We usually talk about stories of international personalities like Jessica Sanchez, Bruno Mars, Apl de Ap, Darres Criss, Rob Schneider, and Batista that has Filipino roots, but this time why not talk about stories of individuals of 100% foreign blood but has a heart of a Filipino. We saw Sandara Park or simply Dara of 2NE1 who is a 100% Korean and enjoyed being in the Philippines because she found a home in our country that made her a Pinoy by heart. This is the same situation of 4 individuals who left their homeland and stared a new life in the Philippines as they embrace our culture and find a new home with the Filipinos whom they find as their new family.
First is Marcus Davis who at first tried to find himself and got lost when he first arrived in the Philippines but he never thought that a complete stranger will be there to help him. He was touched by the bayanihan ideals of Filipinos who are willing to reach out to those who are in need even the only thing they can offer is the only thing that was left to him or her. It inspired Marcus and made him a true blue Filipino not only by heart but a citizen in terms of papers.
When we talk about love, Filipinos will always be that romantic person trying to pursue their true love no matter how hard the challenges they will encounter. And one of the lucky recipient of that Filipino love is Anna Rabtsun-Baylosis who is now married to Filipino. She never thought that the love that her husband has for her will last long because of the distance. But she was truly amazed with all the efforts of her husband willing to do anything for her and closing the gap and made her finally part of his family.
Hospitality is what Shu Wang experienced when she first visited the Philippines. Just like Marcus she was lost and don’t know what to do. But for her Filipinos will always extend their hands to those who are in need. Now in her 11 years stay in the country she truly find home in the country with you friends that she now called her family.
And there was Bryan Gallinger a businessman who wanted to build a company in the Philippines but instead of the employer of the company he wanted to have he became a volunteer worker for an organization that protects children from violence. He discovered the concept of bayanihan just like Marcus but this time Bryan is part of that process reaching out to others who are in need.
We saw how Filipinos reach out to one another from the times of calamity, neighbors helping neighbors or simply strangers extending their hands in times of emergency and when help need the most. This is what we call bayanihan, heroism in small ways but give a big impact to other people’s lives. Aside from that Filipinos will always find ways to smile and have brighter faces even they face all the hardships in life believing that they will have their triumph soon over it.
Seeing the stories of Marcus, Anna, Shu and Bryan it truly an inspiration that made us proud each day as we can truly impart in our everyday lives that Sarap Maging Pilipino (it’s great to be Filipino).
