How do I break the perception that residents of Western countries are not made of money?

[CebuTrekker]

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Maayong adlaw sayo tanan. This is a slight rant, but also understanding mechanisms to handle cultural differences. In my encounters, many native residents of the Philippines make the assumption that I, along with many Western counterparts, have unlimited cash flow. I often have "friends" who invite themselves almost every time when I go to the mall, proceed to recommend a lunch or dinner stop, and expect me to pay for the entire bill. I also have "friends" who constantly ask for pasalubong, and even daring enough to bring this up within 5 minutes of a conversation.

I really enjoy the country and the people, but I am asking for tips to handle this behavior of constant asks. I don't mind bringing my friends a little pasalubong for every visit, or during a special occasion, but sometimes, it's just not feasible for me to buy everyone what they want or treat them out. I have tried the indirect approach of hinting about cost-sharing and also directly stating that everyone should share the cost, but it has not worked well.

Salamat.

[THE KID]

just tell them that you dont have enough cash. period. if malain sila then they are not your true friends.
i think thats also your fault kai imo man gi anad...

ako dili ko gustong pangayuan ka dili man pud ko tig pangayu.... kung willing ko mo hatag dili nako angay i ask... kung naai mangayu nako unya dili nako feel... im really sorry. hehehe

[jackdi]

Common perception jud na!
Pero i think that is not their fault, it's yours.

If mo-NO diay ka like what @THE KID said, aw.. NO jud na...
Who cares about what they say

Though dili ko resident sa western country, ofw ko Boss.
I project myself clearly as wala nalibang og kwarta diri sa gawas.
So wala ko'y ingon-ana nga case.
People around me know nga kung mogasto ko, mogasto ko, labi na tong tabangunon jud.
Kung dili, dili pod. Wala'y makapugos.

[Scott Bernard]

Yep... Have this same kinds of "friends" before.

Kung mo ingon ko nga "mag inom ta..", ang ilang perception pirme nalang ako ang mang libre. Okay ra years ago nga una ko naka sulod ug engineering company unya sila kay service crew pa sa Jollibee. Nanganad naman, na supervisor nalang sa planta, magpa libre paman gehapon nako. Bisan lang unta modunol ug 100 kada tao, ok ra nako ako ra ang mopuno.... bisan 50 pesos dili jud modunol.

Karon kay magbuot pa nga apilon ug imbitar si "friend 1" ug si "friend 2" nga utro pod dili mobayad. Unya sa panahon nga wala nako ge invite ang uban nga friends, sila pa mismo nasuko ngano wa nako sila ge apil sa inom nga libre..

[Little_Mermaid88]

don't be afraid to say "NO". at first yes, its difficult for others to understand this. but eventually they will get it. i also think that because you don't wanna offend these so-called "friend" of yours is the reason you're experiencing this. before you let them go out with you, tell them outright. if they're not cool with that, you're better off without them.

pasalubongs are just part of the filipino culture but its not necessary to bring those to everybody you know.

[slakker]

you chose the wrong friends...

[rhame]

Just say, "No."
Or tell them magbilin sila ug kwarta. And if manglakaw mo ingna daan KKB. They're taking your hard earned money for granted.

[brackitz]

NO ra gud pud panagsa, pila ra'y pagbalibad og wala gyud ta, makapugos ba gud sila.

Kung manglibre ka nila og kaun, kung sa permiro mcdo2x pa mu..sunod dal-a na sad sa pungko2x, ingna dayun ari lang sa ta kay buslot ng bulsa.

[Syko]

Learn when to decline, Sir. It's not that you're a westerner but it's because you made them leeches. I'm sure that they'll understand if you decline. Your real friends will be there bisan walang wala na ka.

[<SMILE>]

Live and be with them in a simple and dignified way,
learn the culture within your vicinity study it and mingle how do locals mingle in the most casual way.
Being friendly assisted by your spouse would help a lot.
Try to establish an impression and a way towards you that is amicable, comforting, and yet not that lavish.