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2022-05-24 Β |Β β±οΈ 14:26 Β |Β ποΈ 81.2K views Β |Β π 6.6K likes Β |Β π¬ 1.5K comments
Pea dismantles the loaded accusation that Filipinas "target" foreigners by examining the language, intent, and double standards behind it. She argues that the word "target" is doing all the heavy lifting β swap it for "prefer" and the behavior sounds completely reasonable. The video walks through a spectrum of scenarios from harmless preference to genuine predatory behavior, making the case that intent is everything and that both men and women can be guilty of the same exploitation.
The framing problem: "target" vs. "prefer" β
- Pea opens by mocking the idea that Filipinas sit in "smoke-filled rooms laughing about their kill counts and sharing developments in silencer technology"
- She breaks down the language: "target" sounds sinister, "pursue" is shady, but "prefer" sounds completely reasonable β "maybe it's just the way you phrase it"
- Parallel: if a man says he targets women with tan skin, people shrug and call it a preference; when a Filipina does the equivalent with foreigners, it seems "underhanded" β because money is involved
- Her counter: "Even good women gravitate towards a man with resources" β the old saying: "If you're gonna fall in love, why not fall in love with a rich guy?"
- "A man being rich is like a girl being pretty β you might not marry a girl just because she's pretty, but my goodness, doesn't it help?"
Why Filipinas are more blatant about it β
- Filipino women can work their "butts off" and make only a few hundred pesos a day with almost no upward mobility
- Western women have more options and can "hide their agendas longer β and sometimes they're not even aware they have them"
- Filipinas are more blatant because they're more desperate β not because they're more dishonest
The double standard applied to men β
- When a foreigner comes to the Philippines "to find a mate because he believes the women here make better partners," nobody calls that targeting β he's just "searching for the best chance of finding happiness"
- "So what's the difference between that and a woman who decides to date foreigners in order to create the safe and secure life that she wants?"
- Women find wealth attractive the way men find physical appearance attractive: "A woman is instinctively attracted to resources for herself and her offspring β so why wouldn't she be attracted to yours?"
- In the Philippines, it's not just about the woman β she has a duty to provide for extended family, so the pressure for financial security is far greater than for a Western woman
The green card myth β
- One of Pea's pet peeves: "Oh, Filipinas just want a green card" β she flatly calls this "an obnoxious claim not backed up by reality"
- In all her interviews and conversations, only about half of Filipinas actually want to leave the Philippines
- Those who do want to go West (especially those with kids) are often motivated by wanting to raise children somewhere with better opportunities β "Would you want to raise your kids in Bangladesh? Well, neither would we"
- Wanting a green card isn't inherently immoral: it's the same as a man deciding he only wants a provincial woman in a rural area β "Isn't it a good thing to know what you want?"
Where the line is: intent is everything β
- Scenario 1 (targeting): A woman decides she wants a green card and doesn't care who she lies to, pretends to love, or deceives to get it β plans to get the marriage contract and "turn it into a gold mine." That's painting "a big old bullseye on some unlucky guy's back"
- Scenario 2 (birth control sabotage): A Filipina pokes holes in condoms to get pregnant so the foreigner won't leave β that's targeting
- Scenario 3 (mutual recklessness): Both know they're not using protection, she hopes to get pregnant, he plans to leave if she does β "Aren't they guilty of targeting each other?"
- Scenario 4 (male targeting): A man tells a Filipina he loves her, promises to stay if she gets pregnant, but is actually trying to "create an army of mini-mes across the Philippines" with no intention of supporting offspring β Pea says this sounds ludicrous but she knows of "several instances" where men did exactly this
- Key principle: "If we just change the details, we go from naΓ―ve stupidity to pure evil β because it's all about intent"
The most common form: family pressure corrupts good intentions β
- A Filipina in a genuine relationship suddenly faces pressure once her family finds out she's dating a foreigner
- Family starts guilt-tripping: calling about the leaky roof, the unpaid electric bill
- She thinks: "How can I enjoy eating steak with my boyfriend when my family is out of rice?"
- Three possible responses:
- Best case: she resists the pressure and tells you what's happening so you can work it out together
- Middle ground: she gives in and starts pressuring you for money β didn't plan it, but "she's making her problem your problem"
- Worst case: she not only gives in but starts padding bills and skimming β the $80 in groceries was actually $60, and the $20 surplus went to her mom
- Pea says the worst scenario "happens all the time" β Filipinas caught between their conscience and "a nagging mom"
The verdict: experience shapes perception β
- "If you've been burned, you talk about how horrible Filipinas are. If you met a quality Filipina that's been loyal to you, you have a different opinion"
- Comment sections consistently split 50/50: half say "love of my life, married 23 years," half say "Filipinas only want your cash"
- "There is no black or white, right or wrong answer β there are good and bad people in every culture"
- "Your experience becomes your reality, and everyone's is different"
- Final take: "Filipinas target foreigners? Sure. Many of us prefer foreigners β is there anything wrong with that? It depends."