Malaysia-Singapore-Philippines: Witnessing the Differences Firsthand

During my short stay in Malaysia and Singapore, I have noticed quite a lot of differences of how things go there and here in the Philippines. Well, I am a Filipino and this is not to degrade my own kind but these are what I have observed and these are the harsh truths and if you're Pinoy, I doubt that you can or will contest. However, if you happen to dare argue with me, I will prove to you that I am not like you, by RESPECTING YOUR OPINION and SHUTTING UP.

1. LITTERING: 

Singapore is known for its cleanliness and indeed it is clean. However, in order to maintain its cleanliness, there are strict laws that must be followed regarding littering. If you're caught littering for the first time, you might have to pay a fine of up to S$1,000 (P34,000) and if you haven't learned from your first offense and stupidly made another mistake of missing the trash bin then you will be fined S$2,000. Just do the math. 

However, here in the Philippines, there are no laws as regards littering; surprisingly though, there's an anti-planking law. 

And clearly, it is a habit of Filipinos to throw their trash wherever they want; whenever they feel like. Even when there's a huge sign saying "BAWAL MAGTAPON NG BASURA DITO".

PINOY: I am going to throw my candy wrapper here! *throws like a boss*

Although parts of Malaysia looks a lot like some places in Manila, the former is way cleaner than the latter. 

On our way to LCCT:

Cyn: Tignan mo 'yung post. Kulay green pa rin.

Ali: Oo nga. Pero kung sa Manila yan, black na yan. 

2. MRT/LRT:

If you are a commuter here in the Philippines, you very well know how it is at train stations especially during rush hours. Long lines, people running up/down the escalators like they have LBM (lol), people pushing each other to get a seat inside the train as if it's a matter of life and death. But in MY and SG, I never saw such things. They patiently fall in line. They have this term "keep left" where people stay on the left side of the escalator so those who are in a hurry can pass and before they get on the train, they wait for the passengers to alight first. 

Typical scenario at LRT/MRT stations here in the Philippines.

3. DRESS CODE: 

In Malaysia, they wear just the simplest clothes except of course for the Koreans who are naturally fashionable. Malays don't care too much about whether or not their clothes are signature or are the latest trend. While here in the Philippines, it is important that you wear branded clothes. So important that we patronize counterfeit products or more commonly known as "imitations". Even with the gadgets such as phones, tablet computers, laptops, etc., Filipinos have this need and want of being "in", so even if we don't need them and even if we can't afford them in the first place, we ask money from our parents just to have what others have. And it is such a sad truth to know that parents tolerate this kind of materialism. 

While waiting for Kort and Alinah:

Cyn: Simple lang sila magdamit noh?

Ate Grace: Oo nga. Tignan mo 'yun nakaslacks lang. Wala silang pakialam masyado kung maganda ba damit nila o hindi.

Cyn: Pero kung sa Pinas yan, grabe papormahan. 

Ate Grace: Considering na third world country. 

While inside a gadget store:

Cyn: Pero hindi ba 'yon imitation (referring to Beats by Dr. Dre)

Ate Grace: Ahh hindi. Hindi sila mahilig sa imitations.

4. SENIOR CITIZENS: 

Here in the Philippines, it is customary that lolos and lolas stay inside the house to either take care of their grandchildren, to knit or sew, to feed the chickens/pigs or to simply stay at home. Well, in Singapore, we were surprised to see old people sweeping the streets, cleaning the tables at a hawker centre, pushing the trolleys and stacking them back together. They still acknowledge the capability of old people to work and earn money, which I think is a good thing because it is during this stage (seniors, 65 years onward) that they need to feel they are still worthy. As long as they can carry on with the job, then they're still allowed to work. 

However, some Singaporeans do not recognize this opportunity for their elderly of holding down a job such as cleaning toilets as a positive thing. To them it is a reflection of poor governance; that instead of investing money to help the aging community, they invest it for higher returns. 

Well, my stand on this is split. I would rather have my parents enjoy their retirement than see them work when they reach 65 years and older but I don't want them to feel unworthy as well. But of course, to feel one's worth doesn't mean one has to clean toilets and sweep the streets. But that's Singapore. :)

However, in the Philippines, it's not only the elderly population that is ignored; it is the whole impoverished community. And likewise, it roots from poor governance; that instead of investing money for these people, "THEY" "INDIVIDUALLY" invest if for their own gain. 

5. LANGUAGE:

Well, since the Philippines is the only English-speaking country in this part of the globe, it is such a torture for me to converse with Malays. Although most Malays understand English, only few of them speak the language well. They speak fast and it is almost impossible for me to understand what they say the first time, probably because of their distinctive accent. 

At the LCCT:

Guy in uniform checking my passport: "Say hi". *he said it too fast and with such a serious countenance that I thought something's wrong with my passport*

Cyn: Excuse me? 

Guy: I said say hi *then smiles*

Cyn: Oh, hello!

At Central Market buying a tote bag:

Lady: "??? 12 ringgit ??????"

Cyn: Sorry, but I don't speak English.

Lady: *smiles* Oh, ok. That's 12 ringgit. Thank you.

Cyn: Thank you. 

WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY?

6. TIME:

We arrived at Menara Jaya (Butch and Ate Grace's apartment building) from LCCT at around 3AM. We talked for a while then did our bedtime rituals. So it was around 4:30 or maybe 5AM that we finally went to bed. We only had an hour of sleep because we had to ride the bus to Genting which leaves at 8. 

Ate Grace: "Dapat 10 minutes before 8, nandun na tayo"

Of course, as Filipinos who are accustomed to arriving late, we didn't seriously take the scheduled time. Filipino time nga diba? But when we got to the bus terminal 10 minutes after 8, there was no Go Genting bus waiting for us. A Malay taxi driver said the bus already left and offered to drive us to Genting for RM20 each (P280 each). We had no other choice but to take his offer. We tried our luck with the next bus but the driver did not accommodate us. So we took Murad's taxi instead. 

Meanwhile:

Butch: Uncle, we pay you only 15. There's 5 of us.

Murad: No. Road is hard. Place too high.

Alinah: Uncle, 15 only please.

Kort: Uncle, if you go to the Philippines we'll give you discount.

Ate Grace: First time here in Malaysia. Please only 15.

Murad: No. *smiles*

Ate Grace: Tumae pa kasi si Kurt!

Here's Murad: 

And here we are inside his taxi:

Malays are serious about time. If the scheduled time is 8, you must arrive before or exactly at 8. 

Anyway, Murad stopped by a chocolate store.

Murad: "Free taste"

Everybody: "Oh free taste daw!". 

We excitedly went inside and tasted each sample.

Alinah: Cyn, 3 for RM100! That's 140 pesos!!

Cyn: Wow, ang mura! *sabay hakot ng chocolates"

At the counter:

Alinah paid. I paid. 

I thought, "wow, ang classy naman ng box, 140 pesos lang. sobrang sulit. I love Malaysia!"

We went back inside the taxi:

Alinah: Cyn, 1,400 pesos pala yun. Narealize ko lang nung nasa counter na tayo. 

So there, Murad robbed us a total of P1,400 for the taxi and robbed me P1,400 for the chocolates! 

7. AIRPORT TERMINAL FEE:

I say, ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES! I was surprised when we didn't pay a terminal fee in both LCCT (Low Cost Carriage Terminal - Malaysia) and Changi Airport - Singapore considering their terminals are way better than ours. 

Anyway, most of the differences listed here boil down to one cause and that is, LACK OF DISCIPLINE. It's no rocket science to figure out that our lack of discipline is what keeps us away from prosperity. Filipinos are smart but then we use it in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. Most of us use it to fool or take advantage of others. So it's not surprising to know that these differences exist. Anyway, these things are not really new to me or even you. So there's no point in talking more about how Filipinos lack discipline or how corrupted our government is. These things have been an issue for too long a time and I'm afraid it will remain an issue for a much longer time. 

The only advantage we have over them is we smell better and look better... but really, are those the only things we're good at? Smelling good and looking good? Pabanguhan at papogian na lang ba tayo, PNoy?