Due to historical reasons, the Philippines has always been relatively open, and the entire society is willing to accept foreign influences. However, there are significant cultural differences between the Philippines and China, even though the two countries are separated by a body of water. Therefore, those from China who wish to immigrate to the Philippines must first understand Filipino culture.
The Philippines has a unique cultural tradition, and locals summarize their identity with this simple phrase: Spaniards by name, eating Chinese food, and speaking English—historically, the Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule for over 300 years, and later became a colony of the United States, gaining independence only after World War II. The Philippines bears deep foreign imprints, with many streets in cities still named in Spanish, and the American influence is also significant.
China is no exception. On the streets of the Philippines, one can see Chinese character signs everywhere, as a large number of Chinese merchants arrived here since the Ming Dynasty. The presence of Chinese people is widespread across various business sectors, making them a major force in the economy. China's influence on the Philippines is very direct; Filipinos often eat Chinese food, which is a part of their daily life, indicating that China's impact is primarily material. The image of China is often associated with specific products, and Chinese consumer goods have permeated every corner of Filipino society.
The Philippines frequently suffers from natural disasters such as typhoons and landslides, and locals often hold charity performances and fundraising events. However, unlike the rescue footage and touching stories shown at domestic charity events, Filipinos invite singers and bands to perform at their events, where everyone sings and dances, and ultimately joyfully contributes money; Filipinos also celebrate Halloween (similar to the Qingming Festival in China), but their practice involves bringing food, drinks, and musical instruments to the cemetery for a picnic, even setting up mahjong and card games. Their philosophy is to let their ancestors know that they are living happily, which brings peace to their hearts.
Filipinos have a completely different understanding of reality compared to those from China: the latter emphasizes individual responsibility in society; if a person is very happy, they do not consider themselves a role model; but Filipinos do not place heavy importance on responsibility; they value personal emotions and feelings more, with individual sentiment far outweighing social responsibility, leading to a relatively casual and optimistic attitude towards life.
