We’ve all seen it.
A white tourist walks into a sari-sari store and is greeted with smiles, extra patience, maybe even a small discount.
A balikbayan friend brings their foreign spouse to a family reunion, and suddenly, the whole barangay is bending over backwards to make them comfortable.
Now, here’s the uncomfortable question:
Why can’t we give the same warmth, patience, and respect to our fellow Filipinos?
The Warmth We’re Known For
Our hospitality is one of our best traits. Filipinos are naturally accommodating, generous, and welcoming. We love making people feel at home, especially those from other countries. It’s part of our culture, our bayanihan spirit, and it’s beautiful.
But somewhere along the way, this warmth started showing selective loyalty — overflowing for foreigners, but sometimes missing when it comes to our own kababayan.
The Colonial Hangover
Centuries of colonization taught us—subtly but deeply—that anything “imported” is better. Foreign accents sound smarter, foreign brands feel more prestigious, foreign guests get the red-carpet treatment.
It’s the same mentality that makes us buy imported chocolate over local tablea, or brag about having foreign friends while ignoring the neighbor who’s been quietly helping the community for years.
The “Crab Mentality” Contrast
Ironically, while we put foreigners on a pedestal, we can sometimes be quick to pull down our fellow Filipinos. A local success story is often met with:
- “Nagyayabang na siya.”
- “Swerte lang ‘yan.”
- “May backer kasi.”
Instead of supporting, we nitpick. Instead of celebrating, we question.
Why This Needs to Change
This isn’t about becoming less hospitable to foreigners — it’s about extending the same love and respect to our own. Imagine a Philippines where:
- A tricycle driver greets a fellow Filipino tourist with the same enthusiasm as a foreign one.
- We take pride in local products the way we admire imported goods.
- We cheer for a neighbor’s success as much as we would for a foreign celebrity.
What We Can Do in Our Own Little Ways
- Catch Your Bias
Notice when you give more courtesy or trust to a foreigner than a fellow Filipino. Ask yourself why. - Celebrate Local Wins
Support local artists, entrepreneurs, and talents without comparing them to foreign counterparts. If you’re gifting, consider local craftsmanship items instead of imported brands. - Practice Equal Hospitality
Give the same patience, respect, and friendliness to all — regardless of race or nationality. - Speak Highly of Your Own
Words matter. The way we talk about fellow Filipinos shapes how the world sees us. - Be Proud Without Permission
We don’t need foreign validation to know our worth. Celebrate your heritage, your people, your country — loudly and unapologetically. Even something as simple as wearing a Barong-inspired casual shirt can be an act of pride.
Final Thought
Filipino hospitality is a gift to the world. But it’s time we gift it to ourselves, too.
We can still welcome the world with open arms while making sure our own people feel just as valued.
Because the truest form of national pride isn’t just waving the flag on Independence Day — it’s treating every Filipino life with the same dignity we offer anyone else.