THE Philippines was named among the world’s politest and friendliest countries in the world, according to cross-border digital financial services provider Remitly, which surveyed more than 4,600 people worldwide. According to Remitly, the country placed 6th in the politeness ranking, with 2.3 percent of respondents saying Filipinos are the most polite. The list was topped by Japan, where 35.15 percent of respondents say Japanese are the most polite people in the world, followed by Canada (13.35 percent) and the United Kingdom (6.23 percent). China (3.07 percent) and Germany (2.8 percent) finished behind the country, to round up the top five. The Philippines also ranked in the top 10 friendliest in the world, placing 8th with 4.16 percent of respondents saying so. This list was topped by Canada (10.5 percent), Brazil (7.96 percent) and Australia (5.10 percent), with Japan (4.94 percent) and Spain (4.9 percent) rounding up the top 10. However, the study noted that despite the country being among the politest countries on Earth, this perception was not matched by Filipinos. The Philippines is ranked 22nd among countries that perceive themselves to be polite, with an 8.86 out of 10 politeness rating. South American countries Brazil and Chile lead the list, both of which with a politeness rating score of 9.46 out of 10, followed by India (9.41), Sweden (9.40) and France (9.36). “Supporting friends and family is a social expectation, while saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ may not be,” Remitly said. Remitly said perceptions of politeness and friendliness could vary across cultures. “If you’re planning to start a new life in a different country, immersing yourself in the local culture and communities can help you feel settled. Even small gestures of kindness, like a friendly smile or a bow, can help turn unfamiliar places into welcoming communities,” it said on its website. In a statement, Ryan Riley, vice president of marketing at Remitly, said that moving to a new nation is easier by “positive everyday interactions that share whether someone feels welcome or not.” “Small acts of courtesy, whether that’s patience over a language barrier, or giving up a seat on public transport, can have a real impact on someone who is starting over thousands of miles from their home,” Riley said. “What stood out in our research is the gap between how nations see themselves and how the rest of the world sees them,” he added.