Philippines Smile for No Reason

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Philippines Smile for No Reason
General Santos Southeast Asia
Monday, December 4, 2006

I am amiss to know why I like the Philippines so well; however, I think I may have discovered the essential reason. I am from Indiana, all over the planet, there is a cultural specific way a person greets another person.

Instantly a well-traveled person could think of the Y of Thailand or the bow, or the hand pull of the Arabic countries, a person will learn the formal way of saying hello.

The truth is, the normal greeting is to ignore, there is no greeting, a reception desk and ignore you consistently and forever.

There is a formal greeting, a proper way to meet a person, I believe every culture on the planet, even when you believe there is not, there is a way to be respectful to a person that may allude your discovery.

In my small village, in the specific area centric culture location of Indiana, where I was made to be Andy, there is a greeting. When a person enters your space, to be well mannered you should make eye contact and say hello, acknowledge the existence of the other person.

McDonalds and 7-11 have a small secret that makes them tremendously successful on the planet, when you enter their establishments they say hello.

This is not natural for Europeans, seems awkward, they do not see or feel any reason why a person should say hello.

However, I truly believe manners can make a business; just a welcome to most people can put them at ease.

PHILIPPINES

The reason I enjoy the Filipino person is they will smile for no reason, this is like my home, and I am closer to home. When I enter almost any establishment they acknowledge my presences, look at me, and normally say,
- Hello Sir. -

If you need a reason to be nice, I am worried for your happiness, we do choose to be a happy as we wish.

Philippines Smile for No Reason

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Reader Submitted Comments | Deleted Comments (0)

risseandre@facebook said on Sunday December 9th, 2007 07:07:00 PM

i am amused at the title and read through your blog..im not much of a traveller like you but i have been to most key cities in my country, the Philippines. And I agree that we need no reason to be happy, we simply have to choose to be happy Ü I respect, however, how people adapt to this because we have been reared diffenrently and we have our own ways but it is nice to know you feel at home in gensan because i love the gensan, it's where my heart is and will always be..i left my heart there, buried alive. now, im in cebu and i find it difficult to go back to gensan; so, i've stumbled in one of cebu's towns: ARGAO. It is is so much like gensan and my heart is alive. although only a part of it but it is liberating..peaceful and most of all, cheerful..hope you had the best!!

untitledentry said on Tuesday February 3rd, 2009 09:14:00 PM

Hi. I came across your blog while I'm checking out stuff about Puerto Princesa in Palawan (my local dream destination - I will be going there n June this year). I'm a Filipina who have never been out of the country and who have been to a few distant places in my own country. Ironically, I would have loved to travel given resources.I like your blog (even though I've read little of it with respect to the enormity of content). Your journey is amazing. If you ever go back in the Philippines, try checking out Anawangin in Zambales. I would love to go there too. http://www.ironwulf.net/2007/05/01/anawangin-cove-and-capones-island-lighthouse/http://anawangin.i.ph/You might also find this link useful in your travel:http://www.waypoints.ph/Note: I am not connected with any of the site owners. :) I cam across this links when I check out Philippines' finest places over the net.Good luck with your travels.

Alan said on Friday August 28th, 2009 10:02:51 PM

There is a good reason why the people in the Philapines smile so much. You should buy the book "Culture Shock Philippines" and your understanding will increase very quickly
Your neighbour
Alan.