Monday, February 26, 2024

8 Most Annoying Habits of Many OFWs

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It seems that despite the exposure of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to a different culture while working abroad, the old, familiar annoying habits closely associated with Filipinos continue to manifest in many ways. Based on a discussion at OFW Exchange, users described the following bad habits that remain among OFWs.

Mayabang (arrogant)

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A simple conversation can easily escalate into a bragging opportunity. If one asks, “saan mo pinapaaral ang anak mo?,” and the other would answer, “ah sa public school lang“, but when asked back, she’ll make a remark “Yung akin sa private, exclusive school, mahal bayad ko dun” insinuating that she earns more, she loves her child more than the other OFW’s, even without the need to do so.

While many Filipinos can understand — especially if what’s being said is true — there are sensitive ones who easily translate this as a sign of arrogance or superiority complex. Instead of bragging (or sounding like one), it’s best to be humble and thankful for the blessing of being able to send a child to a reputable school, live in an exclusive subdivision, or own a fleet of luxury cars.

filipino gossip

Inggitera (envious).

Upon seeing a kababayan wearing a nice dress, an envious OFW might utter snide remarks. “Wow, bongga naman ng Donya,  Armani ang dating. Hindi ako makabili nyan, hindi kasi ako mayaman“. An obviously envious (and poor) OFW could hardly hide her feelings and make such nasty remarks instead of simply praising the nice outfit.

Hambog (boastful).

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When someone shares something, another one will try to outdo her. “Maganda ang gamit kong phone card, 24 hours flat rate, ” starts one. But the other will try to disclose something more appealing. “Wala ka sa akin, free 1000 minutes tawag kada buwan.” Occasionally, it’s not enough. “Yang phone card mo, walang silbe yan. Maraming pindutin na numero tapos biglang mauubos ang load.”

Suplada (unfriendly).

A newcomer in a foreign land often thinks the sight of a kababayan is both a delight and relief. Until one sees how she reacts to your “hello kabayan!”. Nothing. Instead she looks away and ignores a fellow Filipino as though she never heard any greeting at all.A simple smile should be enough, even without uttering a word. Unfortunately, many OFWs don’t think this is a good idea.

Tsismosa (rumormonger).

An unsuspecting OFW could easily become a topic of conversation. Regardless if the rumor is true or not, it gets circulated anyway. “Nakita ko yan na may kasamang foreigner“, “Nabasa mo ba yung comment nya sa Facebook?” “Alam mo ba suot pa nya yung damit nya kahapon?”. 

Perhaps her attachment to the Philippine entertainment industry as she clutches a copy of a gossip magazine is living proof that her life revolves around consuming and sharing stories about other people who have nothing to do with her.

Mahilig magpanggap (pretender).

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When an OFW asks a fellow kababayan in Tagalog, the response is a foreign language (with a matching accent) and insists that she does not understand Tagalog even if she just arrived in that country less than five years ago. As if using a foreign tongue would elevate her status as she distances herself from her Filipino roots.

Related: 17 Bad Habits and Attitudes of Many Filipinos

Pakialamera (busybodies).

An acquaintance acts more than a private investigator. “Residente ka na ba dito?” “Magkano sweldo mo?”, “Ano trabaho ng asawa mo?” and other queries that are unmindful of one’s privacy. We don’t know how such information if disclosed, benefits them more than it harms us. Inflate your salary and wait for how she reacts. Just be aware she might borrow money from you.

Maluho (luxurious).

Afraid to be left behind by peers, she updates herself with the latest gadgets, dresses, and designer bags, even if her wage does not justify her expenses. She comes to a point of borrowing money from lenders, loan sharks, or pawnshops just to keep up with her bisyo.

We hope you only observe these attitudes and do not have these habits.

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55 COMMENTS

  1. hahahaha! naku sa restaurant na pinapasukan ko pag mga kabayan ang kumakain alam na pag server ay kabayan akala mo daig pa ang local umasta. pa English English pa pero wrong grammar naman. tinatagalog mo na English pa rin ang sagot.sabik sa vip treatment,sobra pa mareklamo.di na alam mas nakaktawa sila.

  2. Di lang po pinoy. . I’ve met lots of Arabs and other nationalities pareho lng po mga pinag uusap an nila kung minsan sabihin pang fake lng naman daw yung suot ng kasama nila… tapos painggitan sila sa school n pinapasukan ng mga anak nila.. habits n yan is common to every nationality. Zila nga my Canadian passport lng sila Canadian n daw sila kahit pure sila n hindi..

  3. At saka yung feeling na nakatuntong lng ng ibang lupa eh akala mo n kung sinu. Nakakatwa tlga dahil wala nman mayaman na nag aabroad at magtrabaho. Kya sobrang feeling na kailangan sila lang ang aasikasuhin . Napaghahalatang ugaling iskwater dahil hindi nila alam ang tamang social grace sa mga casual fine dinning. Oorder ng pagkain tpos hindi nman alam kung paanu kainin tpos mag rereklamo . Nakakatwa tlga pag ganun., makapag inarte lang pero wala sa lugar.

  4. SABI KO NGA ANG SAKIT NG INNGIT AT NSECURE AY SARILI LANG NILA MAKAKAGAMOT,KYA LANG UNG IBA DNA KAYA GAMUTIN ANG SARILI,KAYA TAU NALANG ANG UMUNAWA,”NO COMMENTS NO WAR,,,,GET WELL SOON SA MGA M SAKIT NA INNGIT AT NSECURE,,,BATO BATO SA LANGIT ANG TAMAAN WAG MAGALIT AT NG D PUMANGIT:-)TY PO

  5. Whatever characters we have as an ofw i am still proud of being a filipino,we can not do anything about this, that is every ofw’ s choice with their life,for me i do not care for as long as we make a clean living and never forget our responsibilities when it comes to our family,and be always honest and love our jobs/work…….and put GOD in everything we do……..

  6. Sad to say.khit cla d nila alam na mayroon cla mga ganyan katangian.alam nila tama ginagawa nila.dto sa saipan usa.napakaraming ganyan imbis na tulungan didikdikin kpa.lalo na pg sa trbaho sipsipan katakot takot.siraan kabi kabila matira matibay.pinoy kpwa pinoy.ms mabuti pa minsan ibang nasyon ksama mo.pg d ka kumikibo aapak apakan kna lng.kya minsan mgpakita ka din pagdadabog pra d ka maliitin.anyway meron din nman matitino pa.

  7. Focus na lang tayo sa mga goal natin mga kababayan. Basta huwag na lang tayong manghusga sa kapwa natin, anuman nkikita natin sa mga OFW katulad natin hayaan na lang natin sila kung ganun sila. Wala pong perprkto dito sa mundo. Pero huwag po nating kalimutan na ipagdasal lahat ng mga OFW sa buong mundo. God bless us all.

  8. Wla ba yung SHOW OFF? boastfully display one’s abilities or accomplishments.
    Ive seen a lot, yung laging post sa social media ng magagandang gamit/high tech pero lahat utang/Credit card tapos hindi na mamanage yung pagbabayad? dami kasi naka detained d2 sa UAE na mga kabayan… tapos sisisihin nila Government na hindi daw sila tinutulungan?

  9. 8 annoying habits…
    Ung iba totoo..
    Nag ka interes lang aq mg comment..dadaan lng aq..
    Hehhehe sa mga comment ng commentors na ofw rin ata eh isa ng massbing. Nbibilang sa habit ng mga pinoy…sana nmn maisip nyo na kanya kanya tayong pagkatao..me kasbihan nga tayo…
    Who cares BE YOURSELF…ang importante buhay tayong lhat..and thanks God

  10. Tama!!! Ang dami talaga last week my customer ako c lola na astang bata English ng English siya pero halata naman binisaya ko siya dahil alam ko na bisaya siya pero ayaw talaga at hindi Lang sa mga KABABAYAN natin na of ba din porke my KASAMANG Ibang lahi na lalaki aba mag asta para Kung sino sobrang tangos ng ilong feeling lahat myroon na siya!!!!

  11. Ung iba 22o.pero dba kailngan lng ntn mgng humble and mgng 22o. Hnd nyn kailngn ipakita n mas angat ka kung mlke shod mo.pantay2 lng tyo dto ngttrbho parepareho! May iba lng tlga n hnd marunong tumingin s pinanggingan. marme s atn ang gnyn prro dedma nlng!!! EH DI WOW CLA!!!

  12. Aq din po may ganyang karanasan d2 s trabaho q s resto,,merong pinay n bagong pasok d2 ,,nagkwentuhan kami tapos tinanong nya aq kung san aq dati nag trabaho sabi q katulong aq dati ang amo q US expat pero nag 4good na ,, tapos bigla b nman nyang cnbi n s lahat ng trabaho isinisumpa nya ang maging katulong,, nagulat aq bigla at nasaktan s cnbi nya,,sabay iniwan q nlng sya s sama ng loob q ,, s isip q lng kung mka SUMPA nman c ate s trabahong KATULONG kung d q p alam ang working permit nya under ng “MAID”,,,tapos meron din pumasok n d2 samin “head chef” daw sya s singapore npaka yabang,,,sabihin ba nman s amin n sa lahat daw ng pinaka ayaw nyang makasama s trabaho ay kapwa nya pinoy ,,tapos t anong nmin balite nman kuya,sabi nya kz hndi daw sumusunod,,,eh ng mga ilang araw n syang chef nmin nag umpisa ng lumabas ang totoong kulay, ,kla mo kung cno laging naksigaw at bawat salita laging “what that fucking shit “at ” what the hell”,,

  13. khit nmn hindi OFW, marami rin ganyan s mismong bayan ntin. nakaranas n rin ako n tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa nung ngbakasyon ako at nmili ng ipapasalubong n mga t-shirts para s mga kasamahan kong foreigners din dito. simple, nka-tsinelas lng ako at wala kahit n relos. walang pumapansin n saleslady s mga tanong ko kung anong size ang pinakamalaki.. nung nagsimula akong magdadampot ng mga nagustuhan kong mga designs, halos sabay sabay n nagsilapitan ang tatlong salesladies para i-assist ako.
    hayyy… without knowing it, n-judge n pala ako the way i look..

  14. I wanna add more. Pg merong service or requirements n hindi nagustuhan, laging bukang bibig, “sa (country) hindi ganyan, hindi kailangan nyan. Ang dali dali lang. Bakit kailangan p ko pahirapan dito.” This is the most irritating. Philippine law is diff fr another country’s law. One company requirement is diff fr anothers.

  15. hindi yan dahil OFW.. ugali na sa tao yan. Nasa pag-iintindi lang at di na dapat pansinin dahil buhay nila yan. Bawat isa sa atin may kanya-kanyang pag-uugali kung ikaw may komento laban sa kanila, sila rin laban sayo. Magfocus na lang sa buhay mo at magtrabaho ng maayos at wag ng pansinin ang mga walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay.

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