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...