A Surprising Statistic
I got this from Sepia Mutiny via Asiapundit: apparently, a BBC World poll revealed that out of a thousand Metro Manilans surveyed last year, 57% had a “mainly negative” view of India’s influence in the world, the only country where such an unfavorable impression was most prevalent.
This survey was a part of a wider study conducted for the BBC that sought to measure “how people in 33 countries view various countries.”
Offhand, I can’t think of any reason why this should be so, because India and Indian affairs are hardly discussed in the Philippines. What little mention of India is made in the press, aside from lifestyle articles, is usually in the context of the worldwide rivalry in the business process outsourcing and the medical tourism industries. Even as I write this entry, India’s president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is now in the Philippines on a state visit in a bid to improve bilateral ties. He has since inked a defense pact and witnessed a pharmaceuticals deal in the bargain.
The questions presented by the pollsters to the polled, however, were rather vague, and as Style Station pointed out, the methodology used in the survey differed from country to country, so she advised everybody to take the results with a grain of salt.
Interestingly enough, the same survey registered 85% of those Filipinos polled with a “mainly” positive” view of the United States – likewise the one country where this favorable view was the most prevalent.
answer is easy: 5-6.
Indians may have started this practice but Pinoy moneylenders have enthusiastically taken it up since. At any rate, five-six may not have such a bad rep after all; see this article from the Manila Times http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/may/30/metro/20030530met3.html.
I think it was Filipino racism at work here.
yes of course, racism. based on the same resentment of entrepreneurial sucvcess that leads many filipinos to hate the chinese.
[...] A BBC article was published on the world’s view of India. Philippines was highlighted as being the only country with a widespread negative view on India with 57% voting “mainly negative.” Sepiamutiny makes the theory that it is because Philippines view India as an economic competitor, understandable since both countries are considered low-cost centers for Business Process Outsourcing. MLQ, in a comment in Unlawyer’s blog posting, presents an alternate theory: the 5-6 usury system commonly associated with Indians. [...]
I don’t think its a case of success envy, Manolo. Indians living in the Philippines tend to live low-key lives. I think it’s a discrimination based on physical appearances.
[...] A cross-cultural discussion at Sepia Mutiny, sparked by results from a BBC World poll that showed that the Philippines, among 33 countries, had the most negative impression of India. Manish thought it was because India and the Philippines are global competitors in the services sector, the Unlawyer in Manila is puzzled because locals pay little attention to India while one Filipino commenter believes it’s because Indians in the Philippines are associated with moneylending. [...]
Being a Roman Catholic from India, during my recent study visit to Philippines I was expecting to be greeted by warm, friendly people, but to my shock I was bitterly discriminated, even though I was extremely polite to all. On trying to understand the facts, it became really confusing. Maybe the 5-6 moneylenders may have been the cause of the hatred against Indians, but how many Philippinos know that these money lenders come from a province(state) called Punjab (which may be closely the size of Philippines itself). India is a collection of caste, creed, religions, and not all are involved in the trade. The second Business Process Overseas competition again is quite ridiculous, because my own Brother-In-Law is the Quality Assurance Manager for south east asia for a large American Bank outsourcing their jobs. And as per his view it is quite difficult to find qualified Philippinos with a good command over english outside the main cities. This leaves a very limited scope for MNC BPOS’s to fill in the jobs pending. His current dilemma is filling nearly 2000 jobs in the next 3 months. I strongly believe this hatred is primarily because of the lac of our knowledge in our geographical boundaries and cultures and wide spread education across the Philippines can eradicate this hatred.
I’m sorry to hear about your bad experience in the Philippines, Ramon.
i think it is because filipinos have the impression that indians smell. they reek with body odor.