EDITORIAL

Filipinos In The Eyes of Expats

by MEGS LUNN

The hospitableness and helpfulness of a person are innate among Filipinos. It is basic to every Filipino when one enters their home that they welcome him with a smile; right away will offer something to eat or drink. At fiestas, they give guests their best silver platter and offer them the newest and cleanest linens in the guest room. These and many more acts of kindness are found – ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

"We heard of news where foreigners are victims of pick pockets and looking at people planning to rob them. On the other hand, it is also nice that you know you are in a place and have neighbors willing to lend a hand when you are in trouble," expat John of Baguio City amusingly shared.

In the United States and perhaps in other places, it is common a practice to go to a neighbor’s house to borrow a cup of sugar if one runs out. One might even go to a neighbor and borrow screwdriver or wrench if needed. But that’s about all.

According to most of the expats I talked to, they said that here in the Philippines, mostly all people, friends and even those you do not know are quite willing to lend items to anyone who is in need. A good example of this is if one is going to a store and can’t or don’t want to walk for some reason, someone will loan him a bicycle.

In Bulacan, Willard said, "yesterday for example, our washing machine short circuited and burned itself out before our washing was even half done. Anywhere else that would have created a major problem. I would have had to load all the wet and dripping clothes into the car and take my wife and dirty, wet clothes to the Laundromat. Here, on the other hand, there is no problem at all and laundry still got done within the same amount of time. My wife, Viol and her sister simply went to a neighbor down the street for help. No, they didn’t take our laundry there. They simply "borrowed" the neighbor’s washing machine and brought the machine to our house to wash the clothes!"

It was an over-whelming feeling that one hears magnitude of gratitude like this from expats. They know how to appreciate our generosity. No wonder, Aklan and other neighboring provinces are now stormed with foreigners married to ever beautiful Filipina.

A retired American Ed said, "I agree, and it’s one of the reasons I love living in the islands. And I love how this generosity that is often extended without being asked. For example, as I have mentioned to my friends back home in the States, we have two (2) houses, one (1) on the island of Rapu Rapu and the other in Legaspi City on southern Luzon. Living on isolated Rapu Rapu requires trips to Legaspi 2 or 3 times a month for shopping, there’s appointment and others. I sometimes make the trip alone and stay 1 or 2 nights in Legaspi, City. Even though I have money to dine out or can cook food for myself, the neighbors always bring me food if I am home when they cook." Ed is happily married to his wife for ten years now. They bear no kids but are contented living in the island outside of Legaspi City.

While in Roxas City, there is a good friend named Jack who loves the city and the whole Province of Capiz. He is ever kind to put up a website for soon to be retirees and foreigners who are married to Filipinos and who are looking for opportunity to live in the Philippines after their retirement. He has brought many of his friends in the city and now enjoying life with the whole community. Part of their life in the city is joining community services. When asked, Jack replied, "we find fulfillment in what we do. We love to help our neighbors and the community in our own little way and joining civic organization here is one way that we get connected and connections, too."

In Dumaguete City, there is also a tremendous number of expats we saw having meetings at McDonalds. Almost every morning, they spend time to have breakfast together, while their Filipino wives are on the other side of the table catching up stories of family life. Seeing them altogether enjoying the food, the sunrise and their day to day diary of good life living in the island, it is an enormous feeling of "proud to be a Filipino". One expat I talked with, Philip. He lives in Siquijor. He said, "I am very happy to cross to the city twice a week to be with my friends and do some shopping, too." He does his shopping for food and other needs for their resort business in the island of Siquijor.

Foreigners living in Antique do their shopping in Kalibo once a week, dine out in our best restaurants in town, enjoy catching up with friends and go home contented back to their place they love to call now – our hometown.

The islands and some islets in the Philippines last summer was a learning opportunity. It was also opportunity added acquaintances and friendship and cherished moments with our foreigners who love the Philippines.

How about you? Do you happen to contemplate to live in the Philippines? How well you appreciate Filipinos lifestyle, and the generosity? No wonder, my daughter told me, she loves to do more touring around the Philippines before she could even appreciate places abroad. Now, that is so patriotic and kind of her to give more time to learn about her country. I learned from her and she indeed has a BIG POINT.

Can you go around the Philippines and see the beauty, the wealth, and the greatness of the Philippines and her people? /MP