In the Asia Sentinel, Jet Damazo writes that Koreans are flooding into the Philippines:
By now, Koreans are in almost all of the Philippines major urban areas. From up north in the cool city of Baguio to Davao City down south in Mindanao, Korean restaurants and groceries, bearing Korean-language signs, can be seen. They have established everything, from churches, hotels and resorts to gigantic manufacturing facilities. There are even Korean-only suburbs in Cavite.
Koreans have invaded the Philippines, and Filipinos for the most part are welcoming them with open arms.
It isn’t hard to see why. Less than four hours away by plane from Seoul, the Philippines has an English-speaking population known for hospitality, a significantly lower cost of living, and some of the most postcard-perfect beaches in the world. At the same time, Koreans are bringing in buckets of dollars into the Philippines both through consumer spending and direct investments.
Not all is roses, however:
But instead of embracing all that is Filipino, Koreans, it seems, prefer to bring Korea with them. Wherever they settle, Korean establishments soon rise. Mini-Korean communities are now scattered all over the country. Aside from the usual restaurants and groceries, there are Korean internet cafes, salons, spas, and churches. All have prominent Korean-language signs and few offer any English explanation. It is not unusual to find Korea grocers here who even import Korean-made Coke and Lay’s potato chips from back home, even though identical products are available locally.
“They keep to themselves,” says Pamela Samaniego, the head of Team Korea for the Philippine Tourism Department, echoing a familiar sentiment.
It is not surprising, therefore, to hear of rifts. Local newspaper reports says that tour operators in Cebu complain that only Korean travel agencies are benefiting from Korean tourists because local operators are shut out by Korean companies. In Baguio, where the cool climate is an attraction, there are complaints about illegal business transactions and practices. Some resorts in Boracay are said to have banned Korean tourists because they leave the rooms in shambles after their stay. In Talisay, home to Taal, the world’s smallest volcano, a huge controversy now surrounds a Korean company’s plans to construct a spa resort on the island volcano despite local environmental restrictions. The issue threatens to become an us-versus-them storm.
In Davao City the city council launched an investigation in late June into Korean business practices, claiming that Korean businessmen were setting up illegal businesses and dodging visa regulations. Also in June the Bureau of Immigration pointedly warned against foreigners operating retail stores and using Filipinos to front for them. Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said foreigners, most of them Korean, had been violating immigration laws. “A foreigner who engages in the retail trade is liable for deportation as the act is a violation of the conditions of his admission and stay in the country,” Libanan said.
The article says that these problems, however, are relatively minor.
26 Comments
What makes these problems minor in the eyes of Filipinos? As Shakespeare wrote, it’s thinking that makes it so.
Would that Koreans here were as welcoming to those from the Philippines.
“But instead of embracing all that is Filipino, Koreans, it seems, prefer to bring Korea with them.”
You can take the Korean out of Korea, but you can’t take the Korea out of the Korean.
Typical.
“They keep to themselves,” says Pamela Samaniego, the head of Team Korea for the Philippine Tourism Department, echoing a familiar sentiment.
Really!
I was in the PI a couple years ago and noted the Koreans there;
http://www.dprkstudies.org/200.....ilippines/
“But instead of embracing all that is Filipino, Koreans, it seems, prefer to bring Korea with them.”
This happens to all Asian groups (whether they’re Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese). Like here in Sydney, if you go to suburbs with a large Chinese population (e.g. Eastwood, Chinatown and Cabramatta), the signs will all be in Chinese. If you go to a suburb with a large Korean population (e.g. Strathfield, Campsie), most of the shops will be Korean owned and orientated. Same goes for Viets in Marrickville. I think this in inevitable… although it kinda slows down when the second-generation kids starts popping out.
In South Korea the only international news older than rude Koreans in the Philippines is North Korea dismantling it’s nuclear program.
That’s right - “Japanese military comfort women (sex slaves)” is now a “sticky”.
Yay! Hagwon jobs on the beach!
Cool… Koreans speaking English with a Tagalog accent! A Tagalog accented English is almost as funny as Hindi accented English (also just as hard to take seriously).
I don’t get it, WangKon936…you’re lambasting “expats” on another post, yet here on this post, you’re making fun of what you describe as “funny” accents.
#10,
Settle down. My point is that the English Koreans learn in the Philipines may not be the best, humm… dialect.
Also, it was not meant as a knock on any filipino or Indian people. They know that their english speaking skills are supperior (due to colonial history) to English language heritage nations (i.e. U.S., England, Canada, etc.) but they do have an accent. It’s something they will readily admit on a personal level (even if you don’t bring it up), although it is in poor taste to do so in polite company. Given how much mud slinging goes on in the comment sections of Marmot’s Hole, I don’t know if here would be considered “polite company.”
As the great Russell Peters would say, “We all know we speak with an accent… you don’t have to remind us… I mean, it’s not gonna get you laid…”
“They know that their english speaking skills are supperior (due to colonial history) to English language heritage nations (i.e. U.S., England, Canada, etc.)”
I meant, “They know that their english speaking skills are superior (due to colonial history) when compared to other non-English language heritage nations (i.e. U.S., England, Canada, etc.)
Otoritakeo,
Cabramatta is Chinese? Bloody hell, Mate, there may be a few Cholon Chinese around, but Cabramatta is Nguoi Viet! Though the local population also includes Thais, Cambodians and a few Laos. And yes, there are signs in Chinese, as well as in Vietnamese. (Watch who you’re calling a Nguoi Tau (Chinese), mate, or we’ll have the Mekong Tigers on you.) (humor) As an aside, when I went by Brizzy’s Chinatown a few months back, I noted they have some signs in Hangul.
WangKon936. Reference your 11 and 12: Now I’m really confused. But I agree that the nuances found in the syntax and pronunciation of subcontinental English is certainly more understandable than some English dialects (v.g., Glaswegian, Bronxese, Joisy-ese, and blue-collar Bostonian). And certainly more pleasant on the ears.
I think we’re missing the point here: the Koreans may say they’re going there to learn English, but since they’re keeping to themselves and don’t even bother putting up signs in English for their businesses [and import stuff from Korea readily available elsewhere], I doubt their accent has varied a iota from Konglish…
Now wait for the property and house prices to shoot through the ceiling like the ridiculous apartment prices in Seoul…
WangKon936,
The accents you cite are only strange to the ears of thick, insular, provincial idiots like yourself. Those who speak the language properly recognise it in whatever of its various forms it is spoken.
To lirelou, #13. Hey, I’m sorry I was not terribily clear in #11 and #12. Definate brain fart there.
What I meant is that filipinos and Indians speak better English then all other non-English heritage nations. Thus those nations speak English better then all nations with the exception to the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
And your point is valid as well. As there are some subcultures within these native English speaking nations that would make Indian English sound quite nice in comparison. For example, I think Indian English sounds much better then the English spoken in the non-dubbed version of Trainspotting…
Agree with #14… BUT… that’s the 1st generation. What about the second generation? I live in Southern California, where Koreans are equally insular, but there are vast differences between how 1st and 2nd generations interact with the larger society. Many 2nd generation Korean kids in California have adopted African American street slang. Must comfound their parents greatly!
#16, errr… that was a shot in the dark and you missed.
“Indian English sounds much better then the English spoken in the non-dubbed version of Trainspotting…”
WangKon936 has got a point here. I was quite frustrated when I watched the movie. Didn’t get much out of it…
“Many 2nd generation Korean kids in California have adopted African American street slang.”
There can be no doubt that the ISE (2nd generation KAs) interact with the larger society more than their immigrant parents. But IMHO to adopt African-American or any other type of street slang is not very commendable for this purpose. Okay, it depends on who you want to interact with…
“Agree with #14… BUT… that’s the 1st generation. What about the second generation?”
WangKon936:
Are you implying that, in order to hear understandable English spoken by Koreans, we have to wait for the 2nd generation of Koreans in the PHILIPPINES ? Why on earth did the 1st generation of Koreans move to these islands in the 1st place ? I thought it was for the sake of learning the language (English I mean, not Tagalog)…
“I think we’re missing the point here: the Koreans may say they’re going there to learn English, but since they’re keeping to themselves and don’t even bother putting up signs in English for their businesses [and import stuff from Korea readily available elsewhere], I doubt their accent has varied a iota from Konglish…”
I would imagine that Korean Kids (from the ROK, not from Southern California !) are cheating their own parents. They make them pay for a “English study year” in the Philippines, but their real motivation is the prospect of “Sun, Sex and Sand”.
Fantasy,
I can’t really speak for all Koreans in the Philippines, but I’d hazard to guess that Koreans go there for different reasons, just like Koreans did when they came to the states. The old fellas go there for the sun and cheap living expenses, business ppl for money making opps, etc. I think those that come there for English learning opps do it for their kids, not necessarily for themselves. English is notoriously hard for Koreans to learn (the converse is true also). I know Koreans who came as adults to the states and have lived here for 20 years and still don’t speak English well, but their kids are fluent and they are happy with that.
Regarding #20.
Hell, I’m sure tons of kids, regardless of nationality, and if they had rich parents, would try to find all kinds of ways to get their parents to foot the “educational” bill if they can get lots of fun, sun and sex at the same time.
Back in my college days, the university owned bar’s tab would say “USC Bookstore” on the credit card receipts. Brilliant! You can drink every day and tell your parents you are just buying books and supplies…
Just avoiding the ROK educational pressure cooker might be reason enough for some. My friends’ wives and kids went to Malaysia because it was more affordable and closer to Korea than the USA.
“English is notoriously hard for Koreans to learn…”
In spite of my serious endeavours to motivate her in this respect my (Korean) wife has never managed to learn English properly (she has good reading skills, but does not get to grips with speaking or writing in this language) - she managed to learn German though, as she knew this to be of practical relevance for her.
“…the converse is true also…”
Indeed it is. I am speaking from experience…
All the comments here so far have been relevant in their own way. My take on this is that people, no matter of what nationality, tend to group together for comfort when they move to a foreign country. This is not merely a Korean or Asian phenomenon. Angeles City here in the Philippines is a good example of how westerners group together. Although American expats tend to blend in more than others due to the ‘melting pot’ effect we’ve had in the States for many, many years.
Getting back to Koreans in the Philippines, here in Angeles City at least, there’s the business crowd and the ‘fun in the sun’ crowd (not mutually exclusive here). Korean men typically visit here for the cheap availability of women in bars. A Korean man can buy a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines, spend a week here drinking and carousing and still spend less than ONE night out in Seoul doing the same thing. Who wouldn’t want to come here for that? Hehehehe…
@lirelou
Sorry mate, although i’ve been living in Sydney since I was born (well over 20 years ago), I haven’t really been to Cabramatta and the western region except Parramatta lol