Culture Shock! Philippines (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

Alfredo and Grace Roces have compiled a great deal of material on the Psycho-social development of and application of "The Pilopino Culture". Rationales are given for certain behaviors, and comparisons with American Culture are made. As an American I find the information contained in this study of Pilipino Behavior, Life style, Social Interaction to be indespensible in studying the Pilopino People. I highly reccomend reading "Culture Shock" to anyone interested in comparing Cultural norms between American and Pilopino Culture. I am an American married to a Filipina. After reading Culture Shock I have developed a much better understanding of my wifes feelings about issues such as-Religion, Family, "Utang na loob", Extended vs. Nuclear Family, Sending money home to parents in the Philippines etc. There are now so many new concepts added to my knowledge of the Philippines that I lack both the time and space to discuss them with you. Get...Read more

This book is a well written introduction to the culture of the Philippines. I was born and raised in the US but my ethnic background is Filipino and I am fluent in Tagalog. I didn't think I would need to prepare for the trip to the Philippines. I could not have been more incorrect. Unfortunately for me, I read this book after my trip. Roces and Roces clearly explain the idiosyncrasies of the Filipino culture without insulting Filipino people. I recommend this book to anyone who will embark on a trip to the Philippines. One piece of advice: read the book *before* the trip not after!

Culture Shock Philippines was just that....a culture shock to the foreigner, yet a cultural reminder to the Filipino native. Many first generation childhood immigrants will get a kick out of WHY their parents do what they do and where it ALL comes from. This book touches on every aspect of Filipino culture and leaves no suprises of what to expect when first visiting the Philippines. And for those of you who think you know it all already, read this book - you may know it, but you may not know how to explain it..... Maraming Salamat sa Alfredo and Grace Roces!