By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
From an outsider’s perspective, when they gaze upon this small dots of tropical islands nation of the Philippines, they may witness the scintillating waters of the beaches, luscious green forests, and all the natural wonders that this wonderful nation has to offer. Of course, with the addition of the even more wonderful people that reside on it. So wonderful are they and so beautiful that they can even convince a pale white person to live in a nation bathed in the blistering sun all year long. Of course, it can be the other way around, it’ll be the pale skinned, as if needing a bit more color in their lives that convinces our people to leave with them.
Still, there is only so much that beautiful beaches can do to cover all the reeking corruption in this country. Yet despite all that filth, to still be a popular tourist destination, our natural wonders are doing one heck of a job to improve the image of this nation.
But, even behind all the glamorous tourist destinations and the mountains of money they bring in, there is an even more splendid gift this country has to offer. Beaches may well bring in tourists but hospitality takes a fun trip to a whole other level of enjoyment, one we could not have even imagined.
I have not been around much in our country, but with my time spent in Baguio and the warm parts of Southern Luzon, I say the amazing hospitality of Filipinos is a reputation well deserved. And as Igorots, we are no strangers to making strange fellows feel welcome. Perhaps it is the cold that takes down their guards, leaving them vulnerable to all our good intentions that it may be a bit easier to show courtesy. Apart from the sun, the smiles of people can be a good source of warm and fuzzy feelings. Of course, except for certain Igorots with C2 bottles at their back pockets filled with red liquid.
For shy people like me, there is nothing more than warm hospitality that brightens up the day, especially in places where we are strangers, it feels good to be treated as friends.
But we are only human, we may not always maintain the warm smiles we would normally give. Sometimes, we hit our breaking points or have a bad day. Even this tropical nation has to go through cold seasons every year. And for certain days, a stoic face just feels so much better.
To love one another is written in the Holy Book. Although we don’t do it always, it is good that we try still. But while we love others, as cliché as it is, we must also love ourselves. Take care of ourselves as we would take care of others. Smile and be happy for ourselves. For others, their own brand of humility demands self-love be limited, lest it becomes that of narcissism. And that may be for some people in our culture. But we are all equals, no one beneath and no one above us, the person who giveth love, in return deserves to be given love. After all, what good is love given by a broken man who has never felt love.
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