My officemates are a little surprised when I told them that I have relatives here in Bohol. They believed that I may be just pertaining to the tarsiers, where Bohol has been known to have these cute little poppets. They were also thinking that I may just be kidding them since they are always comparing me to these smallest living primate on earth. Well, I don't really care much if I look like a tarsier to them, ha-ha! First thing, they are so irresistibly cute and cuddly. Second, we have some similarities—they are active at night and a kind of loner.
But honestly speaking, yes—I have some relatives here that I have not met yet. I have seen them through Facebook but a close interaction with them was never established. The distance between us must be the cause why I haven't seen anyone of them yet, but I guess there is this unseen bond that connects us together wirelessly.
The Filipino Hospitality
When I first saw them, I was amazed by a very warm welcome. I was not expecting that a bunch of them is already waiting for me to arrive and that made this moment so special. There are two things that came to my mind during the time I saw them coming to me to greet me. First, they might feel the same way too—the excitement to see each other for the first time. Second, I thought about Filipino hospitality.
Filipino hospitality is one cultural trait we Filipinos are known for: A warm welcome; a smile; a hug; an offering of a good merienda when one visited our place; a simple invitation for a stay for anyone who doesn't have a place to sleep at night; when we say hello, we say "Kain tayo" (Let's eat) instead—to name a few examples. Though some cultures practice this too, but in our country, this is genuine that foreigners always notice it.
This trait must have been inherited from centuries of the past, but its warmth has never changed. I have experienced this as I travel around the Philippines not just here in Bohol. I guess this kind of Filipino hospitality is well-preserved within the country but of course, very worth-sharing. It's one thing that makes it more fun to be here. It's our unique identity.
Filipino hospitality is one cultural trait we Filipinos are known for: A warm welcome; a smile; a hug; an offering of a good merienda when one visited our place; a simple invitation for a stay for anyone who doesn't have a place to sleep at night; when we say hello, we say "Kain tayo" (Let's eat) instead—to name a few examples. Though some cultures practice this too, but in our country, this is genuine that foreigners always notice it.
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| Quote taken from a 'It's more fun in the Philippines' ad |
This trait must have been inherited from centuries of the past, but its warmth has never changed. I have experienced this as I travel around the Philippines not just here in Bohol. I guess this kind of Filipino hospitality is well-preserved within the country but of course, very worth-sharing. It's one thing that makes it more fun to be here. It's our unique identity.
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