Filipino Traits I Am Most Proud Of

        

One Filipino trait that is most remarked upon even by visiting international celebrities are the Filipino people’s smiling faces. One tourist remarked that when she was out shopping in a mall that caters to the ultra rich, the people she met inside the shopping area,  outside of the store attendants, smiled at her albeit with tiny shy smiles. (Personally, it would seem rather odd  if people will give a stranger a big smile). When she went out of the mall and encountered other Filipinos not financially endowed, they also gave her tiny smiles. She said in the  interview that this gave her a happy feeling even if she was, at first, not inclined to be happy that day.

            Indeed, the Philippines was found out to be one of the happiest people on earth. Despite poverty, calamities, political imbroglio, terrorists, crimes, and the lot, the Filipinos still have something to be happy and cheerful about.  Filipinos are just happy to be alive and given the opportunity and the blessedness to still enjoy life however bleak and blurry it may seem.

            Filipinos love to party, they love attending town feasts; they love social gatherings and being with other people.  Filipinos also love to eat and talk. Filipinos also love to know what is happening around them, and what is happening to the people around them. Filipinos just love to be alive. Being alive gives them the reason to be happy because Filipinos believe that as long as one is alive, there is hope.

            Yes, Filipinos are happy. They are happy about everything. Remember the original EDSA People Power of 1986, when they filled the air with songs and with flowers. Living near Camp Aguinaldo before but not permitted to go outside the house,  I can hear the people laughing outside. If you did not know there was a revolution, you would think that there was a street party just by the happy sound of it. 

            Yes, Filipinos do embody happiness and cheerfulness.

            Another Filipino trait to be proud about is resilience. An article I read in the newspaper sometime ago compared Filipino resilience with that of a bamboo. It is thin but stands tall.  When strong wind comes, it only bends but never breaks. It is just flexible enough to permit the wind to pass through because it knows that sooner or later, the wind will stop and it can stand straight again. It knows how to adjust and to adapt to its environment. This really and truly personifies the Filipinos.

            When there is abundance, Filipinos enjoy the fruits of their labor. When scarcity comes, they tighten their belts.  When calamity strikes, they go down for a little while but rises up quickly, takes stock of the situation, checks on their families, and goes marching out to extend their helping hand.

            Remember Ondoy and Pepeng?  How about the Mount Pinatubo eruption? What about the early 1990s earthquake?

            Bicol is a province that a typhoon loves to visit. It seems as if almost every typhoon that enters the Philippine area of responsibility in Luzon strives to reach the Bicolanos every time. Bicol  is not only “attractive” to typhoon, it also has a very active volcano with the perfect cone. At times, there are even guerillas around.

Yet, when one visits Bicol, you will not see frowning and sad Bicolanos. After every calamity, they pick themselves up and go on with their lives.

.The third trait I admire about Filipinos is their sense of religiosity, which might also have an influence on the two previous traits mentioned above. No matter what formal religion one is a member of, one never fails to acknowledge God or a Supreme Being wherever one is.   

Have you noticed the pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao before he starts the game and also after the game?  It is written that before going to the arena, a mass is said in his hotel room. In the ring, he kneels down at his corner and prays. When the bell sounds, he makes the sign of the cross. After the game and he won, he raises up his eyes to heaven and  acknowledges his God  to thank Him amid the uproar in the boxing arena.

Certainly, one can be happy and cheerful, resilient, and many more amid crisis and calamities if one truly believes that he is being loved unconditionally and someone is looking after his wellbeing always.  

Traits of Filipinos That We Can Be Proud Of

Becoming successful in the field of business or profession is not an easy task.  Whereas, becoming famous and   most in demand artist or talent is confronted with lots of challenges and risks either.  Remember, not all people are qualified to become successful entrepreneurs, professionals, artists or athletes.  People may be rich, famous, and influential but if you lack the traits to become a successful in your field of endeavor, then you can not succeed in spite of how many times you try.  However Filipino people have somewhat unique legacy among the rest of the world.  Filipinos have outstanding traits that make us distinctive from the other culture. This is also the main reason that a lot of Filipino people have the ability to alter the course of their destiny. Filipinos are indeed   world-class people with their unique qualities that can not be found in any other nationalities.    We should be proud   with our exceptional traits as Filipinos because   it only shows how competent Filipinos are in the local industry, and even in the international industry.  Personally, I truly observe that most of the rich and successful Filipino entrepreneurs and artists nowadays   have not been able to attain any greatest education from the premium schools; foremost, most of them came from rugs to riches.  But, look at them now; many Filipino entrepreneurs have already owned various multinational corporations here in the Philippines. While, most Filipino artists and talents are indeed successful in their chosen careers as well.  Aside from owning several properties and business establishments in the country; they are even globally recognized for their outstanding contributions in the international arena.  What they have are the three very important common traits of Filipinos that we can be proud of; and they include their  creativity, strong self-confidence, and determination in life.

Furthermore, there are many Filipino artists who despite came from   poor families, are still able to let their selves shine nowadays in the field of acting and singing in local scene, and foremost in the international scene. And, because of their exceptional talent in the field of arts, they can easily adapt to the requirement that the job calls for.  Additionally, it is very important that Filipinos truly believe   that we can highly excel among the rest of the people in the world. We are naturally gifted with unique talent, artistry and creativity by our God.  As you can see, there are many Filipino artists, who sing and act magnificently even without formal training.  Eventually, they shine even more with formal training and proper coaching.  In addition to that, Filipinos have that “common sense” quality.  Let us take for example, our   own World Boxing Champion Congressman Manny Pacquiao.  He is the living proof of having Filipino traits that you can never find in other nationalities.  Who else..? Charisse Pempengco is another   pride of Filipinos.  Despite the fact, that she raised from a poor family in Laguna,   and has not been able to acquire a formal education.   It did not stop her to reach her dream to become a successful international artist.  And, that is because she acquires the traits of the Filipinos that we can always be proud of to the rest of the world.  She is indeed a world-class artist, who knows what she really got, that is why she is full of pride to show it to the rest of the world.  Look at her now, Charisse Pempengco is one of the famous and richest Filipino female singers   in the Philippines today.  Another good example here are the PLDT and TV 5 businessman icon Manuel Pangilinan and the controversial TV host Willie Revillame.  

There are many Filipino businessmen who are in the peak of their entrepreneurial careers, merely because of their determination and courage to succeed in life. And, more than anything else is the   leadership skills that are already in still in them.  At the same time, they really believe in themselves that is the reason that they enable to surpass every challenges that they face everyday.  Besides, Filipino entrepreneurs have that strong common sense and stock knowledge that they use in if a certain situation calls for it.  Common sense is very vital in running any business.  In fact, it is the strong foundation for anyone’s success in every field or business too.  Many Filipinos have the clear knowledge on how to run effectively the business.  As well as they acquire self confidence, and creativity that allows Filipino entrepreneurs to   surpass all the obstacles that come in their way.  They know how to stand up and bounce back after numerous failures and adversities. 

Unique Filipino Traits that We Should be Proud of

They say that every human being is unique.  And so does every race too.  As it is, every Filipino is likewise unique compared to other races in  the world combined.  We have so many traits that are irrelevant to our western and even Asian counterparts.  And we are proud of these traits to honestly say “I am proud to be a Filipino.”

One of the traits that I am particularly proud of being a Filipino  is being hospitable.  Who doesn’t like to receive hospitality in grand style?  Perhaps, no one.  But it is probably only the Filipinos that can show all and sundry what true hospitality is all about.  Hospitality in terms of welcoming our guests to our house, doing our best for our guests’ visit  to be comfortable and enjoyable in its strictest sense.  There is just such a distinctive joyous feeling preparing the house with all the trimmings and the food when one has a particular guest or guest to arrive.  A particular excitement that brings joy to every household while waiting for the arrival of the guests.  They clean the house, prepare the best food to offer, even preparing the itinerary for the activities of the guest.  Such a far cry from other races.  Receipient of Filipino hospitality be they in whatever nationalities cannot help but be awed with our own brand of hospitality.

Another admirable trait is the Filipino’s penchant to find joy in laughter.  Some people observe and agree that compared to other countries, Philippines has the least number of suicide incidence.  This is quite true because Filipinos are truly lively and happy people such that seldom do we succumbed to suicide due to depression because of our penchant to laugh out loud with friends, making a joke upon something or even making a joke upon ourselves.  Depression resulting to suicide is a common occurrence in our Western and European counterparts most likely because of their inability to cope their problem through laughter.  There must have some truth to the saying “laughter is the best medicine.”

Funny, because this is exactly what other nationalities finds strange in us.  They cannot understand the fact how we particularly enjoy indulging into lengthy pleasantries and laughter.  For all they know, these are our best weapon against depression.

Likewise, another positive unique Filipino trait that may seem alien to other race is having strong family ties.  Filipinos put family ties and relations as one of their top priorities. They would do all they could to provide and sustain their respective families. This is present in Filipino festivities where  the whole family members are invited and in family Sunday family gatherings where they would make time to use it to spend the whole day for their families.

One finds  that it is common in this country to include the extended members not just the normal nuclear family into the household. It is not unusual that in a single household many  members of the family live under the same roof. They value each other’s company, and everyone strives to provide for the whole and not just for them.

Even grandparents still have an active role in the family. It is now the norm in the society that both parents are out working, thus, leaving the care of their children to the lolos and lolas, especially if the family cannot afford to hire a nanny. Grandparents therefore become responsible for instilling into their grandchildren the values and morals they taught to their own children, further increasing the importance of the elderly in our society.  A direct contrast in our counterparts from other countries where old family members were confined to their lonesome in nursing homes otherwise referred to as home for the aged. 

This particular set-up  of having extended families in one roof oftentimes becomes a source of misunderstanding especially due to financial constraint whereby those who have no work become a burden to a family member who might be  equally burdened with the household finances. 

In the midst of adversities however , this set-up can be put to use to the hilt  as one family is not alone in taking part of solving the problem. 

There are a lot of other unique Filipino traits that are worth mentioning but they may be reserved for future writings.  Meanwhile, it truly is distinct to be a Filipino.  We may have some shortcomings as a people who belong to a particular race, but right now our traits are awesome.

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