Humbling Experiences

[docgorio]

As a doctor in the Philippines you are treated as a demi-god anywhere you go, from your clinic to the hospital to your classmates back in HS and even your neighbors...

Now that I work aboard a foreign cruise line as a ship's physician, I'm on the other end of the stick. I can see how the cabin and dining room stewards work like slaves for tips and the cooks work long hours in the hot, steamy galley just to satisfy the wishes and whims of our passengers. We at the medical department cannot act like gods as if we're in a hospital because we are just part of a product whose primary aim is to please, whatever the cost.

So every time I'm here in Manila and eat in a resto, I see to it that I get my food server's name, always say please and thank you each every time we ask him/her for something and always talk to them in a very respectful tone...

Sometimes I even stand up just to get some paper napkins...

[redorange]

di naman sila nagre-reply siguro para magyabang na humble sila, sinasabi lang nila na minsan ang tingin nila sa sarili nila ay mataas pero dumating ang araw na nalaman nila na kaya pala nila na magpakumbaba. nasa bumabasa siguro kung ano ang interpretasyon.

nuon mayabang ako. sagad. UP grad, engineering. nung nag-graduate ako pahirapan maghanap ng trabaho kaya di lang minsan namin naranasan ng mga ka-batch ko na tatanungin kung sino ang UP grad, at pagkatapos ay sasabihan yung mga ibang aplikante na pwede na silang umuwi at mga graduates lang ng UP ang tatanggapin. well, maipagyayabang kong sabihin na ni isa sa aking mga ka-batch ay hindi nagdalawang-isip na tumayo na rin at umalis. sa totoo lang nakakahiya kasi maging UP-grad kung ganun ang gagawin.

sa hirap ng trabaho sa pilipinas ay nag-abroad ako. saudi. site engineer sa king saud university ang title pero all-around technician ang tunay na trabaho. all-around, as in jack of all trades. sama dun ang magkumpuni ng kubeta at imburnal. nung minsang nagbara ang imburnal ay nataon pa naman na inutusan ko ang aking 2 tubero sa isang site na malayo sa riyadh. e di syempre ako yung lider, e di follow myself. umasa ako na pag nakita ako ng iba kong trabahador ay tutulungan nila ako. e di nga naman nila trabaho yung mag-alis ng bara ng imburnal kaya nagtakbuhan lahat at ako lang ang naiwan. ako ang lider, sa akin ang responsibilidad. sa madaling kwento ay sugod syempre, kaya ko yun, *** LANG E, ano papatalo ako no way ba! e pagdating ko sa kalagitnaan, sa alala ko ay manhole #13 yata (para naman sabihin natin na malas talaga di ba, saka para mas maganda ang kwento) e lampas tao na ang lalim ng butas. baba ang mayabang na yebo na sa oras na yun ay naka-sampung suka na sa baho at sa laki ng mga ebak ng arabo na nakita. e yun palang bara ay wala pang isang metro ang layo sa butas kaya nung sinundot e agad bumususok. ligo ang mayabang na yebo sa pinaghalong tubig ng kusina at kasilyas. bagamat naiiyak at nagagalit sa sarili bakit inabot ng ganun ay masaya na din pagkatapos dahil naisip ko na kahit ano pa man ang aking marating ay habang buhay kong nasa isip na minsan ako ay naligo sa imburnal. at kung kaya ko yun e di hindi ako magugutom dahil kahit kelan ay wala akong trabahong aatrasan. ok, yun lang. yabang pa rin no?

Sir that is not mayabang. That is a true leader who leads by example rather than by words. The fact that you were willing to place yourself in such a situation probably gained more respect from your workers than any words that you could say.

As a doctor in the Philippines you are treated as a demi-god anywhere you go, from your clinic to the hospital to your classmates back in HS and even your neighbors...

Now that I work aboard a foreign cruise line as a ship's physician, I'm on the other end of the stick. I can see how the cabin and dining room stewards work like slaves for tips and the cooks work long hours in the hot, steamy galley just to satisfy the wishes and whims of our passengers. We at the medical department cannot act like gods as if we're in a hospital because we are just part of a product whose primary aim is to please, whatever the cost.

So every time I'm here in Manila and eat in a resto, I see to it that I get my food server's name, always say please and thank you each every time we ask him/her for something and always talk to them in a very respectful tone...

Sometimes I even stand up just to get some paper napkins...

Most people who have never worked in the food service industry really never understand the kind of work involved to get their food on the table. It's good that you can empathize with them and show your appreciation of their work.

My wife often wonders why I always make it a habit to leave a good tip whenever we dine out. I told her it's because I used to be one of the waiters and cooks in the kitchen when I was younger and know how important the tips are to these people. This was a good thing because when we dined out in ATC once I forgot my credit card in the resto and waitress chased us to return the card. As the saying goes "you can't get to where you are going if you don't know where you've been" and I always remember were I've been.