What I have observed is the fact how different the attitude and the mood of people from the Philippines and Hungary. Before I delve into this, I would like to put forward that I do not want to be why, I just share you what I have observed.
So when you enter a shop in the Philippines, the shop assistants, the salesmen, the security guard all smile when you look at them. But this is not all: they are all open to initiate a conversation with you. They are kind and helpful.Well, most of them. Hungary on the other hand is way different. When we came home, I remember going to Auchan. I noticed a long queue, which was quite uncommon for me and I walked up to a lady to asked if they were waiting fot the cashier. She just said NO and her mannerism told me to go away. Yesterday, we went to a coffee shop to have a snack and I could see the same attitude: the lady at the register was very grumpy. The same is true for most people in the street: if you approach someone, they just want you to go away when you are opening your mouth to say something.
Yes, there is definitely a noticable difference.
My theory is that people have developed a distrustful behaviour, which can be attributed to the corrupt politics since the beginning of communism. But this theory does not explain why people seem happier in another country where corruption is the same if not bigger, the crime is higher and the poverty is higher. So I am clueless.
All in all, it is interesting to observe the differences in attitudes and behaviors between the Philippines and Hungary. Cultural and historical factors can contribute to these variations in interpersonal interactions.