What are we Filipinos best at doing?

Art Gatus, Quezon City: We Filipinos are best at coming back from adversity and this has been proven time and again during the countless natural and man-made disasters that our nation has faced.  

Chris Navarro, Las Piñas City: We are best in criticizing others without looking into ourselves. Marami sa atin ang nagmamagaling.

We are tops in hospitality

Roque Gahol, Metro Manila: We are the best when it comes to entertaining visitors, especially balikbayans, relatives or foreigners. Filipinos are by nature hospitable.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Let’s start with the good side  we are hospitable, good workers, we manage to smile even during disaster, and a few selected Pinoys are good singers, champion boxers, billiard players, bowlers and good scientists and doctors. In general, however, most Pinoys are corrupt, manloloko, manggagancho, averse to traffic rules, spits in public areas, boastful when they are in power or have connections, copycats, and have crab mentality.  

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: We are known for our hospitality. We are also known for our excellent creative, analytical, mental and artistic intelligence and hardworking qualities.  

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: We Filipinos are best at being a hospitable people, plus the fact that we smile a lot.  

Jayson Biadog, Mandaluyong City: We are known to be a heroic, hospitable and happy people.  

We are musically inclined

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: It’s in music that Filipinos are doing excellently. We also excel in sports like boxing and billiards. It shows our being multi-faceted race.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Here in my place, we are noted for karaoke bar singing. Nakakasawa na nga, parang sardinas na ulam ang kanta. Paulit-ulit lang. ‘My Way’ ang sikat dito.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: How about Arnel Pineda of Journey, Apl de Ap of Blackeyed Peas, Charice Pempengco, Banig etc. Imelda’s 10,000 pairs of shows in the Guinness World Records. When we’re good, we’re better, when we’re bad, we’re the best.  

We are individual achievers

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: I can’t think of anything that we can do best as a people. Perhaps we are better as singular achievers rather than as a race. We tend to remain divided rather than united.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Filipinos have now shown global excellence particularly in sports and music as recently exemplified by Manny Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco. Of course, in other fields of endeavor, many of our countrymen have likewise proven their worth, be it in arts and sciences or business, etc.  

We love to gossip!

Editha Monreal, Antipolo City: Filipinos love to talk about anything about somebody whom they don’t even know. Pair it off with “tong-its” and street bingo, and you’ve got the favorite Pinoy pastime all figured out.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Tsismis is everywhere, in all strata of society. That’s why Philippine media delves more on it because it’s profitable.  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: We’re the best at sniping, backbiting, gossiping, cheating, and making bombastic speeches.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: We are best at chika, especially in showbiz. It’s our way of amusing ourselves so we can forget the problems the face us from day to day.  

Excellent copycats

Ric Vergara, Calamba: Filipinos are excellent copycats. Ang problema sa sobrang panggagaya, OA tuloy ang labas.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: We copy the best and the worst in other people’s cultures and always end up adopting them in stride.  

Christopher Bucsin, Candon: Imitating, that is what we do best. Look around.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: We are known for our great ability to imitate many things from fashion to music, TV programs, foreign goods and products. We’re the world’s greatest imitators.  

Eternal optimism

Francis Santos-Viola, Quezon City: We seem to have the unnatural ability to be simultaneously humorous and hopelessly cynical about our political plight as an excuse not to fight it.  

Kyle Laluces, Quezon City: Our eternal optimism. We are known to smile even in the middle of adversity.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Filipinos are best at laughing away their problems which they themselves created, thinking that they will just go away with the passage of time.  

Abelardo Abilay, Laguna: Our resilience is legendary. Somehow, we always find ways to “bounce back” to triumph. Even with the likes of Typhoon Ondoy, Filipinos still manage to endure difficult situations and smile in the midst of trying times. We are “tried and tested”. We miraculously become heroes even though we need one ourselves.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Without our vaunted resiliency, we are able to weather crisis after crisis that come our way. Even after nine years of GMA’s misrule, we’re still on.  

Fascinating non-verbal language

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Filipinos have fascinating non-verbal language, much of it involving facial expressions. Lifting the eyebrows without smiling means no, but lifting the eyebrows while smiling is used to greet a friend. Filipinos often point by pursuing their lips. Pointing your finger is definitely a no-no and we tend to avoid direct eye contact.  

Artisans and craftsmen

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: We have the best wood carvers in Paete, Laguna, Betis, Pampanga and in Benguet. We have the best leather tanners and jewelry makers in Meycauayan, Bulacan and best shoemakers in Marikina City. We have the best landscapers in Paombong, Bulacan. We have the best pearl divers in Mindanao. There are many skills and industries among Filipinos. If these are only tapped to the max by enterprising investors or assisted by the government, the Philippines will run out of manpower and will spur our economy to the top.  

The bad overshadows the good

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Many years ago, Filipinos were known for the many cultural values that defined their character: Hospitable, helpful in the uniquely Filipino bayanihan way, honest, sincere, with a mighty sense of patriotism by which he was willing to die for his country, etc. Today, it is sad to note that all the good traits of the Filipino are overshadowed by what is going on in our government where it’s impossible to miss what Filipinos are best: We are the best in rhetorics. After a new administration has been proclaimed, there is a lot of talk from leaders in the lower echelons of power who mouth their abhorrence to corruption. Let’s wait and see how they will act as soon as they are in power. We can only hope for the best. Let’s pray for it.  

We have a longing to outdo others

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Most Filipinos love to “keep up with the Joneses”. We like letting people know that we’re the best in most everything  from material things, beliefs, customs, traditions, professions and what have you.   

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Pataasan ng ihi at paninira sa kapwa natin lalo na ng mga kritikong trapo ni PGMA.  

Crab mentality

Noel Banias, Makati City: It’s a bitter pill to swallow but the reason why we are stunted in our growth is the penchant of Filipinos for pulling one another down. It’s crab mentality, in short.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Filipinos are best known as inventors, overcoming adversity, forgiving, and “pulling down” enemies.  

We are a talented lot

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Filipinos are endowed with great talents in humanities (music, literature, drama, painting, architecture, etc.). We are also endowed with agility and stamina in any sports. If only our government takes care and develops our athletes, they could be the best in the world. Filipinos can also export their knowledge and skills in any profession. This is the reason why there is brain drain because our government has failed to give them contentment in life. If all gifted Filipinos are recognized and developed by our government without discrimination, then we would be one of the most esteemed citizens in the world.  

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Filipino seamen  the best seafarers  man almost all merchant ocean vessels sailing around the world today. No facilities serving elderly, developmentally disadvantaged and mentally and emotionally disturbed persons are without Filipino caregivers, who are the best caregivers.  

Strong survival instincts

Ernesto F. Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: We can easily adapt to harsh conditions. We are innovative. We can think of ways to make life easier. This is one reason why Filipinos are the most in-demand workers in other countries.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: With our flexible character, we are good at doing most everything, especially when faced with problems. This attitude is a plus factor. As a nation, we need to unite our efforts to see a semblance of change in our country.  

Our promises are made to be broken

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Filipinos are best in making promises only to be broken.  

We’re forgiving to a fault

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Filipinos have short memories, are forgiving and have a high degree of tolerance. Not so long ago, the nation suffered from a dictator-President but in the last election, the wife and two children of the same President won their bids by a landslide. A solon that passed the e-VAT bill was again re-elected to office. In the past nine years, our country suffered economic deterioration. The country incurred external debts of over P4.3 trillion, the highest in our history. The administration has been accused of corruption left and right and election cheating. Yet, Filipinos chose to tolerate officials involved and didn’t mind the consequence. Are Filipinos just being true Christians or what?  

We are a grateful people

Felix Ramento, USA: Fortunately or unfortunately, we are best at paying back utang na loob or debt of gratitude.  

Fault-finders

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: Filipinos are at their best in finding fault and in criticizing others.  

Edwin Monares, Rizal: Filipinos are the best at sowing intrigue. Everything is taken personally and rationality is often overcome by emotion. Filipinos are quick to criticize but seldom offer alternative solutions.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Most Filipinos are addicted to satire and it can be borderless. We consider it amusing to coin degrading remarks without regard to a person’s rank and moral worth.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: We are good at casting blame. We know only too well the faults of others but are mum on our own. What we are best at is doing good for ourselves and our families. Makapamilya talaga ang Pinoy but when he succeeds, his success comes at a price because of the crab mentality of those around him. We are also very hospitable, even giving our best accommodations to guests and letting them get VIP treatment. Pinoys are very flexible and this is one good character that we possess.  

Filipinos are fatalistic

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: Most Filipinos just wait for election time every so often, expecting/surviving on doleouts from politicians. The majority of poor Filipinos living below the poverty line just survive the days and leave everything else to fate and God.  

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: The lowly Pinoy is a couch potato for eight hours worshiping telenovelas no end, virtually clinging to his mañana habits.  

Resourceful

Angela Javier, Las Piñas City: We Filipinos are best in making do with whatever materials we have. We are very creative. A la MacGyver.  

We shun violence

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: We Filipinos are best in ousting our presidents by bloodless revolution, but it’s sad to note that we have never learned to live up to what we fought for. Maybe this time, we can do another best of mounting a new revolution by joining President-elect Noynoy Aquino in his campaign of ridding corruption in our society to eradicate poverty in our country.  

We have the best lawyers

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Lawyering. Listen to our lawyers’ different interpretations of the Constitution and also how they can twist the fact in defending their client.  

Generous with unsolicited advice

We are good at giving unsolicited advice, which we disregard but which our Asian neighbors pick and use to their advantage.  Ruel Bautista, Laguna

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