In the previous post, I listed the most common (yet often completely wrong) stereotypes about the Philippines and Filipinos. But that was only half the story.
So here’s the rest – another five stubborn misconceptions that sometimes contain a grain of truth but collapse like a poorly built sandcastle when applied to an entire nation of more than 120 million people.
Below are five familiar images of the Philippines and Filipinos that may hold up in isolated situations, but as sweeping statements they often dissolve into wishful thinking and misunderstanding.
1. It’s always hot in the Philippines – Nope, not even close
Yes, the Philippines is tropical and almost always warm – often brutally so during the summer months – but “always hot” is a myth. Head to the mountains or highlands (Baguio, Sagada, Tagaytay, or the Cordillera) between November and February when the cool northeast monsoon amihan starts to blow, and temperatures regularly drop to 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) at night. In the tropics, that feels downright chilly.
Historically, the country has also been spared the soul-crushing heat-and-humidity cocktail common in mainland Southeast Asia. In recent years, though – even during months that should feel cool – stepping outside an air-conditioned space can leave you soaked in seconds. El Niño shares some blame, but many of us are starting to wonder whether this is simply the new normal brought to you by climate change.
2. Every Filipino dreams of moving abroad – Not quite
Millions still work overseas – money remains a powerful motivator – but a growing number of Filipinos wouldn’t leave even if you paid them. Rapid economic growth, a booming BPO industry, and new opportunities in tourism, tech, and infrastructure are creating viable careers at home.
Even among those who do leave, return migration is rising fast. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) maintain fierce emotional ties to family and community; eventually, homesickness wins. For many migrants, the plan was never permanent emigration but rather earn abroad, build a life back home.
3. You can’t trust what Filipinos say – No, it’s just culture
This one is almost entirely a cultural misfire. Western directness collides with a communication style that prioritizes harmony, “saving face,” and indirectness – a blend of Hispanic and Asian influences. What Westerners perceive as evasiveness often functions as social lubrication rather than moral failings.
Of course con artists exist here (as they do everywhere), but painting 120 million people as pathological liars because they won’t bluntly tell you “no” is lazy stereotyping. It’s context, not character.
4. All Filipinos are Catholic – All? Oh, bless your heart
Catholicism is dominant – about 79–81 % of the population – and the country has the third-largest Catholic population on earth. Catholic rituals and values have seeped so deeply into the culture that they shape social norms even for non-Catholics. Yet millions of Filipinos are Muslim (especially in Mindanao), Protestant, evangelical, Iglesia ni Cristo, Buddhist, Hindu, animist, agnostic, or atheist.
Assuming every Filipino you meet is headed to Sunday Mass is as misguided as assuming every Westerner treats Christmas as a religious holiday.
5. The Philippines is a dictatorship – Seriously?
This tired trope usually traces back to the Marcos martial-law era (1972–1981) and gets recycled whenever Western comment sections need a villain. The country has held regular, competitive (and often messy) democratic elections since 1986. Voter turnout is routinely above 80 %, higher than in many Western democracies. Presidents are limited to one six-year term. There is a loud, cantankerous free press, vibrant opposition parties, and a judiciary that has overturned government decisions.
It’s not a flawless liberal democracy – clientelism, dynasties, and occasional strongman rhetoric are real issues – but calling it a dictatorship in 2025 requires ideological blinders thick enough to block out the noon sun. I’m pretty sure Filipinos aren’t deliberately voting dictators into office. They know their own country better than foreign armchair experts ever will.
A nation of parallel realities
The Philippines tends to polarize visitors: people either fall madly in love or swear they’ll never return. You rarely hear “it was… just fine.” Much of that extreme reaction comes down to mismatched expectations and which slice of the country you actually experience.
Spend two weeks in a manicured resort bubble on Boracay or inside gated Makati condos, and you’ll meet one Philippines. Backpack for the same time in downtown Tondo, rural Mindanao, or a remote Cordillera village, and you’ll swear you visited a different country.
Taken together, these misconceptions often stem from experiencing only one version of the Philippines and assuming it represents the whole. And that’s almost impossible in a country this diverse.
More on the topic:
Prejudices About the Philippines – Myths, Stereotypes, and Misconceptions (Part 1)
