What shall you do to avoid negative traits of Filipinos?

Answer 1

While it is always hard to generalize and impose stereotypes in certain races, being aware of the cultural and geographical attitudes of people is not a bad thing.

Growing up in the Philippines, my people are more or less known (especially by Westerners) as opportunists who take advantage of foreign visitors by hoarding money from them in a scheming fashion. This is true in some metropolitan and rural areas, but not everyone is so. The Philippines has been colonized by many countries before (Spain, America, Japan) and the people have learned to adapt to various races, making them naturally friendly and warm to foreigners. So if you are a foreigner visiting the Philippine islands and people are treating you extremely nice, they possibly just want to make you feel at home. Hospitality is a must for the locals. However, just to avoid falling into a "debt of gratitude", always set the record straight and let the locals know what you like and do not like in terms of service. People will offer to do various things for you (like being your personal driver, your personal assistant, travel adviser, etc.) and might expect you to pay a large sum of it at the end of your stay. If you do not want this happening, ask them nicely if they expect compensation from their offers. If they genuinely just want to help you, they'll refuse your money. If they want or need money, they are likely to say "It's up to you", which means YES. Filipinos are genuinely polite, sometimes to a fault, where they do not spell out what they really want out of being misunderstood as demanding. Of course, it all boils down to who you meet because not everyone is like everyone.

Answer 2

To avoid negative traits in any culture, it's important to educate oneself about the values, norms, and behaviors that contribute to those traits. Building awareness and understanding of different perspectives can help in fostering empathy and respect. Engaging in open communication, practicing active listening, and being open to feedback are also vital in breaking stereotypes and promoting positive interactions.