The Land of Service
While I am raised as an American, I am learning the ways of the Filipino heart.
Filipinos are known for their kindness and service throughout the world. I think the first word most people would use to describe their interactions with them would be to describe them as nice and always with a smile on their face.
Their culture of acceptance and kindness is what attracted me to live here during my retirement years and, I have to report, they have opened my eyes about what it means to be of service.
If America is known for liberty and freedom, the Philippines is known worldwide as a nation providing the best service anywhere. However, what price did the Filipinos pay to become the land of service? How did this become the land of more service providers than any other nation?
First, how does service look like in the Philippines and the world at large. I think most people have experienced the healthcare industry here, and how nurses and caregivers are prevalent in this industry in most countries. But where else do they provide significant resources in the service and helping industry?
Did you know that more Filipinos become merchant marines and seamen than any other country? Or that, in the hospitality industry (such as cruise ships and hotels), Filipinos staff both the front desk and all the jobs behind the scenes, such as housekeeping?
You may even know that many of the entertainers, singers, and dancers are Filipinos. Or that customer service representatives at call centers are predominantly Filipinos. In fact, there is a whole industry here called BPOs, or business process outsourcing, where they are providing accountants, bookkeepers, in-house sales, help desks, credit card activation services, and so much more.
Although most Americans do not have nannies, in countries where they do, it is again dominated by Filipinos. As well, go to a mall in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Arab nations and a lot of the help will be Filipinos.
And the list goes on and on, but suffice it to say, a lot of lives have been made easier because of the kindness, generosity, and service of these amazing people.
This idea of service is also prevalent within Filipino families as well, whatever anyone can contribute to their family, such as providing financial assistance or caring for siblings and elders. Complaining is very rare here, and you are expected to do whatever you can to contribute with time, money, emotional support or anything also that will help the family.
It is very common, for example, for someone that works at a call center or overseas to send money to the family on a regular basis, and when special needs arise such as illness or a sibling needing tuition for school, the other family members step up and do what it takes… and again with no complaints. Some may have feelings of resentment or being used, yet they would never do anything but meet their moral obligation to the family.
But at what price…
The Spanish, Japanese, and Americans have all conquered this nation and subjected them to their rule. So, as a conquered nation they had to learn how to survive their situation. And as they say in Star Trek, resistance is futile: to survive is to be subservient. They had to learn how to survive being occupied and controlled by other nations. The choice they made was to be subservient, and to learn to survive for the day it will be the time of the Filipino. So they learned to smile and to say “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”.
Even under the harshest of circumstances they are always willing to show you a smile.
In my opinion, in general, Filipinos live closer to the teachings of Jesus than I have ever experienced. They don’t always do it and feel good about it, but they do it because their culture demands it.
The Philippines has been a self-ruled nation since 1946 and is still dealing with the pain and harm of occupation for so many centuries. But as they do and as they become more OK with the history they endured, I believe they could become a model for the world of what it means to be of service.
Imagine if we were all like that or, in the words of John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. Or close to what a Filipino would say, “Ask not what your fellow man can do for you – ask what you can do for your fellow man!”
May the Philippines shine as a beacon of light promoting service as a way of life, to care for each other and to care for this world that we call Earth. The people and this Earth are all in a lot of pain now and survival is dependent on making wise choices.
To be of service is the greatest gift we can give to each other.
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