Is the Philippines a Friendly Country? Are Filipinos Friendly?
Do you know the Philippines? It is an archipelago of 7,107 islands.
The country has a tropical climate with plenty of sun and beaches to enjoy, and its capital city Manila has more than 220 active volcanoes. With over 100 million people in the Philippines, Filipinos speak Filipino (the national language), English, Spanish or Japanese.
They are predominately Catholic Christians, but Muslims live in the southern regions of Mindanao.
This article will discuss how Filipinos treat foreigners and their attitudes towards foreigners visiting their country for tourism purposes.
Are Filipinos friendly?
Foreigners are always welcome in the Philippines, and receiving a warm welcome is something that you can expect when you decide to visit this beautiful country.
However, this isn’t exclusive to tourists but also foreign investors seeking business opportunities in the Philippines. Foreigners deal with Filipinos very quickly due to their friendly personalities and open attitude toward outsiders.
Business owners traveling to the Philippines will also find a good standard of English, which helps foreigners who might not know much about the local language.
Are Filipinos friendly with foreigners?
A Filipino’s friendliness towards a foreigner is due to their curiosity about the outside world.
They don’t get to meet that many foreign people, and it can be a big event for them when they make contact with someone new.
The Philippines is ideal for studying English, especially if you want to go abroad for further study or work. The more English skills you have, the better your chance is of making friends in this beautiful country.
Filipinos also encourage friendliness due to the high volume of tourists visiting this area every year. If a tourist tries to use some basic Tagalog phrases, they will be even more welcome than usual.
Are Filipinos friendly towards other countries?
There is much curiosity surrounding foreigners, mainly because there are so many different nationalities here and very few visitors from any country.
It is also worth bearing in mind that most Filipinos love to travel and would love to see their own country being more widely explored by foreign travelers.
If you have traveled any distance at all in this area, then it is likely that you will have noticed the high volume of tourism here.
The main tourist destinations are Manila and Cebu, although many other areas constantly receive overseas visitors.
The Philippines is also a top-rated destination for backpackers from all over the world, so you can find some other like-minded travelers if you are looking for a travel partner.
How friendly are Filipinos towards tourists?
This depends on how far you have traveled in this country. The further you move away from the main cities, the less touristy it becomes.
However, you can still find some fantastic tourist attractions and beautiful scenery in these areas.
It is worth keeping an open mind when visiting any new country, although you will soon find out whether this place is friendly for your own needs.
How to make friends in the Philippines?
Filipinos’ easygoing and relaxed nature means that they are very friendly with people who show them respect. When you’re outside, it is a good idea to greet everyone you see to get used to the local culture.
You might want to consider bringing some treats from home as this will also help initiate a conversation with local Filipinos.
You can simply smile a lot, flash your beautiful white teeth and offer someone a greeting to show you’re friendly.
You might want to consider writing the standard greetings in Filipino so that you can read them properly and use them at the right time. It might also help you to brush up on your Filipino language skills.
If you want to get a little more personal and learn some famous chat-up lines, the locals will appreciate it if you try talking with them in their native tongue. You can practice opening lines like ‘Pwedeng making ka ba sa English?’ and ‘Dili ka bang mag-Tagalog?’.
Many Filipinos speak Tagalog fluently, but it is good to learn the Filipino language to impress them. You don’t have to be fluent in it before you come here, as most Filipinos will still understand you if you speak to them in English.
However, learning a few common phrases will show that you are interested in their culture and will go down well with the locals!
The Filipinos are also very sporty people, so it is worth attending if something big happens. This could be anything from a local football match or other sports event, providing you with a great local atmosphere.
If you want to mingle with the locals outside of their standard-setting, it is worth going out to a nightspot that attracts people from all over the city. You will also be able to connect with other backpackers who are visiting this beautiful country at the same time as you.
Filipinos have a very relaxed attitude to life and appreciate it if foreigners do the same.
You don’t need to be formal at all times, especially when you first meet someone from this area – just relax and go with the flow. Smile a lot and connect with your new friends as soon as possible!
How do I meet Filipinos in the Philippines?
This country has plenty of events and activities, so you will see many more Filipino people if you attend any of them.
For example, check out local sports games and cultural festivals or performances. You can also look on the Internet for social events in cities all over the Philippines.
Filipinos are very family-orientated, so they spend a lot of time together, but there is plenty of socializing outside their immediate families.
If you want to meet up with locals from other parts of the country, then ex-pat bars will be your best bet. If you’re not a fan of alcohol, try joining in with any sponsored events or work trips in the Philippines.
There is always plenty to do if you want to be entertained at night, particularly in larger cities with many ex-pat communities.
If you’ll get out and enjoy the balmy summer nightlife, why not check out the various bars and nightclubs you can visit? The drinks are reasonably priced here compared to Europe or America, so it won’t cost you much money.
Filipinos also love to play sports, so if something happens in this country, join in! You can quickly meet people and make new friends if you go to any local or international sports events.
It will be interesting to hear about the latest matches in this country, and you might even participate!
How do I meet Filipinos online?
If you don’t want to go outside your hotel room to meet new friends, then there are plenty of websites you can use to make your own Filipino acquaintances.
How do I meet Filipinos in person?
If you don’t want to come across as too forward, it is a good idea to wait for the other person to take the first step.
Make sure that you approach the Filipino person in a friendly manner, and if you’re unsure about the best way to proceed, ask them what they like to do. A polite ‘Hello’ or ‘Good morning’ should be enough!
What will impress Filipinos?
If you want to show that you have a genuine interest in them:
- Don’t just listen and ask questions.
- Take part in conversations as much as possible by offering your opinions and views on the subject.
- Show them that you are genuine about getting to know them better, and it will go down well when you need help!
One of the best ways to make Filipino friends is to go out for a meal or drink with them. Getting invited to the Philippines can be a little tricky, so make sure that you are genuinely interested in hearing about their lives rather than just trying to pick up girls!
If you successfully make Filipino friends, you must maintain contact with them. If you travel abroad, let them know where you are going and ask if they would be interested in meeting up with you.
How can I make Filipino friends in the future?
If you have been out to the Philippines on holiday, why not visit again for a longer time? The more time you spend there, the easier it will be for you to meet new people.
The Philippines is a great place to make friends, and it’s an ideal destination for families or groups of friends that want to explore more of Asia together!
