Hide and Seek? Ah yes what a fun game. I remember it like it was yesterday. Covering my eyes while counting backwards from ten. Then going on the hunt throughout the house for my sister or brother. Good times, good times.
So why is it that meeting a Filipina from a dating website seems to remind me so much of playing hide and seek? Well, maybe because that’s exactly what they do when they meet you. Another cultural difference? Maybe.
It’s happened countless of times. I’m online chatting with a Filipino girl for a couple days (or hours) and we decide to meet up somewhere. Sometimes it’s at a mall like SM or Robinson’s, or sometimes it’s just a small place like the Mini Stop in Angeles City.
Now, this doesn’t happen all the time, not by a long shot. But it’s happened enough times for me to write an article about it. Off the top of my head, I can count at least five or six Filipina girls that I’ve met who have seemed to play this game. They incorporate texting into the game as well. It’s quite slick yet invariably frustrating for me.
Let’s throw an example out there. I get to the meeting spot in the Philippines – let’s say it’s Watson’s Drug Store inside Ayala mall. This store is not so big, and there might be only 3-4 customers at a time browsing.
Her first text says she’s there outside the store and then, “So what are you wearing?”
Really? What am I wearing? How about my face which looks like a foreigner and not a Filipino? I’m obviously the only foreigner inside the store at the moment, but she chooses to play hide and seek from afar (a vantage point, perhaps) and start asking nonsense questions, as if somehow knowing I’m a foreigner is not enough. She’s seen my picture and knows exactly what I look like (and I’m the only foreigner for a mile) yet somehow knowing the color of my shirt is the real info she needs.
They also take incredibly long to reply to your text message during the hide and seek game. If I reply “a white shirt and jeans,” it will be at least another 2-3 minutes before she will reply with another fantastic text such as, “Are you sure?”
Really? You’re asking me if I’m sure about the clothes I’m wearing? If you guys think I’m exaggerating, well, I’m not. Just ask any other foreigner who has been in the Philippines long enough and has had the pleasure of meeting these beautiful Filipinas. I’m sure they’ve all gone through the hide and seek at least once in their endeavors.
I have certain theories. I think what they are doing is just staring at me for a good 20 minutes while seeing how I react to ridiculous questions that have no logic to them. Maybe they are testing my patience. Maybe they want to see if I will get angry and lash back. Watching me with a pair of binoculars from afar…who knows? I sure don’t. Or it could just be an extreme case of Filipino shyness, and they are just avoiding the actual face to face confrontation for as long as possible. Which would also make sense, since half the time when you meet them, the Filipino girl can’t even look you in the eyes she’s so shy.
If you have fond memories of playing hide and seek in your childhood, then you will fully enjoy dating women in the Philippines. If you have no patience for these little “games,” well, you better start learning some breathing and relaxation techniques before your trip.
for ages *
yep , relaxing tecnhichs ,,,
yep , i follow u my friend ,,, u can loose patience and control with these lil princesses ,as i said and as u said ,,, but ur and old carabao na ,used to them na,,,,, arent u ??? lol face it ,,, and i do ,,, unfortunately,,,,waaaaa as they say ,,, ;lol , lil demons ,,,,,
‘Really? You’re asking me if I’m sure about the clothes I’m wearing?’
kuya ,,,, u must face it ,,, they are pinays,,, just the way it goes ,,,, u know dat far long bfor me ,,, i am not such an old carabao in PI ,,,,,lol
This is very true. It just happened to me about 4 months ago in Angeles. A girl from facebook wants to meet up at the mall, upstairs where the movie theatre is. I’m there when we are supposed to meet, text her all the info, and walk around for 20 minutes exchanging texts with her while she tells me can’t find me…….Really?….There isn’t that many people there, I’m white as a sheet in comparison, light color hair, and oh yeah…about a foot taller than everyone else there.
But, you forgot about the other thing, the unexpected guest.
she is with a friend she didn’t tell me was coming. I mean, its really not a problem, I understand she is meeting a stranger, but it would have been nice to know what to expect when I got there.
I have been there in The Philippines 6 times already, and I still have a lot of trouble reading these girls.
haha the hide and seek game – as frustrating as it gets in the Philippines. The unexpected friend is a big issue, too. It would be nice if they mentioned they were bringing someone, but half the time they just don’t mention it.
I’ve only played hide and seek once at the mall. Next time I plan to reverse it and play it on them, making sure I have something to keep occupied with during the wait. My theory is: raise their curiosity levels instead of them raising yours and bring them out of hiding quicker. Guess I’ll see how it goes later.
With Mark Paulson’s girl hah.
I was lucky enough to watch a lot of your older vids and was prepared.. I think a lot of them are buying time also because there always so late. Which is frustrating for me because i like to be on time for things. But when I’m in the peens i just have to take a deep breath also and go with the flow.
And if I can give any advice to someone new to this game.. Just stay at the original spot you agreed to meet.. I’ve played the game all around the mall before.. 1st level….up to 3rd level… where are you now?? ok i wait you… she not there… wtf… just buy a cold drink sit down and wait.
How about that feeling of your going to get caught.. When ur getting another girls number around the corner before your meeting time with girl #1.. has happened to me a couple times.
“1st level….up to 3rd level… where are you now?? ok i wait you… she not there… wtf… just buy a cold drink sit down and wait.” Exactly. Or tell her soon upon arriving that you’re taking off soon.
haha…I’d never try to get another girl’s number if I’m at the meeting spot. As far as waiting for the girl…what I do now is a lot of the time I won’t even leave my apartment until she texts me that she is there. Then I give her the semi bullshit hide and seek shit…”What floor are you on?” “What are you wearing?” By the time she replies to both texts, it gives me about 10 minutes to zip over to the mall on my bike and she thinks I was on time.
Nice… i will have to use this one in the future…
Funny, and a good idea too. The lateness thing used to bug me, until I started to predict it. Now, I don’t go anywhere without my Ipod full of stuff to listen to and watch. Might as well relax while I’m waiting……the girl will be late for sure. If not, the bus/trike/jeepney will be slow, or the security guard who man-handles you at the entrance will be busy….something will come up.
The old hide and seek game, yet another anomaly of the Filipina dating phenomena. Just go a long with it and as long she ends up playing hide the longanisa with you, you get the last laugh
Hide the dickanisa.
haha what happened to “PG” hah
That was when I had ads from Google and they monitor the site. Now I don’t give a fuck, I don’t make 1 penny from this site. I pay for it to be up.
Hell to the Yeah… The D.R.U is back and in full effect..
Fuck yeah!
lol sausagefestanisa
This is something that happened to me as well! I met this girl on DIA we talked a bit and she looked really good in her Display pic; long hair, skinny and cute, we decided to meet up at Mcdonald in Angeles, she lets me know beforehand that she’ll bring her Cousin, i was alright with that. When i got to Mcdonalds i was searching for her everywhere and i am inside looking like an idiot, shes texting me and i am texting her, “Where are u, i am inside MD” and she replies “shes inside too, what am i wearing?”, took me 5 more minutes to finally figure out who she was sitting with her cousin. In my mind i was like WTFFFFF is wrong with her, I am like the only foreigner here, i look like a total idiot trying to find this girl for 10 mins, and she cant simply say hi i am your date. Wht was worse is that, she looked nothing like her display pic, she was a little chub, short hair, and didn’t even dress well… I was so freaking pissed that day.
HAHAHAHA….great story. But yes, hide and seek is a VERY popular game in the Philippines. It’s like playing badminton or basketball. Everyone likes to play it…
haha…nice one Nong…
Ninong has jokes……
It was a good idea that she was late and you left… Sounds like you almost had a really bad day
Yea, imagine if you’re already sitting in Josephines and they show up and then you wont “feed” them. You might not be here today typing this message! :(