Filipinos vs. Thais - A Cultural Comparison
Posted: April 21st, 2016, 10:47 am
A great post in our FB group. He didn't post it here, so I'll do it for him.
Filipinos vs. Thais - a Cultural Comparison
An opinion and observation.
Most Filipinos would not place themselves in the same category as Thai people. They usually don’t know much about Thailand. And it is the same with the Thais. They know very little about the Philippines.
However, many Western people and also, N. Asians, when they talk about SE Asia, say: “Thailand and the Philippines” as if these were sister countries.
How are they similar and why do they get dumped in the same category by many outsiders?
First, to Western and N. Asian eyes, Filipinos and Thai people physically look very similar, if not the same.
The culture appears to be also quite similar. Yes, of course, a Filipino is Hispanized and Americanized to an extent, but they are still SE Asians in most of their culture and being.
To wit:
It is very hard to tell an average Filipino face from a Thai face. When Thais see Filipinos, they often think these are ethnic Lao from N. E. Thailand.
Even though many Filipinos think that they are “ Spanish” and “ Americans”, they really look very much like Thais. Except that the Thais generally do not have wavy hair and they have zero white blood. Many Filipinos, otoh, do.
Both are mild mannered and even-tempered and do not get emotional or angry easily. It takes a long time to wind them up, but when you do, they lose control and lash out in anger. Then, they can do things which can include even harming another person. After they cool off, it’s often already too late.
Both have the concept of face and “ hiya” ( shame). In Thailand, the word is “ai kau” To lose face is very bad. It goes for all activities in life. So, what you really do is not as important as what you appear to be doing.
Both place social harmony above all else. Thus, both are very tolerant of others. At least on surface. They tolerate differences of opinions and they tolerate others’ mistakes.
Conflict avoidance is more important than proving oneself right. Thus, negative emotions towards others are released from distance and behind those people’s backs. There are no heated discussions or arguments. Except secretly as gossip campaigns.
Both dislike criticism. It’s just not part of the culture. So, if others do bad things, or if bad things exist, they just don’t criticize and don’t complain. Except in secret and as gossip. They just tolerate them.
Any criticism or even a suggestion that “ you should” is seen as an insult, and they often respond by finding something negative in the criticizer and attacking him. They just can’t take criticism or suggestions well.
Both often have the belief that problems should be ignored, and instead, one should concentrate on the positive and just talk about positive things. Problems will go away by themselves if you disregard them. Just smile and enjoy and endure things.
Both include silence into communication. For example, it is common to witness long stretches of silent behavior. People go out or sit and eat and there is no talk, no questions. Nothing. Thais are more like that, Filipinos - a bit less so. This makes Western and N. Asian people uncomfortable. But SE Asians, in general, can just say nothing, ask nothing, and just sit there silent and not have a discussion of any kind. They can just smile and again, be quiet. Long pauses do not make them uneasy.
Both use the stratagem “ I was just joking” after they say untruths- to save face. Also, telling untruths is very common in daily lives and in dealings with other people. They just see it as ways to avoid conflict and maintain harmony.
Both do not find it improper to ask personal questions or to talk about another person in third person while that person is sitting in front of them.
In both nations, social prejudices seem to get stronger as you move up on the social ladder. The poorer, the more accepting and more tolerant; the richer and more educated, the less tolerant. An exact opposite of Westerners. Uneducated Westerners can often be very bigoted, but as they get educated and move up, they become more open minded. In case of these two SE Asian countries, poor common people seem to be way friendlier than the richer and educated ones.
As far as mingling with other races or foreigners, it is the poorer people in both countries that seem to do it more readily. Which is the opposite of the USA where poorer people as a rule stay away from other races or foreigners- whom they often despise.
You rarely see an educated Thai married to a white person. Same with Filipinos, by and large. Educated Filipinos seem to prefer other Filipinos. Otoh, educated Americans seem to mingle and even marry other races and foreigners more easily.
The main differences:
Thai people do not worship the West or America, except materially. And even then, they prefer to follow the Chinese model of capitalism, not the American model. They do not like to emigrate except some who do, to make money, but most still prefer to live in Thailand.
They don’t like the English language that much. An educated Thai becomes even more Thai because of his education.
Otoh, the more a Filipino becomes educated, they more he/she becomes closer to Americans in thinking and action. This creates a bit of a ambivalence inside of a Filipino because he/she, as a SE Asian, still strives towards social harmony and conflict avoidance. But Western culture thrives on difference in opinions, on criticism and disagreement.
But a Thai does not seem to have this problem as he/she is happy to remain Thai and act Thai. They are taught that their culture is great and pure because they were never colonized.
As far as other races and cultures, the Philippines provides many “ hooks” to which almost any foreigner can latch on to. Americans will find the US culture to hook up with, Arabs will find the Muslim culture to associate with, etc. There is a long history of absorbing outsiders-even if it is not perfect.
In Thailand, only East, North and SE Asian people can fit in well. Whites, blacks and Indians are on the outside most of the time. They are always foreigners. Many Thais dislike other ( not Oriental) races and want to avoid them. You can hear bad remarks daily, plus the body language shows it. There are also many establishments where non- Oriental people are not welcome. They don’t feel comfortable around you, that’s just the fact. They will, of course, deny it as they will say, it is because of the language, but even if you learn the language, it often makes things worse. They find it strange and still feel ill at ease around you.
This is not an absolute, but the Philippines is way less prejudiced against other races overall. There are way fewer bad, racial remarks heard, for one. There is also greater diversity in ethnicity, while Thailand is more monolithic ethnically.
Filipino people also have more body contact whereas in Thailand they touch less and are more standoffish overall.
Having said the above, the Philippines and Thailand are still very similar when looking from the outside. I would even go as far as to say that if a Western or N. Asian wants to understand Filipinos, he/she should stay in Thailand for one year. He/she will be able to understand the “soul” of any Southeast Asian way better that way.
Filipinos vs. Thais - a Cultural Comparison
An opinion and observation.
Most Filipinos would not place themselves in the same category as Thai people. They usually don’t know much about Thailand. And it is the same with the Thais. They know very little about the Philippines.
However, many Western people and also, N. Asians, when they talk about SE Asia, say: “Thailand and the Philippines” as if these were sister countries.
How are they similar and why do they get dumped in the same category by many outsiders?
First, to Western and N. Asian eyes, Filipinos and Thai people physically look very similar, if not the same.
The culture appears to be also quite similar. Yes, of course, a Filipino is Hispanized and Americanized to an extent, but they are still SE Asians in most of their culture and being.
To wit:
It is very hard to tell an average Filipino face from a Thai face. When Thais see Filipinos, they often think these are ethnic Lao from N. E. Thailand.
Even though many Filipinos think that they are “ Spanish” and “ Americans”, they really look very much like Thais. Except that the Thais generally do not have wavy hair and they have zero white blood. Many Filipinos, otoh, do.
Both are mild mannered and even-tempered and do not get emotional or angry easily. It takes a long time to wind them up, but when you do, they lose control and lash out in anger. Then, they can do things which can include even harming another person. After they cool off, it’s often already too late.
Both have the concept of face and “ hiya” ( shame). In Thailand, the word is “ai kau” To lose face is very bad. It goes for all activities in life. So, what you really do is not as important as what you appear to be doing.
Both place social harmony above all else. Thus, both are very tolerant of others. At least on surface. They tolerate differences of opinions and they tolerate others’ mistakes.
Conflict avoidance is more important than proving oneself right. Thus, negative emotions towards others are released from distance and behind those people’s backs. There are no heated discussions or arguments. Except secretly as gossip campaigns.
Both dislike criticism. It’s just not part of the culture. So, if others do bad things, or if bad things exist, they just don’t criticize and don’t complain. Except in secret and as gossip. They just tolerate them.
Any criticism or even a suggestion that “ you should” is seen as an insult, and they often respond by finding something negative in the criticizer and attacking him. They just can’t take criticism or suggestions well.
Both often have the belief that problems should be ignored, and instead, one should concentrate on the positive and just talk about positive things. Problems will go away by themselves if you disregard them. Just smile and enjoy and endure things.
Both include silence into communication. For example, it is common to witness long stretches of silent behavior. People go out or sit and eat and there is no talk, no questions. Nothing. Thais are more like that, Filipinos - a bit less so. This makes Western and N. Asian people uncomfortable. But SE Asians, in general, can just say nothing, ask nothing, and just sit there silent and not have a discussion of any kind. They can just smile and again, be quiet. Long pauses do not make them uneasy.
Both use the stratagem “ I was just joking” after they say untruths- to save face. Also, telling untruths is very common in daily lives and in dealings with other people. They just see it as ways to avoid conflict and maintain harmony.
Both do not find it improper to ask personal questions or to talk about another person in third person while that person is sitting in front of them.
In both nations, social prejudices seem to get stronger as you move up on the social ladder. The poorer, the more accepting and more tolerant; the richer and more educated, the less tolerant. An exact opposite of Westerners. Uneducated Westerners can often be very bigoted, but as they get educated and move up, they become more open minded. In case of these two SE Asian countries, poor common people seem to be way friendlier than the richer and educated ones.
As far as mingling with other races or foreigners, it is the poorer people in both countries that seem to do it more readily. Which is the opposite of the USA where poorer people as a rule stay away from other races or foreigners- whom they often despise.
You rarely see an educated Thai married to a white person. Same with Filipinos, by and large. Educated Filipinos seem to prefer other Filipinos. Otoh, educated Americans seem to mingle and even marry other races and foreigners more easily.
The main differences:
Thai people do not worship the West or America, except materially. And even then, they prefer to follow the Chinese model of capitalism, not the American model. They do not like to emigrate except some who do, to make money, but most still prefer to live in Thailand.
They don’t like the English language that much. An educated Thai becomes even more Thai because of his education.
Otoh, the more a Filipino becomes educated, they more he/she becomes closer to Americans in thinking and action. This creates a bit of a ambivalence inside of a Filipino because he/she, as a SE Asian, still strives towards social harmony and conflict avoidance. But Western culture thrives on difference in opinions, on criticism and disagreement.
But a Thai does not seem to have this problem as he/she is happy to remain Thai and act Thai. They are taught that their culture is great and pure because they were never colonized.
As far as other races and cultures, the Philippines provides many “ hooks” to which almost any foreigner can latch on to. Americans will find the US culture to hook up with, Arabs will find the Muslim culture to associate with, etc. There is a long history of absorbing outsiders-even if it is not perfect.
In Thailand, only East, North and SE Asian people can fit in well. Whites, blacks and Indians are on the outside most of the time. They are always foreigners. Many Thais dislike other ( not Oriental) races and want to avoid them. You can hear bad remarks daily, plus the body language shows it. There are also many establishments where non- Oriental people are not welcome. They don’t feel comfortable around you, that’s just the fact. They will, of course, deny it as they will say, it is because of the language, but even if you learn the language, it often makes things worse. They find it strange and still feel ill at ease around you.
This is not an absolute, but the Philippines is way less prejudiced against other races overall. There are way fewer bad, racial remarks heard, for one. There is also greater diversity in ethnicity, while Thailand is more monolithic ethnically.
Filipino people also have more body contact whereas in Thailand they touch less and are more standoffish overall.
Having said the above, the Philippines and Thailand are still very similar when looking from the outside. I would even go as far as to say that if a Western or N. Asian wants to understand Filipinos, he/she should stay in Thailand for one year. He/she will be able to understand the “soul” of any Southeast Asian way better that way.
Well done.