In a stunning display of misplaced pride, Krizette Laureta Chu recently took to social media to congratulate the Philippines for supposedly outshining Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar in a dubious survey on top tourist destinations in Asia. 

Apparently, the bar for celebration has been set just above ground level. It’s heartwarming to witness such nationalistic fervor channeled into patting ourselves on the back for not being the absolute bottom of the tourism barrel.

Chu’s commendation for this ‘achievement’ comes across as a thinly veiled attempt at boosting national ego by needlessly denigrating neighboring nations. 

Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, such rankings are about as significant as a gnat on an elephant’s back. One can’t help but wonder if this is an ingenious ploy to distract from more pressing issues by celebrating mediocrity. After all, why focus on internal challenges when you can revel in the hollow glory of not being the absolute last resort for tourists? Oh, the audacity of national self-esteem at the expense of diplomatic grace.