Filipinos don’t really clean up after themselves after eating at fast food joints (we have cleaners for that), which probably explains why a video of two Koreans cleaning up their table after a meal at Jollibee has gone viral.
Facebook user Adrian Symon Soco shared the video on Saturday of the two Koreans clearing their table after they’d finished dining at a Carcar City, Cebu, outlet of the popular chain.
“This should be an action worth following especially [to] us Filipinos,” Soco says in the post.
In a Facebook message to Coconuts Manila, Soco said he asked one of them for their permission to post the video on Facebook. He didn’t mention the two men’s names to protect their privacy.
“Their culture of cleanliness is admirable and a great example to anyone who sees it, especially [to] us Filipinos,” he said. “They were delighted with the thought and agreed with post[ing it on Facebook].”
He added in the caption that other Korean nationals followed suit. “On that day, there were three groups of Korean tourist[s] dinning (sic) at the same [place, at the same time] and after they are (sic) done, almost all of them did pick up their trash and throw it (sic) by themselves.”
The original video had more than 1.1 million views and 22,000 shares as of posting. Some netizens were amused by their act, while other people said it was all part of their culture.
Commenting on the page of tabloid Pilipino Star Ngayon, which reposted the video, Sherlyn Zarraga wrote: “[B]ecause it is the culture of other countries [to clean as you go] and they will do the same in any foreign land.”
Carmel Chad said that what the two men did was how it should be.
“I hope we learn from them. [T]hey are next to Godliness,” Jazone Jumawan wrote in a mix of English and Filipino, referencing he old familiar adage “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Soco told Coconuts Manila that he hoped the video would serve as an inspiration “to Filipinos who don’t practice this etiquette.”
“I hope that this example would push more local residents to clean up after themselves. Maybe it’s about time we practice being more responsible for our actions starting today. I know we can begin it by cleaning up our meals in restaurants after we’ve eaten,” he said.
“It will certainly brighten up the day of the waiters and crews who work there.”
