Why are filippinos ashamed!?

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kahlan nynaeveÂ®

it is not really because filipinos are ashamed. it's a cultural thing.

unlike other nationalities, filipinos are not so much into eye contact but then we are a people who love to smile.

among many nationalities, since i work in the travel industry and have a lot of guest contact, americans and australians prefer the most eye contact. europeans require less eye contact and even lesser eye contact for filipinos and other nationalities. least eye contact is done to koreans and japanese.

the last paragraph is based on experience but i do not generalize. of course the eye contact would depend on the personality of the person, whatever his or her race is.

sweet water

No they are not ashamed, and they donâ€™t hate you. They are merely avoiding eye contact with a stranger to avoid potential complications in the future. Please allow me to explain.

Let's imagine a possible scenario where instead of looking down at his feet, the Filipino (or pinoy) is to respond with a warm greeting to a stranger who says hello to him. The stranger might follow up with the usual "Can you tell me what time it is," whereupon our pinoy is obligated to again respond, because he is helpful. Then Stranger might make comment like what a fine morning it is and Pinoy, because he is always nice, might say he agrees when in fact the day has started lousy and it looks like rain. Then Stranger might casually ask Pinoy how to get to Cubao, and Pinoy might say that coincidentally that is where he is going also, and that they can wait there together for the next bus. And while they are waiting, Stranger might attempt to strike a conversation with Pinoy, who out of courtesy might chat patiently with him for a while.

Next day they might even meet again in the same place at the same time, and they might again engage in more small talk. These trysts might go on for a few more days and the two might get friendly enough that Pinoy might even invite Stranger to his house one Sunday afternoon on the occasion of his daughter's birthday. Then Stranger might meet Pinoy's daughter, they get along fine, he might ask Daughter out on a date, go to the movies perhaps, have a little dinner somewhere, and before we know it they might even fall in love with each other.

Then one day Stranger might want to marry Daughter, and might ask Pinoy for Daughter's hand. Pinoy might think therein lies a problem, for if Stranger cannot afford to buy a watch, he probably cannot support a wife either.

That's why Pinoy is looking down, because he wants a better future for Daughter.

i wish it was the opposite for me. when i was in the philippines, men looked at me and would always make kissy faces at me. VERY uncomfortable. i guess cause it was obvious that i wasnt from there.

i dont think the guys are ashamed. i think its maybe because they're shy since they dont know you and they kind of freak out when a stranger says hi to them

Aref H4

Perhaps, the question might be rephrased, with "embarassed" instead of "ashamed". Anyway, I do not believe Filipinos are either one or the other. There is only one thing I could think of, and it involves your height.

If you are too much tall and is constantly looking down at me, I would feel like a guinea pig being scrutinized by someone who is either interested in my genes, or who wants to have me for lunch.

Believe me, it is not embarassment that could be the underlying reason why we might look down at our feet.

If you are a man, and you happen to be so tall, and looking down at me, I might appear to be looking down at my feet, but I'm actually looking for a weapon to defend myself, in case you decide to spring down at me.

If you are a girl, I could be looking down at my feet, to check whether I had a recent pedicure, or that my shoelaces are tied. Anyway, if you're a girl and a looker, I also could be looking down at my feet, to signal that in bed, the difference in height is negligible.

Johny

probably because they are nervous or that you might look pretty damn good looking and aren't up for the challenge.

annabelle p

It's a form of habit inherited from past generations; it's a sign of subservience or respect. Filipinos are also, by nature, shy. So, don't keep their bowed heads or lowered eyes give you a different meaning other than what I said.

Pink Red

They are actually embarrassed and we Filipinos find it difficult to start a conversation so we just ignore the hints of getting into conversation.

MSV

Probably trying to figure out what next to say in English...

Also, well its not customary for Filipinos to just automatically say hello to a stranger, as the opposite in most Western countries. You see any Filipinos waving and saying hello to everyone?

Probably the most common reaction when you wave to them and say hello is probably "who in the world is this crazy guy waving at me... I don't know him... let me pretend i didn't see it by looking at my feet... and so he won't talk to me in English and have to reply with my carabao English..."

Smiling Gloria

Greetings noh? Please don't generalize Filipinos noh? Only the trolls are ashamed noh? They are shameful ugly haters noh? Trolls are the ones like that noh? Filipinos are nice people noh? I'll make this answer short noh?

phrase for the day noh?

shame on trolls noh?

It's not shyness. It's has something to do with our culture. A sign of respect. Looking directly into one's eyes is rude.

Mholer I

it's because we have so much reflect for women that we vow down or lower our eyes when talking to women

pero_102

being so good looking is quite intimidating

grace

that is because we are shy.
I also do that thing.... lol

maej

filipinos are not ashamed, we're shy!

we're all conservative, men and women alike.

however, there's always an exception to every rule!

Juan C

I agree with "kahlan nynae"... it's not they're ashamed, it's a cultural thing... it's a form of respect...

fralix

It's being chivalrous, actually.Filipinos are friendly in general....They have this high respect on women...Or maybe you were barking at the wrong tree????

Noypi

It's just the way we are.I presume you are a foreigner.So,naturally guys of the opposite sex take time to make the first move at conversation much more if you are a foreigner since we don't usually see aliens like you.

g0ld3n88

You don't hear that question to often, it only happens to you so there must be something wrong with thee.

Very W

Whatevers. No such thing. The minute you're not looking at them is the same minute when they stole your wallet without you knowing.

Don't fabricate things and make yourself look as if you're wanted or admired. It doesn't exist in the mindset of any Filippinos.

knowell

maybe you're fat!?!? and you look intimidating!

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