Topic: More Power to You.........WTF?

[anyonefortennis]

I may be being stupid, wouldna be the first time, but what on earth does "more power to you" mean?

I see it at the bottom of application letter / emails from Filipino teachers and quite frankly find it quite unprofessional........I am just old fashioned?

Is it a SDA thing?
Is it Viagra related?
Is it related to increasing ones vitamins
Is it some reference to hoping the reader gains more wealth?
Is it some hip young trendy thing that, in my early 30's, just goes over my head?
WTF does it mean and why have it at the bottom of a letter to a total stranger?

Please help.

[RobRoy]

This is only a guess...as I remember it.  Perhaps other Americans can comment.

It was used many years ago as a thing blacks said to each other in America during the civil rights movement.  The blacks were wanting to be treated more equally with whites, thus gaining the same "power" as whites living in America.  There were many "Black Power" protests, etc.  So in wishing each other well, the blacks for say "more power to you", meaning more black power.

Why Filipinos use it in a business context? I have no clue, I would think its an unprofessional thing to say in any business context. 

I just has a thought...maybe there's an underground Filipino power movement that we whites don't know about.....I'll see if I can get my wife (she's a Filipina) to divulge this insidious plot.

[anyonefortennis]

Thanks RR,

Maybe your wife can shed a little more light on why many Filipino applicants use it.


 

[Nemesis]

I remember it being used at one time in the states.

Example:
A: I like President Bush
B: Well, I don't,  more power to you.

For Filipinos, I have no idea why they use. I have surveyed several Filipinos and many use but no one knows why.

Kind of like being Catholic, everyone's Catholic, but no one knows why.

 

[RobRoy]

AOFT,

Just surveyed my Filipino family....they don't use it, but know people that do.  For them, it appears to be a best wishes, good luck, may the force be with you sort of thing (direct quotes).  My wife's opinion its like saying "God Bless you" without the religious connotation.  Their opinion is that its unprofessional to use in a business situation.

I still think it might be a sign that the Filipinos are going to take over the TEFL market here.  They're gathering their "power" and soon people without TEFLs, degrees in English or Education or know the difference between lumpia and an eggroll are going to out of a job.  And my wife isn't talking....but she does say there are "things" in the works.......

Nemesis....one of the first questions I asked my future wife was "Are you a Catholic?".  She's a baptist.  Surprised me.  I thought all Filipinos were Catholics!  I know better now...there is a learning curve...however slight.

[hero]

soon people without TEFLs, degrees in English or Education or know the difference between lumpia and an eggroll are going to out of a job

You mean the farang ones of course.  We all know that there as just as many unqualified, untrained, unwashed and untrustworthy Filipino teachers here - we just don't know how to spot them walking down the street

[RobRoy]

Hero,

I agree...you can't tell a unwashed Filipino from an unwashed Thai ...but remember....the Filipinos are gathering their power....soon they are planning something big, financed by the Filipino mafia.  As I said before...even my wife won't divulge the dark secret that awaits the "whitey" with the "power" .  She says she's trying to protect us all from something that is too "powerful" for a dumb westerner to understand.  All she's said is... "Remember the black panthers in the states during the 60's? 

Oh, and the wife slapped me on the head...it's Baptist...not baptist...sorry....but then again she's the one with a degree in English.  I'm just an illeterate, computer grammer....but most days I wash, but don't trust me on that.

[Nemesis]

AOFT,

Just surveyed my Filipino family....they don't use it, but know people that do.  For them, it appears to be a best wishes, good luck, may the force be with you sort of thing (direct quotes).  My wife's opinion its like saying "God Bless you" without the religious connotation.  Their opinion is that its unprofessional to use in a business situation.

I still think it might be a sign that the Filipinos are going to take over the TEFL market here.  They're gathering their "power" and soon people without TEFLs, degrees in English or Education or know the difference between lumpia and an eggroll are going to out of a job.  And my wife isn't talking....but she does say there are "things" in the works.......

Nemesis....one of the first questions I asked my future wife was "Are you a Catholic?".  She's a baptist.  Surprised me.  I thought all Filipinos were Catholics!  I know better now...there is a learning curve...however slight.

I always thought Baptist were pretty old fashioned in their beliefs(maybe the Westboro Baptist Church's Internet Crusade has something to do with that) until I visited a Baptist Church on Monday to pick up some Bible League bibles to distribute locally. Went into the church and they had the guitar and drum sets. Go figure.

[hero]

I agree...you can't tell a unwashed Filipino from an unwashed Thai

Didn't mean that to be honest.  I meant that most farangs can't spot the uneducated, untrained, inexperienced, lazy ajarn types that are Filipino the same way we can spot our own.  It doesn't mean that there aren't just as many of them as there uneducated, untrained, inexperienced, lazy ajarn types amongst farangs.

I've met a few.  Like hopeless farang ajarns can't wait to slag off Filipinos, so the hopeless Filipino ajarns can't wait to slag off farangs.  IME there are good and bad of each in about equal measure!

[RobRoy]

Nemesis

Ours it pretty cool.  Calvary on Sukumvit Soi 2.  Same thing, but its mostly the Burmese and Thais doing the full course band thing.  Our service is pretty much just a piano and the choir.  But then again, as its right in the heart of darkness, we have a lot of people visit that are on holiday so its not the fire and brimestone services like in the States.  Almost not Baptist, but a moderated multi-denominational service, if that makes any frigging sense.  Quite a few Filipinos there too.  As I said before, I was surprised to see so many Filipinos that were not Catholic.  But I guess there's rebels everywhere!!!


Hero...took it tongue in cheek.  And I promise to take a bath this week!
And you're exactly right.  It took me a bit to learn the difference, and I had my girlfriend then, now my wife, pointing out the differences.  Its all about experience....we've been taught how to judge people (fairly or unfairly) within our own culture.  When its outside our own culture, it takes a while.  And I agree...there are both good and bad in all groups...farangs, Flips, Burmese, Japs, Blacks, Saps and even if you can believe it Thais.  People are pretty much the same the world over.  And don't forget...some people are even Irish.....

[anyonefortennis]

So, we're agreed that it's some kinda hip sign off to a letter...........that may indicate someones membership to an underground Filipino TEFL Mafia group........right?

Personally I prefer "Up the City" but each to their own I guess, although I still think it's outta place on an application letter.

Another question, and this ain't a dig at Filipino's, does anyone know a Filipino TEFL applicant who has actually completed their Master degree? The number of applicants who have done 3/4/5/6 credits etc. but not actually finished is rather extraordinary. What's the reason behind it? Lack of finance?

[bluefalang]

more of a "dont let your meat loaf" than "more power to you", guy myself

[RobRoy]

AOFT,

The wife asked the parents at her school about it today and the general consenus is that its not proper in a business setting and that their opinion is that is a non-demoninational blessing.

[bluefalang]

AOFT,

The wife asked the parents at her school about it today and the general consenus is that its not proper in a business setting and that their opinion is that is a non-demoninational blessing.

ha!

[anyonefortennis]

RR,

Thanks for getting to the bottom of this for me 

I guess I should end with.....................More Power to you!