduation is the goal of every Filipinos!

I had talked to domestic helpers in Hongkong and they had stayed there for 10-15 years. Filipino mothers will do anything just to give their children the best education! Dont degrade these people, one of them was featured in the newspaper having saved for a business here in the Philippines. She had bought lots and developed a resort! Have you heard of the Filipina domestic helper in Singapore who helped raised 4million pesos for the operation of a child?

Filipinos who are into prostitution just want to get rid of poverty and really are sacrificing alot for the benefit of their family. Do you think these prostitutes want what they are doing? Prostitutes are not only here in the Philippines but all over the world.

DC Fanatic

Anybody can accept constructive advice / criticism. The problem is, not everyone knows how to give one. More often than not, what is pressumed to be as constructive are actually racial, prejudicial, etc.

You cited about "getting an earful". Well, constructive advices / criticisms are not and should never be an earful to anyone, else they become just a litany of negatives against a person.

c",

sheer♥black

Hmm well, I think because every culture is different. Like for example, I have a Chinese friend and it's part of their culture to speak very frankly which are often offending to others but for them, it's just natural. You see, it's our culture to be careful in choosing our words so as not to hurt others. As you already know, we are warm people and very hospitable to others. Thus, you can understand how sometimes we can get offended but only depending on the words and how they are said, and I guess also how the person project him/herself to the person or people s/he's talking to. I think that being thin- skinned of the Filipinos shouldn't be said with a kind of exaggeration because as I've said, every country have different cultures, and this is the Filipino culture. But to answer your question yes we take construcive criticsms kindly but I guess it also depends on the person and the person giving the criticisms. Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not a very good speaker, lol.

the_queen

Because every individual are different.

I know where you're coming from, i had come across your questions before about Filipino's and i think most of it are very condescending.

Alright, you're giving constructive criticism about Filipino's on what they should be doing and what not. Or how our Government should do this and that, but you know what you don't really know what's going on, what the Filipino people feel, it's easy for you to criticize because you are American and you are an outsider looking inside and thinking if they should just do this and that this country will be different.

You have to remember that when you give suggestion or criticism to our country you are setting a higher standard because of which country you've come from and you just think that all is responsible for what's going in our country.

And really, I've never really see any constructive criticism from your answers and questions here in YAHOO about Filipino.

Juan C

yeah... some Filipinos are too sensitive... so don't criticize them... but here I tell you, once Filipinos are being criticized by others, especially in their own country, they won't give up 'til they will take revenge verbally versus the one who had criticized them... likewise as someone did to them...

but always consider this, not all!!!

and, it really depends on the people... but why are you specifying 'Filipinos'...???

Blue Heaven

♡*•.♡ If you're not a Filipino, then why are you so worried about Filipino's opinions? We don't really give a bleep what other people say. It seems like you come off as really tough, but in reality, you're incredibly fragile. So you rationalize anything that's critical by saying, "Well, that person's just an idiot and doesn't know what she's/ he's talking about." It seems like you built a fortress where words simply bounce off you. Why the thick-skinned sister?♡*•.♡

Lola

foreigners or americans like you are very straight forward in you dealings with other people. you guys are use to straight talk or straight to the point and you don't care if you hurt the feelings of others for you guys are brought up that way. it's how you express your own opinion. filipinos are very careful in what they say. we find ways not to be too direct to avoid conflict. your culture is different where you say what you think without a care. i'm used to american ways of dealing with people and i don't take it seriously for i understand that you guys are brought up that way. in the same way, you need to understand the culture of the filipino people.

Elgy

That depends on the person who receives the advice and how you say the constructive criticism. There are a couple of answerers who already mentioned how different our parents are from us - which would mean we have different way of understanding and reacting to a constructive cristicism from a foreigner. We also know that some words are said out of good intention (as a constructive criticism) but end up hurting other people. So, sometimes it depends on how you state your criticism.

If you've encountered Filipinos who are onion-skinned, I also encountered foreigners who are the same. The Americans may laugh and simply ignore the criticisms addressed to their president/s and government agencies but I've seen and heard varied reactions when someone made a general criticism to Americans. Not all of them are nice to hear, esp. when the person from another developed nation is giving Americans advise on how they should behave in another country. Comparing how they (the other developed nation) affected in a positive way the countries they had colonized and comparing them to how America has affected the list of their colonized countries. Some Americans get defensive over this and reason out in All American ways. So, you as an American have no problem getting an earful from anyone, but I'm sure there are other Americans who are not. Same with Filipinos. Giving criticism to a person (no matter what race or nationality) is hard enough, because when you give criticism like that you know you have a responsibility before and after the criticism is given, what do you expect when you give criticism/advice to a nation? You as a person will be questioned, your intention, etc.. It's the same with personal constructive criticism or advice. Take a family, a simple social unit, but when parent advices a child, there is still a question of how the advice will be received, how it will be addressed, will the child listen, can the child understand or feel that the intention is to help...

Going back to giving constructive criticism/advice to a nation - I think the fact that Western culture is so common in the Philippines will make you realize that the country has not only listened to a lot of Western advice and thinking - we have actually somehow embaced and copied it, for good or for bad. From the education system, government, capitalism, and even the form of Christianity/religion. It is just that more and more Filipinos are now aware, that advices and criticisms, good or bad, not only affects Filipinos as a nation. The question now is, if you are saying this might be a good advice for Filipinos, what's in it for the person/group who gave the advice? Will it give a particular country an unfair advantage of dumping their unwanted products to Philippines at no cost? Will it make Philippines a puppet nation of another country? etc..

I think that these will all come into question when you advice a nation (not just Philippines).

binibining pilipina

Constructive criticism. The kind meant to fuel a person’s progress. Often used in the Sandwhich Technique: one good thing-the thing you need to improve on-another good thing.

Criticism dripping with contempt whether passively in condescending undertones or in overt negativity. It is occastionally difficult to tell the difference between the two espeically if some of the constructive criticism isn’t positive. Which IS possible. However it’s entirely in the environment you’re in and the person’s emotion behind it.

I do not let people who feel inferior with themselves pass on the sickness. As a kid I saw how my reactions often fueled them. Later on I learned by showing them that I was reacting it was fueling their own torment, because to hurt someone else is to hurt yourself.
That person learned somewhere along the way that to communicate with people is to continually remind themself how awful they feel about themselves+this acts as a projection=”My god, are you really going to wear that today?!”

I found myself having compassion for the way they feel. I found that the very act of doing so is gradually eliminating the need to remind myself that I am just fine the way I am. If I’m supposed to be something then I would be. Simple as that. If I really am to come into something then in due time by my own motivation I will be.

Big P

TO: Arienne 3.

Your answer is complete with knowledge of the situation. I am really learning more and more about the filipino individuals from their inner expession here in yahoo answers.
There are many answers that are thorough and straight to the point. I am learning and beginnig to understand more of the people of Philippines.

All your answers is helping me to understand filipino society.
I am very interested in the Philippine culture and people and my knowledge continues to grow.

I still blame the Philippine Government for what the citizens have to put up with around the world.
OFW's are not fully protected and have no rights in other countries.
They continue getting abuse and treated like slaves.
there is no one to turn to when they have problem.
sometimes the filipina have to bow down and succumb to their employer to avoid trouble.
I think this treatment should be addressed to U.N. for Human rights. Its a crazy world out there.

I blame Philippine Government for everything.
They should be criticized severly.

arienne321

It depends on how the advice or criticism is delivered. Some can take it but most cannot.

I believe this is rooted on the old feeling of subjugation or the belittling that Filipinos got from their former colonizers. While before, our grandparents and parents, let words pass through the left to the right ear without reacting, the succeeding generations have a different raction. And this is because the current generation has traveled a lot more and developed an ear or antenna in gauging the words spoken or written about him. When traveling to another country, particularly as overseas workers, Filipinos are subjected to insults both verbal and physical, that as a matter of self-preservation they developed the aggressiveness previously not shown by their elders, just so the other party won't repeat such insults.

And believe it or not, the citizens of the country where Filipinos work really look down on them as Foreigners especially if they find out that these Filipinos have a mind fo their own, more so if more intelligent that they are. And if they could not take that from a proud little brown Filipino with a small nose, how much more could they take it from a good-looking one? Just imagine good looks going with an intelligent mind! Formidable! So insults are a common fare for those Filipinos, who then develop this natural resentment over any comment good or bad coming from a stranger.

Besides, almost always, most of those criticisms are really intended as veiled insults, more than a well-meaning advice.

And what is funny is that those who have not traveled at all to Asia, (sometimes even just outside their country) are the ones who give a generous amount of criticisms or insults.

You may think differently from the rest, because you have traveled a lot around the world, but what of the majority of the citizens in other countries? Those who have not gone out of their country for fear of being kidnapped, being killed or of being terrorized?

And you have to take it also from the perspective of reception. When foreigners visit the Philippines, Filipinos who are naturally hospitable welcome them with an openness not found in any other country. When these Filipinos have their chance to go out and go to a foreign land to work, while not expecting back the welcome they give to their visitors, get a shock of their life being subjected to insults. And since the insults are directed mostly to their dignity, they develop a natural suspicion of any criticism, they take it as an insult.

And just try checking the web, a lot of negative write ups are made against Filipinos because those who parlay them enjoy getting the reactions. And do you know how some Americans call Filipinos in the US? Flips. Flip minded? Crazy? If some could take that as an endearment coming from a friend, what do you think could we expect from an enemy.

well that depends on ones view how he accepts criticism from a foreigner it not always what you say but more of how he says it.. funny but it happened to me one time its like a thunder volt but you know im happy that his vocal at least i learned from it.

burning ice

i'll die for you

Heinz M

Does anyone?

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