Why do Pinoys abroad refer to the Philippines as PI?

**redorange** · March 13th, 2007 01:54 AM

This is from a comment made on another thread. I know the Philippines has been a republic since it's independence. But why do pinoys abroad call it PI instead of RP? AFAIK PI was a term used when the country was under American rule. I constantly correct people I know and some don't even know that the proper term now is RP.

**oldblue** · March 13th, 2007 02:25 AM

double-meaning kasi yan ser!

**Bry** · March 13th, 2007 02:34 AM

Pansin ko din nga. My notion is, yung mga Pinoy na nasa ibang bansa they refer to the Philippines as PI ay para maiba sa atin. Para 'cool' ang dating nila.

Dati pa ako asar sa mga balikbayan/Pinoys abroad na ganyan. IMHO, the only acceptable abbreviations for Philippines is RP and Phils. Hell, even foreigners know that it's RP and not PI. Pa-cool lang sila mga nyeta.

**the_wildthing** · March 13th, 2007 02:49 AM

I have a friend who moved here when she was in high school. I heard her once or twice refer to the Philippines as PI, but most of the time she says Philippines or Pilipinas. I don't think it's a case of being "cool" in her situation. I will ask her one of these days, but my guess is it was something taught in school. Some people here in the US have no knowledge of anything outside of their country.

The largest bank still refers to it as PI. It's in their name. Of course, they can't change it to Bank of the Philippines. That would cause confusion.

**redorange** · March 13th, 2007 02:52 AM

I just realized it was mostly pinoys abroad when I was in the Philippines for vacation and people used RP not PI. It's also because pinoys here use PI that other nationals now use PI which is somewhat annoying.

**OTEP** · March 13th, 2007 02:56 AM

Even in some foreign published books, Philippine Islands din yung pangalan na nakalagay.

RP, PI, Pilipinas, Philippines, it's still the same place anyway.

**the_wildthing** · March 13th, 2007 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by redorange

I just realized it was mostly pinoys abroad when I was in the philippines for vacation and people used RP not PI. It's also because pinoys here use PI that other nationals now use PI which is somewhat annoying.

Not so sure about that. I met this black person in New York and when I told him I was from the Philippines, he said, "Oh from the P.I.".

**redorange** · March 13th, 2007 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by the_wildthing

Not so sure about that. I met this black person in New York and when I told him I was from the Philippines, he said, "Oh from the P.I.".

The americans here I meet who use it say it's because they heard a pinoy use the term. Same reason given to me when a white co-worker called me a "flip", he says he heard a pinoy use it on another pinoy.

**MXFX** · March 13th, 2007 03:08 AM

as far as i know, it is definitely not a cool factor nor a negative term and it doesnt bother me at all. i do remember "pacific islander" on forms in addition to asian and thats what i thought when i read the topic of this thread. i also heard p.i. and flips from younger fil ams here.