I don’t get why anyone would find this insulting or condescending. It’s the perspective of someone who is looking at these simple things with fresh eyes. If this had been written by a foreigner they’d probably think “Ohh how nice” but since it’s a wealthy Filipino, it’s demeaning? People are funny.
I had some classmates in CSB who were so sheltered by their parents, they’d probably have similar reactions to the same experience. One in particular mentioned that she sincerely wanted to know how it would feel to ride the MRT by herself (her parents insist on her being chauffeured wherever she goes). Does that mean they shouldn’t feel excited about any new experiences, ever, unless it’s something luxurious? Would it have been better if she had called the other passengers icky and boring instead of “seemingly interesting”?
I also wasn’t allowed to take a jeepney until I was in high school. And admittedly, I did get excited about saying “lugar lang” and stuff like that because it was something new, no matter how simple. I think this article, while not the best-written article ever, was a clever way to find profound meaning in the simplest of things. Something that many Filipinos have yet to appreciate. 🙂
