Yeah - Game daddy's essential point - in spite of the fact that he's got Filipinos mixed up with Polynesians - is what I was thinking. Why doesn't he set his games in an area he's familiar with? I know you've run games set in Malaysia, David. Was it easier for you than setting them in - say - Europe or the US?
As for myself, I don't have problems setting my games in different places. My current Blood Games campaign has gone from Jamaica to London to Alexandria to Freetown to Rio to South Georgia Island. Of these, the only one I've ever been to was Jamaica. Watch movies, read books, search the internet, and you can capture the feel of the place.
Speaking of Blood Games, which I know you have, one of my players has adapted the Magus path to Mahayana Buddhism, using Bodhisatvas instead of Angels. It makes sense, and works well.
-clash