Seed Corn:
Seed that is saved from one year’s harvest for the subsequent year’s planting, rather than being used to make flour etc.
Doesn’t make any sense for me to actually define “seed corn”? After all, most readers of this Philippine Living magazine will be familiar with the term, won’t they?
Such was the thought running through my mind as I started this article. Then, I thought a little longer and realized that even though I ran the risk of insulting the intelligence of some readers there still may be quite a few unclear on the concept. After all, to read the papers and watch the talking bobble-heads on TV you would think that America’s wealth seems to come mysteriously from Wall Street. Excuse me, but America’s wealth comes from the corn fields of Iowa and the wheat fields of Kansas and the feed lots of New Mexico to name just a few places.
Less than 2% of the US population feeds not only the other 98% but much of the world as well. It’s one thing for folks to be crying over the crash of their 401K plan, it’s quite another thing to be in the same boat and also starving.
Here in the Philippines the situation isn’t much different. While the Philippines, which used to feed much of Asia forgets where it’s true wealth is … in people and a lot of fertile farmlands … happy to now be a net food importer an live from one World Bank handout to the next, agriculture and other small business is virtually ignored.
One reason behind this trend may be a problem I have noticed frequently among my Filipino brethren. Filipinos are smart, much better educated than the abysmal public school system can take credit for and known all over the world as being diligent workers.
But one thing that as a culture is missing here (to my viewpoint only, of course) is hope for the future, or even simple patience. Filipinos are justly noted for their good cheer and ability to endure adversity. Foreigners come here and are amazed at how even very, very poor people are happy in their lives. This is indeed a valuable outlook. We Americans worry all the time, and if we aren’t really sure about what we should be worrying about, or offended about, then by gosh we’ll invent something. It’s the part of culture s\hock that the books about eating duck embryos or fried pig’s face don’t really address very well.
Send Christmas gifts in November so they arrive in time for Christmas? Good luck with pictures on Christmas morning … they’ll already be well–used by November 30th. Who knows if Christmas will even come this year, the gifts are here now, and after all, a ‘gift’ means you are giving it to someone. doesn’t it? Once you give, you can’t control conditions … unless you are a false giver.
Want to finance a house or a car? Be prepared to be asked to write and sign all the checks to make repayments in advance and hand them over to the lender, because the concept of keeping money in their bank to pay bills months down the road is just not (in general) even thought about. Not having money in your account is not a crime, but issuing a worthless check knowing funds aren’t available is, so the bank can be pretty sure the check will (eventually) be covered.
Overall I am not totally happy with my tone here, it sounds like I am making judgments I am in no way qualified to make … or I sound like one of those arrogant ‘We Americans are so much smarter’ characters whom I absolutely hate. I’m ‘smarter’ than a vanishingly small number of people in this world … but I do think differently to some.
But I am neither a Pollyanna nor a Philippine apologist. Things are what they are and my purpose is to inform, not judge, it is just the way things are. It isn’t that things are necessarily “bad” nor are the necessarily “good” … they just are.
- Been asked to help someone through school? Pay only for the shortest time you can … because if you send money for the year ahead, as an example,the chances of next semester’s tuition being available? Slim.
- Someone out of work and their roof is literally falling in? Help them pay for a patchwork repair job to keep the family dry? Of course, I would. But if times are good, don’t expect to see them investing money in a new roof instead of a new car or computer. Hey, the patch is still holding, isn’t it? Pwede na … good enough.
- Someone wants you to loan money to start and stock a little store? Recipe for frustration in the majority of cases. better to decide how much money you would be prepared to just give every month and let it go if you feel it’s justified, because if you finance the store the money to buy the next supply of inventory … the “seed corn” if you will? Guess what? Wala ng pera .. there’s no money.
Does this mean I think there’s no chance that Filipinos can succeed? Hardly. Of course they can.
Does this mean I think there are many Filipinos out there trying to cheat or scam money? Absolutely not. I recently loaned a local guy PhP 500 for some medical work his grand daughter needed badly. He’s a very nice man, industrious as anyone could be, yet desperately poor himself by any Western standards. My expectations on handing over the money were, it was gone forever … but hey if a man as rich as I am can’t help a little girl in need, of what real value is my relative wealth?
But the money is coming back, like clockwork, 60 pesos each and every week. He works hard for every one of those Pesos and to deny him the honor of repaying me would be to destroy his hiya … pride. He’s much too nice a man to insult in that way.
Just remember that everything ‘here’ is not the same as everything ‘there’, no matter where ‘there’ may be for you right now …and while some have implied that Mexico, for example, is the land of “ma ana” … tomorrow, remember that here in the Philippines, for many, bukas … tomorrow … never comes.
Dave:
Interesting article. I do disagree with you about the lacjk of "hope". In my observation, at least, the hope that things will improve tomorrow is one of the biggest differences between the Philippines and other developing countries.I truly admire Filipinos' ability to withstand adversity and survive, all with a smile. Fact is, the more I have traveled and seen in the world, the less sympathy I have for the poor in the States. Why? In America, there are always opportunities to better one's self through countless programs, government assistance, etc…yet people remain poor.The programs are there, yet there is no hope. Instead of perseverance, you hear excuses of single mom, discrimination, bad schools, and so on. Even with the current economic trouble, remember that the US is by far the largest economy in the world and is highly wealthy in resources. In my mind, at least, there is no reason for anyone in the States to be poor. Housing, 401K's and all the other assets are still there and are temporary problems, certainly nowhere near the scale of the RP.
Here in the RP, self-reliance and hope for the future are all that are here to help.I don't hear excuses from poor Filipinos.instead, I see stiving to better one's lot in life. Big difference in my mind, at least.
The reality is that changing from a largely agrarian subsistence society into a modern nation is a long, painful process. The RP suffers many very difficult problems for which there are very few solutions.Yes there have been missteps and mistakes along the way, but I think that change can, will, and must occur in the future.
Hope I didn't sound cocky with this note… Just my opinion, you know.
Hi John, thnaks for reading and for your excellent comment. "cockky"? hardly sir … not only is everyone entitled to their opinions, but the whole purpsoe 9to me anyway) in writing these articles is to hear what others have to say … I really only learn from others, rather than books or many formal sources .. and I appreciate it, I really do.
So what is lacking if it isn't 'hope'? i agree that the particular sentnece isn't as well constructed as it might be and 'hope' might not be the best word.
Maybe it isn't a lack ofhope but more a belief in "carpe diem:", seizing the day, that is so strong it is almost an affliction rather what would normally be a virtue.
Can't really describe it as well as I would like to, but it is certainly one of those things I have had to learn. Corn in hand is corn to be eaten, money in hand is money to be spent … it is neither totally wrong nor totally rightn butv it's afact of life so far as i have expereinced
Dave: I'm sitting here on a business trip really wishing I wasn't missing out on the holiday festivities today… Well, there is always next year!
Carpe Diem would be a good description, I think. Perhaps enhanced by a fear that if you don't act now, it might not be there tomorrow. Really, this idea is different than hope. I think a lot of this idea comes from the family structure and the idea of sharing good fortune or the expectation that good fortune (your lot in life) will be shared. The examples you gave are related to close family, friends, or acquaintances. The family dynamic has much to do with these requests / actions.
Thanks for sharing your insights Dave. I find I gain a much better understanding from aritcles such like these. I've lived in Latin American third world countries and I see some similarities. Anyone contemplating a move to the Philippines would do well to take into consideration what you've written. As the cliche goes…you're not in Kansas anymore Toto.
Wow David, I should have grabbed that title for myself … indeed this isn't Kansas and that's the cause of a lot of expat's frustrations.
Life here is neither different nor worse in total from life in the US … but it's _different_ and that's a factor people have to get their heads around before than ever be truly settled in here.
Thanksgiving four years back my wife and I were at a party at her sister's house in Florida. Almost all the guest were freinds of my sister-in-law and almost all Filipnos from the medical community in the Orlando area. My wife and I announced our tintention to move to the RP in the very near future.
Wow! Did the room ever divide. About half the folks looked wistful and sad and said 'If only I could go too" and the other half? their most common comment was, "You must be crazy"!
This is the same idea in reverse I think … even though many Filipinos gpot to the US and many thrive there, it isn't necessarily "better" or "worse" than the Pghi9lippines, but it darn sure is "different".
awesome? i enjoyed reading here…ah er ah.. i am a filipina. yes, we are known to be people who strive so very hard, work very hard, and most often than not, cannot and will not complain..hard work accompanies smiles and laughters..it brings good fortune for at least a day if not forever..we are no different from anyone else..the culture maybe but..we live as most human eings do, more smiles and laughters though..i read it somewhere, live in the Philippines like a king..that's basically true..living in the philippines is like living an inch of life anywhere else…
and sorry..i am a crasher here…hehehe..
oh, sorry, i got struck with the phrase why not eat the seed corn..yesterday, i ate corn seed, a young corn street vendors sell at ponce street..it was yummy, and today as i am reading here, i was thinking a lot of reason why i should not eat the seed…hahaha..i feel a little bad for the thought that a seed of corn produces a lot of cobs and lots of cobs produces seeds and so on and so fourth..and i thought, yesterday if i did not eat the corn, it will make me ill, because i was hungry and was craving for it for a week already..funny though..so you see? what so important is the now..the today..eat today, dont be sick tomorrow…i hope you get my drift..
again a crasher hehehe..
@ emsdiolola … Welcome and thanks for reading and leaving comments. The site is not "about" the owner and the contributing authoers, it's about building community and sharing information with the readers and the staff. You are not a "crasher" in any sense of the word … in fact the most depressing times for me is when I write something and no one responds … even if they respond to tell me I made an error or that they don't agree, it means ever so much more to me than dead silence.
I wonder how many others may be reading and thinking they would like to comment but are reluctant to say something because they would be "crashing". This is a place where you belong … your comments are every bit as important as my writing, even more so, so feel free to "Speak your mind" … in my case it's the only thing that keeps me writing.
Many Filipinos are poor, but they are not oblivious to their lot. They also know how to complain. In fact, we Filipinos complain a lot. I have been to poor villages and slums, have poor relatives and acquaintances and I hear yearnings and hope for a better life. Filipinos may seem to smile through it all, but that's how we Filipinos are. We tend to show an 'i don't care – come what may – bahala na' attitude despite our poverty.
Filipinos are a hardworking people who also dreams of a better future, but sadly, they could not realize this in their own blighted country. Despite its bounty of natural resources, skilled workers and well meaning college graduates, the country has become a pariah among its neighbors. It was, and it still is hounded by mis-government, by politicians, who see public service as self service and does not to think about public welfare at all.
Filipinos are not oblivious to all of this. They also complain. But having lost hope in their non-self imposed lot, they go overseas to join the millions already in diaspora, and send back their earnings which now ironically prop up the economy.
Despite these, I still wish my country well. And one day hopes of going back – to endure, persevere and smile, despite the poverty.
Hi DomAndres-
Dom, thanks for sharing with us. I am grateful for your commnets. Must say, respectfully, I can't agree with some of your sentiments though. My whole point in this article is to try to wake up both foreigners and Filipinos to the idea that the very hopelessness you mention is a chief reason people are not succeeding in many cases.
Let me just mention one issue … political corruption … this is something that exists all over the world. Hey, even in the "promised land", the USA …is Senator Stevens listening? I worked in government in the US for more than 38 years. I can assure you there is corruption there too. Some gets rooted out, some goes on. A farmer in Kansas doesn't stop planting corn because he finds out some offical was crooked.
Many of my Filipino family and freinds seem to take the obvious facts of life, like corruption, and twist that fact around to be the excuse for everything and anything that seems wrong. Why do people just throw trash on the roads and into the bays, destroying much of the natural beauty? Political corruption? Hardly.
I live here, I make money here. I know that much of the 'bad press' is just one journalist repeating the defeatist mantra of the ones who went before him. I do not accept that nothing can be done at the grass roots level. Personally I'm "bullish" on the Philippines. If the country was as hopeless as some seem to think, I'd move. As Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right". Or to be a bit more modern, "Yes we can".
My intention here is not to bear anyone up for their thoughts, because you certainly have the right to hold them, but rather to try to inspire those who hold these thoughts to examine them carefully and focus more on the good things rather than the bad … because surely both good and bad will always be with us in this life, no matter what country we live in. And again, thanks for sharing, Dom.
hi… Interesting article never really thought that it's not about the corn. Well generally speaking all that was written here are true. Here in the Philippines there is always tomorrow eventhough we can do it today and I think that is one of the hardest thing must change to really achieve what we want. Anyway it seems that you are happily settled and well adjusted to the environement here. In this note may I ask you to give some advice to my friend who wishes to move in the Philippines.
thank you in advance.
Hi Dave, greetings from Spain! Very interesting article since just last week, I again rought up the topic of why Far Eastern people should be eatingcorn,
or should be introduced as a staple food. Why? I have noticed that the Africans
are tall–their staple food is corn, while in the Far East, like the Philippines, the staple food is rice. I am not a Scientist, but I believe the staple food has a lot
to do with the difference in height and built. I mean, Americans DO eat corn,
hence they are bigger, taller. I kept telling my husband over the years that this
is indeed due to the staple food that Africans eat, which is maze. In general,
Far Eastern people are short and the Africans tall.It may be a simple observation, but an observation just the same. Anyway, Dave, it is a thought
that if Pinoys' next generation of children could be taller, then perhaps, it's due
to the required change of staple food. I myself would recommend it to all Pinoys. Some readers might say, "oh, it's in the genes…"sure, but a lot of it would still have
to do with staple food. So, should it be between rice or maze/corn? I'd choose the latter nowadays.
Parat 2 – on "Seed Corn" – The world would be so much better if all opinions are
respected There's no such thing as "THE opinion". However, I do agree with Dave
in many respects. Many Pinoys pass the buck—instead of taking full responsibility as to why life "has been that way for him/her…"blaming the politicians of the day has been a chronic illness in that country that must stop—once and for all. The government and its elected officials and functionaries can
only do so much but the rest is for the citizens to decide, or act on their instinct,or call, to what's best for them and how to serve themselves well, or the society in
general. There's just so much self-pity among some people in this world and
putting the blame on others just won't wash. I'd say, those who dispute what
others have said/stated to realise one thing: in the end it's really up to us, make or break, it is really up to us–or some would say—down to us…the buck stops with us, in life, as in death.
Part 3 – still on Seed Corn (?) What is being "poor" and what is being "rich"?People seem to judge poor people and rich people by the way the dress, the number of gadgets, the bank acccount(s), the number of holidays made a year, the money in the pocket, the kind of house one lives in and the like. If this is how
we measure people, through material weath–then I'm afraid class system rules and rues. When I came to Spain almost three decades ago, many Spanish locals were well-dressed. In winter, they even dress better because of the cold weather. However, in summer, everybody seems to be the same. We all wear
light, summer outfits, sandals, or shorts, T-shirts. The Spanish people are one of the best dressed Europeans in Europe, after the French and the Italians. Anyway, over the months and years, I began to observe many things. As I also
learned the language, bit by bit, I realised how many of them somehow were
academically-challenged. My first few weeks in Spain was rather strange. I went to the Post Office, queued for over twenty minutes or so, and I noticed that the clerk would fill in the forms for them and tell them to sign using their "thumb"
I was surprised but didn't think anymore of it. The next time i went to the Post Office, the same thing happened. I tried putting two and two together and I figured out that those were illiterate locals who were well dressed (it was nearing November and the weather was getting cold> Many locals look forward to autumn and winter since this is the only time we can go out and dress nicely/smart, I myself look forward to this season since I get to wear my suits, boots, and proper handbags…) Still, to my shock and amazement, found out that Spain had a high rate of illiteracy, especially in the Andalucian Region. I was speechless and said nothing to my husband. Anyway, ten years ago, I enroled in
sewing class (run by the local foundation here and originally meant for "illiterate folks". I didn't know then, but I enroled. After all, I was keen to learn a new craft/skill, and besides, I love clothes, hence, my desire to learn. Indeed, I learned, and learned fast. I made a lot of friends: Spanish, Moroccans, South Americans. Brazilians. Anyway, as months went only, my Spanish classmates who had been regulars for over twenty years, still would ask the instructress what
to do, how to measure, how to use the ruler, the tape measure, etc. One blonde Spanish woman in her fifties had the courage to approach me (she had been in that class for over twenty years and I thought she'd be an expert) to ask how to
use the tape measure! We briefly spoke quietly since I didn't want to embarrass her. I showed her how to use it and she said, "Oh, I see…..so that's how to use it…!my goodness, after that time, she never knew how to use a tapemeasure, let alone, cut etc. And there were more of them to follow. They couldn't read, write, and many of them would come for "my assistance"–maybe because they were
already getting embarrassed to keep asking the instructress or perhaps, they found me useful, friendly, even "smart". To cut the story short, these women dress well, live in nice comfortable houses, own cars, wear expensive jewellery, but the bottom line is, they lack formal/proper/academic education. And in Spain and Europe in general, the majority of these Europeans actually do not go to higher education. But because the government of many Euro countries look after them, they "do not look poor". When I first went to the UK, up north, it was the same experience. Sure, they lived in nice, comfy surroundings, but many of them actually didn't have the privilege of going to high school,let alone, college/university. Just last year, I asked my English friend if it was the first time
in their generation to have a college graduate, and she proudly said yes. And how this family fussed over this particular granddaughter. They knew that I had a university degree, but so were the rest of my three sisters. I mean, no big deal. It was just one of those t hings in the Philippines that one must do to get on in life.So, my question goes back to the same question: What the hell is GDP when they judge the Philippines and its people? What about the assets, mainly the ery high literacy rate in that country? the number of great colleges and universities? Is that all the UN-requirement should measure? This stupid GDP? If indeed that's the case, then, it should be changed. I always felt humbled going to the UK and/or being with European friends because in my heart, none of them had the
privilege of higher education. Now, if the WB, or UN, or the NGOs do not include that as "wealth" then please throw me in a Mumbai slum. It is rather insulting for the UN, IMF, WB to say, hey, you guys in the Philippines, you are poor, dammit, your GDP is only under US$1,800/yearly. What an insult, if I might add. |it is this
sort of silly measurement that makes me question the wisdom or stupidity of those w ho decide which country is rich or n ot, dragging down the people in it.Davao has a high literacy rate of 98.5%!!!Spain was a Third World country until 1980 when it opted to be out of it—for good. Indeed, when Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and another shire declared themselves "officially poor", they did so to be able to get EU Funding. Now the same places I mentioned are developed, smart looking. But the inhabitants? Same old thing. Sure, some have gone to further their studies, but many in the UK still leave school at 15-16 and go on to make money as plumbers, electricians, carpenters. Somehow it is the case of
exchange rate, what the house are like, how people live, whether it's made of stone, concrete, or wood, or if plumbing is in place. Blame the French. They coined the phrase "Third World" and it has stuck, or has been stuck in people's minds worldwide. The thing is, our minds or thoughts are already set and it'd take time before some average UN analyst or WB average specialist would tell us, uh…..hmmmm. dammit you're poor."