The Boracaynon

By Gil delos Santos The Philippines is one of the most culturally diversed countries. Filipinos are the most adaptive. The spaniards introduced christianity. Japan taught norm conformity. The Americans brought competitiveness. Colonization has supposed to bring great influences. However the Philippines today is a broken society. Behind christianity, corruption was co-introduced. Behind norm confirmity, greed grew. Behind competitiveness, it bred dependency.  With all influences, the most common Filipino trait is its hospitality. This is rooted in the practice of christianity, conformity, and the sense of competitiveness. This embedded culture of hospitality now manifests negative impact on society more than how it was intended to work.  Over hospitality has produced lazy parents, greedy politicians, and self-entitled generation. Lazy parents are too hospitable that find convenience in providing a mobile phone or tablet rather than to discipline children in tantrums. Most polit...

By Gil delos Santos Michelin restaurant ratings first got conceived for marketing purposes in 1900. It's a free guide book given to motorists containing: Maps and mechanics’ listings, Gas stations, Hotels and restaurants along routes. Michelin, being a tire company first published it to encourage road travel — and of course, tire sales.  Today, it is celebrated as a status that adds business value to restaurant operators and chefs. They succeeded to serve its purpose outside the business of selling tires. It is now a renowned restaurant recognition body. I've personally been to Michelin restaurants in Europe. It would cost you a bit to be able to experience the celebrated restaurants and chefs. After realizing that homestyle carinderia food is still my favorite, I thought that Michelin ratings are not for everyone. It's just a status symbol.  The principle is comparable to Johnnie Walker Blue Label versus Gin bilog. Common people would enjoy and get drunk with a...