by Gary2310 » Mon May 20, 2013 10:42 am
I think it's important to clarify a few points...
The Philippine people are, without a doubt, known to be some of the most peace-loving and caring people in the world, and their sense of hospitality truly exemplifies their warm and loving hearts.
Philippine women are known not only for their exquisite physical beauty, but also for a beauty they possess that goes beyond the senses...Strong family values, independence and individuality blended with more traditional nurturing traits.
Having said this, some of the observations made about many Filipinas looking for foreigner husbands as a way to better their lives and the lives of their families are accurate. It's part of their culture. And, for most of them, there is NO intent to deceive or take advantage of some unsuspecting guy under the pretense of love. What I'm saying here is that the majority of the Filipinas looking for foreigner husbands do so with the idea that love, financial security, faithfulness, concern for family, love for children, etc. all go together.
It shouldn't be too hard to understand where the family loyalty comes from. If you grew up in a family with 3, 4, or 5 siblings and your parents, or single parent as the case may be, worked very hard their whole lives to feed and clothe and educate you and your siblings, it should be a natural feeling to want to "give back" some of that in the way of financial assistance to help your aging parents live a little better. Sadly, in American culture, this is not the norm. And so, for many western guys, the concept of being obligated to help support in-laws is something they are just not familiar with. And, I really believe that it's the "obligated" part that many guys have a problem with. Most western guys, I believe, would naturally want to help family that was in need, especially a family that welcomed them into their lives and treated them with love and respect. It's human nature, when you feel loved and connected to people, you naturally want to help those that are need.
So, just to be clear, I think that many Fil-Am relationships are built on love and on an understanding of each partner's culture. And, I think the reason why it seems like there are many instances where Filipinas marry foreign guys strictly for money, or for a green card, or any other of the negative reasons, is because it's human nature to talk "loudly" about the bad and to be quiet about the good.
Now, that's not to say that there aren't Filipinas that are just interested in a foreign guy's money, because there are, for sure. Just as there are American women and European women, and women all across the globe looking to marry a guy just for money. But, these are the exception and not the rule. I do believe, however, that the desperate life situations that exist in the PHI encourage those Filipinas that may be morally compromised and, therefore, are willing to try and capitalize on two of the most driving human emotions, that is, love and the need to have companionship. But, again, these are the exception and not the rule.
Above all, what's important is communication and education. We all need to understand the realities that exist so that we can avoid those people that wish to take advantage of us. But, at the same time, we want to be able to pursue enjoyment in life, and so we can't allow ourselves to be too cynical. Cautious yes, absolutely. And, it's not really difficult to do. It's not that difficult to be perceptive and to "read between the lines". A little common sense goes along way to keeping all of us out of trouble. For example, a young 20-something Filipina looking for a foreigner husband of "any age" is probably not looking for love. Will this be true in every case? No, of course not. But, certainly, in the majority of cases it will be true.
It's important to note that it's unfair to generalize traits and tendencies of a whole group based on the actions of a few. I'll share with you all that I am Sicilian-American. Meaning that I was born and raised in the U.S., but my family originates from Sicily. Many people, incorrectly, believe that Sicilian culture is the same as Italian culture. It is not. Nationally, my family is Italian, but culturally we are Sicilian. And, many who hear the term 'Sicilain' immediately identify with what Hollywood depicts all Sicilians to be, that is, members of organized crime families. This couldn't be any further from the truth. The vast majority of Sicilians are peace-loving people, with a deep sense of family and of God. The majority of Sicilian men have strong family values, are faithful to the women in their lives, and treat women (all women) with the utmost respect. Hollywood, however, would have the world believe something completely different about Sicilians. So, you see, it's unfair to generalize.
It is important, however, to be well informed. And, that's what this forum is (or should be) about. We need to be able to talk about real life issues in a respectful and, yet, accurate way. That's how we learn, by exchanging ideas. Everyone's thoughts and ideas are important because they inform us about the human spirit. Differences of opinions are OK and, in fact, they are healthy because they challenge our own sensibilities and encourage us to re-evaluate how we perceive life.
Best to all!