Lee Doyle posted JOB HIRING: Philippine Prime Minister for his Filipino readers. It’s an old forum discussion which dates back to the year 2005. What Lee don’t know is the fact that such issue is still relevant to Filipino society even today.Although most of us here in the provinces believes that Manila is making a mountain out of a mole hill with the alleged ZTE anomaly and the sellout of Spratlies, the fact that this country is in a mess could not be disregarded. Some say it’s government’s fault, some say it’s America’s fault and some believes it’s the people’s faults.America is dragged into this mess by activists who claims that Washington is still controlling the government even after they gave us independence on July 4, 1946. We see them on streets with banners bearing “Ibagsak ang [name of Philippine president]-US Imperyalismo” (down with [name of Philippine president]-US imperialis” in bold and sometimes, if they have more budget, burn effigies of Uncle Sam and the American Flag.We can blame other nations for the kind of culture and values we have now but until the time we rise from blaming to actually fixing the problem will we then move on and see significant change. Sure, the past has everything to do for what we are now but the question is: When shall we move forward?They say lot of Filipinos are living below poverty line and are eating only ones a day but in reality, these people who are called poor could afford to treat their buddies to a drinking spree or serve 5 course meals with lechon during fiesta. I guess this only shows that these people just don’t know how to spend what they have.
We like to be called hospitable so we go the extra mile in entertaining our guests. We wine them and dine them like they are kings, we even give them our own beds, and even lend them our wives (in some tribes). Then, after our guests are gone, that’s the time we start thinking how to pay the bill.We are not poor! We are just a country of mendicants. This why we can’t blame our politicians for engaging in corruption. We constantly ask them for money to assist our relatives’ burial, for our son’s wedding, for sound system expenses during fiestas, for basketball uniforms, and for almost anything we need. Where do you think would they get that money?We have lots of job openings yet still there are lots of new College graduates who are unemployed. It’s either they are too picky or they are a product of the prestigious diploma mills we usually call schools. That’s why we just laughed when Terry Hatcher said something it on Desperate Housewives.We pride ourselves for being one of the best English Speakers in Asia yet only 4 out of 100 makes the cut for call center agents. Unemployment could not have been much of a problem if our people are not idiots.This reminds of the Binibining Pilipinas winer Janina San Miguel. Just play the video and you’ll see.
“Well, my family’s role for me is so important becoz there was the wa- they’re, they was the one who’s …. very… Haha …. Oh I’m so sorry, uhmm …. My pamily …. My pamily …. Oh my god …. Ok, I’m so sorry …. I …. I told you that I’m so confident …. Eto, uhhmm, Wait …. Hahahahaha, uhmmm, Sorry guys becoz this was really my first pageant ever becoz I’m only 17 years old and ahahaha I, I did not expect that I came from, I came from one of the tough 10. Hmmm, so …. but I said that my family es the most important persons in my life. Thank you.”
I don’t know what more to write after seeing that. Parang lasing who needs alcohol rehab.
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March 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
keep it up kabayan u rock!
March 13th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I agree with you that it is ourselves ho should get all the blame for the proliferation of corruption in all aspects of our society. But we should remember that still if we do not learn from our past, we would never know how to move forward. And regarding to your comment on the activists that always call for the downfall of [Phil. President]-US Imperialism, it is because even though we have been “freed” last July 4, 1946, they still hold our necks. We are heavily dependent on the US economy. Just look at what is happening to the US right now, they are in the brink of an economic recession. We may be experiencing a strong peso against dollar exchange rate but being a major trade and investment partner of the Phils., our exports would be heavily affected and lesser investments would come in such as call centers. Even the priorities of our government is in line with what Washington says. When Bush declared the War on Terror, we are one of the first countries to support it. We even send out troops to Iraq. The government is prioritizing too much this war on terror and even against communists but as you would see the government spends little on basic social services like education and health. Although, education receives the largest share of our annual budget, debt service still eats up more than 50% of our budget. And most of the time this debt is not even for social services! It would most likely to go to defense or infrastructure projects. My comment is getting longer but if you would like to know more you can email me. Anyway, thank you.
dennio’s last blog post..Rebirth
March 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
uhmmmm…hahahaha…me…uhhmmmm…hehehe…nosebleed…so many blood in my nose I’m nosbleeding…hahahaha..,,joke
yeah right many of us and 7 out of 10 Filipino’s failed to speak english with a good/right grammar and pronunciation…
March 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
50 to 60 percent of investments in the Philippines comes from America that’s one of the reasons why they have a strong influence when it comes to politics, the economy and even the evolution of our culture as well.
I’ve been asked by a professor once on how I feel about America’s interventions and I just said “I don’t really care”. Anyone who controls the economy can easily make the government yield to it’s caprices. Since the “liberation” I haven’t heard of an instance where America forced us to swallow bitter pills. Our leaders just chose to kiss their asses.
It’s a good thing you mentioned about sending our troops to Iraq to heed Bush’s call. I just remembered Gloria pulling them out to save Angelo DelaCruz even though it means disappointing America. She’s the only president I know who had the balls to do that. Had our past leaders been as daring as Mrs. Arroyo, this country would have been better off.
I partly agree with you on budgetary allocations. Debt servicing is a given and I think defaulting would be more catastrophic than spending that 50%. I hate too much spending on the Arm Forces yet I also know it’s a necessity in order to ensure the stability of the country and the sitting leaders. It’s highly political.
Spending on infrastructure is a good thing specially for economies like ours. Infrastructure projects means employment. I forgot what that economic theory its called.
As to education, I think it should be prioritized too but not just through fundings but also on the selection of teachers. I know a lot of them who don’t know how to properly pronounce p and f.
October 18th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I enjoyed your web-site:
I am a U.S.born and raised permanent resident here for 10 years once married and am raising my 4 year old daughter.I came here to semi-retire and try to work building a business and employ pinoy’s to help both me and them.I found it near impossible to do so.There is (what I conceive as) alot of prejudice here against foreigners.I can understand that as many I have known that come here to be missfits-probably not welcome in their own country.
I notice mostly there is hardly any credability,honesty or professionalism here and know pinoy’s in the U.S.totally opposite and very responsible.
As a foreigner how can you explain this to me.
Sincerely
Gary
Gary Curtemans last blog post..New Batch of Certified Public Accountants (October 2008)
December 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
While we laugh at Ganina and her English, I cannot help but pee in my pants at Gary Curtemans comment, “I am a U.S. born and raised permanent resident for 10 years . . . ” Puwede ba, tagalugin mo na!” Your English is a carabao as someone who’s never been to school. Goodness gracious, even my 10 year old godchild can speak better English!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I meant to say ” . . . as carabao . . . . “
December 15th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I can’t help but disagree with your stance that the reason for widespread poverty and anguish is solely due to the stupidity of the people of the Philippines. Don’t get me wrong – I’m usually a strong proponent of taking responsibility for your own problems and dealing with them accordingly. However, in the case of the Philippines, I cannot simply view it this way.
As a first-generation American citizen born to Filipino parents, you may just disregard my view as obsolete; but, I tend to view my stance as one derived from a unique perspective on both the American and Filipino cultures.
You are right in deducing that Filipinos are more prone to spending carelessly while with others. But why hate people for trying to make others comfortable? Even in America, the Filipinos are more willing to aid others and make others feel at home than any other sort of people I’ve encountered. It’s unfortunate to see people here in America with so much and nowhere to put it except in their own interests. The very American government is based off of selfishness and greed. Everyone chooses to look after just themselves, while Filipinos take it upon themselves to try to look out for everyone else before themselves. This is not stupidity. This is called humility, and more people need to practice it.
This is not to say that America is the root of all problems in the Philippines. This is to say, though, that America’s nosiness and need to be the police of the world has not only damaged the nation’s image (as seen when President Bush got shoes thrown at him while giving a public announcement in the Middle East) but weakened its own infrastructure.
The difference is that America strives to call everyone else out on their problems, while the Philippines chooses to be neutral in most cases, but help where they can.
Which seems more practical?
As for Filipinos having bad English, I say let them have bad English. I always thought it was unfair that Filipinos had to manage learning two languages and having a faster-paced curriculum than I did, while I just learned one in America and was ahead for most of my life in school because of going to just one year of schooling in the Philippines. Education in America is a joke, seriously. I’d rather have Filipinos embracing their culture than speaking good English any day.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:39 am
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