It’s our sickness, I guess. We hate ourselves for not being white enough, and by extension look down on anyone less white than us.

Indian moneylenders are actually pretty cool, and have tided over many a family through hard times. But being Filipinos, we tend to forget this when it’s time to pay up.

If the Bumbays provide micro-credit to people who can’t get any loan from bank, friends or relatives – what’s wrong? Last time I checked – no body hated pawnshops for one’s own misfortune – why take out the anger of poverty on a community that actually takes a real risk on its money (and life) and bets on the Filipino to thrive from such help. It’s shameful.

The Chinese too lend money – albeit, at a higher scale and to a different strata of society. Perhaps that’s why they in their SUVs are envied and respected while the Bumbay collecting micropayments on the bike in scorching sun gets curses hurled at.

As far as hygiene is concerned, Filipinos take it a step ahead. I have WTF moments every time I see someone use a fork & knife to eat chicken wings or a clubhouse sandwich. At the same time, it is probably ok to eat Dinuguan at a Jollijeep across the street. Or to roast an entire piglet and let the aroma spread in Salcedo Village. To eat such tempting dishes and claim that Indians smell foul like curry is silly. Last I checked, Curry was taking over the world.

Seems that the Indians are disliked for no good enough reason. Perhaps, they are an easy and safe target for the masses.

It’s heartening however to listen to all the testimonies of kindness and friendship that the cab drivers recall from their time in Gulf with Indian peers.

@Miss Choi,

Although it’s chuckling to accept feedback on driving from girls I agree, Indian youths are aggressive and undisciplined on the road – not every single one of them, but a lot of them.

You are right about workplace too, Indians don’t take to criticism lightly, unless it is grounded and constructive. At times if not all, Filipinos are too nice to be blunt and objective so the sandwiched/roundabout feedback comes across as a whining wastage of time and not something valuable and actionable.

We are victims of contrasting natures- Indians are too objective and direct while Filipinos would rather shut up than have a confrontation. I have consciously tried to change myself over these years so if we ever work together – perhaps your perception will change

Is the high priority you put on work an effect of British colonization, do you think? Or is it because of poverty? Or something else entirely? Like, is it a traditional Indian virtue?

As much as I would love to have a priority list like the Filipino, I will not be able to survive (eat two square meals a day) if I will not have a job in India. To cite just one behavioral example – We love it when our boss calls us on a weekend. It shows that he needs us and that our job is safe. Apparently it does not work this way with Filipinos. For Filipinos, there is more to life than work. In India there is no life without work (except for those who work in the govt! :p).
Among other things, Indian manners come across as rude to most of the foreigners (not just Filipinos). But they are just fine within Indians. Another example – I would typically say Sorry or Thank you to a stranger, not to a friend or a college I think is like my friend. Sorry and Thank you are formal terms in our country. Indians are not good with social etiquettes and manners.
One last example (a common cause of disputes in office). Filipinos pay attention first to “how” something is being said and then if he/she is comfortable with the manner, he/she will listen to “what” is being said. If not, a Filipino will blank out and immediately start hating the person who is saying something really important and urgent! Indian on the other hand tends to listen to “what” first and deals with it and keeps the “how” to later.
To speak more positively for my own sake – we are people of actions then of words or gestures! :p

You might want to check this out, since you’re into history.