I was with some Filipino friends on Saturday night, and one of them made an interesting comment. He said that Canadians like Filipinos because they adapt very well. Unlike other immigrants, Filipinos don't impose their culture on Canadians. He then related his experience with a Muslim co-worker. My friend had gone into the office washroom, and he was surprised to see his co-worker praying. Part of the prayer ritual was to wash his face and feet, which he did using the sink. He also had a small mat on the floor where he would kneel, bow and pray. My friend said that sometime after, the company annexed one of the meeting rooms and converted it into a prayer room.
Therefore I was thinking to myself - our ability to adapt to other cultures is indeed an advantage. However as I ponder on this further, I realize that there are two sides to the story. While Filipinos don't impose their culture, they fail to demand change that would beneift themselves. Relating back to my friend's experience, his co-worker's need to pray eventually resulted in the company putting the necessary environment to accommodate this "cultural" need. I see this as a positive effect to accommodating other cultures which is important in successful assimilation. I think there is an opportunity for Filipinos to provide leadership in this area. Filipinos are generally warm and sensitive to their environment and their fellow man. They can use this natural trait to recognize the needs of various cultures, and propose solutions to inspire positive change. This can be relevant in Canada as we are one of the most racially diverse countries in the world. In the Philippines, I would argue that adaptability can be counter-productive. In fact I would go as far to say that Filipinos need to learn to expect and demand for better things in life.
