Filipino hospitality around the world

From Vienna to Paris to the United Kingdom, a Filipino such as myself will truly appreciate a kababayan’s efforts which will always be a genuine pleasure to have while abroad.

For starters, it was such a nice feeling to have a kababayan spend a few minutes with me on my first visit to Vienna, Austria and learn about how life has been for her and her family in the past three decades. Considering she had been gone for so long, that special Filipino culture that embodies a warm smile and an effortless gesture of extra service really warms the heart. It felt so much like home away from home for even just a few days, knowing that every morning, there was that special person waiting to greet you before you started your day.

I have always enjoyed discovering and learning about my kababayans in other countries and it was quite fun bumping into them and spontaneously speak a language common to us. Oftentimes it is me who does the surprising since I am always mistaken for a foreigner even in my own country, so I truly enjoy the looks on their faces each and every time I speak Tagalog.

One of my favorite things to do is to ask which region they are from, hoping that I would somehow hit the jackpot for being from the same area and have much more things in common to talk about. Regardless of region, however, I love connecting with our kababayans as I also learn about the culture of a new place from their perspective, combined with that distinct extra touch of warmth and kindness that we can proudly call our very own.

For instance, it was another fortunate experience to have been attended to by another kababayan in London, who gave me a healing cup of honey and lemon on a windy afternoon as London weather has always been unpredictable. Lorena and her team at the Flemings Mayfair Hotel London took care of our group from day one and, just like a true blue Filipino, she made sure we all enjoyed our stay.

I must also note that it can only make a fellow Filipino proud to see a girl boss such as Lorena manage one of London’s most iconic hotels, whose neighbor is nothing less than the Buckingham Palace at Westminster, including the renowned West End. Absolutely astounding, as the British say, and I must agree.

It’s always nice to see and hear first hand the stories of our Filipino overseas workers, especially when you get the opportunity to observe them in action. There is a certain amount of self-confidence you witness from our kababayans each and every time they “work” a room, and it is even more impressive when you see them with other foreign guests who are experiencing for the first time what most of us are already so accustomed to and sometimes take for granted.

In France, while I didn’t get to experience any Filipino “girl bosses” at my hotel, I did have short encounters on the streets of Paris while walking to the Louvre. I always enjoy being mistaken for a local until I start a conversation with Filipinos I bump into in the city streets of other countries. And it is almost impossible to miss them.

One would also be surprised at some of our kababayan’s fluency in another language as sometimes (if not most of the time ), it is a requirement for employment. This brings me back to how I would always advocate learning a foreign language while children are young, as this is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity.

They say in Tagalog, and when translated, Filipino hospitality is called “magiliw na pagtanggap” and it is said to be customarily passed down from generation to generation.

When I think about it, at home, parents teach their children to be hospitable to their guests and it really isn’t just about having them for a couple of hours or days during a vacation  but rather, making sure that they leave your home with a fond memory of their visit.

There are 7Ms that describe our Filipino values as highlighted by the Department of Tourism – Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Maka-Kalikasan, Makabansa, Masayahin, May Bayanihan and May Pag-asa – and I agree that these need to be celebrated more in honor of all those who represent us in other parts of the world.

If there is one thing that I enjoy most about our hospitality, it is that communal spirit that gives us all a sense of oneness wherever we may be, because we are not just a visitor in their eyes but also a cherished guest.

I go back home to the Philippines with many stories to share but certainly, it is the faces and the welcoming smiles of our kababayans that I will hold close to my heart, as Filipino hospitality is not just a part of a job but also a part of one’s self that is joyfully shared with others.