By Cleofe Uy Catuday
FILIPINOS show patriotism in countless ways! We get so invested in the candidates we send to pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World, and many others. We celebrate athletes who bring home championship medals from Olympic competitions and other international games. We take great pride when celebrities and entertainment personalities succeed abroad, to the extent that other races think all Filipinos can sing well. This speaks volumes about the patriotism innate in us.
However, we also face challenges that can hold us back if not balanced well, such as colonial mentality, excessive appreciation for imported goods, and the aspiration to live abroad. We tend to be overly critical about politics, social and economic struggles, and situations within our country. The list goes on, but I’m grateful to be in an industry where we can proudly represent the Philippines. I’m blessed to be part of a company whose culture and core values revolve around the art of loving the Philippines.
Megaworld Hotels and Resorts is the largest homegrown brand in the country. With close to 3,000 employees and 12 operational hotels, with three more opening this year, it advocates for Filipino hospitality and our natural inclination to serve others and spread happiness through personalized service.
It’s a privilege to be part of an organization that showcases what we Filipinos can offer. I deeply respect everyone who chooses to bring their talents to a homegrown brand or a Filipino-owned company, strengthening our portfolio and raising our country’s flag in the corporate sector, competing with global brands. There’s a unique satisfaction in contributing to the growing love for our own.
This sentiment is especially profound in the tourism and hospitality industry, where we cherish everything about our people, culture, food, destinations, and the myriad unique experiences our country offers across its thousands of islands. It truly is an art of loving the Philippines.
When Megaworld Hotels and Resorts launched the Sampaguita Project last year, every opportunity I had to talk about it and hear the company leaders and associates share about it in various platforms filled me with love for our country. The pride I witnessed as the chefs discussed the Sampaguita-inspired dishes they created, shifting from international cuisines to elevate Filipino culinary offerings, spoke volumes about our love for food as a nation. Opening platforms to share heartwarming stories of heirloom recipes being passed down generations, and incorporating Sampaguita into our customer service and product offerings while reviving the glory days of our national flower, is indeed an art of loving the Philippines.
I thank God for blessing me with being born in this country. It’s not perfect, but there are countless reasons to be proud of being a part of it. To be called Filipinos, to contribute in our own ways, and to promote and foster love for our country. Truly, it is an art of loving the Philippines.
