Born and raised in the Philippines, I am proud of that. The culture of a Filipino Christian family is what I admire and am thankful of. Parents brought me up in a home where family is a priority in life, next to God. While growing up, parents made me understand that God placed us in this country for a reason. Hence, we should be proud of our race, proud of our country and do our part as a Filipino, not simply leaving your country behind. This Independence Day, my desire is that we will all reflect on the importance of our Filipino citizenship.

Let me share with you my short list to answer the question, “Bakit ang Sarap Maging Pilipino?”

1) Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil sa pagmamahal ng pamilyang Pinoy.
You can’t deny the bond that a Filipino family has. Being together is not mandatory, but voluntary in every family member. Everyone in the family desires for the family to be together no matter what happens.

2) Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil napaka-ganda ng Pilipinas. 
Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao, you’ll find gems of nature your eyes will surely enjoy. Situated near the equator results to a sunny weather in the Philippines. For me, it’s the weather perfect to appreciate our wonderful beaches in Boracay, Batangas, La Union, Palawan, Bicol and more.  One of my favorite destinations is Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the home of the Underground River. A wonder of the world that even foreigners are attracted to.

3) Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil Masarap talaga ang pagkaing Pinoy.
With food alone, I can say it’s so fun to live in the Philippines. Each province offers their own version of dishes that can make you say, “Wow!”. Not only that, we have simple street foods that isn’t fancy but tasty to satisfy any adventurous person’s appetite. To name some, we have the exotic balut, fish balls, banana cue, kikiam, kwek kwek, etc.

4) Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil masaya maging Malaya. 
It’s a blessing to live in a country where there is venue to be free. Free to speak our minds, free to love, and the most important thing for me, free to worship the God I believe in without persecution. We are not forced to believe in a god that we don’t 100% believe in. Here, we are given the free will to choose. Whoever you are, whatever you believe in, the country accepts you for who you are. No wonder foreigners find it easy to adapt to our free and hospitable culture.

5) Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil masayahin ang mga Pinoy, sa hirap at ginhawa.
For richer or for poorer, the smile on each Filipino’s faces is stamped that nobody can ever remove. We, Filipinos, have the attitude of being positive. We are very hopeful of good things to come. The inner beauty every Filipino has reflects the outer beauty. Just look around the Philippines, don’t you find every Filipino and Filipina beautiful and charming? 🙂

In this video that I’ll share with you, you’ll be surprised that Filipinos aren’t limited to those who were born and raised here. Find out how foreigners responded to the question, “Bakit ang Sarap Maging Pilipino?”

Aren’t they cool and amazing?

Out of all these foreigners, what captured my attention is Marcus Davis, an American music producer who fell in love with this country mainly because of the genuine hearts of Filipinos he encountered. His story of getting lost in the airport and being approached by Filipinos who showed him kindness and hospitality is a classic example of who Filipinos really are. I like what he said about how Filipino culture, considering the struggles, brings us closer to the simple things in life. There is constant effort to volunteer and reach out without even asking for it. The hospitable treatment of Filipinos gave him the sense of belonging in the Philippines, not feeling like a foreigner anymore.
If Marcus is a proud Filipino citizen, why can’t we be proud as well?

My heart was melting while watching and hearing these foreigners share their own experiences.
How about you?

Tweet or Post your Comment to answer this question and let’s unite as we celebrate our independence as Pinoys! (Don’t forget the hashtag, #SarapMagingPilipino)

 My journey as The Food Scout revolves mostly in this country of 7,107 islands. I am very proud of being Pinoy!

Happy Independence Day my dear Pinoy foodies! <3

Cheers,