What do Filipinos call westerners?

What Filipinos Call Westerners: The Meaning of "AFAM"

When traveling through Manila or chatting with locals, you might hear the term AFAM dropped casually in conversation. It’s not an official label, but a slang nickname that’s become part of the local lingo. Short for “A Foreigner Around Manila” or sometimes “A Foreigner Assigned (to) Manila,” AFAM is how many Filipinos refer to Westerners—especially those living in or visiting the capital.

Unlike older, more formal terms, “AFAM” carries a relaxed, sometimes playful tone. It’s not meant to be offensive. Instead, it reflects the everyday reality of a country where cultural exchange is constant. You’ll often hear it used when someone is dating a foreigner—"my AFAM boyfriend”—or when describing a fair-skinned visitor standing out in a crowded market.

The term mostly applies to Western expats or tourists, particularly from the U.S. or Europe. But it’s not just about nationality. It’s about visibility. A tall, blond foreigner in Makati? Likely to be called AFAM. A local-born but foreign-passported individual? Maybe not. Context matters.

Still, language evolves. What once might have been said with a hint of curiosity or distance is now often used with familiarity—even affection. In a city like Manila, where globalization meets tradition, words like AFAM quietly mark the rhythm of daily life. It’s not a label meant to exclude, but one that simply acknowledges presence in a world where borders blur a little more each day.