Our individual culture is paramount since it's a mirror of who we are and how we are being raised by our parents, relatives or guardian. Sometimes, we adopt this culture from people we have interacted with. Either it is from work, school, church and etc.
Not so long ago, Filipino culture is a real gem and unique compare to other countries even from Asia. This unique Filipino culture applies and become part of there daily life. Until those golden time is over and Philippines open it's border to other countries, different culture influence us.
So let's delve deeper to see what are those cultures, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Which you might adopt and reflect in your daily lives. So lets begin...
First on the list, we Filipinos are one of the most hospitable creature in the planet, I hope so. Let see what inside...
The Good!
This story is one of the best experienced I ever had, it happened somewhere in Bicol when I pay a visit to a long lost friend of mine without any advanced advice. My bus leave Alabang terminal at around 2 o'clock in the afternoon and my destination is somewhere in Hobo, Minalabac, Camarines Sur and I told the driver to just drop me there since I didn't know where the place it.
Due to heavy traffic and the bad road conditions, the bus arrived Milaor bus stopped late at night at around 10 p.m. it's a province. Expect an empty Street, dark street due to lack of street lights and a silent. No hotel nearby, so I decided to walk going to friends house 6 kilometers away.
It was dark, silent engulf the whole place and cool air kiss my cheek, only a dim light from my mobile phone lit the way. I heard every step I made until there was a bright beautiful light from afar light the road. A few minutes later a tricycle slow down and asked me a question "Noy Masain ka", I was speechless then the old woman repeat her question in much louder tone "Noy! Masain ka?".
"Pasenya na po untie, hindi ko po maintindihan" I replied in a low tone. "Eh saan ka naman galing balong bakit ginabi ka na, hindi mo ba na delikado maraming makamandag at mababangis na hayop ang nag lipana ngayon" the old woman replied.
"Eh, Manila po ako galing dadalawin ko po sana si kuya pong jan sa kanila ngunit ginabi na po ako. Tatawagan ko po sana pero wala pong signal itong cellphone ko" I replied back. "Ah si Pong ba na anak ni Nak Pesing ang pupuntahan mo balong?" the old woman replies in question mark.
"Opo si kuya Pong nga po na anak ni aling Pesing ang sadya kong puntahan, ako nga po pala si @jab1987, kilala nyo po nay?" I replied back excited. "Oo iho, kapatid ko ang kanyang nanay nya pero matagal na silang lumipat sa Bagulatao mga isang taon na upang imanage yong nabili nilang maliit na resort sya nga pala ako naman si Gloria "Glo" for short at itong asawa ko sya si Efren" the old woman replied.
"Saan po yon, gaano po kalayo iyon mula rito" I asked. "Oo iho malayo, nasa kabilang bundok pa iyon at delikado ang daan, sa bahay ka nalang muna tumuloy ngayong gabi at bukas ng umaga ihahatid ka namin doon ng tsong mo" the old woman replied.
I get into the tricycle and in just a few minutes we are in the front of there house. The house is located in the middle of rice field but it was elevated higher than the road. It's simple, have enough space and neatly arranged. There where 12 photo frame hang on the wall perhaps her son and daughter. One from those photo is a beautiful lady at my age which I fell in-love at first sight.
"Mga anak ko yan, iho, sa awa ng diyos na pag tapos ko naman silang lahat sa pag aaral, sila ay nasa Manila na lahat nag tatrabaho. Halika na kumain ka muna alam kung gutom ka, kami ng asawa ko kumain na kanina, nag tapon lang kami ng basura kanina at pauwi na noong nakita ka naming nag lalakad" Nanay Glo said in low tone.
To my surprised, the table is full of my favorite food which include beef stew, fried tulingan and buko salad. "Buti nakapagluto ako ng marami kanina dahil nag sabi ang isa kung anak na babae na si Cyril na uuwi ngunit hindi natuloy baka bukas pa daw, sige na iho kumain ka muna at ihahanda ko lang tulugan mo" Nanay Glo replied.
Then she turn his back to me and go inside the room, after a couple of minutes I also done my FREE restauarant dinner. Her husband tatay Efren told "Anak halika na dito hayaan mo na dyan, si Gloria na bahalang mag ligpit. Magpahinga kana dito sa kuwartong inihanda ng asawa ko". "Thank you po, tay" I replied.
And I enter the room. Inside, a hotel grade room arrangement waited, the Air-con was already turn on as well as the TV. On top of the bed, a sleeping robe paired with pajama is ready. So I take on the shower and change clothes.
I wake up in the morning and to my surprise the table is ready for another free yummy food. "Anak kumain ka tapos na kami ng tatay mong kumain at pag katapos mong kumain ihahatid ka namin kina Pong" Nanay Gloria told.
And that is what happened, Nanay Glo and Tatay Efren drive me with there truck to Pong place, I was wondering at first why they didn't use the tricycle. Perhaps, I am bit special until we climb the steep rocky mountain road, only off road vehicle can pass through.
There is still good people out there waiting to be discovered, however most of them are coming from the old generation. Did you missed the story, don't worry "Nanay Glo and Tatay Efren" become my in laws and I am happily married with there daughter Cyril.
The Bad! The Ugly!
Filipino being hospitable is not true or it just doesn't applied equal. Rich, feeling rich, middle class and poor have always made a boundaries in between. And the following story is related;
This is a Story of Edward, a middle aged service technician of XYZ Corporation, manufacturer and distributor of the Finest TV in the country offering product lineup from entry level up to the finest high end class.
A one hot and humid day, the customer service center phone rang and the assign customer service representative pick up the phone. Good day, this is Melody of XYZ Corporation, how may I help you today, the CSR answered politely.
You F****ng B****rd, you sold me a defective TV, I need someone to come over my place and check my 50-inch 4K TV right away or I will not pay my balanced. This is my information... then slam the phone, the rude customer told angrily over the phone.
The customer's location is 24 kilometers away from the office and Melody have assign Edward to pay a visit to the rude customers. It was noon time, hot and humid weather, but Edward start his motorcycle facing lot and lot of traffics along the way. A few hours later...
At the customers house, Edward arrive exhausted and sweat is all over his body. At the gate, Edward locate the door bell, raaannng, raaanngggg, raaannnggg. A young professional neatly dressed come out the house and open the gate.
Who are you, he asked. I am Edward service technician of XYZ Corporation, Edward answered smiling... My TV stop working, better see it yourself inside, the customer replied.
Edward walk next to the customer and get inside the house, to check the TV. Inside, on the tea table there is a pitcher of ice-cold water and a glass half empty.
The customer sat down to his couch and directed Edward to check the TV. As standard operating procedure, Edward turn the TV on using the remote control and nothing is happening. Seems like the TV is defective, but he try the other way to turning on the TV set, locate for the manual button at the edge and manually turn on, it work's.
It seems the problem is on the remote, so thirsty and exhausted Edward politely asked, to the customer. Sir, do you have a new set of batteries it seems like your battery is dead.
No I won't have, you are the technician so it is your job to bring batteries for testing, the customer replied in high tone. Let me check sir if I still have, Edward replied.
Edward went to his tool box near the pitcher of ice cold water and check it if there is any spare batteries. On the other hand, the customer take his glass half full of cold water and refill it, then sip, "aahhh" then stand up go to fridge, take out his tasty treat snack. Edward just shallows his saliva waiting to be invited for at least an ice cold water.
Edward pull out from his tool box a pair of new batteries, sealed and pop it out to replaced the customers dead batteries. Then he try to turn it off and on. Finally it works. Sir, the TV is free from any defect, kindly sign my report so I can now go Edward politely asked.
The customer take the technical service report and silently signed over his printed name then he pass the paper to Edward. After receiving the signed documents, Edward politely asked permit to leave. Rodulfo just nod his head and turn it's back to Edward.
Based on the story of our service technician, some Filipino nowadays have forget our heritage culture of "being the most hospitable person in the world".
Disclaimer:
I write this story in respond to @mrnightmare89 contest, to write a story about what I know some cultures in our country, Philippines. And this article is based on true to life story.
Image Source: https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@mrnightmare89/tell-me-about-philippines-culture-10-hive-prize
Napakabait naman nina aling Gloria. Pero doon ako natuwa sa lovestory talaga. Hehehe. Ang cute ng love story n'yo. Pashare naman dito minsan. 😄
On the bad side naman, may mga ibang tao rin talaga na depende na lang ang pagiging hospitable kung sinong kaharap. Nawa'y hindi dumami ang mga ganyang tao.
Thank you for sharing the story of good and bad experiences of hospitability.
Salamat po naman at nagustuhan po ninyo ang aking istorya. Sa mga taong nakalimot kung sino sila eh, madami dami na rin po. Kwento naman po iyon ng aming technician noong nakaraang 3 buwan. At marami pa pong ibat ibang kultura ng Pilipino ang kanilang naranasan.
Actually about this hospitality, it's really being part of us. Although not all, there are still people who still acts like they don't care. I enjoyed reading your story even in tagalog. Just so you know that english, bisaya and tagalog would be fine. It's all about Philippines tho
Maganda po ang daloy ng salita at pagbuo ng salitang esusunod. Siguro nakulangan po ako sa larawan. Mas maganda po kasi pag meron talagang larawan na na pinpakita para lalo itong mas nakakatuwa. Pero maganda ang pagkasulat mo..
salamat sa entry boss, let's wait for Sunday.
Marami salamat po. Nag hahanap nga po ako nag larawang aakma. Sa susunod pong post pipilitin ko pong makakuha ng akmang larawan.
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