Cultural question about what makes one a "Foreigner".

I'm a half Filipino/German man that was born and raised in the USA. I lived in Dumaguete when I was 11-14 years old for a little cultural immersion so that I wouldn't be "too American". I'm a Filipino citizen by birth because my mother was still a PI citizen when I was born. I never actually met my father so my entire life I grew up with nothing but Filipino relatives in the USA plus all of the ones I'm well acquainted with in Negros.

I'm moving back to Dumaguete this coming Sept 30 to attend Silliman which is what's prompting me to ask this question:

Even though I understand enough but can hardly speak Bisaya, half blood, and a full citizen, am I still a foreigner in the eyes of the locals?

 

Hell No I would say....embrace your heritage and study hard. You bring home the BEST from around the world. Good Luck to You

 

It depends on your values. If you criticise the filipino you will be seen as a foreigner.

 

I would disagree, aking Asawa criticizes yet I do not. I would certainly not be seen as anything other than a foreigner in a crowd of Filipinos.

 

There are Foreigners and Foreigners!

You may find this strange and hard to believe but I am not the only one that has heard this. My Brother -in- Law now 64 is a Filipino from the North of Luzon, he married my SIL when he was 22, while he was in the Army Stationed here in Negros. He Spoke Tagalog and 2/3 local dialects from Luzon. He was some 9 years Learning Visayan. To this day, he is still called a Foreigner in Dumaguete. My Wife's Ex boss was from Baguio, she too was called a Foreigner.

I am sure, you will not be a total Foreigner here, Unless that is what you want to be?

Your Heritage is What matters and How you view that. Important too is being one or the Other you can't be both and always get it right and be Happy. IMHO
No matter what, I would wish you well.


JP

 

There are Foreigners and Foreigners!

You may find this strange and hard to believe but I am not the only one that has heard this. My Brother -in- Law now 64 is a Filipino from the North of Luzon, he married my SIL when he was 22, while he was in the Army Stationed here in Negros. He Spoke Tagalog and 2/3 local dialects from Luzon. He was some 9 years Learning Visayan. To this day, he is still called a Foreigner in Dumaguete. My Wife's Ex boss was from Baguio, she too was called a Foreigner.

I am sure, you will not be a total Foreigner here, Unless that is what you want to be?

Your Heritage is What matters and How you view that. Important too is being one or the Other you can't be both and always get it right and be Happy. IMHO
No matter what, I would wish you well.


JP


Oops got a Double post sorry Guys.

 

Worth repeating Tito Jack

 

Hey thanks for the opinions. I'll keep them in mind. Getting pretty stoked now that my departure from California is coming this sunday. It'll feel good to be in a land with just ONE culture again.

 

[h=1]Au contraire My much to be learned friend. If you know of the Philippines then you certainly know it is a land of many cultures. :D[/h]

 

Open Mind My friend come with a clean open Mind. Sort the Wheat from the chaff and the World can be your Oyster as you may have heard, "It is more Fun here"