Feb 25 2008
How to Detect Filipinos in Bangkok
Bangkok is crawling with Filipinos. They’re here in droves… in our hotel, in the malls, in bargain centers, and of course – in church. It’s not difficult to point them out and differentiate them from Thais and other Asians. Here’s how:
- LANGUAGE. Duh! Naturally, Filipinos speak in Tagalog. But even if they do speak in English, the Filipino accent is easily detectable. We definitely pronounce our Rs better than the Singaporeans, Malaysians, and Thais. And we don’t say lah after every word or sentence like the Singaporeans and Malaysians. But we do have our own mannerisms in our English like using the words ba, diba, na, ha. I can tell that I’m beside Filipinos while shopping in the bargain center. They say:
You give me good price ha because I’m buying plenty from you, diba?
What is this made of ba?
Mommy, you buy me this watch ha?
- FASHION. Filipinos are more casual than other Asians when they’re touring. Japanese and Chinese women are more dressed up… like they’re going to a party while Filipino women are more casual… like they’re going to the palengke (market). Other Asians wear thick make-up, put up their hair, and wear expensive jewelry when traveling while Filipinos just use a bimpo (face towel) to wipe off their sweat. And of course, Asian women wear stiletto heels while touring (how the heck do they do thaaaaat???) while Filipino women wear comfortable shoes… like Crocs, for example.
- FOOD. I could tell the Filipinos in our hotel during the buffet breakfast by the food on their plate. Westerners have toasts, jam, pancakes, marmalade, fruits and cereals on their plates. Other Asians get the noodle soup with the chicken and vegetables (I couldn’t eat vegetables in the morning). Filipinos naturally pile up their plates with all the heart-attack specials… the fried rice, sausages, bacon, dimsum, and omelet with everything on it.
In KFC, Filipinos ask if rice is available. They are usually disappointed with the reply. Then, they also ask for gravy. Sadly, here in Thailand, gravy is not automatically included with the chicken. You either have to buy the gravy or, if the branch doesn’t provide gravy, you have to get the mashed potatoes which come with gravy
- TAWAD. And of course, how could I forget the Filipino signature? Bargaining! Boy, but Filipinos could bargain their way until the vendors are in tears. Haha… now, that is one Filipino trait that I don’t have.
How about you? Besides asking them, “Kabayan, Pinoy ka ba?” (Countryman, are you a Filipino?), how can you tell if a person is a Filipino when abroad?”
Technorati tags: Bangkok
Thailand
Filipinos
Filipino traits
Filipinos in Bangkok
- Pepper Lunch
- Shopping in Bangkok
- Pinoy Gathering in Cambodia
- Sunday Market with the Well-Heeled
- Tourist Privileges in Thailand
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hahaha not that I have many escapades abroad but one thing that is known to be a Filipino trademark is when they ask for your name, they will follow it up with “ahhh Mendoza? may kilala akong Mendoza sa Cubao. Kilala mo ba si Consuela Mendoza? Kapitbahay namin yun noon”…
Well, there’s always “pssst”. hehe
hi toe, i need some information on the FSO exam, and luckily, i found your blog site! i think most of my concerns are already addressed in the FAQs section. but i think i would need some of your personal info (say, ur real name,hehe). i hope u can help me. dont worry, all of these would be used only for purposes of academic discourse. thanks!
lester,
(student)
Verns, hahaha… naku, I get that all the time. And don’t forget, “taga s’an ka?”… which I always reply with… “taga-Kamuning.” And then, there is “kumain ka na ba?”
Wil, hehehe! Funny… being abroad and then being called “psssst.”
And what about pointing directions with the nguso? 
Hi Lester! You can email me on the address indicated in the “About Toe” page.
it’s like sa amoy pa lang (not necessarily the physical “amoy”, but the instinct), alam mo na na may filipino within a 5-meter area. and filipinos are all over the place–global, so they say.
basta, the moment i get inside a church, alam kong may filipino, the moment i hear merry laughter, aha! may filipino.
even in places where you don’t think there will be one, you will find one–i found one filipino in bhutan, even in a remote place in pakistan
or in hotel lounges–chances are the bands are filipinos!
hahahaha…sumakit tyan ko sa kakatawa Toe! Just like you mentioned kahit naka English I can tell by the accent talaga hehe. Tapos kung Ilonggo sila I can tell hehe. I normally ask, where they are from kasi minsan na dyahe ako eh di pala Pinoy hehe.
you’re so right about those stiletto heels. sa boracay meron akong nakitang mga maliliit na butas dun sa part ng sand na dinadaanan ng mga tao, alam mo kagad na mga koreano yun. stiletto sa beach?!
minsan din nakikita ko mga anak ng mga pinoy sa US todo english with american accent tapos sila tagalog na tagalog ang english. pero kahit hindi ako kausapin parang me instinct na kong pinoy sila.
Astute observations! Tawa ko nang tawa.
Dito din may mga babaeng naka-stilleto nag-go-grocery shopping lang.
“heart-attack specials”
The good news for me is UK’s big on the fry-up, too. So ang kulang na lang sa mga B&B at hotels ay fried rice hehe
I have to admit though, hirap akong malaman kung Pinoy ang kaharap ko. Tatlong beses na kong bokya, nakakahiya. Either thai o malaysian pala.
Rice at KFC ? Only in da Pilipins.
It’s quite easy to spot a Pinoy although I have been proven wrong many times with Chinese looking Pinoys. Akala ko Chinese never suspecting na Pinoy pala hehe 
Jolly! Or should I say, masayahin? Eh, baka nga maingay! Hehe. As long as may kasamang Pinoy ang Pinoy dito, you can really single them out in a crowd (except for those who’ve learned from Thais to be a little more discreet and quiet). Pinoys always can find something to laugh about kasi, thus explains the so-called ‘ingay.’
The food! ‘Twas only here that I realized Filipinos do eat a lot! Mostly proteins, yes, but the plates are always loaded, even in eat-all-you-cans where you can always go back naman for seconds (or thirds, never mind the fourths). I remember organizing a church retreat where the majority who came were Filipinos–at mealtimes, ang bilis maubos ng food! Ang lalaki na ng mga mata ng waiters and staff, they could hardly believe that the food they prepared for all the guests were finished off by less than half of the whole group! Super frantic and panicky na yung mga cook, they were scrambling around in the kitchen trying to cook some more food!
“Ayun o, Pilipino” and proceeds to point with the nguso. Pilipinong-pilipino yan!
Actually, I can’t, either I guess they are, or they are not. There was actually a funny experience we as a family had, in Japan.
One day, we were getting off the train station, which was underground. So we were ascending via the escalator, when my dad remarked, “Ang pangit naman ng babaeng yun sa unahan.” And the rest of us chimed in, “Oo nga, ang pangit niya.”
Suddenly, the woman turned around, and although she didn’t say anything, her look made it clear that she understood what we said.
It was very embarrassing.
Actually, I have a friend who’s Chinoy but oftentimes being mistaken as from mainland China or from the east asian countries… According to him, at various times and places (different countries) he would have heard Pinoys making “pintas,” saying these fatso doesn’t know how play golf or this fatso doesn’t even know that we’re already making fun of him… He felt that he had to voiced out and expressed that he understood what they were talking about… to the surprised of the Pinoys, they started to apologized profusely…
para sa kanya, oks lang, kasi sanay na rin mapagkamalan siyang taga ibang lahi… I thinks sometimes we have to watch whatever came out from our mouth, malay mo, naintindihan pala ng katabi natin na hindi natin alam…
sexy mom, yes, you’re right… and churches are definitely the best place to find Filipinos. When I went to church in Bangkok, the choir members were all Filipinos, the lector was a Filipino, and of course, the entire congregation was Filipino.
Yeah… most hotel bands in Asia are Filipinos. Here in Cambodia, hotels are always proud to say that they have a Filipino band.
Momoftwo, hehe… I guess it would be easy to detect an Ilonggo accent.
Hahaha… kamukha nga natin mga Indonesians and sometimes, the Malaysians. 
Carlotta, hahaha… that is so funny… mga butas sa sand…
Dito din sa Cambodia… nagpupunta sa mga temple ruins ng naka-stiletto… pano kaya yon? 
Yeah… you could tell they’re Filipinos… even with the American accent. 
Auee, I wonder what kind of toes those people have.
Oh yeah… the Brits like their food fried no? Like the fish and chips. 
Pero wala ngang fried rice. 
Yup… the Thais and Malaysians really look like us.
BW, ako cguro yon… I’m always mistaken for a Chinese and Honey for a Japanese.
IA, oh, you’re absolutely right… and we not only eat a lot, but we also chatter a lot while eating. I notice that in restaurants, waiters always get shocked with the amount of food we eat… and you know there’s a group of Filipinos because they stay there to chat until closing time.
Haha… next time you organize a retreat, order food for twice the number of people.
Pinayhekmi, hahaha… oh yeah… we’re the only ones who point with our ngusos.
Linguist-in-Waiting, OMG… hahaha…. dami kasing Pinoy sa Japan.
Bakit guilty siya? Siya lang ba yung babae sa unahan? 
Tin, yes, I totally agree with you. And of course it’s not respectful to talk about other people in front of them. And there are also some non-Filipinos who could understand Tagalog.
I also always get mistaken for a Chinese.
nakakatuwa naman ang entry mo. totoo nga naman itong mga observations mo. hehe. yung TAWAD powers? wala rin ako nun. nahihiya din akong tumawad ng todo, lagi akong conscious sa facial reaction ng tindera pag ngumingiwi na, give up na agad ako. Yung KFC sa Shenzhen, mais sa halip na rice kabadtrip. Tapos sa KL naman, walang gravy, hot sauce lang. nakaka-disappoint nga.
di rin ako magaling mag-spot ng Pinoy from a crowd lalo na kung nasa SE Asia din ako. Unless magsasalita sila. Noong nasa Cambodia kami, lagi kaming 100% na nahuhulaang Pinoy. Lagi akong curious kaya lagi kong tinatanong kung paano nila nalaman. Ang mga usual na sagot? Language, tawad powers, physical features, hehe.
Rayts, pareho pala tayong walang tawad powers… naaawa sa tindera.
Mais? Haha… patay pala tayo sa Shenzen. 
Naku… ang pangit… KFC at hot sauce… mwahahahahahah! 
Aaaah… isa pa kaya kayo nakikilala… simple, pero may laman yung mata.
Makikilala mo talaga yung Pinoy sa tindigan. 
Filipinos are everywhere na talaga. It pays to know a third language.
When my sister and I go traveling we speak in French even though we don’t have blue eyes and blond hair hehehe It is safer than being understood by other Filipinos 
Ten years ago, while in HK with my barkada, one of my friend (also a Tsinoy) mistook a pretty Indonesian girl for a Pinay in Victoria Park. He only realized his mistake after he noticed her looking perplexed as he gabbed away in Tagalog…
Hehe…natawa ako sa heart-attack specials at breakfast..I plead guilty since I just did that this morning at a conference where the breakfast spread was a gastronomic temptation island…diet starts to-, no, next week!
By the way, you forgot to include saying “psst” and pointing with their lips, I’ve seen that a lot among Pinoys in Bangkok as well, hehe, nakakamiss…
Toe, yes, siya lang yung babae. The place was deserted, so siya lang talaga yung tinutukoy namin. Nobody else around to pass the blame kunwari.
Daphne, lucky for you… I have to learn French na talaga.
Snglguy, haha… Indonesians do look like Filipinos a lot… same race. Even Bahasa sounds a bit like Tagalog.
Gypsy, anokavaaaaah? Don’t you know that it’s a proven scientific fact that breakfast buffets in hotels contain absolutely zero calories????
Haha… psst and nguso… Pinoy na pinoy talaga.
Linguist-in-waiting, hahahaha… nakakatawa talaga ‘tong kwento mo.
Wala pala talaga kayong lusot. 
Here in Winnipeg, you can definitely tell an Asian is Pinoy because they always have a ready smile and nod for you.
Honeyville, ayan talaga ang pinoy!
Mahirap mag-assume kung minsan esp if just judging by the looks. My hubby always laugh at the “nguso” for pointing and for saying “close the lights” instead of turn it off.
Leah, yes… we look like some Thais, Malaysians, and Indonesians. Haha… literal ng sarhan ang ilaw.
I’ve never been out of the country so i have no idea hehehe.
but you are so right with other asian tourists especially japanese. most of them are wearing what a regular pinoy consider a party dress when fetching their children sa school, with make up, alahas, perfume and all, kulang na lang ballroom music at DI me sayawan na!
and with the heart-attack meal, GUILTY AS CHARGED! haha
Zherwin, hahaha.. ballroom music at DI.
Pero hinde… that’s another trait… pag magaling sumayaw… Pinoy ‘yon. 
Oh yeah… we all love the grease in our food.
Ay naku, number one ang mga Koreano sa mga fasyon na di mo maintindihan. You’re right, the women wear high heels to the beach and the men wear floral print shirts over plaid shorts. Nakakahilo nga ang mga combination nila. And they alway come in 3’s, di ba
Pinoys are more porma and more mabango. And they can text like mad. And they say “eh” all the time.
I know what you mean about the “heart attack” specials sa mga buffet. Hoy, I’m guilty of that too. Dinadamihan ko na para makatipid ako sa lunch..hahaha
Kongkong622, hahaha… floral print shirts over plaid shots!
Oh, you’re so right about us being mabango… we take showers even in the coldest weather “eh”. 
Hehe… hindi lang dinadamihan sa buffet… nagbabaon pa ng tinapay.
Hello Toe,
here are my observations/answers to your question:
1. When with a name tag you see an asian looking person with a less conspicuous asian name. like Anna, Bert or Allan.
2. When you look at someone approaching and they tend to look otherwise but still glance at you as if confirming if you are what they think you are.
3. If you smile at them when you approach them and they dont.
4. When you greet them “How are you?” and they directly ask you a question/tell you something and never reply to your compliments.
5. If they speak up loud when inside a subway so people could hear. I dont know why they do that but Ive seen a lot so I confirm that they are Filos. Sa huli mag tatagalog/bisaya. sus!
6. In email when they start the message with a Sir/Mam
7. When in group, they walk as if in a line.
8. When the group suddenly stops, pose and smile on a camera all in a fraction of a minute. then walk in line again.
9. 90 percent of a chance they’re the asian guys in the clearance section of a department store.
10. This is what Im proud of. When you see a malay looking and talking good and clear english who even have the local accent. Or at least how they (my superiors) compared me to my Indian counterparts! hahaha
Again these are my observations i notice most of the time and confirm they’re Filipinos. And being a tourist/OFW abroad, I have been in a couple of items mentioned.. hehehe
Hellloooooo Kent! Homesick ka na no?
Hehehe… I enjoyed your observations about Filipinos abroad. I agree with all of them… especially the talking loudly in the subway and speaking English very well. We should all be proud! 
I also liked your trivia about Kamuning. You know what? You should have your own blog about your adventures there in the States.
pag naka tsinelas thai , pag naka rubber shoes pinoy. you can really tell from the way they dress.
Aleks, hahaha…. mga pinoy talaga, mahilig mag-rubber shoes. Yeah, and the slippers of the Thais have heels.
haha…you need to remove your shoes before you enter in some offices and houses in Thailand,that’s why the Thai people would rather use slippers.
Aleks, haha… that’s quite strange… barefoot in the office. I wish my office was like that though.