Once upon a time in Manhattan, New York, an American showed me some merch he bought at that year’s Olympics venue and said, “Look, it’s made in Bangladesh, not China.”

How I wish he had said, “Look, it’s made in the Philippines, not China.”

But there was that time a friend bought a grass skirt in Hawaii, only to discover—once she was back here in Cagayan de Oro—that it was made in the Philippines.

For the Pinoy traveler, spotting a Philippine-made product abroad is pure joy. It makes him proud of his heritage. At least while trying to wake up early for the daily grueling group tour schedule, he won’t end up saying, “Sa totoo lang, pagod na pagod na ako,” à la Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri.

But what’s making the Pinoy extremely proud these days is the way Alex Eala is conquering the world of tennis. Much like how Manny Pacquiao won one belt after another in boxing.

With all the negativity happening in the Philippines—from Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and the flood-control scams to flash floods, Super El Niño, and the haze from Indonesia; not to mention school shootings, traffic, astronomical gas prices, high inflation, and a soaring dollar exchange rate—good news has become a basic necessity for the Pinoy.

Add to that the heartbreaking drowning of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in June. And yet, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are still out there playing in UAAP Season 89. Yes, the league perpetually banned Coach Tab Baldwin, but allowing the school to just play on feels like business as usual while families are still mourning. Does Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) really deserve only a mere slap on the wrist for this tragedy?

Still, the Pinoy continues to love basketball, hence the overwhelming outpouring of sympathy for the bereaved families of Baterbonia and Adili after they drowned during a team-building activity for ADMU's men's basketball team.

The Pinoy does tend to be a U.S. copycat—blame it on his colonial mentality. This copying ranges from sports to even democracy. But there’s a twist: the Pinoy always ends up electing corrupt politicians. Oops.

He also copied the Standard American Diet. Its acronym is SAD, which should have served as a warning already: you will be sad if you copy this diet.

He copies anything American, and Jollibee—which is now more popular than McDonald’s, at least in the Philippines—has proven that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What works for the U.S. may work for our country, too. After all, the U.S. remains the only superpower in the world.

Lately, the Pinoy has begun copying another country—South Korea. Oh, thank God it’s not North Korea.

Since K-pop is a huge success, P-pop (Pinoy Pop) could be a close second. It’s a natural progression, since the Philippines is known for great singers who have conquered Broadway, the West End, and international singing contests.

Lea Salonga was the first Filipina to star in “Miss Saigon” on both the West End and Broadway through the role of Kim in London in 1989 and bringing it to Broadway in 1991. She is also the first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honored as its 2,855th star on September 4 in front of the Pantages Theatre. There’s always a first time!