Hi,

Some guy (name withheld) asked me what exactly am I. It's a weird but good question.

What exactly is a Cebuana? In simple terms, she is a resident of Cebu, Philippines. But it's a bit complicated since a Cebuana is a conglomeration of weird cultures.

To answer his question, I'm posting here what exactly am I, as a typical Cebuana. Mind you, EVERYTHING here applies to me and to the general public of Cebu.

This is an excerpt taken from an expatriate's (a foreigner who choses to live in another country) point of view on the people of Cebu.

Cebuanas, more than any other people on this planet, are obssessed with looking good. Now, beauty and a pleasing appearance are prized the world over, but in Cebu these attributes outrank all else by a massive margin. If you get a baby, the most important thing is that it's good-looking, never mind character traits such as intelligence, kindness, diligence, etc. In fact, some might even say that your average Cebuano or Cebuana would rather have a good-looking baby that's deaf, dumb and blind, as opposed to a butt-ugly offspring that, say, delivers a virtuoso performance on the violin.

This obssession with looking good may also explain why there are more beauty pageants here than anywhere else in the world. Or why public transportation is dressed up and made to appear drop-dead gorgeous, even if the innards consist of parts discarded as garbage in Japan. It may also explain why, in a conservative Catholic place, almost all females on the better side of 40 dress in extremely sexy, body-hugging clothes: You gotta look good, so you'd better show off those curves! And it is of course no surprise that many ads in the jobs section of the classifieds insist on female applicants with "pleasing personality" - which of course is a euphemism for "pretty." God forbid if a plain girl turned up for the interview; she'd be shown the door in no time, no matter how pleasing her personality.

On another level, the obsession with looking good could explain why Cebuanos/Cebuanas avoid confrontation whenever possible. To keep up appearances, Cebuanos/Cebuanas will rarely if ever give you bad news, or tell you something that you don't want to hear. Rather, they will backbite - whisper nasty things in private, or send it via text message. The way Cebuanos/Cebuanas backbite each other is terrible, all Cebuanos/Cebuanas will agree, but whether they realize it or not, the unspoken continuation is that backbiting is not as bad as causing a public fuss and saying nasty things to someone's face.

Now, foreigners - and even some Filipinos - will say that Cebuanos are on something called "Filipino time." This means that Filipinos are not as punctual as members of some other country. And, indeed, you are not considered to be really late even if you arrive 30 minutes past the agreed time. Some foreigners will tell you that the problem is due the fact that there is no standardized time-keeping. This is true. There is no phone line to call to check for the official time. The major cellphone companies keep slightly different times, as do the two major TV networks. They don't even do the "Beep, beep, beep, BEEEP!" at the top of the hour anyway. You can switch from one radio station and go from 8:13 to 7:54. Banks open and close according to the clocks they have on the walls, and if they have two, one may be ahead of the other by 30 minutes (the slower one is used to determine the opening time and the faster one for the closing time).

But this entire notion of Filipino time misses the issue. The issue is not that Filipinos are always late, or lax about being punctual, but that Cebuanos/Cebuanas in particular and Filipinos in general are very, very patient. Cebuanos/Cebuanas will wait for eons and eons and eons before becoming even slightly upset. Foreigners may find this incredible and exasperating. In jeepneys, at restaurants, and in ATM lines, Cebaunos/Cebuanas will wait passively for hours with utmost grace. If someone in a group of people gets worked up about a delay, you can bet your last dollar that it's a foreigner, a balikbayan (a Filipino residing abroad), or a Tagalog (a resident of Manila or Luzon).

Patience is a virtue, but, of course, there is a flipside. Namely, Cebuanos/Cebuanas will casually let you wait for ages, and react with genuine incomprehension should you throw a hissy fit. Don't bother yelling: "I've been waiting for 30 minutes!" because the tone of the reaction will be, more often than not, "Yes? And? What's the problem? You just wait." This is not really rude. It could be that this degree of patience - or rather, lack of impatience - exists because Cebuanos/Cebuanas have never been under intense pressure to bring the harvest home before the onset of winter. It stands to reasons that people whose cultures have evolved in climates where the pace of life is dictated by the seasons tend to be rather more impatient than the denizens of the Philippines, where bountiful produce is available all year round.

Another hugely important characteristic of Cebuanos/Cebuanas is that they value privacy less than the people of the West. In fact, privacy barely exists as an acknowledged concept. No Cebuano lives alone. Having spent hardly a waking minute in solitude, Cebuanos are terrified of it. As such, it is a terrible crime to leave someone alone; Cebuanos always expect to be accompanied wherever they go. That is why Cebuanos make a big deal out of parting ways, even for a short time. "I'll just go ahead," they'll say, looking slightly uncomfortable. It is important to try to understand the apprehension a Cebuano feels when being left alone, or when leaving someone alone. Say things like "Take care! Call me! Text me!" even if your companion is just stepping out to get a newspaper.

Since privacy ranks very low on the Cebuano value scale, it is perhaps understandable that Cebuanos are, by their own confession, extremely nosy. Cebuanos spend an inordinate of time prying into each others affairs, or, delving into each other lives to share their lives as much as possible - depending how you look at it. Whether it is a positive thing or not, having someone present while you go about your daily affairs, and observing someone while he or she performs a mundane task, is normal in Cebu. Do not be alarmed if the Cebuanos present start observing you carefully and unabashedly should you start doing something even moderately unusual, such as changing the film of a camera. Whereas, if you start unscrewing your false hand in public in the West, people will flicker their eyes at you while pretending not to stare, Cebuanos will actually get up from their seats and come right close so as to get a better look.

It should also be noted that, while roughly half of the traffic jams in Cebu are caused by accidents, the other half are caused by Cebuanos on the opposing lane slowing right down to a crawl - sometimes even stopping completely - so as to better ogle the goings on at the site of the accident, even if the problem consists of a barely visible scratch on an old and battered taxi, caused by another old and battered taxi. And, needless to say, should a fire or a fight or some other similarly interesting event erupt, a huge crowd will materialize out of nowhere. In Cebu, it is completely OK to be curious and to stare.

For some reason, Cebuanos love to abbreviate. Cebuanos will abbreviate absolutely anything and everything. The abbreviation may take the form of an acronym: OA (over-acting), DI (dance instructor), GF (girlfriend), BI (bad influence). Example: "Bay, my GF is so OA, she got mad when I said her DI is a BI!"

Alright, so Cebuanos and the Pentagon have a penchant for acronyms. But only Cebuanos abbreviate to the extent that adjectives and adverbs are landed with the roles of nouns. For instance, an ocular inspection becomes an ocular. "Did you prepare for the ocular, Jun?" Which reminds me: Cebuanos abbreviate just about everything, and that includes names. Robert Downey Jr would be known as "Jun" in Cebu. Is your name Victor? Cebuanos will call you "Tor". Whatever your name is, Cebuanos will abbreviate it. Abbreviating is an obsession in Cebu; it's a Bisdak thing.

Even more surprising than the abbreviations are the exaggerations. While most Cebuanos don't lie intentionally, just about all Cebuanos automatically expand the magnitude of the issue in question. For instance, someone whose name you don't even know is a "friend." Someone whom you've met once or twice is "my best friend." Someone who lives in your town is "my neighbor." When late for a meeting, Cebuanos will call or text to say that they are "on the way." This means that they're about to leave, or getting ready to leave. When they're on the way with more than halfway to go, they'll say: "I'm near!" or "I'm almost there!" When they're actually near, they'll say, "I'm there!"

Last, but definitely not least, there's shyness. You may find Cebuanos to be shy to the point of psychiatric disorder. At least, they are shy about some things most people of the world would consider normal, such as eating. Your servants, for instance, will go to extreme lengths to avoid being seen eating in your presence, even if you have encouraged them to take a meal and it is fully within their right to eat. (Strangely, however, once they do get around to the act of eating in your presence, they will have no qualms about belching loudly.) Note that, since most Cebuanos are incredibly shy, you should be a little suspicious if someone approaches you and starts making suggestions. No Cebuano or Cebuana would ever do that, unless playing a role in some scam.

Angela

Angela, thanks for posting these, they're hilarious! They do have a serious point though......they go some way to explaining the misunderstandings we all sometimes suffer because of the International nature of this and other websites. We should always remember that somebody may appear rude, but according to their customs, they might not be. Thanks Angela!
More please! :-)

Vinnie

Thanks for sharing Angela!
Hmm
I wonder what would be the abbreviation of my name (Rui) ?
Keep safe and I really like your lesson of Cebu/Phillippines Culture

Skipper

Thanks guys.

Hmmm....on the subject of abbreviations, Vinnie might be called "Vin" or "Ni." Or if you would meet a Cebuano or Cebuana who wants to put up flare on your name, you might be called "Nix." Or if you insist on your full name, you might be called "Vinnix" or "Nixie" or "Vinnieboy" or even "V."

Rui, your name has a single syllable. There's no way to abbreviate that, right? Nope. We may abbreviate your name as "R." Or we may call you "Ro" (pronnouned as a short roo). Or we might call you "Ruiboy."

Assuming that you have become close friends with a Cebuano, he might call you "parts" or "part," short for "partner." Some might call you "bai" (pronounced like "guy" but instead of a g, it's a b"). Part, Parts or Bai is a "friend."

More comments/insights please? As a Cebuana, I'm overly curious.

Angela

Here's a few more answers to the question "What exactly am I?"

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While society in the Philippines does share a lot of values with industrialized Western societies, Cebu is nonetheless located in Asia, and a large number of concepts may be surprising. While discovering the differences is part of the fun of visiting a foreign country, you may have to ameliorate your culture shock to help you adapt to strange Cebuano society.

Adapt is, indeed, the keyword. The first thing to bear in mind is that everyone else is normal and you are not: you are the alien, and even if you are endowed with fantastic qualities, those may not be readily appreciated here. Your sense of right and wrong, your behavior and your manners may need some fine-tuning. Now, as a seasoned traveler you may scoff and dismiss some of the issues covered here as common sense, but you'd be surprised how many people require awareness enhancement.

Right at the top of the list of issues to watch out for is body odor. As is the case in most East Asian countries, most individuals in Cebu are distinctly lacking in body odor compared to individuals from the West. Hence, Filipinos are extremely sensitive to smell, and Caucasians visiting the Philippines may be considered as having been afflicted with an extreme case of BO even if, in their home country, they belong to the mild end of the spectrum. Most foreigners are oblivious to the situation, but they are often enveloped in a cloud of malodoros fumes, and Cebuanos will hold their breath and step out of the way with alacrity. The word to watch out for is baho, which means "foul-smelling". If you hear this word uttered within earshot, it's likely that you are the issue.

Here's how to deal with the problem. If you are a Caucasion, it is almost certain that you smell awful even if you consider yourself odor-free. Therefore, even if you are not aware that you have a BO problem, still take the precaution of showering thoroughly at least twice a day, and be sure to consume liberal amounts of deoderant after each shower. Not some namby-pamby spray, mind you, but a strong anti-perspirant that is applied directly to the skin. Better double the dosage recommended on the label, just to be safe.

Foreigners, and Tagalogs (people from Manila) are quick to yell compared to Cebuanos. Yelling in anger is bad manners in any country, but the sin associated with disrupting social harmony by shouting is considered far more serious in Cebu than elsewhere. Even if what you are saying is true, and you are justifiably outraged, the act of yelling immediately makes you the bad guy.

Next: Sharing. Everyone is naturally expected to share. So if you interrupt Filipinos in the middle of a meal, they will automatically invite you to join in, even if there's barely enough for themselves. "Let's eat!" they'll say enthusiastically.

Things are a bit tricky if you have a lot of friends who are less well off than you are; Cebuanos are expected to share a windfall with friends and relatives, and the wealthier member of a circle of friends is expected, to a certain degree, to share his or her blessings with everyone else. If you are a foreigner (and walking dollar sign), a friend may ask you for a "loan" and never pay it back, or borrow an article and never get around to returning it; he or she is not really being a thief. If you can afford it, just let it slide and consider it as a form of informal social taxation.

That doesn't mean that you won't be the only one to benefit from a relationship. You may not be aware of it, but the Cebuanos around you will often help you - and endure considerable suffering and hardship in the process - without ever letting you know.

Another potential source of misunderstandings is dating. Here I'd like to draw attention to just one oft-misunderstood fact. A Filipina may, according to your interpretation, flaunt her sexuality - body-hugging top, super revealing clothes, tight jeans, bright red nails. That doesn't mean that she's - for want of a better term - fast. In fact, she may very well be a virgin. So don't expect to get laid on your first date. Of course, there are girls who dress in a sexy style and who have indeed shed their virginity and conservative values long ago. But don't judge the book by its cover.

One common complaint about foreigners is that they tend to have a massive superiority complex. True, their country may be wealthier and more technologically advanced than ours. Their country may have fewer impoverished citizens, and they personally may be far wealthier than most people they'll meet.

However, that doesn't make you or your society superior. Filipinos are proud to have a sophisticated culture and high level of civilization, despite the widespread poverty. Cebuanos, being polite, may not show overt displeasure when lectured about the flaws of their country and society by a foreigner, but they do resent it, so be careful not to come across as judgmental.

Angela

I always learn something on this site...yesterday it was about the M41 Walker Bulldog , today its about Cebu... Great
Thanks you Angela, I really look forward to your posts.
Cheers
Joker (or would that be "ker")

And here I was thinking you were a vampire.....

Angela, I find these little tid-bits you've been posting lately extremely interesting, and enlightening.

Bonjour Angela!

This is very interesting indeed! I just hope Global Economy Market won't erase the cultural differences between the population of the world. I hope you are not worried about the fact I found some parts of the text funny!

Jean-Luc

Angela,

Thanks for the culture lesson. Very interesting.

Oh, and for what's it's worth, you have the "looking good" part pretty well mastered, if you don't mind my saying....

You're welcome. That would be "Pete" or "Ter" since your name is Peter.




Rud, well, I am a Cebuana vampire....




Thank you, Grumpy.




Our country is wwwaaaaaayyy behind any "global economy market" so that cultural thing will stay for a long while. And even if we were "globaly advanced" our culture runs so deep that it's unshakeable.

No, I'm not worried that you found it funny. AS I posted before, our culture IS strange and funny.




I don't mind at all but I really don't consider myself good looking. Thanks for the compliment anyway.

Angela

Ah, my dear...... so many layers.... so many layers.... now that's deep....

Hi Angela (Or should I say La)

Very interesting , very interesting endeed.

I've just printed the excerpt. I'll show it to one of my colleagues, who's from the Philippenes. Should be fun to hear her comments. She has been in Denmark for almost 20 years.

Thanks for posting this enlightning text.

You're catching on, Jes. My friends call me "Ange." You can pronounce it as "Ainz."

Yes, please show that to your friend. I think she'll be more than happy listening/reading to the memories of home.

Angela

I'm guessing I'd be called Ruds - pronounced "Rude-zzz"?

Yep, you got it Rudz.

Angela

See....I must be a Cebuano.... I've been calling Rui/Skipper "Ro" all along...... :-) :-)

Just wondering would I be Grump..... Rump or just Py.... :-) :-)

That's cool, Grumps.

Here, you might be called "Grumps," Rump or Py. Any will do as long as it's abbreviated.

Angela

Hi Ange

I have two colleagues from the Philippines (Gloria & Ely), which is quite onusual, in northern europe. I showed the text to Gloria (henceforth known as Glo) whom I talk to quite frequently. Naturally, she was very curios.
Even though she's from Luzon, she could relate to a lot of what is descriped in the text. She actually found the text very funny. Everytime she had read a part of the text, she would come to me, laughing, and make comments on it.

Being from Luzon, she don't mind yelling. She has quite a temper actually.

She could definitely relate to the time and appearance issue.

It toke her several years to learn Danish time. When ever she and her Danish husband would have a dinnerparty, go to the cinema, met with friends or oneanother someplace away from home. What ever they had to do at a certain time, he would have to emphasize it was Danish time, not "Filipino time"
He actually had to wright it down, so she would remember to be on time. Danish time that is.

Appearance is a major issue for Gloria. When she is in Denmark, she don't mind wearing jeans and a t-shirt, at work, at home or when just going shopping. She only wears a dress and make up on special occasions. But whenever she visit family and friends in the Philippines, she wears her everyday clothes, when boarding the plane, in Denmark, and wears her finest when the plane arrives in the Philippines. Gloria actually changes her clothes and puts on her make up on the plane. Appearance is vital. She told me, her friend and relatives will look up and down her, checking out her appearance even before greeting her. She has to be "Dressed to kill"
Gloria's teenage daughter thinks her mom's a nutter.

Reading this excerpt and hearing my dear colleagues comments have definitely been interesting.

Funny that a post, by an Armorama member, from the other side of the globe, can teach me so much about a colleague, whom I work with everyday.

A most interesting post. I have come into contact with so many cultures in my life (lived in Germany for 9 years and have an Italian background). Phillipinos seem not to fit what would be considered the sterotypical Asian here in Texas. They all work very, very hard, get agitated easily, dress like slobs around here. And smell, well body odor isn't part of their repeture, but the food they eat smells like a dog thatdied and is still in the street 3 days later. I almost vomited once when I walked into the breakroom it was so bad. Other things like travelling in groups seem to fit, of course a good portion of these folks have taken on American traits and absorbed bits and pieces of our culture to suit there needs. They all are southeast Asian though....Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos)

Oh yeah, this is so very true. Filipinos love to eat foods which are too salty, too sweet, too malodorus, etc. for other people in the world.

Really strange....and that is what makes me proud to be a Filipina.

Angela

Hi Angela,
I am just curious. Is kissing an interest in your country? I saw it in your profile. Thats why I am asking..

Steve:The food that you smelled is probably shrimp paste...they do smell like that:-). ...but it really taste good :-) . Filipino food most of the time is cooked with spices, vinegars and soy sauce.

BTW, just to add...There are 3 main Island groups Luzon, Visayas (where Cebu is located) and Mindanao have very different cultures, traits and dialects.

Cheers

Hmm....I dunno but I love kissing. I guess it's an interest in every country.




Oh yeah, that is quite delicious. It's called bagoong in Tagalog, hipon in Cebuano.




Yep. It's a different world in each of these main island groups, or the islands within the main island groups.

Angela

If I may add, if its not shrimp paste (bagoong) that you smelled then it must be one of those pickled foods (probably fish) -- they really do smell very bad and I myself do not eat them...yeech! :-)