10 Cultural Differences Between America vs. The Philippines

Today we tackle the cultural differences between America and the Philippines. Everything from slang, etiquette, quirks, attitude, and standards from both countries is discussed in this video. The Philippines is, without a doubt, one of the most diverse countries in the world, so seeing how the Philippines compares to a westernized country like America is interesting to say the least.

Bear in mind that this list of cultural differences is a generalization of both nationalities so not all Filipinos and Americans do the things we talk about. There are plenty of differences between America and the Philippines, some big and some small, but at the end of the day both countries are rich in culture.

This list of cultural differences is speaking from my personal experience, being that I was raised in the U.S and now currently living in the Philippines. Everything spoken of in this video, I have experienced because I've lived in the Philippines for a couple years now.

If you want "Similarities Between America and The Philippines" next, let's get this video to 150 likes. Subscribe to stay tuned on more content coming from the U.S and the Philippines. Appreciate you Savvy Expats!

Timestamps:

0:00 10 Cultural Differences Between America vs. The Philippines
0:22 Cultural Difference #1: Quirks & Expressions
2:13 Cultural Difference #2: Use of Words & Slang
3:34 Cultural Difference #3: Philippine Culture is Polite & Sensitive
5:33 Cultural Difference #4: Pace of Life
6:22 Cultural Difference #5: Sharing in Philippine Culture
7:25 Cultural Difference #6: Americans Are Adamant About Personal Space
8:24 Cultural Difference #7: Respect for Elders
9:01 Cultural Difference #8: Rules Aren't Followed
9:49 Cultural Difference #9: Meal Structure
10:41 Cultural Difference #10: Tipping

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Tags:

Differences Between America and The Philippines, Philippines vs. America Differences, American Culture, Philippine Culture, American in The Philippines, Philippines, America

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[TheSavvyExpat]

If you want the similarities between America and the Philippines next, let's get this video to 150 likes! Subscribe to stay tuned for more U.S and Philippine content. Appreciate you Savvy Expats!

[gregorypetty]

I been to both Japan and the Philippines, and I also noticed that both Japanese and Filipino people are sensitive as well. Plus, being polite is embedded in both Japanese and Filipino culture.

[waterheaterservices]

This information is very helpful, thank you for it. I hope to have a successful mission in Mindanao helping families. This helps with understanding from a USA point of view.

[gend]

If you look poor or not well dressed up they will not entertain you here in the Philippines, they are so prejudice to their own kind, it's sad.

[franzricajean]

I can testify the sensitivity here though. You have to avoid sarcasm and insulting statements to avoid disrespect and fights to Filipinos. I once dated a westerner and I also went to The US once I was extremely culture shocked because I was born and raise in the Philippines and We got to a lot of arguments for one year of dating because of my sensitivity.

[beevjoy]

We are advice by the health experts to use umbrella to protect us from sun rays which is dangerous to the skin especially from 10am to 3pm

[keemoe]

I live in Hawaii. I was born here yet I am Portuguese. My friends growing up was of many nationalities. Many were and still is Filipino. I love the Filipino people here in Hawaii. Many words and expressions are the same as the Philippines in Hawaii.

[InNOWvations]

You said Americans are direct when ordering food, but didn't mention how a Filipino would order food.

[gabrielamalaya]

Putting hands of the elders on your forehead is a practice that Filipinos share with our austronesian brothers in Indonesia and Malaysia where they call this practice "salim". That means they too take the hands of their elders and put it in their foreheads. Another austronesian practice we share with them is when the whole neighbor helps out in transferee houses by literally carrying it from one place to another.

Remember as a Filipino do not forget that aside from our Spanish and American colonial roots, we also share strong ties with our austronesian brothers. Are you even aware that a lot of tagalog words are similar to Bahasa Indonesia. Yes.

[timkahn]

shaking hands was first used to show you did not have a weapon?

[brianridlon]

There’s actually several ways to say yes, or OK, you can wink your eye you can look at somebody with a wanting of desire, which means yes you can actually Nagy your head yes you can lift your eyebrows in a very exciting manner that means yes You can also wiggle your nose in a funny way to mean yes you can also shake your ears if you’re able to move your ears to say yes, you can put the thumbs up to say yes you can actually doing OK Sam to say yes you can step one leg forward and move your hips and a funny manner to mean yes there’s a lot of different ways to express the joy of pleasure of seeing your approval is yes, in my country of the United States of America

[gabrielamalaya]

Your 🇵🇭 flag in your background thumbnail is reversed, in a vertical orientation, the blue should appear on left from a viewers perspective

[joegim]

A tipping story. When I was in the Philippines in 2018 (I plan to go back permanently hopefully soon) my friends treated me out to a buffet lunch and the bill was about P1, 500. I told them that I would give the tip. After they paid I pulled out a P500 bill for the tip and they complained that it was too much. My reply was "I normally give anywhere from $10 to $30 tips in the US so why shouldn't I give the same to my kababayan waiters?"

[AaronDoud]

Where in the Midwest are you from? Also considering this is a more polite area of America I can only imagine what someone from NYC must think about the politeness of Filipino culture.

[lovely-lynruiz]

You have limited idea in Philippines cultures, anyways.

[grobertson]

The number of times I have got on a plane in the Philippines and found a filipino sitting in my seat when the number of your seat is on every ticket is unbelievable!

[SelwynClydeAlojipan]

The reason that Filipinos don't want to offend someone is that when another Filipino gets really offended to the point of feeling that his honor has been insulted, he may become violent enough to attack and fight to the death. This has happened a lot in the slums as recently as a decade ago, sometimes with firearms involved. In ancient times, a major insult would have resulted in a short but deadly duel using knives and short swords. Thankfully, that trait has gradually been reduced although it could still erupt into violence, especially in the smaller towns in the provinces. So be very careful not to insult a Filipino that he thinks he has no choice ("patay kung patay" = to the death; "matira ang matibay" = to the last man standing) except to slice you up multiple times with his balisong or bolo.

[peters]

Excellent video. It's always fun to learn about cultural differences.

[lancecorporal]

6:50
When somebody says "Kain tayo" to a total stranger, they are just being polite. They don't really mean to invite you to eat with them. The expected answer is "salamat" or "sige" (down south in the Visayas)

[RandyA]

Thank you for doing this video. Love that we can learn about each other’s culture. I love that you know and can explain both cultures so well and can speak about them. 😊