Again, today I am sharing with LiP readers my weekly column from SunStar Davao, the biggest local Davao newspaper, where I write every week. I hope you enjoy the article.
One thing that I really see a lot of here in the Philippines, which makes me feel bad, is the huge rush of Filipinos who want to go abroad. The crowd of those who want to leave is so huge, it almost seems like everybody you know is on a quest to leave the country.
When you look into this and try to figure out why everybody wants to leave, the reason is almost universally that the people want to find work. They need jobs that they feel are not available here in the Philippines. They want to improve their lives, make more money, support their family, etc. You can’t blame a person who wants to improve their standing in life.
It’s true that when you look around the country, it would seem that there are not a lot of promising jobs to be found. For somebody without much training, they might get lucky and land a job at a fast food chain, or in a department store as a clerk. But, how much of a future is there in those kind of jobs? Well, unfortunately, it seems like most of those jobs are only temporary contract jobs that last for 5 or 6 months. After that short time passes, the employee is let go, and a whole new staff seems to start working. I suppose that I also would have a hard time getting excited about only being able to find such a temporary job like that.
However, is it true that there is no opportunity in the Philippines? In my opinion, that simply is not the case! I see so many opportunities available and just waiting for the right person to fill the slot.
I am from the United States of America, and I always hear a lot of Filipinos tell me that they want to go to the USA so they can find work and help support their family here in the Philippines. However, what these people don’t realize is that life is tough in the USA. The pace of life is fast, and there is little time to rest. In the States, if you aren’t staying busy, you are losing ground. Often you won’t have time for your family, you only have time to work! Believe me, it’s not an enjoyable way to live your life when you have to work all the time like that!
If you want to start up any kind of business in the States you need a few things:
- Lots of money. Starting any kind of business in the States takes a ton of money! If you don’t have that cash, you might as well give up on the goal too.
- Plenty of time. If you go into business for yourself, you are signing up for a lot of hours at the job! No time to do anything but work, it seems! Especially for those just starting a business, because they often can’t afford to hire an employee or two to assist in carrying the load. So, the owner of the business must do everything himself! It’s not an easy life, and it can take years to build your business to the point where you can start sharing the burden with a few employees.
- Lots of patience. You have to be patient long enough to make the business successful. Patient with not having much money too! You will have to reinvest much of your earnings to make the business grow, and make it a success.
However, here in the Philippines, it is still possible to start your own business on a low budget! Hiring employees is inexpensive too. Families here are close knit, so you can get some of your family to help out too! Nieces, Nephews and such are always looking for work, and would be happy to help you get your business up and running!
The other great thing in the Philippines is that there are a lot of business niches that are still unfilled. In the USA, it seems like no matter what kind of business you want to get into, there are many others already doing it here! No so here in the Philippines, though! If you can “think outside the box” or be creative in your thinking, you an still find plenty of opportunities here in the Philippines.
Another great thing about finding a business niche here in the Philippines is that if you stay here you can still enjoy your family here, the Philippines foods, culture and such! If you leave the country you will soon find that you are missing these very basic things in life, and you will long for these things for many years!
So, next time you think that you want to go abroad, try to spend a little time thinking about what your best option is! I firmly believe that there is plenty of opportunity to be had right here in the Philippines! If you keep an open mind, and do some creative thinking, I think you will find that I’m right too!
Great Story Bob – I can not see more jobs in the RP as long as they send their best 10% out of the country. It is killing the country. Stay and create jobs. Just staying will increase the need for more goods by 10% or more. Stay home and fix the problem. Leave and watch it grow. Staying will be painful! but worth it in the long run.
Hi Gary – I agree. I have always felt that sending out the best and brightest Filipinos is very short sighted. It will only end up hurting the Philippines in the long run, and the short term benefits are only minimal.
Hi, BOB
THIS MY TIME ON THIS SITE.IT RECOMMENED BY A FELLOW AMERICAN.IJUST WANT TO THANK YOU POSTING ALL THIS INFROMATION.IF YOU I CAN TELL YOU STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME.BUT ITS BOT TOBE PUBLISED.
Hi Ronald – Welcome to LiP Web Magazine!
I am not sure that I understand your last line there. I think you just made a typo and meant "it's not to be published" – is that correct? Well, if you click on the link at the top of the site that says "contact us" and send me the info, I will review it. It won't be published.
Hi Bob – I must have the wrong "goggles" on this past week. Everything I read seems to have a strange/funny tilt; this topic included.
With tongue lodged lightly in cheek, I don't quite see "potential work force members" or "potential job creators" leaving the country as doing much more harm than maintaining an unhealthy status quo.
– Any "potential" ill-effects of their leaving could be offset by their improving the chances of those remaining to snatch a job. (?)
– If those "potential" jobs never turned "kinetic" prior to a departure, nothing "real" would be lost post-departure, just a shift in probabilities would have occurred (the "what could have been" instead of "what would have been"). (?)
I've always had a confused outlook on situtions wherein the "Best and the Brightest" are cited/looked upon. If the "Best and the Brightest" did something (e.g., leave), wouldn't that infer their choice to be the "Best and the Brightest" solution to the question at hand? Conversely, if their solution (e.g., leaving) is not the "Best and the Brightest" course of action to take, could those employing said action be truly regarded as the "Best and the Brightest"?
Inquiring minds want to know. 😆
["Destiny" lay at the end of a journey one wanders, either purposefully or aimlessly. All further defining of "destiny" can be made only when taking the last footstep immediately prior to journey's end.]
Hi Paul – I'll be honest… (no tongue in cheek here)… I've tried to tread lightly, because I have felt that you are rather testy this week. I'm not sure if I did or said something to provoke it. I don't feel that I've done or said anything in your direction that I need to apologize for… if I did, please tell me what it was.
Firstly, I did not say anything at all in the article about potential job creators. That could be implied, but I never said such a thing. What I said is that a lot of people do anything they can to leave the country looking for opportunity. However, I see a lot of opportunity right here. There are so many opportunities here in the Philippines that are overlooked by those who have their sights on getting the heck out of dodge. I know that for myself, I have been presented with many, many more business opportunities right here in the Philippines than I ever had in the USA.
One thing that is important to keep in mind, Paul, is that on my SunStar columns, I write them from a different angle. When I write for LiP, I write for expats, and those who want to be expats. When I write for SunStar, I write for Filipinos, because that is who the audience primarily is. My original intention was to write different content for each publication, but a number of people asked me to share my SunStar articles here on LiP, so I do so with the proviso that the SunStar column is written for a different audience than is the majority here on LiP.
Frankly, I can't understand what you are talking about with your Destiny thing… am I missing something?
Hi Bob – If there's an apology in order, it's mine to make – NOT yours. You have indeed treaded lightly and, having detected it, I made a bit more of a fool of myself than intended. (I totally disregarded "Paul's Rule #1 – Don't miss a good opportunity to remain quiet.") Guess you kindness in allowing me sufficient rope . . . . ❗ From my self-made scaffold, I apologize. I am truly sorry for the consternation I caused.
In my odd little way, I was agreeing with you that opportunity does indeed exist here. Examples abound (I've even touched on an opportunity taken in an article a few months ago) and many opportunities are "low hanging fruit" awaiting anyone to take advantage of the easy picking.
I don't know if those seeking their "fruit" elsewhere are of as much concern as those who are not seeking "fruit" anywhere. "Lack of opportunity" is an excuse that I can't see washing here. I know, in my case, I sometimes can't understand why someone else can't succeed as I or others have (not, to say, achieving a specific level of success, rather just arriving at success itself).
Too, I can't understand one person dreaming dreams that they totally fail to act on. Fear of failure? Fear of public opinion? Fear of success? I don't know. I would imagine, however, that someone locked in on dreams of success elsewhere in the world would never attempt to achieve it here and could possibly hinder others' attempts.
If anything, those who leave the country to pursue opportunity provide those left behind with a sense that those remaining home are not without hope in pursuit of their dreams.
As we both know, life elsewhere (e.g., the States) is no cake walk. I've numerous friends and relatives in the USA relying on multiple jobs in order to make ends meet and still send a remittance. Most often, their family remained behind. Those accompanied by family can't find time to spend with them. It's their choice, though, and I can only offer them encouragement to live their selected dream to the fullest. More often than not (just like many wanting to live here), they come back home. The only difference is that it takes longer for them (compared to us) to save up airfare.
So very much agreement between us – so many crazy, screwed-up ways I express it.
I fully understand the audience relationship with these articles. I'm just kibitzing – a puti in back of the room making comment 😆
Oh yeah, "destiny" – just a quote I tossed in. I guess "destiny" is opportunity taken.
Have to renew some prescriptions, I guess. 😉
Bob,
I think the main problem is that ordinary Filipinos have lost all faith in the country and its political leaders.I have worked with Filipinos all over the world for the last 30 years and to a man they loved their country but had no faith that it would ever provide a decent standard of living for them and their families.Of all the countries I have lived and worked in it is the only one where the workforce have lost the will to try to change things for the better.
Bob: I think becky will be writing about this soon, but the perceptions of overseas vd. RP are very different. My company's accounts lady in the States went back to Baguio for a visit home. She was constantly harrassed for money and treated so differently that she swore never to return. All the relatives saw was $30K salary. No clue as to cost of living and working in LA. This was 10 years ago and she hopes that next time it won't be as bad.
Hi Paul – "Thinking outside the box" is a thing that is important in my life. It's a think I talk about a lot. I often tell friends that I don't even have a box anymore, I abandoned it a long time ago. One thing is for sure in my case… I'm no farmer, though… I wish you the best of luck with your venture, should it come to be.
Hi John – As I wrote a comment on this post, I was thinking of Rebecca, and how her input on this topic would be quite nice. So, I'll be looking forward to hearing from her.
Hi Luc – I believe that there is corruption everywhere in the world. It probably is part of the problem here, but not the major problem, in my opinion.
Many times in my conversation with pinoys in the RP they cannot grasp the difference in the cost of living in the USA than in the RP. A meal for 2 there 350 pesos…a meal for two in USA…USD $16. I usually get a blank stare….almost as if its inconceivable.
Luc I feel is right on the money…a sense of political hopelessness permeates the culture sad for such a wonderful culture.
Hi brian – One thing that a lot of people here don't understand is that there are a lot of other expenses that are not normal here. Few people here have a car. The expenses are a lot more than just buying the car… insurance, taxes, etc. etc. Those things are simply not understood, from what I have seen.
The corruption is the main problem as it sets an attitude in the country – all politicians,policemen,government workers etc are automatically perceived as being corrupt – in truth many are,amassing huge wealth with no explanation.This again leads to the notion that the only way to succeed in the Philippines is to be dishonest.So many Filipinos are overseas that too many children are being raised by grandparents,aunts and maids that the old family ethic is being lost – replaced by a culture of go overseas to make money to send back to the children to compensate for the fact they do not have a normal family life.It is a complex problem the like of which I have never seen anywhere else – there is a massive unhealthy emphasis on money and how much you are worth.I personally think that things will just continue as before because of the complete apathy and disillusionment of the population – perhaps someday a charismatic ,honest, leader will emerge to change the system and bring a little prosperity to the country.
Hi Bryan – I agree, and have said for a long time that the OFW culture has damaged, and is eroding the culture of the Philippines. The kids who's parents have left them for work overseas are not being taught about the culture. Grandparents know the culture too, but parents are the people who would pass it along as their parents passed it to them.
hi bob,
Nice article, I enjoyed it a lot, anyways, Since I've been living abroad for nearly 2 decades, let me vent my own opinions.
Is there an oppurtunity for filipinos in the philippines? it all depends who you will ask, a nurse? an engineer? a doctor? a laborer? or a business man?
if you'll ask a businessman they'll probably say "yes there is an opportunity here" however, asking the same question to an engineer or a nurse would yield different answer.
Philippines produces thousands of engineers every year, however, there is not much of engineering firm in the Philippines where they can practice their profession, the same thing is true for a nurse or a doctor.
of course, one would say "why not start your own company?" that is easy to say than doing it. many Filipinos want to have their own business but financial reasons stops them from doing so, many of them leaves the country to save money for the business they want to put up when they come back home.
is it cheaper for me to live abroad than living back home? of course not but then, one must realize that filipino's way of living are different even if they are living abroad.
one would think that a lunch for two cost around 350 pesos in the Philippines while the same meal could cost twice in abroad, the point is, 350 pesos is a full day of work in the Philippines while in abroad is it just few hours or work.
Many OFW who came from the middle east, Italy or any country that don't offer citizenship are the ones who put up a business in the Philippines (no brain drain), while many Filipinos who chooses to go to the U.S, Canada or the U.K. or any country that offers citizenship are the ones who never come back once they got their citizenship (the real brain drain).
Very interesting topic Bob.
Ireland has known massive immigration for centuries and it is part of our national psyche. I do not believe immigration levels in the Philippines have ever reached Irish levels and I hope they never will. When I left Ireland nearly five decades ago people never stopped asking me "Well why did you leave" or people might say "I don't know how you could leave such a beautiful place" and some others would say "but what about your family".
I lived in some truly godforsaken places over the years and the more godforsaken the more people would ask these questions. LOL I am nearly seventy years old and I have lived in NYC for many years and the questions are still being asked.
It is my view that most people weigh the decision to immigrate very carefully as it is truly an enormous and heart wrenching move. It is also my view that government whether in Ireland, Philippines, Mexico or where ever encourage immigration as it is a wonderful valve for tension reduction. There is always a wise minority who advise people not to go but very few listen.
I agree completely with you Bob that people should stay in the Philippines. There are many opportunities for a person to have a good life,ect.
I have to say from personal experience, that oftentimes there is something irrestistible about those fields on the other side of the mountain. It is really that simple. Folks get very frustrated and say this is too simpistic but I smile and answer 'it is what it is".
I would imagine this is one of the main reasons why so many expats try living in the Philippines, ect. The first ten years are always the hardest.LOL
Best
Jody
Bob
After running a small business here in the USA for the last 26 years and having it decimated by the last/current business cycle (only 2 employees now) opportunities in the Philippines seem almost greater than here. The US government here has or is planning to print trillions of dollars of new money, raising the risk of future inflation. Borrowed trillions of dollars, sucking capital out of private lending markets. Run up deficits that pretty much guarantee future tax increases. Toyed with health care bills that will substantially increase the cost of labor.
Spent money in the stimulus mainly to add government jobs, every one of which is generally focused on making life running a business harder. And shown a general philosophic hostility towards markets and capitalism. 18 months ago I invested in some new equipment and technology only to be competing against a government funded company. In starting a business you have to have an idea of the outcome and profitability in the future and the current administration has made that almost impossible. With a small amount of capital and hard work I think a business there would be doable as in the US.
Hi everybody. This is an interesting discussion. How do you fight both corruption and disillusionment? I have a friend who works in Philippine export. At first, he was determined to be honest. But he didn’t feel physically safe being the only one in the office not taking bribes. I really felt sad for him. He was honest and idealistic; now he's corrupt and disillisioned.
Am I correct in recalling that the Philippines had one of the strongest economies in Asia in the days before Marcos? I think back then the exchange rate was two pesos to the dollar. That suggests two things to me: that corruption is a big part of the problem and that Filipinos will succeed, given the right conditions.
I'm a firm believer in the notion that government has no power to create jobs, but has the ability to create the right conditions for the private sector to create jobs. While there is corruption everywhere, a Congressman buying off an election may not directly damage the economy (after all, we do it in the U.S. all the time, it's called welfare). But corruption such as a company building a road below the standards set forth in the contract and then bribing someone to sign off on it anyway will damage the economy much more directly. Whereas bribing an official to get the contract in the first place, but then still making a good road may not be so damaging. So some types of corruption hurt the economy more than others.
Finally (sorry to be so long winded), I think Filipinos should be free to venture anywhere to find their happiness. Otherwise, we all wouldn't have such wonderful wives.
Hi Dans – interesting insights from somebody with first hand experience and knowledge. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Rob – I fully agree on the scope of how things are going now, and likely to go in the future in the USA. It's a shame for business owners like you that so much seems to be going out the window.
Hi Bob,
I also fully agree with your opinion about the OFW. However as always everything has good and bad sides. Irland was very poor country before the 2-nd world war, but after the war many Irish returned back home with not only money but also the business "Know How" Now per capiter income in Irland is one of the highest in Europe. I think the returned imigrants had a lot to do with it. The same is happening now in Poland and other East European countries. There are milions polish emigrants all over the world (Chicago is second largest polish city) but now many of them are comming back with money and experiance and will to start busineses which improve the economy. Let us just hope that Filipinos will also raturn and help make Philippines another tiger of Asia.
Hi markus – I hope so too!
Funny how you wrote about this when in fact I just had to all but save someone from going to Dubai for a job.
The story goes that a company that was hiring for Dubai wanted this girl to spend 40,000 pesos to get all the paperwork in order (and that's all I'm saying about that). But when I asked what they offered her to work there for 3 years she stated to me that she will be paid 25,000 pesos a month. I then knew of her skills and training here in the Phils and within a month I helped her land a job that paid her 11,000 pesos, plus fare back and forth right here in Davao.
I also helped a young lady get a job that lived near Panabo. She now works in Toril making a nice amount for a family restaurant there.
Both are doing well and adjusting and some days I have to give them a little encouragement to stay with it, but it's here and if you can back figure money amounts you can't believe how well off some are here if they just stay and do something here instead of going to a strange land and into a blind situation that sometimes turns for the worse.
Hi Tim – Nice to hear from you. Yes, the opportunity is here, the people just have to remove the blinders and look for it. Seek and ye shall find…
I continue to read items in the Philippine Press, and elsewhere how so many Filipinos are scammed by phoney OFW agencies and even some aparantly legitimate registered and licensed agencies too. Then when some of them actually do get jobs in a foriegn land, they were not previously informed as to what their living expenses would be when they get to wherever they are going. Then the mistreatment many of them have to go through by their foriegn employers is really something else.
I am sure there are some legitimate OFW agencies as well as foriegn employers that are honest and fair but the more I read about it, the percentages appear to go the other way.
It is really a shame.
hello bob,is there any vacant job there i want to work!!!
Hi Bob,
Interesting post which gave me some thought.
I feel if you convince yourself there are no opportunities,or that you are unlikely to find work you are probably right,this appears to be a general thought.It all depends on your mindest.
I can only speak from personal experience.
Sheryl and her siblings,(all adults)who live in the family home have to fend for themselves.Their mother died nearly 2yrs ago and the father left the family home 1yr ago to live with another women, and gives no support.Most times they are working,coz they want to work.
Some jobs are not always what they desire,but they do them out of neccessity.
When a contract ends they do the footwork,knocking on doors, looking for work.Admittedly,i help out when there is a genuine need but they don't sit at home expecting me to support them all.I am very proud of all of them.
As the old adage goes,"Where there is a will,there is a way".
regards Chas.
Hi kostas – I am sure that there are jobs to be found here in the Philippines. In fact, I know there are! You just have to look, or create one for yourself.
Hi chas – nice to hear from you, I hope you are doing well. I agree with you when you say that if a person is convinced there is no opportunity to be found, they indeed will not find any. It's so true that in life we make our own "luck".
Hi, Bob- For those of us who never go to bed hungry, we seem to have a difficulty understanding why Filipinos are leaving the country in droves. But from the perspective of the ordinary Filipino who has lived an entire life in abject poverty, and whose daily struggle is, first and foremost, to put food on the family table, the decision to go abroad is not a difficult decision to make at all. It is his natural reaction to a very desperate situation. The decision to go abroad, while traumatic in some instances, is the quickest way to provide instant relief to the pain and suffering he and his family have endured all their lives. While true that life in the United States, especially for the unskilled laborer, may not always be the milk and honey it is believed to be, the very idea that his chances for employment are far greater than if he remained in the Philippines is sufficient motivation for the impoverished Filipino to start packing for the next plane out of the country.
The very thought of working in the U.S. at one of the least-paying jobs and the easiest to obtain like McDonald's at $8 per hour, $64 a day, or $1280 a month, must be music to the Filipino's ear. Compare that pay with the average pay of the average university professor in the Philippines who makes $500 a month, or a taxi driver who earns $10 a day, if he is lucky.
Of course, there are untapped opportunities and niches to be filled even in a struggling economy like the Philippines, but those opportunities that have potential for promising returns almost always need to be nurtured and developed for a long time. For the Filipino whose back is already against the wall, he has neither the money, time nor the patience to be experimenting with the unknown, while his family is suffering from starvation day in and day out. He needs instant solution and he needs it now. Leaving home to seek greener pastures elsewhere appears to be the most logical path to follow.
The OFW is without question one of the most successful exportable industry the Philippines ever had. Their annual remittances amounting into the billions of dollars are a source of much-needed revenue for the families left behind and a major factor in keeping the Philippine economy alive for decades now. Filipinos leaving the country in record numbers also produce an unintended result and a solution to the country's overpopulation problem – a problem which has been identified as the major cause of poverty. It is estimated that there are between 9 to 11 million OFWs worldwide. That's 11 million people contributing to keep the Philippine economy afloat. That's also 11 million less mouths to feed in a country that has a major problem feeding its population.
Successive Philippine administrations since Marcos have not only sanctioned the OFW industry; it has, in fact, encouraged Filipinos to go abroad by establishing government to government agreements with host foreign governments to liberalize and facilitate the exodus of Filipinos from the home country.
With respect to the concern that the outward movement of Filipino professionals represents the so-called "brain drain" and therefore could be detrimental to the country's competitiveness in the long run, I personally think this is largely speculative. I have not come across a definitive study to support this theory, but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. However, some, if not many such professionals do return, driven home not only by homesickness for the patria adorada, but also for the noble desire to contribute to the upliftment of the country of his birth. Arturo Alcaraz, for example, considered the Father of Philippine Geothermal Energy Development was one who left the country and had the chance to remain in the United States to enjoy the American dream, but he didn't.
By contrast, the Indians, the Chinese, and the Taiwanese have a large number of their citizens in the science and technology fields who have chosen to live and work overseas, mainly in the United States as professors, scientists and engineers at top research and development centers like MIT and Stanford. If you should happen to read the employee rosters at such IT firms at Silicon valley or at Bechtel or Microsoft, you'll discover that many names are foreign. They are either Indian or Chinese.
Would one consider India or Taiwan today suffering from the so-called "brain drain" because their country's "best and brightest" are not at home?
Hi John – We are all free to have our own opinions. Honestly, I pretty much totally disagree with yours, but I respect your right to have your opinion.
Personally, I believe that the OFW culture is destroying the Philippines. It promotes laziness at home. It promotes the breakup of the Filipino family. The benefits are small, and the negatives are huge. I believe that the OFW culture will end up destroying the Philippines.
bob,
I did not intend to offend you, If I did i apologize.
My 35 year old example is the typical scenario in the Philippines, and with that scenario the 35 years old is hampered with limitations where he lives, what you missed though is the 35 years old “moved on” and he chooses to live abroad than moving to a nearby city. he didn’t limit himself instead he moved leaps and bound.
the whole point of this is just to give my opinion why many Filipinos leaves the country and go someplace else where opportunity is abundant and a lot easier for them to achieve.
You probably have a better luck and opportunity in the Philippines than to a Filipino, and a Filipino who is living abroad probably have a better luck and opportunity than you.
as the old saying goes.. different strokes for different folks.
Hi Bob,
Opportunities ?? What about boxing ? Manny 'Pacman' did it again … FANTASTIC !!!
Hi Bob,
Opportunities ?? What about boxing ?? Manny 'Pacman' did it again … another title !! Fantastic.
hi john,
The way i understood your post is you are demonstrating that a Filipinos who choose to go abroad in search of work are the desperate people who needs food on the table, that is not entirely correct, there are many Filipinos who are already well off even before they choose to work abroad, there are many reasons why a Filipino chooses to work abroad, some of them are the desperate one, some of them just wanted to practice their profession because there's not much firm here that can offer them to practice their field, some are purely to become a citizen of other country, some are just to experience to travel the world, some just wanted to have a new life, some are leaving just to earn an extra money so that they can buy the material things they wanted,
But generalizing all OFW's as a desperate people who are willing to leave their family in search of work or putting food on their table has a negative connotation.
My impression is you are a Filipino and your parents migrated to the U.S.? if my impression is correct, would I be correct to assume that your parents are desperate people too that they need to pack their bags and leave the country for good?
Let's clear the term OFW, many thinks that any Filipino who leaves the country are OFW, that is not correct.
OFW is a term used for Filipinos who work temporary in abroad, the term is not used for Filipino who chooses to become a citizen or a migrant of other countries.
I've been an OFW for nearly 2 decades, did i leave my country because I am a desperate one? yes, I am a desperate to practice my profession but I am not desperate to leave the country just to put food on the table, I could have stayed and put up my own business but that won't let me pursue my passion in my chosen field of work.
The "brain drain" issue.
What would be my situation if I had stayed? probably still working and hasn't updated my knowledge in my chosen field. when i left the country would you consider me as part of the "brain drain"?, not really.
My profession is in IT field, the wireless technology in the Philippines was introduced a couple of years ago around (2005?), while I already gained my knowledge and experience with that technology back in 1995. If I had stayed would I get the same knowledge and experience in the philippines? of course yes, but not as early as I did it when I'm in abroad.
Today, I owned several businesses in the Philippines, I provide jobs too, I put up my business using the knowledge and technology I gained from abroad, If I had stayed, would I be able to achieve all the things I achieved today? most likely not at all or probably yes but it will take me years and years to achieve it.
The real brain drain is when a Filipino who gained an advanced knowledge in the Philippines and left the country to become a citizen of another country or chooses to stay abroad for good (i mean for good until they die). The thing is, Philippines is not as advanced compared to other country, there are brightest and smartest filipinos out there but they are not advanced, in fact Filipino's who choose to work abroad can gain more learning new things from abroad.
I think the term must change from "brain drain" to "workforce drain"
Eventually, hopefully, the govt will see that sending its citizens to work abroad is not working. There has to be a point that it has to stop. The only question is when can we strike it on our own.
hi bob,
for a non-filipino who have a regular income coming in from outside the country, it is easy for them to say "there is plenty of opportunity here" because they already have the money to start the business with.
but for a filipino who can barely earn $300 a month, that is totally a different story, let alone to start a business.
As i said in my previous post, many Filipinos want to have their own business and in order for them to achieve it, they need money for it, the salary in the philippines can barely feed a family, most of them will leave the country to earn more and save more for the business they want to have.
did you know, for the past 2 years there are thousands of Filipino nurses and engineers from the middle east quit their high paying job in exchange for being a care-giver or a car wash and laundry boy in canada just because they want to become a canadian citizen? I am not looking down on them with their job, my point is many Filipinos will demote themselves just to be a citizen of other countries, many filipinos leaves the country not because of employment but rather with something else.
just imagine this bob,
imagine that you are a 35 years old Filipino, a graduate of electronic engineering course, you don't have enough money to feed a family and you have a house rent to pay monthly (let alone to make a business), there's no electronic company in your province where you can apply for a job even if there is, the company only hires 30 years old or below. where exactly is the opportunity for you?
Hi dans – you don't really know that much about me. I came here in 2000, and I had a lot of money when I came. I blew it. We got down to practically no money left at all. We had enough for one of us to go work back in the States. But, we didn't want to do that. I now have 5 different businesses that earn a good amount of money, and on all of these businesses, I started them with less than $100 each. Yes, less then $100. But, I put a lot of sweat into them, and a lot of hours. It can be done. It is a matter of thinking outside the box.
Yes, I do know that many Filipinos quit higher paying jobs to go abroad. Did you know that the Philippines is having a shortage of doctors because many doctors go back to school and get nursing degrees so that they can go abroad as a nurse? Yes, it's true.
Your example of the 35 year old Filipino engineer is a perfect example of thinking INSIDE the box. There is a lot of opportunity for that fellow, but he has to shift his thinking, and stop thinking in the way that everybody else thinks. I know it can be done, because I've done it myself.
You mention a Filipino who can barely make $300 per month. Heck, honestly, I make a lot more than that just from blogging! There are no rules that only foreigners can blog. And, it's not only blogging.. there are lots of ways to use the Internet (piratically for free) to earn a lot more than $300 per month. But, you'll never be able to do it if you think the same way everybody else thinks.
Here's a beautiful Ilonggo melody dedicated to all of you down in the South of the Philippines. The immortal,
Ay ay kalisud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP9aJOWChU8
Ay ay kalisud, kalisud ng binayaan
Adlao gabi firmita itao gui natangisan
Ay ay Inday nga walay sing kapalaran
Walay guid walay guid
Sarang ko kalipayan
Ay cielo azul iabao! diin ka na
Baluiguita bangi ang nabilango sang gugma
Mayad pa ang mamatay kun halus mamatay
Agud di ako maka dumdum
Nga ako walay kalipay.
For a country that produced such a spine-tingling love melody like the Ay Kalisud, how could anyone even think of leaving the Philippines? 🙂
Hi Bob, Well, you finally did it. Instead of pussyfooting around the Filipino "sentimiyento", you said it like it is. Yes, I've been trying to tell Filipinos who come to Canada or who want to Canada what life really is. More so now, when our pensions (our future pensions) are shrinking, and the most number of jobs are self-employment or partime minimum wage employment. Here are my observations in the past 10 years:
1. Most Filipinos look at expats and balikbayan as $ signs. Many there think in terms of monetary terms, currency, not in purchasing power. Peso in the Philippines has 2.5 to 3 % more in purchasing power than the USD.
2. There are jobs (full time employment) but the wage scales paid (public or private sectors) are very low. It seems the Philippine economy thrives on paying as low as they can possibly can because I've heard it often enough, there's a lot bodies around.
3. Income distribution. Just like the US, the oligarchs and the 5% of the rich in the Philippines control the economy. Therefore, it is up to the middle class to create opportunities for themselves. A colleague of mine, Eastern European who did a project in Carmona (once a squatter resettlement) commented, the Philippines has a strong middle class, however, the wages are so low.
4. Equal employment opportunity. Have you seen the help wanted ads? Male or Female, certain age brackets, etc with very little skills requirements. It's kinda funny reading them.
Here are my thoughts outside of my expertise (I'm in the hotel/tourism industry where opportunities abound for people with the right skills set). Sari sari, vegetable farming (I read SM groceries buy from local farmers, provide technical inputs), be independent and get Tesda certification for something and move on (I've met certified independent welders, tour guides, waiters earning decent living.), bed and breakfast, boarding house (rooming ins we call in Canada) even a turo turo stand (they only need Tesda training for cooking and food handling.) Yes, there's so much there.
Hi AlexB – Hmm… you think that I usually pussyfoot around topics? I never thought so, and have not heard that from people… Ha ha.. it's OK, though.
Your thoughts are interesting, and pretty much right to the point, Alex. Especially #4… the "help wanted" ads here are certainly not written with political correctness in mind, are they? 😉
First, let me point out that there is NO excuse for not being able to financially succeed anywhere capitalism is practiced, in one form or another. We cannot look down on a human being, short of a retard and say he was not born with enough talents to succeed. That's just plain insulting to people, and Filipinos in particular. As Bob says, this is part of thinking inside the box- (yung kinalakihan nating pag-iisip).
Second, there are cultural issues that Filipinos have that are hindering their chances for success. One of them is that not realizing that having children is a BIIIG financial responsibility. I'm not even going into the time and attention that you need to put into them. The Filipino psyche just have to realize that if you can't afford to have a child, you should not have one! You can't make your children, or spouse, your excuse for not succeeding, plain and simple! This is one of the "out of the box" thinking that Filipinos have to do, IMHO.
Raising a family are purely voluntary. Noone, I suppose, puts a gun on anybody's head to force him to do it. The less burden someone have in life, the better one is financially. And also it is a fact that overpopulation strains a country's resources. C'mon, a certain piece of land can only support a certain number of people. But if you can financially afford it, I don't have an issue if you do raise a big family.
As to the 35 year-old man, he wouldn't have been in that situation had he been smarter with regards to his past decisions. You don't get into a dire situation outside of your own choosing, unless you were BORN into it. I'm sure he was not born a 35-year old with an instant family to support. He went to school, and chose the right degree (the one that would pay well, I suppose?) Met a girl, but decided to marry her, inspite of the fact that he couldn't afford to support her. On top of that, chose to have, say conservatively, six children. And he's always been aware of the fact that he could never support such a family. Now he's complaining there's no opportunity for him, duh!!!
Hi John,
Whereas I agree with many of your facts and info, one thing I disagree is about Filipinos being hungry so they go overseas to work at anything. As a matter of fact, it COSTS money to get out of the country. The real poor people, who go hungry in the Philippines are not the ones leaving the country.
Well, this post surely generated a lot of discussions. When Marcos was thrown out by Mrs. Aquino, there was a cry for moral renewal. That never happened, that's why so many people are disillusioned or feel despair, and leave with just hope not much else. As for #4, many of the policy makers and business leaders are US trained (MBA's, PhD's etc). They only brought their diploma and not their education back to the Philippines.
Bob,
My wife (who is Philippino) and I are going to the Philippines over the Christmas this year, hopefully to set up a small business in anywhere quiet.
I have spent a lifetime workin in the UK and i many other parts of the wold as a Civil Engineer/Surveyor and am more than just able to turn my hand to most things including boat building. Have you got any advice for me please, at the end of the day I only want to earn a living out of what I do to feed my wife self and familly.
Please Please your advice would be valued and taken if youj would be so kind.
Tom Bull
Thank god that I have found your site when I'm in the process of looking for a product to promote about the Philippines in the affiliate program that I am part of.
It saddens me that the trend is going overseas. The mindset of the Filipinos is that you can only succeed when you work abroad. Partly true!
Take the cases of the newly graduated nurses. I could attest to that because my girlfriend is a registered nurse. Imagine, registered nurses are paid 3000 pesos for a month's salary. Some even pay the hospitals just to get the required two years of experience in order to work overseas.
These nurses paid from 20-60 thousand pesos per semester for their courses and they will be paid less than 3000 pesos in the hospitals in the country or worst working for FREE.
But, if at first people will think out of the box, they will never need to go overseas. With today's technology, telecommute jobs are possible. The trend is outsourcing! Americans and other business owners are outsourcing their jobs from the Philippines. We have the best English speaking people in Asia because of our educational system.
I have been working online since I resigned on June 2007 from a Makati-based call center. My earning have been great and I never have to live my house. I can spend more time with my family. I also have purchased some investments out of my earning.
A change on how Filipinos think is needed in order to prevent people from living the country in search of a better life. Outsourcing is of great potential for internet-savvy Filipinos.
Hello Ronald – Thanks for your comment. I fully agree with you, and I know that a nice living can be made online… I've been doing it for more than a decade already! I have no income except what I make online.