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Racial Privelege in the PH
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In the Philippines, do light-skinned Asian Americans (e.g. Chinese, Korean or Mestizo) who move to the Philippines have a “racial privilege”?
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If you mean legally, like the Bumiputera system of Malaysia and Brunei, or Apartheid in South Africa, then no. Nothing in the Philippine constitution discriminates or favors people based on race. But being light-skinned is seen as more aesthetically pleasing (especially for women). So you’re generally seen as being more attractive. This is especially true with the the half-White half-Filipinos, as the tone of skin is generally the ideal pale golden hue (i.e. light skin that does not turn lobster red in the sun), which is what Filipinos usually find attractive. If it’s obvious that you’re a foreigner, then yes, you will receive the same treatment as other foreigners. You’re a guest, which holds a special place in Filipino culture. Thus you will have “special privileges” in the sense of being given a tourist treatment. On the positive side, people are a bit friendlier and more hospitable to you and will often be delighted to show you parts of the Filipino culture. From food to the language to local attractions. On the negative side, you’re seen as being more affluent (which is usually true). So hawkers, tricycle/taxi drivers, etc. will swarm you for business. A few will give you “foreigner prices” which is higher than if their customer was Filipino, but this practice is relatively rare unlike in say, Thailand. Except for taxi drivers in big cities (if they won’t put the meter on, don’t enter the taxi). If you look like a Filipino of if you can speak the native languages fluently (a big plus), then you’re treated the same as everyone else. People will probably mistake you for a Filipino-American (Fil-Am), which are increasingly common among the younger generations.
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Oh dear let me tell you now no foreigner living in the Philippines has any privileges just because they are foreigners in fact it’s quite the opposite, if you upset a Filipino you could find yourself deported , don’t believe me we’ll go ahead and see how much privilege you have if you come here as an arrogant foreigner thinking you can do what you like and say what you like .