In a lot of countries, the word Filipina is synonymous with domestic helpers, nannies, mail-order brides and prostitutes. This we have to accept. I have nothing against people engaged in these trades, hey prostitution is the oldest profession in the world. I cannot argue with that. Obviously, it’s necessary for the existence of mankind.
With a risk of sounding like Malu Fernandez, I have to admit that in the beginning of my stay in Switzerland 4 years ago, I did not appreciate to be asked if I was a mail order bride or if my husband bought me (yup!) or if I take care of children. I was trying to be a scientist but all I got was judgmental stares as I walk along Zurich’s streets. I felt that I was being dismissed and belittled just because I was Filipino.
Just paranoia? I don’t think so. Once, while collecting insects in a field just outside Zurich with my husband (who is Swiss) for a biological experiment (we used to work together), a Swiss farmer on a tractor saw us. He immediately jumped out of his tractor and ran towards my husband. The farmer while staring at me, excitedly asked my husband where he found me, if I cook well and if I have a sister! I felt like a cow for sale getting appraised.
In Rome while on vacation, I was refused entry to a McDonalds! I felt so humiliated when a crew pushed me out the door while shouting at me in Italian. I bit back the tears as I went back to my husband waiting outside for his food. I couldn’t comprehend why I was treated that way. Is it because I was Filipina?
For a few months, I resented Filipino mail order brides and OFWs all over the world who I thought was responsible for my difficult time in Switzerland. I resented them for not being proud enough to refuse to sell their souls only to be second class citizens of another country. I blamed them for my inability to get respected in my new world and for being stereotyped as a domestic helper. I went as far as to pretend to be South American!
Please don’t burn my blog just yet and continue reading.
Subscribe via email to receive updates from FilipinaImages.com
Related Entries:
Entries (RSS)
March 1st, 2008 at 4:46 am
i gotta admit, reading your blog made my blood boil on how foreigners treat filipinas. maybe i’m bit sheltered since i live in california, and believe me, there’s a lot of chinese, filipinos, russians, indians, basically just everyone. i had those green card jokes but not as harsh as the experiences you’ve had. we shouldn’t blame ourselves for other people’s ignorance. more power to the filipina.
March 1st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
It is also quite international here (30% of the population of Zurich are foreigners) but somehow the people are still a bit xenophobic. I actually experienced other events in other European countries:
Vienna, Austria - an old woman shouted at us ” go home foreigners” in German while on a bus.
Zurich- saleswomen gossiping about me that I am not nice and impolite in their language (what they don’t know is that I understood everything they said)
Spain- my cousins were also thrown out of a shop with the saleswoman shouting “pobre” (beggars or something)!
etc etc.
Now, actually, I just hold my head high and not care.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Wow, I think I may have laughed off some of the situation as just some culture clash with a dash of ignorance, but the McDonald’s thing? I don’t know what that bugs me more than the rest. How strange! What made you think it had to do with your being Filipina? I’m curious because I’d like to visit Rome one day.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hi Alice,
Because the McDonalds was full and I was the only one stopped and pushed out… By the way, I love Italians (have many Italian friends now)! It only happened once to me in Italy, I had been to Italy several times after that and it has always been pleasant aside from that one time…
Cheers!
Cathy
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:00 am
Thank you for sharing your experiences. You have just contributed to the upliftment of the Filipina by sharing your story to the word.
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hi Noemi,
Thanks! =) I am very happy to share it.
Cheers!
cathy
June 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am
hi guys,
i really felt bad after reading about this……i know what other countries
saying about the philippines and filipinos/filipina but i am still proud to be a filipina……..nway thanks for posting this atleast we are more aware on how to handle things like this. more power to all filipino and keep it mind
dignity is far more important so don’t give foreigners reason to put us down……Mabuhay everyone…..