Aside from the favorite Filipino dishes and delicacies, fiesta and festivals, tourist spots, great people, Filipinos are also known for this trait of being hospitable from all around the world. Actually this is one of the character traits that foreign people are keep on praising on once they landed their feet on out country. In spite of whatever circumstances, Filipinos always gave it's warmest greetings and smiles to whomever visit our place.
We, being hospitable said to root its trait way back during the age of datus. We are familiar with the barter trade before the colonization wherein foreigners and we, Filipinos tend to exchange goods from one another. The datus are said to gave the warmest of its greetings to foreign people. Well, it was really evident that hospitality was inherent in our blood even before the colonization era.
Filipino hospitality is indeed exceptional. It all started by warm greetings of Welcome and Mabuhay then will be followed by phrases like "feel at home". I remember whenever we have visitors, the elder would tend to say " Pasok ka hijo, hija, wag kayong mahiya"
It will then be followed by a presentation of bountiful Filipino cuisine. Whenever there are foreign visitors or natives coming from within the country, Filipino families tend to prepare the grandest of its dishes and plates. I remember the Filipino set ups wherein Filipino families tend to use only the usual plates during meals but when vistors arrives the precious plates Filipino women have kept will be suddenly put out of their designated cabinets as if their turn have come. I really don't know what's the point of this idea but this was really weird but maybe to impress the visitors.
Actually this attitude of ours hold some negativity especially when we have no money to prepare such grand cuisines and dishes. Some Filipinos are being hold in debt just to have the grandest dishes to be served to its foreign people. As the the what we call it here, "baon sa utang". In barrios, province or rural areas, some tend to sell their carabaos or other animals to put out the celebration. Some killed their chickens, kambing etc to bring the best out of it.
The Filipino hospitality won't just stop there. Filipinos love touring people. There are lots of beautiful places here in our country that we should be proud of that's why we tend to show them to the world by accompanying foreigners out there.
Aside from being happy and instilling positivity in times of crisis like typhoons, earthquakes, and this trying time of pandemic, we being hospitable is one of the trademark we should be proud of. It only shows how all out we are in treating people. More than this grandest dishes and preparations, one thing is only evident, we Filipinos gave importance to genuine relationship ties among people. We value building relationships with people aside from our own strong family ties.