Jimmy Sieczka (via Google, I suspect that is his name), the American guy who thinks he knows so much of the Filipinos and the Philippines, should think of leaving the country for good and go back to the U.S.! In a 14-minute video, originally posted in Channelfix website and reposted in YouTube, Jimmy claimed that that he has been living and working in the Philippines for 3 and a half years, and that he has seen all the f*cking bullshits the country has to offer. He shared his reasons why he hated the Philippines through his ethnocentrism [definition: judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one’s own culture]. In the video, he matched-up the Philippines with America — “…in the Philippines, you can do this annoying thing; in America you cannot…”
Filipinos who have watched the video could connect to what Jimmy Sieczka was ranting about. Undeniably, some of what he said were true — facts that most Filipinos already knew. Some rants were supererogatory. The problem is, he forged generalizations based on what he observed in Cebu, one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. Plainly, the guy hasn’t seen 99% of the 7100 islands that the country is consist of.
Below, I listed his observations, which is completely typical to any developing countries in Asia, or even those around the world. I recognized that the video was taken in the uptown area of Cebu, where Mango Square is located.
Truthfully, I do not have any problem with people enunciating their disgust about the Philippines. In fact, I do have my list as well. I even agree with some of Jimmy’s thoughts (IMPORTANT: the video raises awareness on the present situation of the country). However, it isn’t just fair to compare everything in the Philippines to what he experiences in America — and then proceed to blatantly call the Filipinos “f*cking annoying” and the Philippines “f*cking disgusting”. The choice of words is so inappropriate.
If all he wanted was to offer constructive criticisms, which I think Filipinos could handle, he could have given some concrete, unbiased feedback and offer ways for potential improvement. In the video, he was babbling out of control, and everything just sounded selfish. Instead of fully getting a support, he seemed to have started a fight against the people whom he wanted to help in the first place.
Here are his rants in italic. It would have been nice if he contrasted his observations in the Philippines with those in America.
1. Covering drainage holes with garbage cans.
True. You see many of these in Cebu.
Another truth: There are many adults, kids, and even animals falling into open manholes in America!
2. Guys on the streets selling him Cialis, a drug to treat erectile dysfunction.
True. And not just Cialis.
Another truth: There are many Americans who cheat their system by illegally selling drugs on the streets.
3. Food sanitation on food streets.
True, and I have seen the same in other places around the world.
Another truth: According to a 1999 statistics, 1 in 3 Americans suffer food-borne illness each year. The cases of food poisoning are dramatic and startling. As of 2011, between 200,000 and 800,000 adults are hospitalized (1 out of every 6 Americans) daily.
4. MILF as terrorists.
True. The Islamic militant group is located in the Southern part of the country.
Another truth: There are also domestic terrorist cells in the United States. Read “Terrorism in the United States” published by the FBI.
5. Construction sites not safe. Also, he said that it is not required to finish any building construction one has started.
Partly True: Although the Department of Public Works and Highways wants to ensure the safety of workers in the construction industry, the implementation of effective occupational safety on sites still needs improvement.
Not True: Not required? There could be construction delays, but that does not mean the work never gets done. Jimmy is clearly exaggerating.
6. Filipinos use whitening creams.
True. The appeal on skin whitening steams from views on class superiority — you get noticed when you’re light skinned.
Another truth: How will Jimmy react to some white American women who paste themselves with fake tan? Truth is, there are many tanning salons in the U.S. that people patronize to change their skin color from light to dark.
7. Heavy traffic that causes Philippine pollution.
True. The Philippines ranked 42nd in the list of “sovereign states and territories by carbon dioxide emissions”. In a 2010 Business World article, The Philippines’ energy-related carbon dioxide emission is seen as lowest in Southeast Asia.
Another truth: According to the United States Department of Energy 2010 estimates, the U.S. is second to China in the list of biggest polluting countries in the world!
8. Small items bought wrap in plastic bags and thrown on the streets causing litters.
Sadly True.
Another truth: If you don’t want your items to be packed, then say it the to bagger. Just like in America, you can opt for your items to be wrapped or not.
9. Shitty drivers. Nobody follows the traffic rules.
Partly True: There may be reckless drivers, but there are others who still obey traffic laws.
Another truth: According to a HealthDay poll from November 10-14, 2011, most American adults who drive admit to engaging in distracted driving behaviors. A large percentage of the people said they know distracted driving is dangerous, but do it anyway. Shitty, don’t you think so, Jimmy?
10. Security guards everywhere — giggling, smoking, sleeping. None of them are ever doing anything. No training whatsoever.
Partly true. Jimmy chose to pick security guards from non-high-risk areas.
Truth: They may not be the best security guards in the world, but they are willing to die to defend the establishments they are guarding. If they smile at you, they are only being friendly, like most Filipinos are. Thus, please treat them nicely Jimmy.
11. Frisking in store entrances.
True. I don’t see anything wrong with this process, except from the lax implementation of the policy.
Truth: Due to security concerns, it is routine for security guards to lightly frisk customers as they enter shopping malls and huge public establishments.
Another truth: I am glad the Philippines does not have something like this: Minorities More Likely to Be Frisked.
12. Vehicles use the horn frequently because the drivers saw you.
Truth: The drivers beep and slow down not because they saw you. They do it to let commuters know that the vehicles are vacant and ready for hire. Beeping is also used to warn jaywalkers of apparent dangers.
13. Napkins cut into small size.
Partly true. Apart from financial benefits on the side of the business owner, it is also paper conservation. Do you really need to use a big sheet to wipe your mouth or hand clean?
14. Beggars everywhere you go.
True, and this has been a problem since. Pointing this over and over again in a sort of mockery does not help alleviate the situation.
Another truth: In the U.S., beggars are everywhere in big cities as well.
15. Top 40s blasting all night long in every direction.
Not True. Top 40s? Maybe in specific hang-out areas, but not everywhere! Also, I don’t understand why Jimmy has to be there in the first place. Filipinos love music and loud karaokes, especially when there are barangay events. If you want serenity, climb to the hills!
16. Lady-boys, prostitutes, drunk Koreans that don’t speak English abound in Mango Square. The red-light district of Cebu on crack. Why is it that every hot girl in the Philippines is a lady-boy?
Partly true: Because there are a lot of hot girls in the Philippines. All Jimmy has to do is be in the right place. It looks like, Jimmy loves to be with what he labelled as lady-boys. Otherwise, he would spend his time somewhere else and be with real women. Oh Jimmy, stop complaining if you still hang-out with your lady-boys!
17. People expects tips even from the tiniest of tasks, like hailing you a cab.
Partly true: Not everyone who offers little help asks for tips. Also, this is left to personal choice. You can always tell these guys on the streets that you don’t need help in backing up your car. However, if you really feel like sharing your loose coins, why not share it to these men?
18. Tons of f*cking Koreans in the Philippines. Koreans hang out in large groups like f*cking wolves. They don’t speak English, they are loud and obnoxious. This is absolutely offensive. Jimmy does not know that Koreans are in the Philippines because of low cost of English-language education and housing. According to the Department of Tourism- Central Visayas, Koreans continue to top the foreign tourists coming to Cebu. This is good for Cebu’s tourism industry.
19. Food isn’t so good. The Philippines is a bit noisy and really dirty. But where are you really spending most of your time at? Go somewhere else in the Philippines. See more of the country and its countryside. Or better yet (and if you continue to verbally attack the very people you are living with), go home to America, Jimmy.
Update 1: The YouTube video has been deleted!
Update 2: Someone uploaded the video on YouTube again.
Here is the original video from Channelfix. (Note: To watch the full video, you have to watch the short ads in between clips.)
I admired Jimmy’s courage for putting the video up for every Filipino to watch. However, his approach to constructive criticisms was done in a poor way that it backfired. As I tried to point out in the beginning, the video has social relevance as it (again) showed the dark side of Philippine local governance. Knowing that Jimmy lives in Cebu, slapping the Cebuanos right into the face is disrespectful or insulting. His choice of words is a proof. Jimmy made the Cebuanos look like idiots. He should have taken some caution and made the video a little lighter, and still gets his points across.
It may be alright to complain and criticize, yet Jimmy did not offer ideas and solutions to the social challenges he’s facing with. This is not the way to effect change, if that is what he intended in making the video. Instead, he verbally abused the Filipinos based on random local observations and without even trying to look at the bigger perspective. Some say Jimmy was being honest. Right. He was brutally honest in the hope of effecting positive change. Too bad, he has overstepped some bounds as well.
Jimmy, if you really want to help the Philippines, get involved in charity works and be a volunteer. Ranting offensive comments won’t get anything done! If you really believe that you are surrounded by f*cking annoying Filipinos, then why stay in the country? Go home to the U.S. where you rightly belong. Why stay?!
What do you think of Jimmy Sieczka’s comments? Do you agree or disagree with his thoughts about the Philippines?
Update 3: Jimmy Sieczka posted this comment on Channelfix.
“For those of you that think that this video was made to show my hate for the Philippines I must say that you are sadly mistaken. Watch urban master class on channelfix.com by Dansk santos as she follows me to get my first Filipino tattoo. A tattoo of the Philippine flag..http://channelfix.com/video/117/ For those that actually get the piece and realize I’m just stating the obvious in an unconventional way in order to spark change, thank and salamat! With this many people watching, it proofs that there needs to be some more positive changes to the Filipino communities. Never once did I use the word hate in the piece. I simply pointed out issues that have been overlooked for quite some time.”
Update 4: American Jimmy Sieczka as Persona Non Grata in Cebu?
Great Job Jimmy!
Don’t mind the bitter comments here, we are just too sensitive to own up to our faults.
Truth hurts if its ugly, we rejoice if we’re praised anyway.
Jimmy i find you the biggest loser in the history of american visitors in my country…save yourself the embarassment go fuck your mom and tell her ” Mom how come i love this shit hole whereyou brougth me out in this world” …. Fuck you!
I just don’t get it. White people have been raping and pillaging the Philippines for hundred of years, creating sex tourism and backpacking and are really cheap about it too. Chinese/Korean/Japanese come and OVERPAY for everything, and so, how are we cheap? How is that possible? Have you ever seen a white guy pick up a complete dinner tab for dinner? LOL, never. Face it, you know East Asians are not cheap, it’s the Whites. But, Whites speak English, and you speak English, it’s as simple as that. All these backpackers, go-go bars are a white thing, and just how cheap can you get. They’ve taken over your brain and you don’t even know it. The most obnoxious people are the Americans, Australians, English, Scots, Irish, whatever, they have come to your country to take a big shit and go back home. Once in awhile, they take a girl back home…and everything is okay as long as they are ‘polite’ about it afterwards and speak to you in English. LOL.
I live 13 years in you’re fantastic country with the most beautiful people. I am very grateful to be here. jimmy go home!!!
I agree that Koreans in the Philippines are obnoxious. They do not have manners. They are the cause of troubles even in condominiums. They do not follow rules and it is hard to confront them because they cannot speak proper English. They are very noisy even during late hours in the evening and early dawn. They do not have thought for their neighbors. The men bring prostitutes with them and come home drunk. They throw their cigarette butts everywhere even if there are designated trash bins.
Koreans are cheap cheap tourists. Some don’t even pay the right fare when they get taxis. Why not aim for decent tourists like Europeans, Americans, Australians and other Asian countries. Not Koreans because they are not well-mannered. They are just like hard-headed Filipinos.
I will comment on #15
“15. Top 40s blasting all night long in every direction.
Not True. Top 40s? Maybe in specific hang-out areas, but not everywhere! Also, I don’t understand why Jimmy has to be there in the first place. Filipinos love music and loud karaokes, especially when there are barangay events. If you want serenity, climb to the hills!”
Go to the hills? Even in the hills in Cebu, you see small houses with giant amplifiers and they switch on booming noise all day long! Have you not noticed that even during the Sinulog celebration, boom boxed are lined up at Jones Ave. and Fuente Osmeña and the noise is just FUCKING CRAZY LOUD? Where exactly do you live in Cebu City. I think you are the typical Filipino who doesn’t mind noise and like boom boom boom. Even Marco Polo Hotel has problems with noise. Hotel guests complain of noise coming from small houses in the area.
During fiestas, at least 20 giant amplifiers are lined up in basketball courts and start making exceedingly loud noise at 6pm up to 6am the following day. One time, in a brand new Mits. Strada, we passed by that kind of disco in the basketball court. You can feel the vibration inside the car even if all your windows are closed and the aircon is on. I cannot imagine how people can dance in those sort of gatherings!
What kind of country is this? Where are the health officials? Why no one is doing something when in fact noise is bad for one’s health.
Good job Jimmy!
I am a Korean and I lived in Malaysia for 18 years and I have got to say this…ROFL. Especially about the obnoxious Koreans. The irony is that he was obnoxious too. That every foreigner is obnoxious and he knows it too. His voice strained when saying the word ‘obnoxious’ to emphasize this irony. Haha… I have go to say his Brilliant. As well as other things that is obvious on this thread.
I dunno about it inciting change though because this was done before. With that reason is a bit clique. He must have learned it in some social science course.
Which signals me that he wasn’t trying to incite change but some other reason that is not as deep as one would think and that would be a whole plethora of reasons.
When I saw the video of this guy, I immediately thought he was up to something. Something that would propel his being. You can pretty much see that it was well video graphed. And it was quite funny in some ways.
But overall, to me it sounded like some white dude trying to get a bigger bang for his buck in a third world country. Obviously he is stuck there after three years. Seems like he has failed to moved up to the higher echelons of that society.
Anyway, talking about things that you do not like and posting it online, I saw this video earlier this year of a Colorado woman who was ranting about the city of Laredo, TX. Her name was Sarah (Why Sarah Hates Laredo — look it up on youtube).
She spilled her guts out online, which was generally not received well by the people of that city. The video did get a lot of video responses. And at some point it was an armed video response. Which needless to say, sent Sarah packing to where ever she came from.
I can’t wait for this Jimmy whatever to pick Laredo, TX for his ‘365 reasons why he hates the US’. Maybe he can apply his video graphic expertise in this border town.
I bet you redneck Jimmy won’t be coming out of his shed for very long time.
Your bombastic retort does nothing to diminish what was said in the film… In fact, you enhance the agenda behind his prose by demonstrating your mentality (and the common mentality that exists here)… to blame others (i.e. messenger Jimmy). Instead of trying to deflect the problems by making comparisons with the USA, grow up and learn how to accept constructive criticism… or improvement has no chance here.
The counter arguments that you presented here are lame. I don’t know if you choose to be blind or if you are just plain stupid. I can see that you are offended by the video, but open your eyes and look around you!!!
your fucking idiot how can you survive 3 1/2 yrs in phil. if you not enjoyed idiot your fucking you talk to much why not challenge 1 of the security to prove that those gone are works. and put in your fucking mind that your in the phil. not in US. fuck you
There are homeless in big cities of America roaming around but not children. As a pinoy, I am fully aware of the problems in the country. I will help out soon by volunteering when I retire in the philippines. No matter how filthy the philippines are, it is still our country, parang magulang na hindi mo pwedeng itapon no matter how bad they are.
Sa mga pinoy huwag pikon, there are also foreigners in america who blatantly insult this country and the government.
Doon sa ibang commenter kung bakit hindi magpunta sa Shangri-La…..Jimmy is not pointing out about Shangri-La, wake-up filipinos huwag magbulag-bulagan. Shangri-la is not about the Philippines, the reality of the country is when you go out to the street and deal with your daily life. I cannot afford to be in Shangri-la everyday, otherwise I will be broke in no time.
As a fil-am, when I go to the philippines, I am seeing the good and the bad side. Dahil vacation and sanity ang gusto ko, I go to the beautiful part of the country. Disiplina ang kailangan nating mga pinoy. Simple lang na huwag umihi sa kalye at dumura sa kalye, it does not cost you.
Sadly, but all are true, instead of critizising jim and making putak ng putak, why don’t we use it as a checklist so the
local authorities can implement measures or procedures para ma eliminate ung mga sinasbi niya,
kasi totoo naman, making putak is a sign of immaturity and being third world.
I don’t doubt that every single human being can distinguish what is acceptable to say to one another and what is not. Everyone has some sense of respect, even if we choose not to exercise it, and it is only when we choose not to exercise this that free speech is able to turn into hate speech. We deem it acceptable to disrespect each other because speech should be free. But is that really right? Yes, we are breaking no laws, but how is this ethical? There is a reason why we have curse words or taboo words (in every language) and that is because it isn’t acceptable to say certain things. Just because we have the right to free speech doesn’t mean it is right to say anything and it certainly doesn’t give anyone permission to disrespect someone else. We are all entitled to our opinions and it is our own responsibility to shape those opinions for the better (some of us are a bit slow at it though). It is better to help others understand different points of view through a respectful discourse in which everyone is on equal ground. That way, speech and morals don’t end up being a war with clear sides but rather a conversation with many viewpoints. ~ jennifer_au
Its his 20 reasons why he dislikes Philippines. Its his own opinion. I can count 20 reasons as well why I dislike our own country. Some are in Jimmy’s list some are not. it is subjective. Mga pinoy race supremacist tlga, ang yayabang pa. Now if only he would make part 2, hell, i wish he would make a movie!
Fuck.. Jimmy just lost his job and is awaiting deportation. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck..The guy said he just wanted to earn hits from Youtube. Now he is back to being homeless and jobless in the US. Rest in pit, Jimmy. Fuck.. Fuckk..
What made it look bad is the TITLE of the video…
Jimmy should have entitled it……………….. “20 Reasons I Dislike CEBU”
1. He never categorically denied that crap doesn’t happen in America as well. Conversely, crap in America doesn’t make crap here okay.
2. I don’t see why every single comment on a problem *has* to be constructive. Let him complain like everyone else is entitled to, that’s cathartic, that’s honest and that’s his right to free speech. Show him other things if you like to make him change his mind but it doesn’t make anything that he said less true.
Funny, Filipinos are. We’re so quick to make fun of foreigners, minorities and sexual deviants, but when we’re the butt end of jokes it’s no longer funny. Grow up.
Oh and the thing about Koreans? That was really uncalled for. That Jimmy guy needs to lighten up..or be re-educated.
Thanks for the very well-written article in reaction to the videos. Good job on posting facts and counter-arguments too. I can’t argue with the negative things that Jimmy the host complained about in the video but he didnt have to be so rude about it. And he shouldnt have generalized that “all hot girls in the Philippines are lady-boys” or that everything is disgusting, or that the food is horrible. If there’s anything I got from his video it’s that he’s been hanging out in all the wrong places. If you watch the other video, the “20 things I like..”, then one can see a lot of positive and unique things about the country. Hmm.. I like those guys, Walter Masley and Jeff Lester. Not because they said positive things but because they seemed really down-to-earth and open-minded. They showed very positive attitude in how they welcomed the culture and everything else. Kudos!
Mix emotions here. Hah! :/
umad, immigrant?