[JayPez]

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The happiest people on earth… (I might be wrong about the 2nd but whatever.)

(no link, copying (with skipped bits) from lonely planet)

in a global survey conducted in 2005, Filipinos came out amount the worlds happiest people much to the filipines delight, surprise and busement. As Filipinos see it, tey are no hpppier then anybody else on earth, in fact generally speaking Filipinos tend to take a rather unfavourable view of themselves. Particually in comparison with the wealth of Americans, the old culture of Europeans etc etc.

but one thing Filipinos have is a boundless sense of humour, and this extends to a rare ability to laugh at themselves. Perhaps it’s a kind of defence mechanism, but even in the grim days under marcos dicatorship they endlessly cracked jokes about the police, the military and anybody and anything connected with the despised regime. Blah blah

while laughing at their problems Filipinos are in effect poking fun at their own helplessness Filipinos detest anything that acts as an obstacle to their fundamental love of life and freedom, yetsometimes when faced with difficulty a filipos reacion is to laugh. To the casual observer this may seem like an inexplicable bit of frivolity in the face of adversity, but theres more to it than meets the eye. To filipons freedom is more precious than material wealth and if they laugh at something that curtails or threatens this priority, its simply a way of coming to thems with the situation until they find a way to overcome it.

Filipinos speak some 70 languages and dialects, yet in none of them are words for depression anxiety anguish or even boredom. This says a lot about the natural dispoition of Filipinos. Unlike some other cultures where suicide is seen as an hoourable way out, the traditional Filipinos way of thinking does not even consider it an option. No matter how big the problem or how profound the tragedy , to a Filipino life goes on, it must go on and that’s all there is too it.

The average Filipino has very modest dreams; to have just enough to feed the family and be able to enjoy the simple please of life. Filipinos may be poor in material things, but as long as theres love and laughter they will find plenty to be happy about.


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i didn't write that i copied it from lonely planet