Philippines and America: Love Beyond Cultural Differences

The Philippines is the home of extraordinary cultural differences.

With various ethnic groups spread throughout the archipelago—and its complex history of colonization from Spain, America, and Japan—the country’s diversity is evident in all of its modern practices.

The Influencing Cultures

The Spanish occupation of the Philippines introduced Catholicism to the Filipinos. Aside from introducing religious celebrations like barrio fiestas, the Catholic Church also became the center of nationalism and power, which heavily influenced the depth of the people’s emotions and drive for passion.

Moreover, the remains of Spanish culture in the country are visible in the present, not just in the dominant religion, but also in the language, law, education, family names, music and arts, and cuisines.

Through the influence of the Americans, the Filipinos gained an affinity for the English language, which has remained an integral part of the local culture since its introduction. Today, there’s no shortage of love for American pop culture, movies, music, fashion, cuisine, and more.

Japanese culture, on the other hand, contributed to the strict work ethic of the Filipino people, emphasizing all the hard work and dedication that is still practiced in the local workforce today. They also exposed Filipinos to their own brand of art and aesthetics, cultivating a deeper appreciation for artworks and a keener eye for detail.

Now that you have a solid overview of the various influences behind Filipino culture, it’s safe to say that marrying a Filipina ensures versatility within your union despite the many cultural differences between the Philippines and other countries.

Over the years, Filipinas have found marital bliss with foreign nationals such as Americans. With the clear-cut cultural differences between the Philippines and America, what exactly makes such unions so perfect? Let’s explore!

The Ways of Communicating

The act of communicating can be as unique as different cultures art. Americans are known to value directness while Filipinos value the opposite. Their tendency towards being polite and indirect is comparable to the Japanese in this case.

Filipinos typically use non-verbal communication to keep things subtle and peaceful. With this dynamic in a relationship, the importance of both high-context and low-context communication is highlighted.

Their Similar Work Ethic

Both Americans and Filipinos exhibit solid work ethics. Yet, the latter value the well-being of an organization as a whole, leaning more towards collectivism as opposed to individualism. They go beyond what’s expected of them at work, partly because of this in addition to the strength of their work ethic.

Their Differing Beauty Standards

The beauty standards in different cultures vary, as some Filipinas may feel insecure about their brown skin due to the widespread Filipino belief that lighter skin equates to beauty. On the other hand, Americans love to compliment the natural tan of a Filipina and wish they themselves had it. This definitely closes the gap when it comes to beauty in different cultures.

Contrasting Opinions on Punctuality

This difference between American and Filipino culture is often controversial. Americans greatly value time and efficiency while Filipinos are more laid-back, and may not be as punctual. If you find yourself fancying a Filipina, give her some grace if she arrives late to your date. Don’t sweat it or give her grief.

The Prioritization of Family

The Filipinos’ culture of having strong family ties drives them to value quality time with their families even in between hectic work schedules. While there are also many family-oriented Americans, many more are likely to value their careers and are resistant to sacrificing their working hours for some family time. With this, a Filipina’s value for unity makes a home filled with love.

Valuing Personal Independence and Space

Americans tend to be more self-reliant and value solitude more than Filipinos. The latter, by comparison, are more likely to want close physical proximity, especially when they are communicating. This may also lead to misunderstandings of them not respecting personal boundaries, but this is just one example of how Filipinos show their concern and how connected they feel.

How to Bridge the Cultural Gap

Recognizing the cultural differences of Philippines and America is one thing, but bridging the cultural gap makes the final flourish of a lasting relationship. Here are some ways to guide you through it:

Show Respect for Each Other’s Cultures

Acknowledging each other’s differences comes with mindfulness at all times. When it comes to getting to know each other, the questions to ask someone of a different culture may be tricky. So be careful of your words, actions, and customs, and try to empathize with your partner’s cultural roots.

Have Patience

Learning and adapting to a new culture takes time, so give each other grace in adjusting. Be willing to learn and understand how they see things from their perspective.

Be Open and Honest

Honesty leads to trust, which is among the most crucial elements that relationships need to survive. You and your partner should encourage openness and honesty as much as possible, especially since this makes it easier to meet one another halfway. This is also the best key to truly get to know each other.

Be Supportive

By offering support, you create a sense of belongingness with your partner, allowing them to feel accepted and valued regardless of any pre-existing cultural differences.

Use Positive Affirmations

Filipinos gravitate more towards positivity, given their upbeat and resilient nature. Showering them with praise and assurance is a great way to receive the same from them, or even more.

Showing Your Willingness to Socialize

Filipinos can be social butterflies as they enjoy getting to know people on a more personal level. They will greatly appreciate seeing you try to socialize with their friends and family members. This also has the added benefit of establishing better rapport with your partner’s loved ones.

The cultural differences in the Philippines are remarkable on their own. The country is a perfect blend of cultures that includes Indonesian, Malaysian, Chinese, Spanish, American, and Japanese backgrounds.

In these modern times, where tradition is on the decline due to cultural differences between generations and the influence of social media, there’s even a chance that the cultural values you’ve read about here won’t apply to the Filipina you’ve stumbled upon.

Still, love persists. It rises above and beyond race and cultural differences.