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How Lucrative Is the Rejuvenating Soap Business?

Friday, September 27, 2024

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I started writing this post last July, but I didn't feel like posting it. I did not know where exactly I was going with it and honestly I was partially terrified that this might be misunderstood. So let's start this off with a disclaimer.


Being the chronically online in Youtube, I was simply surprised to learn that people how rich other people are getting just from selling rejuvenating skincare products. I heard about multiple brands coming out with similar products but I don't use it nor do I know anyone who do, so this was still very shocking for me. Curiousity got the best of me so I did some digging just because I wanted to know just how lucrative this industry is.


Disclaimer. This post does not imply any false accusation towards the brands and/or its owners. This is simply an estimated answer to a personal curiousity that I also wanted to share. No harm or negativity is directed towards anyone.



All About Rejuvenation


It is not a secret that many people in the Philippines have the mindset that fairer skin looks better or looks more wealthy. This way of thinking also shows the generalisation that if your skin is fair, you don't do much work "under the sun" or you have the means to maintain that skin. 

 

From what I have seen, the common theme among rejuvenation is bleaching, whitening, brightening, clarifying, etc. The common target market is those with dark skin, acne-prone skin, or irritated skin. The promised results are usually very clear and glowy, with fair skin. In the years prior, it was usually dermatologists creating their own rejuvenating lines with the most popular products, usually bleaching creams and kojic soaps. However, in recent years, there has also been an obvious rise of fair-skinned non-medical professionals who are "creating" their own lines.

 

As for the "created" part, it has always intrigued me because in surface level, there are almost no differentiating factors among these soaps other than the print on their packaging. They have always looked like white-label products to me.

 


The Numbers


The next thing I wondered about was how profitable these products are. I mean, just off the top of my head I asked the question: 


How much whitening soap does the Philippine market consume for individuals to earn millions or even billions?


Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive market study and the companies do not disclose their financial statements (rightfully so because most of them are private) that I could refer to so I had to think of my own ways to answer that question.


At first, I thought of approaching resellers and distributors with the hopes of knowing what the sales are like. Then I looked into it further and saw that there's some kind of network, though not always MLM, that would still affect how honest they would be with their sales. So I considered for me is the next best thing, which is to check their online sales.

 

In this sample size, I used the online shopping platform, Lazada. For full disclosure, I have not shopped for whitening or bleaching products ever, but my algorithm may still be different from others. I used the keywords rejuvenating soap to narrow it down to a single product and combed through the search results. 

 

I based the sales for each listing on this number:


I also only included the name or known brands, leaving out the generics and those with very small sales number of less than 100. I will have the file with the entire sample size available for download below.


After gathering the numbers, this is the ranking for my sample size of 98 product listings from the search:


Rosmar products which includes many varities of soap like kojic, gluta, etc tops our list with Php 23,371,755 in sales and also the number of listings found which is 37. In the data I gathered, the total items sold for Rosmar products is 200,291 including individuals and sets.


Another popular brand in this list is Brilliant Skin with only Php 7,247,672 and 10 listings with 133,474 items sold, also including individuals and sets.


Even with those very high numbers, that is still far from Php 1,000,000,000. For example, if we have the 1/10 of the sales coming at Php 23,371,755, we still lack the Php 976,628,245. If each soap is around Php 50 the most, that's 19,532,565 pieces of soap needed to be sold.


If the other sources are other online shopping platforms and dealers, each of those would need roughly $450m in sales of all of their products to make up the entire billion. However, if it's figures in millions only, it is possible. In my search, there were plenty of stores hitting and surpassing the million-peso mark.


Considering the saturation of this market, the limited number of people using and the limited frequency that each consumer uses the soap, I believe they would need to move mountains to reach those numbers. 



Ingredients 


Important: I am not a dermatologist nor a chemist and the information below are sourced from personally researching reliable sources.


If you are already using the products and they work for you, then feel free to continue doing so. I decided not to try any rejuvenating sets on my own face because of my personal preference and fear of damaging my skin. I usually just have some brands and ingredients I like to stick with. Still, I wanted to see what the ingredients were. For this post's purposes, I looked at four products and compared their ingredients to see how similar they are to each other.

 

The numbers stand for the order in which the ingredient appears on the product's ingredient list.


What I found was that except for product D which is available in Watsons, the others are not so upfront with their ingredient lists. The ingredients are not readily visible on their websites or their Lazada listings. I had to look for them on other resellers' websites or in their Amazon listings.
 
Just like the usual whitening, rejuvenating, and kojic soap products in the Philippine market, their common promises are skin lightening, preventing skin darkening, removing blemishes, glowing skin, anti-ageing, etc. 

In the table, products A and B are two very popular kojic soaps and have very similar ingredients, with differences only in the absence or presence of propylene glycol (moisturiser/humectant, solvent), cocamide DEA (surfactant/cleansing, viscosity controlling, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising), and butylated hydroxytoluene (additive antioxidant, preservative).

As for the whitening claim, they do both contain kojic dipalmitate which is more advanced than the old kojic and has research studies (see references/sources) linking it to treatment of hyperpigmentation. Although mostly anecdotal, there are also many users of kojic over the years who claim for it to have helped their skin.


What I can't wrap my head around is the claims are too big for a soap. Tehcnically, it does not even stay on the skin for so long so I personally would not entrust a soap with that. Science has gone far in terms of developing ingredients that are proven to work on the skin and ingredients that are safe to use for the long term. 


Furthermore, I am not the right person to discuss what skin lightening or skin bleaching ingredients have the research and the science to back up the claims. In case you are interested, below is a video of Dr Dray, a board-certified dermatologist discussing the differences between skin brightening and skin lightening.



Here is also another video by Dr. Shareene Idriss talking about Kojic Acid.



According to Dr. Shareene, 

It (kojic) is not going to lighten your main skin tone as it is. And don't think that you are going to "bleach" yourself with kojic acid. It is not going to happen.


The good thing to know is that the two big kojic soaps on the list are not the exact same product and just white-labelled. Well, they are known rivals, and if their rivalry is actually real, then I think the last thing on their minds would be to share a factory for their popular products.


If you are a regular user of these products or you are looking into trying them, I would highly encourage you to check for the ingredients and their side effects.

There are also scientifically proven ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide, and ceramides that have better results with the least irritation and are available in serums and moisturizers. If they are made with careful research and proper laboratories, they can do wonders for your skin.



How lucrative is the rejuvenating soap business?

From the numbers that I saw just for one shopping platform alone, I did find that it is a pretty good business venture IF you can find a steady and regular customer base. There are brands that did reach millions of pesos in sales, but I think even with all the shopping platforms it would still not reach a billion peso or more. As profitable as the rejuvenating soaps are, it is a no-brainer that they are not used by the majority of the population unlike popular brands like Safeguard, etc. Perhaps the additional number came from other business ventures. 




References/Sources:

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How to Prepare for a Stress-Free Christmas Shopping (+ Downloadable Checklist!)

Friday, September 20, 2024

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I know it might be too early to talk about Christmas shopping, but hear me out here. We have huge sales coming after Thanksgiving, and if you're like me, who's on a budget, we are going to need to take the time to plan this out, right?


Well, one can always shop for anything random at the last minute, so this post would be for those who don't want any stress in shopping for presents, are on a tight budget, or simply want to give thoughtful gifts this season.


via GIPHY


Start with Overall Plan


First thing's first: how much are you willing to spend on all presents this year? That includes all the other expenses, such as wrapping paper, delivery fees, boxes, etc. If you're planning to personally make some of the presents, how much do you have for materials? 


Most importantly, how many people can you give presents to this year? It is okay if you can only give to family and closest friends this year. Times are difficult, and that is completely understandable.



For whom and how much?


Once your basics are rounded up, list the names according to priority if you can. There might also be those whom you want to list as groups, like an entire household or a couple. After that, think about how much you're willing to spend on each person. This will make it easier to determine the best places to purchase the presents. 


If you're very forgetful like I am, you might also want to track down those whom you've bought presents for—the ones you've wrapped and the ones you've given. The included downloadable checklist below has all the essentials to help you stick to a plan.



Strategise where to purchase


A very good way to save time and money, not only on the presents but also on delivery fees and gas, is to try to strategize your place of purchase in one or a few stores. Other stores also offer good discounts for large purchases. For example, stores like Old Navy often have discounts for purchases reaching a certain amount. 


Another advantage of purchasing in as few shops as possible is that it will be easier for you to manage as there will be fewer deliveries.


via GIPHY


Keep track of all the sales/specials!


As you may already know, we have a couple of huge sales coming before Christmas. Black Friday is on November 29th, followed by Cyber Monday on December 2nd. Stores usually have early sales, which may start days prior to the main event and could last days after Cyber Monday. For cosmetics, the brands' main websites usually have huge discounts during the Thanksgiving season.


Those dates would be the best to purchase presents if you're looking to save some more. 


You can also search for the previous year's sales pattern of your target stores and sign up for newsletters or keep note of them in your shopping list or calendars.



Get things done as early as you can


I know this might be difficult, especially for those who are extremely busy or for the proscratinators, but the most effective way to get through the holiday shopping season is to get them done as early as possible. You don't have to get it all done at once. Say you've already had the presents purchased and delivered after the Black Friday sales; why not try and wrap a present each day? Or take like half an hour to wrap a few for the days you're bored? Just take things nice and slow if you can, and before you know it, by the second week of December, all you'll have to do is wait until it's appropriate to start giving your presents (or whenever their tree is up, really).


via GIPHY


I hope this somehow is able to help get you started on properly organizing a plan for Christmas shopping. Being properly organised during this time of the year will help take out most or all of the stress, so you can truly enjoy what the season is for!



Downloadable Content

I prepped a downloadable and printable file of this shopping list to hopefully help organise your shopping trips this year. You may download the file by clicking the button below. 

Christmas Shopping List
(PREVIEW) Christmas Shopping List by glifesnaps

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Getting an NBI Clearance at SM City Cebu (OSSCO Cebu) - OTC Payment

Friday, September 6, 2024

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I remember way back, we could only get the NBI clearance at their main office. They still have not renovated then so when I accompanied my cousin, we had to go there at around 5:00am. They did not open until a couple hours later but we had to be early for the priority number. 

It is a very good thing now that NBI had opened more offices where we could get clearances. There are still peak hours where they would be filled.

In today's post, I'll take you through my experience of getting an NBI Clearance in the Government Services in SM City Cebu:


Making the appointment

I apologise as I don't have screenshots for this section. I was not sure of whether or not it is allowed to screenshot from the NBI website so I just decided not to. I tried my best to keep the steps clear, but the process is pretty straightforward.


Step One. I went to https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph/ and registered for a new account.

Step Two. Once I have updated and added in your personal information, I clicked APPLY FOR CLEARANCE on the right handside.

Step Three. I added the information of my identification document that will be presented to NBI and clicked I AGREE.

Step Four. I selected an NBI Branch  and in my case, it was SM City Cebu branch which is listed on the website as OSSCO - Cebu). I selected my time slot and the payment option (Cash for over the counter payment).

Step Five. A reference number was generated.


Over the counter (OTC) Payment

Step One. I headed to the cashier area and told them I will pay for NBI. I presented the reference number on my phone.

Step Two. I will be given a form. It was a tiny slip of paper which I filled out with my personal information. There was a long queue so I just filled it out while I was on queue to the cashier.

Step Three. After paying, I was given a receipt.

NBI Clearance Section



Step One. I went back to the front (main door) of the Government Service center where I saw machines that will generate priority numbers. At that time, the machines were not working but there was a staff member giving out priority numbers. I told the staff I am getting my NBI clearance and I was given a reference number for it.

Step Two. I headed to the NBI area and waited for my number to be called. By then, there were already so many people so I just decided to stand by on the side. I did make sure I was not blocking the way and I could still hear the numbers being called out.

Step Three. When I was called, the staff member on the counter confirmed my personal information and this is also the step where you can make changes if there are any. My fingerprints and photos were taken.  
  
Note:If there's someone else with the exact same name as you are who had crimininal records, they call this having a "hit", you will have to come back after three business days (or however many days they will tell you to).

Step Four. My NBI Clearance was printed.


In conclusion...

The waiting time was roughly 25-30 minutes, but the clearance process took only 10 minutes. It was an okay experience for me. It was not the most comfortable of experiences. However, the important thing for me was it was not frustrating  at all.


Good luck!
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Is It Worth Vacuuming Your Clothes for Travel? | Vacuum Compression Bags Review

Thursday, September 5, 2024

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Vacuum compression travel bag lazada

Scrolling through TikTok often takes constant restraint from getting influenced to purchase the cool new find. I have been really good lately with mindful consumption and buying only the things I 100% want and/or need. 
 
The good run is temporarily interrupted by one clip I saw—it was actually for a carry-on backpack, but I saw that the person used a tiny vacuum device on a vacuum compression bag. Vacuum storage has been around for so long. I just wasn't convinced before because I do not have a vacuum cleaner. So, I fell for that tiny little (seemingly) amazing device, which got me to thinking... 

via GIPHY

So a few clicks and days later, we have our vacuum compression set.

I purchased the following from a LazMall store Vusign (https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.k1sVy):

Important: Links are non-affiliate. The prices you will see may be different from when I made my purchase.

The compression bags...

You might be familiar of this one since there are other non-vacuum bags that come with them. Each bag comes with a sealer to help seal the main opening faster:

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada

They also have another round opening where you vacuum the air out after sealing. A regular vacuum cleaner also works for this opening.

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada

If you do buy the same ones I got, they will have these pink seal on the opening. DO NOT REMOVE THEM or else your bag will inflate again immediately.

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada


The mini vacuum...

I am using the vacuum device that came with the set from the store. It's what actually sold me because this would be very handy for travels.

Vacuum compression travel lazada

I thought this was cordless, but it only works when plugged in. The wire it came with is not very long so I did end up using an extension cord.

This device does vacuum quite well. I don't think this will be good for larger batches because it does heat up eventually. It's good for quick and small packing tasks.

Testing with a crocheted sweater...


Crocheted clothing are notorious for being a lot more chunky than the mass-produced knitted ones which makes this the perfect first test subject.

As seen on the photos below, the initial weight of this sweater is  0.48kg and the initial thickest point is 14cm.



After vacuuming, the chunkiest side became only 8cm and the thinnest side of the bag was only a little over 5cm.


Even on the chunkiest side there was quite a large difference. 

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada before after
As for the weight, from 0.48kg, it went down to 0.35kg.
Btw, in case you're wondering, the 40x60 bag in my experience was able to fit two very chunky sweaters and one regular button down shirt.

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada

With the mini vacuum device, the entire 40x60 bag takes 15 seconds the longest to vacuum.

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada


Now, let's test how practical this is for packing a luggage...

Let's check if it's worth vacuuming everything we have on this side of the bag. I completely filled this side with just clothes. I did not roll them up, just the rectangular fold. If it matters, I also did not layer multiple clothing inside the compression bags.


And here is our result...

Vacuum compression travel bag lazada before after

As you can see, vacuuming everything left plenty of space on the sides and I was able to fit in additional stuff like shoes, accessories and other smaller clothing pieces.


That space was non-existent prior to compressing all clothes. It may not be a very significant change, but it does make enough difference to fit in more than what we initially have.

Is it worth it for travel?

In my opinion, it is very much worth it for travel. I would highly suggest getting the mini vacuum if you'll be staying at hotels because obviously, you won't be able to fit things the same way going back home if you don't have a vacuum device. 

I was very pleasantly surprised by the results and I'm happy that this Tiktok made me buy it was a success.

Happy travels!

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My Comfort YouTube Channels

Friday, August 23, 2024

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Throughout the years, I have watched and followed creators that have gone astray or been revealed to be very problematic. For example, I was well into beauty content when the infamous dramageddon happened. While I still occasionally watch tea (gossip) videos and do spend so much time watching dark stories, these comfort channels actually provide much-needed good vibes. 


The common theme among these creators, I think, is the fact that they're very passionate about what they do which does show in the content they put out and they're generally unproblematic. Which YouTube channels feels like a nice warm cup of tea or hot chocolate for you? Share them in the comments below!



Safiya Nygaard


I have liked Safiya's personality even back in her Buzfeed days, but I believe she shined more when she started her own channel. Safiya is one of those people who you know is very intelligent, just based on how she speaks, what she says, and how her content is laid out. She is very entertaining, and I do learn a lot from the videos she puts out. I even watch her videos on topics that I don't gravitate towards.



Sophdoeslife


It was only until I put this list together that I realised Sophdoeslife is the only almost purely makeup-related Youtuber that I still watch. I no longer overconsume cosmetics and skincare, and unsubscribing to many beauty vloggers has helped kerb that wasteful habit. However, I do still watch Sophdoeslife because I found that I can consume her content without actually consuming what she puts out.
 
She just genuinely enjoys makeup and is not pushing it down her viewers' throats. She's just obviously very happy with what she's doing. Sophdoeslife radiates so much positive energy, which still keeps me tuned even today.



Whiny Brit


I don't talk about many private things, but only my husband knows the ungodly amount of hours that I have played my cozy games. Especially The Sims. Even though I know how capitalist all those expansions and packs are, I still end up craving the next good one I find.

With that, I also enjoy watching gameplays of other players. Sims is a simulation game so I think it does take some good personality to make these videos entertaining to watch and I can really vouch for Whiny Brit on this one.

From what I see, I think she has an amazing personality. Her gameplays are very entertaining to watch and she does have many takes that often makes me laugh.



Mia Maples


Mia Maples is always a ray of fun and positive light. What drew me to her were her cute thumbnails and home interiors, but I stayed for the lighthearted, though still very honest, reviews. Mia's style and personality show through her aesthetics genuinely, which is one of the things I really like about her channel.
 
She often reviews popular products as well as celebrity brands. We are not of the same body type, but I still watch her clothing reviews because they're as fun as her other content. She also has a great relationship with her mum, whom she regularly sees in her videos.



Alex Meyers


While I watch a fair amount of commentary videos, I personally do not look to them for comfort. I even sometimes skip them for weeks just to avoid heavy topics. However, I could not say no to comedic commentary, especially for movies and TV shows. For that, only one channel stands out for me, which is Alex Meyers.


When watching movies, we sometimes need to suspend our disbelief really hard to enjoy them. Alex Meyers takes all those thoughts if we were to watch movies logically and presents them in a very funny way.


Channel link: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexMeyersVids

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Mochi Overload with MINIMONO! (A Review)

Friday, August 16, 2024

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I am easily drawn to all the endless food reels and photos on the internet, but the call for this came stronger than the rest.
 
I undeniably love the texture of mochi and other similar desserts. When I saw the ad for MINIMONO Cafe on Instagram, my thought was that I just had to have it. Right there. Right then.
 
I have not seen them in the food delivery apps that I used, so I assumed they just did not have any deliveries. I messaged them on Instagram if I could just have my order picked up by Grab, but they did not respond. I did not take this negatively, though. A few hours later, out of a whim, I searched for daifuku on Grab, and lo and behold, I found MINIMONO!


Mochi Wrapped Ice Cream (Matcha)

Mochi Wrapped Ice Cream (Matcha), Php 180

The matcha ice cream was a little soft (almost melting), but it was understandable because it was a delivery. I live around 15 minutes away from the cafe. 


Everything about this dessert is divine. The matcha ice cream was so delicious. It was very creamy and not sweet at all. I personally like that my matcha is not sweet because the flavour is richer that way. The sweetness can sometimes overpower the matcha, but in this case, it did not at all. The mochi complements the ice cream really well.


This is just a little difficult to eat with a plastic spoon because it does not cut through the mochi easily.


Mochi Wrapped Ice Cream (Matcha), Php 180


Mango Cream Daifuku

Mango Cream Daifuku, Php 80

I also really loved the texture of both the mochi and the cream in their mango cream daifuku. This even has real fruit bits with the mango-flavoured cream! 

I honestly could eat multiples of this in one sitting. It made me regret that I only ordered one. 🙈 


The only thing I was not so pleased with was that the mango flavour of the cream and/or the fruit was a little sour. I don't know if that was intentional or just a case of a sour mango. Nevertheless, I would be more than happy to order this again.


Mango Cream Daifuku, Php 80


Mochi Bites (Plain)

Mochi Bites (Plain), Php 120

I ordered this because I wanted to have a taste of their plain mochi as well. I honestly can and am very willing to consume mochi, plain or bland. This did come with cream cheese and crushed Oreo dip.


For the plain mochi, there's not much to say, but it was no surprise to me that I really loved it. It was very well-made, and it's a fun snack. 


Mochi Bites (Plain), Php 120

As much as I loved the plain, the cream cheese and Oreo dip were very great additions and took the dessert to another level. I have not had this combo before, but I also ended up enjoying it too.


Shakerato

Shakerato, Php 130

I also got myself iced coffee just to balance out all the mochi overload. I found that coffee is perfect with mochi or daifuku.


This is an iced shaken cold brew. It was sweetened, but just the right amount. If you're planning to order this, make sure to note if you want it unsweetened. 


The coffee had a good, rich flavour. It was not watered down to oblivion, which was just to my taste.



In conclusion...

I am so happy to say that I enjoyed everything I ordered from MINIMONO. The only teeny-tiny qualm is the sourness of the mango, but it didn't throw me off that much. The coffee was also very good.


I don't think I've heard many people talk about this cafe, though I do hope more people discover this gem soon because they have some good dessert!



MINIMONO Address and Socials



Maps:




Disclaimer: As you can tell by my not so poetic description of the food that I am not a food critic/expert nor have I ever claimed to be one. This is out of personal experience. Your experience and preferences may differ from mine. This review is not written with the intention to harm any individual, group or business. This review is not sponsored nor is it in any other type of x-deals.
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The Uncomfortable Topic of the Filipino Children’s Debt of Gratitude to Their Parents

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

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In light of two gold medals for the Philippines in the Olympics recently, there was also an avalanche of family controversy just laid out for the public to feast on. If you know, you know.


This controversy brought forward sentiments from those who believe that children should live out their entire lives for the sake of their parents, the exhausted breadwinners, and those who sympathise on either side left in between.



The Toxicity That Many Children Grow Up On


In the Philippines, even to this day and age, it is very common for people to think that one should have children so they can be well taken care of when they get older. There are children grow up in the belief that they will soon get their parents (sometimes even an entire family) out of poverty. 

This clip from a segment in Eat Bulaga before shows a very common expectation of many parents in the country:


Even at a very young age, many children will start hearing about what is expected of them, what college degrees are most profitable, aiming for jobs with the highest possible income, and eventually earning enough to support the very family that their parents started.


These are expected of those children for the mere fact that they owe their lives to their parents and have been provided for since they were born, which is obviously the parent's legal responsibility for choosing to birth new humans into the world. Heck, even those who have been abused or not provided well in childhood are expected to give back to their parents as well.


It is a generational curse that will get one under hot fire if they try to go against it or even talk about it. 



Children Are Not Investment and Retirement Funds


If you visit forums on Reddit like r/adultingph or r/panganaysupportgroup, a very common sentiment is how the parents stop working the moment their oldest child gets a job at any point in their lives. This brings them forth as the breadwinners of their families, supporting their parents at a very young age. They are also expected to pay for their siblings' education, build their parents a nice home, pay for vacations, etc. 

 

Many young adults in the Philippines are burned out at a young age because of the heavy responsibility passed on to them. They are not only having difficult times making ends meet, but they are also weighed down by the lack of direction in their own adult lives. How can they save up and plan for their own future when they are forever paying for responsibilities that are not their own?

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to give back to your parents if you can. I am placing very heavy emphasis on the phrase "if you can." The thing is, most children are demonised for not being able to do so or not wanting to. 

 

Children are not tickets for their parents's retirements. They are not investment bonds that are only kept alive for future returns. If you, as a parent, want a comfortable life after retirement, you should make it a point as an adult to work on that yourself. Even if the child has hundreds of millions in the bank, it is not right to expect them to give back a percentage of that to anyone if they don't want to. 


Expecting a child at any age to assume an adult's responsibility is exploitative and abusive. I said what I said.



A Debt That Can Never Be Repaid


Dani Barretto, a celebrity mum and influencer, went through hot fire for her sentiments on utang na loob (debt of gratitude) towards parents. She said, "Hindi ka pwedeng magkaroon ng utang na loob sa mga bagay na dapat nilang gawin para sayo." (You should not be indebted for the things they should be giving to you.)


@bareitallpodcast Let’s stop this toxic culture 😫 #fyp #pinoypodcast #podcast #familyproblems #parentissues #lifeadvice #lifelessons ♬ Late Night Melancholy - Rude Boy


She is talking about how some parents would use the arguments that they have made sacrifices just for their children to have good lives as justification for their expectations that one day, their children would do the same thing for them.


This is attributed as utang na loob by most parents.

 

Dani went on to emphasise that her point, which many people missed, was that children should not be obligated to give back if they cannot. 

 

Hypothetically, if it is a valid argument that children should give back as their utang na loob for getting to where they are or even just for being alive, how will they ever repay that? When will it end? Are there calculations? The answer is no. If the things parents did for their children (mostly their legal obligations) are to be accounted for, the child will never be able to finish repaying that debt. 

 

The children will never be able to start preparing for their own adult lives if they spend their entire early adult years supporting families they did not create. The risk of repeating this toxic cycle and passing on the responsibilities to their own children is too high. For many families and young adults, this is already their reality.



For the Children Who Feel Guilty


If you, as a child, have been in the crossfire of not earning enough for yourself or your own family and feeling guilty for not being able to give back to your parents, I hope you try as much as you can to start freeing yourself from the guilt over a responsibility that is not yours in the first place.

 

Children who feel guilty over this are children who have at some point in their lives or are continuously assuming the responsibility of their parent. The video below describes this perfectly: 


@just.jo.things Parenting a parent #parentrole #parentingaparent #familydynamics #familydrama ♬ Yellow - Instrumental - Piano Dreamers


Feeling guilty for not being able to provide is a parent role. If you are feeling this as a child, you may have been stuck in that role all your life.


I hope one day, you too, will be able to start to free yourself and take off that load of guilt you have been carrying all your life. 



Cutting The Cycle 


Many people say that we should be celebrating the gold medals the athlete won for the country, and this issue should not be dragged through the mud. I do agree that their family issue is something that should have been dealt with publicly.


However, what this issue brought to light was the many sentiments from the children, who are just so exhausted from carrying a similar type of responsibility all their lives.


Many people say that we should be celebrating the gold medals the athlete won for the country, and this issue should not be dragged through the mud. I do agree that their family issue is something that should have been dealt with publicly.

 

However, what this issue brought to light was the many sentiments from the children, who are just so exhausted from carrying a similar type of responsibility all their lives.

 

I hope this is not something we aim to pass on to our future children, even though we are also very aware that cutting this cycle takes so much. Wanting to do something to get out of this toxic generational curse will risk someone being demonised across an entire family tree. But just imagine the reward of being able to start a new path for yourself or your own future family. A path where you take on the responsibility for your own adult life and choices. A future where your children, if you choose to do so, are able to build their own futures because they are not carrying the toxic burden of utang na loob.

 

This is a very uncomfortable topic, and if somehow the Facebook keyboard warriors find their way here, I know this will leave a sour taste in their mouths. I do stand on this, and I will continue to believe that, for goodness' sake, let your children be children.

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An Observation of Internalised Racism in the Philippines

Friday, July 12, 2024

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One of the most important concepts I just learned in my mid-20s is internalised racism. Growing up, that was non-existent. Behaviours that instigate or project internalised racism were just normal. Some would even excuse it as "I am Filipino; I am allowed to say that about my fellow Filipino." These behaviours, passed on from generation to generation, have become subconscious behaviours among many of us.


In a document published by the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) in Seattle, internalised racism is defined as:

"The internalisation of the racist stereotypes, values, images, and ideologies perpetuated by the white dominant society about one's racial group (Pyke, 2010)."

 

I will get to specific details and situations in the later part of this blog, but I want to quickly discuss a recurring theme across many of these behaviours:



Hasty Generalisation


If you are unfamiliar with the fallacy called hasty generalisation, it is, as its name suggests, a rushed conclusion based on very limited evidence. For example, I knew a girl (Filipina) who dated three Filipinos, and all three cheated on her. She then declared she would only date foreigners because all Filipino men are cheaters. She sampled three and reached a conclusion about 55.02 million men. 


Hasty generalisation is a common pitfall, even though I catch myself sometimes. It is easy to commit it because, even if it is not right, it is easier to just make a generalisation. I think having knowledge of the common behaviours and practices of a group of people is helpful in discerning the good from the bad. The danger comes when you let a preconceived notion stop you from learning more about a group or a race.



Ignorance


I realised it is now a little difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing ignorance in this day and age. In the past, we could think of just our socioeconomic status as limiting access to information or travel. However, considering that Digital 2023 published the data that there were 85.16 million internet users in the Philippines at the start of 2023, when internet penetration stood at 73.1 percent, one can wonder how ignorance is still so prevalent in the country. What information are Filipinos consuming? Most importantly, how do they integrate valid information into their lives and further change themselves for the better?


Ignorance of how other people live in other provinces or other countries leads a lot of people to think they are superior to others. Ignorance of our country's history and culture enables many to speak ill of our own and morph into foreign ideals just to get as far away from being Filipino as possible.

 


Keeping those two points in mind, it got me to thinking about what specific situations I have observed or heard of that scream internalised racism, with some being so common that we don't think it is. 



Detached geographically, detached internally


Lucy (not her real name) has been living in Australia for 10 years now. She moved when she was 28 for work, but she is already an Australian citizen. While out shopping for groceries, a supermarket staff member who happened to be Filipino noticed her. The supermarket staff hesitated for a minute, but after having a strong gut feel from seeing Lucy's physical features, the staff came up to Lucy and said, "Good morning po, Filipino po ba kayo?" (Good morning, are you Filipino?) Lucy flinched as she answered in a thick Filipino accent, "No, I am Australian." Embarrassed, the supermarket staff apologised profusely as Lucy walked away in a bad mood.


I am not trying to impose harmful stereotypes here, but we Filipinos, like all the other races in the world, have distinct characteristics. In this situation, which I know happened in real life, the supermarket staff was asking about Lucy's ethnicity, having identified her as a fellow. I honestly do not think the staff would ask if she was Australian when there was a higher chance that she was because, well, they were in Australia.


This happens to other Filipinos when they leave the country or have lived in a foreign land for a long time. They think they can shake off their ethnicity just because they have a different-coloured passport or are flaunting a new residency card. 


Why is this so? It may be because of shame. Shame of having a third-world country as part of an identity or the colour of the skin. They are shameful of the things that make their home country or their race unique. So, the moment their passports change, they shake off their origins as if citizenship could erace their ethnicity.



Worship of superior race


There are Filipinos who think of their own race as inferior, so they take richer nations and the dominant races as "ideal."This worship of a superior race has many manifestations, with some changing their physical appearance to match that of the ideal race—most often physical characteristics that are the total opposite of their own race. It could also be being so hyper-aware of what the superior race might think or thinking that the ideal race could do no wrong.


Mario (not his real name) has three daughters and has been living in the United States for decades. All of his daughters were born and raised in the US. They have not been taught a single word in Filipino and have not practiced any Filipino traditions. They would vacation in the Philippines, and he would purchase the popular international brands for them to bring and wear on vacation. He also discouraged them from purchasing local brands for the mere reason that they looked local. When his daughters were old enough to start dating, their one rule was not to date Filipinos. He did not tell his daughters, but Mario thought it would be best so he could ensure they don't date anyone poor or they won't be used as visa entries.


Mario, even being a Filipino himself, falls under the category of hasty generalisation. While his "concerns" are based on actual misfortunes that others have fallen into, this drew a divide not only for himself but also for his daughters, who will never be in touch with their ethnicity. He is so hyper-aware of looking like he is from abroad that he does not see the value of local Filipino products.



Inter-regional divide


Back in the local scene is the issue of inter-regional divide. It's not only the seas that divide us; leave it to the people themselves to drive a wedge between their fellow Filipinos.


I have always known about the stereotypes that regions have about each other. It is a tale as old as time. I've mostly brushed it off in the past because it's mostly just plain ignorance. However, it was only recently that I have come across tonnes of comments across Tiktok and often in forums that are quite unhinged and illogical, to be honest.


A current issue is a fiesta in a city in Luzon that caused disruptions in the lives of those who happened to pass by them that day. I was puzzled when I saw a comment that it was the behaviour of people from Cebu, which was an hour's flight away from them. It made me think of how that conclusion came to be when there is no data presented that those who caused the disruptions are from that specific city or data that shows there are cities in that region having fiestas similar to it. It is not a hasty generalisation, but it is just purely illogical. 

By that example, I am not just condemning just one group because I also do not think it is acceptable for the people from my own region to have harmful stereotypes against them or any other region for that matter. 


With more and cheaper access to travel and information, it is alarming how this type of mindset is still very prevalent, or maybe has even gotten worse. How is it still possible to be so ignorant and generalise everyone in an entire region as wh0r3s, uncivilised, etc.?



The Colour of Our Skin


Our ancestors were not fair-skinned, but most people currently hold our fellows to fair-skinned standards. There are people who shamelessly point out how dark other Filipinos are and how they should get gluta shots. They make fun of how some hair or clothing colours do not match dark skin tones.


Mestiza aunties are concerned about what a couple's children will look like when their mestiza relative marries a brown Filipino man. These people make me sick. Pardon the rudeness; it is well-deserved.


If you like to bleach your skin white, then by all means that is your choice. However, it is not fair to hold people up to that standard. Shaming fellow Filipinos for being brown is also shaming an entire ancestry. 


There is so much more to being Filipino than a skin colour. Discriminating based on that makes you racist, even if you are Filipino yourself. This is a generational practice that needs serious breaking.



So Pinoy


A long time ago, I experienced the sheer joy of picking up and being in a car ride with a person who said "So Pinoy" so many times that it was actually stuck to my head like a song.


Let's call her Brenda (not her real name). She lives abroad and holds a foreign passport. What I remember is that we have not yet left the airport, and she was already complaining about everything about the airport. When the car started to leave the parking area, she complained about the driving of the other cars, who were just minding their own business and trying to get out of that tight parking area. I thought I was already used to the Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue traffic, but I was wrong. Brenda humbled me. Throughout the entire hour and a half of that car ride, Brenda has already evaluated in detail everything that is wrong with the Philippines. She saw what was wrong with having tangled electric wiring, every single crack and pothole, roads being too narrow, traffic lights being too slow, the heat, the price of gas, the homeless, the tinted cars, and just about anything else. Look, those are things we complain about daily, but oh dear, was it different hearing all of that and more in rapid succession for nearly two hours? The cherry on top for me was when Brenda said, "See? This is why I hate coming to the Philippines! There's so many things wrong with Filipinos!"


Chill, Brenda. You are Filipino, too.


There are Brendas everywhere abroad. There are even homegrown local Brendas. 


We are aware of the problems this country has. We have so many wishful thoughts of what could be if only some things could change. We complain. We rage. However, what I think makes Brenda stand out is the intent behind her thoughts. Brenda says those not because she has to survive that daily but because she thinks she is superior to other Filipinos. She thinks her citizenship or her dollars set her apart and give her the right to just plough through her own race. A homegrown Brenda sees all these problems and lives through them daily, but does not say that because she's a tired Brenda—she picks apart everything wrong with being Filipino because she thinks we are inferior to all the foreign people she idolises.


The intent is what sets this apart.


Is it just pure exhaustion, or is it simply feeling superior?



In conclusion...


There are so much more instances of internalised racism. I do encourage you to share and have a peaceful dialogue in the comments below.


Socioeconomic status is not an excuse for not having the slightest idea and appreciation for our own race especially if there is an access to the internet or even printed material. Again, a foreign passport does not excuse your ethnicity.  


Internalised racism is a name for many horrible behaviours that our fellows have been doing so long. I hope we open our minds to learning more about our race and being accepting of our differences.


Sources:

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