⌛ Emulating white people?

If you can get a better job, earn more money or at least get a more positive reaction from people because of the way you look, it's not so crazy anymore.
It's all based on the social prejudices of the time and location. I agree the history of white people dominating people of color has had a big influence on this but now it's more a matter of being socially accepted, or the belief of being more accepted. It seems there are more young Filipinos that are rejecting this standard of "beauty".
Not too long ago I read the story of a Filipina journalist who's child is half caucasian. The child was the recipient of a great deal of unwanted attention and the mother was continually being told the child should do TV commercials. The mother was torn as to what to do. She didn't want to deny her child any chances at a successful life but she also didn't want to reinforce the belief that lighter skin and a smaller nose is the height of beauty. She had memories of her mother making her pinch her nose and not letting sunlight touch her skin.
It kinda reminds me of the "Barbie syndrome".

 

I just laugh at my family and friends when they call us (my hubby and I)coffee and milk..., at least they go together. I have a kayumanggi skin and I'm happy and proud of the color of my skin. Some western (white) women spend too much money and time .....and even taking risks (sunbeds and tanning creams and lotions) just to look brown or darker skin but most of them ended up with orangey skin color.:D

So, it is not just the Filipinos (some) emulating to be white but it's also the other side of the world trying to change the color of their skin. World is funny, isn't it? But it's their prerogative, it's their choice. If they are happy about it, then it's fine by me.

 

Racism in Philippines

I still can not forget,my childhood's schoolmates poking me with umbrella and calling me racial names,regarding my skin color. I'm so glad I have immigrated to Greece thus avoiding all those inferiority problems.
A Filipina friend of mine suggested that I should not go home to PI while I'm sporting this nice healthy Greek sun tan ...I think that's disgusting:D
I still can't forget while I was the Philippines some time ago,the guy in the beauty salon that was doing my hair actually ask me if I wanted some skin bleaching...can you believe that???:D but ofcourse it wouldn't be his fault,it can only be the extreme demand that he is subjected to.
Proud to be a "TABUNON"

 

My thumbs up for RHB who have done prior research to this topic , and get the better overview how these impartialities about subject of 'looks and what is beauty ' in Philippines . This should what foreign people do before settling in or when they come to live in the Philippines, read a bit more of Ph history and culture (not just this particular beauty topic) but more to what meets the eye , some bit of sad realities, and funny bits too.This isn’t just a country with in the physical realm composed of thousands of islands , abounding with beaches ,and fish and corals , warm climate and sun , cheap alcohol , cheap goods and services , with friendly easy going people with smiles come natural and are happy despite poverty , but a country with people who has its own unique culture ,however still partly infected with bias and confusion .

The post of Chloe is one best example of how Philippine society is a victim itself of its own prejudices and biases . Based from the past centuries of acculturation that made this beauty prototypes passed along through the generations .The image of Dona Victorina ( a lady character in the El Filibustirismo )a native filipina married to a wimp spaniard , although fictitious but representative of what was observed by Rizal during his days about the changing minds of native filipinos and of women ,in terms of beauty . This Dona V , wants to be seen with the spanish socialites and strive herself to look european ,died her hair red , powder herself with some white smoothening potions to hide her skin colour , dress herself almost unimaginably european, acts like european , it’s a funny character. It’s not Micheal Jackson that influence the shift of opinion but that his way of changing skin colour contributed a tiny fraction that encourages the state of what has already been there .

Added to the agony the media of today doesn’t give justice either .It continues to cultivate ,perpetuate and reinforced the images of white-fair skinned ,long noses fashion models , mestiza celebrities of philippine cinema , beauty contests, advertisements of beauty products , which by far being restrictive and prejudice in their definitions of beauty. Easy to see this ,switch on your TVs to filipino Channels and you'll find clues to what we are discussing here.
Most you see are barrages of filipinos with chinese and caucasian ancestry beauties behind their way to films an countless adverts .You barely see these native brown skin beauties toss up to cinema stardom , international beauty contest or on adverts of products .

But then this biases perpetuates because the large masses of filipinos that adores them like gods and goddesses,supports the idea , and makes good business in the light of the investors. People buy skin whitening smoothening products modelled by these fair skin celebs , hence encouranging the creation of adored stereotype image and the continuity of impartialities.

Perhaps views of people are changing however it only carries smaller portion of the population . The large majority are still doped and in oblivion living with low self-esteem and confidence with of regard of their looks , which is really sad and is a cultural disease .

A survey of beauty was conducted by the Dove company in several countries including the Philippines and they have discovered an interesting result.
The survey in the Philippine opinion pool shows that only 5 % of filipinas perceived of themsleves as beautiful,and 55% of filipinas feeling inadequate when they look at beauty figures in magazines and 77% agreed beauty advertising is designed for women to change their appearances .

PS

Oooops , writing too long again ,goodness me . Apparently , posting one or two lines seems the only acceptable agreeable norm here lately i'd been warned earlier from undisclosed source... no definite info though from the respectable High order ,the Dane about changes of posting, but unless specific guidelines came up that i miss out of deep kindness to others who are extremely vulnerable of severe information overloads it'll send them into sudden fit of mental confusion for reading too long messages in this forum ,whew, unfortunately, one incident had already been documented ,oh dear,sorry ,lol i may get told off again soon for doing so ouch aaaaw aiiik swoooossh and get the harsh unnecessary bulls*** of this again . hope not ,gotta go it's dinner time.

 

Sa mauwat lang :D

 

I know ,kapa-it lang daghan man sang magpa-uwat prog ,sad to know .lols.

 

Here's one blog I came across whilst surfing.Believe it or not the behaviour of the grand parents are patronizing and biased, sickening .


SoulSnax: So our daughter was born the other day....

 

Well, that summed it up pretty well. Like many things we find offensive; as long as the general public is buying it, it's not going away.
Keep the discussion going! Maybe it will yield positive results someday.

 

Guys...the topic are so informative and educate everyone who will read it well.
for me, its all about not happy about oneself that you want to be someone because you thought you can be happier and become somebody.

 

Thanks to everyone for responding, even Rhoody:D , I guess if we get his attention it is either a worthy or unworhy post, or PN has chimed in

In my experience, filipinas generally speaking, deny their beauty, say they have ugly flat noses, and are too dark. I am beginning to understand why in a specific sense.. The irony is that many foreign men are attracted to just that native beauty.

It is a touchy subject, and I am thankful no one took offense or gave same.
There is a movement that some may be aware of. It is called Maharlika, the idea is to unite the Philippines in the context of their true heritage, not only in a political social context, but from a stand point of the arts and culture. Worth looking into, altough the current regime would and does frown on such notions.