Philippines is a Country
My last post regarding going abroad was supposed to be the last time I talked about the issue. It was just a rant I felt I had to say because was I not only insulted, I was freakin’ mad as well. But lately, I’m getting a lot of pressure, not from work, but from relatives again. I know I should just mind my own business but I just can’t help not to hear them especially when they would repeatedly tell me that I should get the hell out of here whenever they come to the house. Which is every other day.
I’m still against the idea. I want to prove something, not to them but to myself. OK, so to them as well. But somehow… with all these, I feel that I might break anytime soon. Can’t take too much of these guilt trip thing. Just imagine, equating my love for my family with my staying here. Priceless.
Now that I think about this more and more, I came up with the following rationale:
- Why are we going abroad really? For better life? Better earnings? Better opportunity? I think it’s the colonial mentality who’s doing the talking, it’s always better as long as it’s not here.
- If you were an investor and you know:
- That the best people in the field are getting out of the country, why would you invest here in the first place?
- That you still have to train the people you hired just to get the kind of outcome that you want, will you give them a high salary knowing you will not be able to convert what you give them into actual sales/clients/whatever?
- Is it really the government who failed us? Remember, it takes two tango. Maybe they’re not very smart in the dealings with this nursing issue (they should have done the same with what some African country did, give nurses to UK, but they must be given enough funds so they could still function - and that nurses who stayed in UK long enough should be sent back so they could teach but UK will still give them their salaries or something), but there won’t be lack of nurses in the first place if they stayed here.
- Where did the saying, “Habang maikli and kumot, mamaluktot” or something like that, went?
- Philippines is a country, it needs stable economy so it would be one of the best in Asia, if not the world. To have a stable economy it needs people to work for it. It needs people who are good in their fields so investors will start up their businesses here and realize that because they’re the best, it’s only good to give them great benefits and salary.
- And lastly, as I’ve said before, Philippines is a country, and every successful countries I know have people who are loyal to them. It’s just like business, you will not have a very profitable business if your employees keep on resigning and you have to train those who are left only for them to get the hell out of your company once they’re good enough.
I would like to believe that we could be one of the best in Asia again, that more and more people will come here to work instead of the other way around. I believe we are one of the best people/workers in the world, it’s just that other countries are using those best people/workers thus boosting their economies. It’s sad though, Philippines, it seems, is now just a breeding ground for the best IT/nurses etc. of the other countries.
Interesting points. I’m not really a sociologist so I won’t be able to figure out all the finer points of this exodus happening to our country (it’s been happening for ages). People say they have to be realistic and face the futility of earning enough (or more) for their whole family. When the problem is at that level, it’s hard to convince people to prioritize the large-scale effect the mass exodus will have on our nation. It is easy for well-educated and well-networked (people with “connections”) individuals to be paid well, but how about those who have little to no schooling at all? Come to think of it, even the doctors who turn into nurses is an alarming sign in itself.
I think for as long as we can manage here (without going hungry, sick, etc.), I think we should push ourselves to keep at it. I guess that’s where “habang maikli and kumot, mamaluktot” comes in. But I won’t be able to fault the rest who have been suffering every minute of their life. It’s hard to become loyal to one who has never given something good to you. Our love of country is supposed to be unconditional, though.
And what’s worse is that at that level, if our own government tells them that it’s good to go abroad, because they become “our heroes” sheesh very supportive noh?
Hi (I’ve been to indulged in work that I have not blogged that much :D)!
As what I’ve heard from stories, some Pinoys do go abroad, earn some cash and go back investing in the country turning to some entrepreneurs. I think that would be a good call.
hey fleeb!!! I was wondering where you’ve gone! :)
hmm that’s great indeed, I think I should stop making everything about this issue a negative noh? hehe
I have nothing against Filipinos who are leaving the country to look for more money. Most of these ‘kababayans’ are only out there because they need to support their family. I, on the other hand, same the sentiments as yours. I don’t want to leave, mainly because I don’t like the thought that I’m alone in a whole other country working my a$$ off with my loved ones so far away.
My principle is, as long as life here in the Philippines can at least be classified as “not bad”, then working abroad shouldn’t be the solution, especially to married couples. We all know the tendency whenever the husband or the wife is working abroad and is unable to nurture the relationship.
Pero someday pag naisipan ko, sige, why not tsokonat? haha.
yeah… same here, siguro kaya tayo magkasundo noh? hehehe :P pero as of now… this thingamajig has moved from “never” to “serious consideration” no, seriously. I can only take much pressure and guilt trip
I am with you!
I’d love to go and live there too…
Sometime’s politcunts are too warfreaks and trickies. They don’t just lie a lot..they steal a lot too! :(
Kiss
Fendi
These kinds of discussions infuriate me too. Like what Joni said, working abroad if you have a family to support here is acceptable, but people who keep on saying that there’s no hope here and it’s better off to be in other countries are just plain annoying. No wonder the Philippines is still where it is right now, because of people like them who do not believe in the country anymore. I may be biased here, but look at Gawad Kalinga palang! This shows what a true Filipino is — walang ganyan sa States. :P
And it’s not entirely the government’s fault din, like what you said. I remember during my OJT, it was the time where there were so many GMA Resign rallies in Ayala that it’s just annoying because they keep on blaming her and the government when they could be doing work that would be able to help more people. There was even a banner there that says, “End Poverty” and I was all “WHAT?! Will GMA’s resignation relieve poverty?!”
I also believe we could still be the best in Asia, even the world. Tama yan, Mae, samahan kita. :P
[…] entry also goes out to Mae, maybe as an affirmation of sorts for what she just posted. :) [Warning, long read! But really, worth […]
I believe we are already the best. We just have to show them some more.
hi Mae… for the longest time now, my kamag-anaks [all of them abroad already] have pestered me to go abroad to earn more money… “with your talents, you can easily make millions here in the US,” they used to say…
and what do i say to that?? several things, actually
that i don’t want to be a 2nd class citizen in another country
that i would be hard-pressed that i don’t have anyone to make utang from whenever i don’t have money
and, law-wise, i’d almost always be at fault if ever i get into an altercation with someone from that country since i am the foreigner, and i cannot fight back
i know, these are kinda shallow for some people, but i’ve already had a harrowing experience working abroad before, and i do not want to experience that again…
tama na ung isa…