In my article yesterday, I talked about progress in business that I see almost every day here in the Philippines. The country is moving from being 50 years behind much of the rest of the world to being a player in many games of business. As I said yesterday, it is something that I enjoy watching, and it gives me hope for the Philippines, and the people here.
One thing that has happened in the past decade or two which is helping the Philippines catch up with the world in many respects is the whole OFW factor. Millions of Filipinos have left the country to work abroad, and they send money back to the Philippines to support their family here. Did you know that OFW remittances are the number one biggest contributor to the Philippine Gross Domestic Income? If you removed all of that incoming currency, the economy here may well simply collapse.
It is really a catch 22 for the Philippines. The money earned by OFWs is badly needed to support the economy here. If not for those Dollars coming in, things like new malls and other such items that are progressing the society would not be possible. However, as Dave Starr recently pointed out on this very site, having millions of people leaving the country to work abroad is also bad for the country. Imagine this, most of the people who are leaving the country are among the most intelligent and hard working people that the country has. Suddenly, if you take the most productive 10% of the entire population, where does that leave the country? Well, in my opinion, from the things I have seen, it leaves the country in deep trouble. Yet, if you give up the money that the OFW provides, the country is also in deep trouble. Catch 22, as I said.
One of the areas that I see as being hugely impacted by this practice of sending the county’s brightest people abroad is in the area of family life. There are young children in the Philippines that have no parents in their dialy life, because both their mother and their father are working abroad. These kids are regularly raised by their grandparents, aunts and uncles and other relatives. It is good that the extended family is there to raise these kids, however, no doubt the child would be best with his own parents. I see signs of many parts of the Filipino Culture being torn apart by the absence of so many industrious Filipinos, and it is a sad thing to see.
I am not here offering a solution to this, because honestly, I don’t know how to solve it. I see a lot of opportunities here, and many people who choose to go abroad to work could do well here, if they could see the opportunities that I see. But, it is a personal choice for each person to make in deciding what is best for him, her or their family. I cannot talk, because I moved away from my country and came to a new country, and it has worked for me. Given my life choice, how could I be down on a Filipino who goes abroad to find a better life? The fact is that I can’t. I am sad, though, when I see a fundamental deterioration of Filipino society.
What do you think? Is it progress to send more than 10% of the population abroad to earn money? Or, is it the first element in the eventual downfall of society? I can’t decide.
Hi Bob – Can’t help but recall items from your “SIR” series when thinking of specific, general and overall problems associated with OFW, be they in remittances, family aspects, culture deviations or what have you.
Resistance to change, perceived sharing of another’s good fortune, etc. all comes into play. I do know a couple of folks who make their “living” by demanding their share and have no desire to try anything else. 🙁
It’s so very hard for the industrious and intelligent who remain in the Phils to proceed toward their dreams while a handful making “easy pesos” distract them. Encouragement of OFW program by those in charge provides further distraction.
Remember, revolutions are founded and directed by intelligent but discouraged people – poorly educated or uneducated will follow their lead in an effort to shake off whatever oppression they perceive. Phil history has many examples of a long-enduring people reaching their last straw. I don’t promote reactionary or revolutionary solutions – I merely observe today with one eye on yesterday. 😉
Hi Bob – This is surely a great topic. I agree that the nature of the brain and labor drain by OFW's will eventually seriously hurt the country and erode the family value system.
So far I have not noticed any negative effects in the area of medicine which I am sure might concern many of the foreigners residing here. In fact many Philippine doctors I meet and use are highly educated in the States yet, would never trade the quality of life they have here for more money and headaches abroad.
I also haven't seen the effects of OFW's in any other aspect of my daily life here including my needs of those people with skills such as construction or technology oriented.
I have no doubt that once the world economy gets going again this may happen but it will take time.
But on the Family value front OFW is starting to hurt……
I am already starting to see less of the charm we come to know and appreciate here specifically with the youth of the country I think from the effect of music, videos and the internet. Snide remarks, smirks and sometimes even rudeness thrown the way of foreigners. Kids are getting more sphisticated and are NOT their parents kids anymore.
In my opinion it will take many years for the Philippines to lose the things many foreigners love about it here or even to feel the side effects of the OFW market unless that market collapses. If it does than WATCH OUT!!! I think first and foremost it is corruption that hurts this country the most. However, these two things coupled together may lead to another revolution by the poor people, NPA, etc….so the Philippines had better get its act together and stop taking things for granted.
Hi Bob – Unfortunately there is always a price to pay for progress and it seems that you have hit the nail on the head.
In my younger days back in the 70's I would spend my vacation in Cyprus (my mothers birthplace) which reminds me of RP as it is now (perhaps that's what drives me to live in RP). However over the decades Cyprus has become a thriving and expensive island and sad to say has lost most of it's innocence and family values have disappeared. By the late 80's mid 90's most of it's old world charm and everything that RP is still now was basically gone. As I said, this is the price of progress, however having said that most Filo's should over the coming decades be much better off and have a higher standard of living should the growth in OFW's continue.
One problem that could hold this at bay for a while is the global slow down. More and more OFW's will most likely lose their overseas jobs and return home which could see less money coming back into RP???
Hi Bob,You raise some interesting points.However, coz the PI economy relies so heavily on OFW money it will not be immune to the Global Crisis as job losses are rising fast in most western countries.Add to this that western countries will start to practise job protectionism as already announced in the UK last week.Far stricter controls on OFW from outside the EU will be put in place soon.I can forsee Obama doing this also to protect US workers,regards Chas.
Hi Bob,One fact that i find sad is that most OFW have no desire to return to PI,unless it is to retire.I do not blame them in any way for a desire to better themselves,but its a sad reflection on their confidence in their homeland,regards Chas.
Hi Bob,
one thing I think is overlooked in the debacle of what's happening with the economy is this question:
If the crisis continues (as I and some others believe it will); many OFW will lose their jobs and not be able to find others: they will be forced to become economic refugees. Whether this is good or bad for the Philippines depends a lot on how these returning OFW's have managed their money while away.
Those who have taken it for granted that they will perpetually be earning $, Euro or Sterling; who have sent all they can afford home as remittances for living expenses of family: these will really be hurting.
On the other hand there are others who, whilst supporting the family modestly, have been very careful with their money. Some of these people will be coming to an early retirement with a very large amount of money by Filipino standards.
These people are beginning to trickle into the area where I live; they have started a building boom. Not of flashy malls; but private homes.
These people as they return will bring real change here; hopefully for the better, as you say they are often the best and brightest. I agree though that these are likely the people who's distraction allows for (relative) peace.
'Interesting times Bob; interesting times…
Hi Bob,Interesting reply and i can understand your points.Differences in culture,if a western person went overseas and was successful they would be praised and looked up to in their home country.BTW last week i was browsing thro the archives of Philfaqs and logged on to a link http://www.getrealphilippines.com and found an interesting article by Francisco Sionil Jose titled "Why are we Poor?"which i found extremely interesting.If anyone wants to read it,after you have logged on the site,click on Issues,then click on page 2 and you will see the article,regards Chas.
Chris – My sentiments exactly. So many influences and ideas will come with them when they do return, some for the good and some for the worst…
I suppose in the long run it will benefit the people especially the young however as I previously mentioned a lot of traditions will sadly go with them? Cultures and outlooks will change and within 20 years or so you will not recognize the same around you as you do now and although this may sadden me, communities need to change with the times or get left in time.
This is a fact of life, although I sometimes think that we are as a race moving too fast for our own good…
One more thing Bob; check this out with your banker friend:
I read that the Philippines national private and public debt adds up to a grand total of under $2 billion. Currently the USA increases it's debt by more than that every day. The rest of the developed world is in a similar position in regards to debt.
To those who think it will all be back to normal soon; please explain to me how to factor energy costs in a 3 year business plan?
No serious bank anywhere will lend to a business without a 3 year plan; if I am writing one of these, do I factor oil at $30USD a barrel or $150? Nobody can predict what is going to happen to the oil price.
I know this is a side track to your article; but it's part of the big picture affecting the OFW issue.
Hello to all,
A great article, but is hard one to figure out….right or wrong? and to determine that for ourselves, I guess we would need to put ourselves into that position. Bob and Feyma have already done this, moved from one country to another, not just for monetary reasons, but for peace of mind and a happy simpler life for him and his family.
But for the filipino who votes to go overseas for work in another country, and help support his or her family in the Philippines, I think is of course up to them, especially if it is going to benefit there family. But also, Bob brings up an excellent point also, lots of children there are being raised by there family members, instead of there own parents.
I don't know, too many "if, ands, and buts" in the answer here.
Was just thinking about this, the Philippine government doesn't have a welfare system in place. But for some families, they have an income coming from relatives overseas. I work with a lady here in USA, she is filipina, she has been here for almost 30 years now. She brought her parents to live here about 15 years ago, her mother has sent money home each month to relatives every month for as long as she has been here. Now my friend doesn't like the fact that she does this, because she says that the money is mostly spent on things not needed, but the family expects this money each month, and her mother is afraid to not send it anymore. So I guess my point is..this is almost like a "welfare" system for some in Philippines….I don't know…just some random thoughts I have on the subject.
But in the long run, it would be better if the work force could stay in there home country and help to build up the economy there instead, but of course the jobs are just not there. So now is it up to the Philippines government to open its eyes and see what valuable resources they have, and start creating jobs for these people so they can stay in there country?? My answer to this is… YES!!! But until that happens, the OFW programs will keep going on, and they will keep sending monies to there families in Philippines.
Take care,
Danny
Hi Nicholas – For me, your last line says it all…
Hi Chris – Of course debt is not good, but there are ways to address the debt without even paying it. How? Well, frankly it is easy… you grow your way out of it. For example, by growing the economy, the debt can become a small(er) percentage of GDP. Inflation makes the money worth less, thus the debt is worth less. This is the way the governments have controlled money and debt for centuries.
Hi Danny – You have some good insights there! When you draw a parallel to the Welfare system in the USA, it brought me a thought. In the States, welfare recipients came to feel that they were entitled to welfare, not that it was a blessing for them, and something that could be taken away. Many recipients of remittances from overseas here in the Philippines feel exactly the same way. Good catch!
Hi Bob,Although not an ideal situation,children being brought up by grandparents is common throughout Asia. With regard to OFW remittances it appears that if to much is given,then some don't even bother to look for work.An opportunity for some must lie in the recycle business as discussed in Feyma's post,regards Chas.
Hi again Bob,
the massive expansion of global economics in the last 70 years has been 90% due to abundant cheap oil. The peak of global production was reached in mid 2006. Projected growth of business along with commitment to follow plans, led to the explosion of the price of oil last year. This was necessary to create demand destruction to allow the oil price to fall.
If there is another growth spurt in the global economy; guess what? The oil price will skyrocket, there is just not an ever increasing supply of this currently essential commodity for growth.
Some theorists say the last great depression was built around the essential shift from coal to oil based energy. The lag in technology slowed growth or killed it off for a decade. The coming great depression will be around the lag in technology shifting from an oil based economy to renewable/ alternative energy.
Hi Chris,Interesting points that you mention.As i have always been skeptical of politicians and the fact that they only tell us half the truth.Could this Global Crash have been engineered by ignoring all the warning signs? Interesting thought,regards Chas.
I can't speak of grand economic theories, but I can say, as a latch-key kid, I can't imagine what it would be like if I only saw my parent(s) a few weeks out of the year…
Hi Bob
I have to totally agree with you that with so many mothers and fathers leaving the country has an adverse effect on their children. No one can replace your parents. Yes these kids may have more material things and a better situation in life but not the physical love and guidance that having your parents around can give. A cousin of my fiance whom i am close to spent 5 years in Korea. She has a 2 year daughter and since she cant find a job in Manila is considering working again in Korea while her husband works in Baguio. She does not want to leave her only child but she may not any choice.
In terms of the national debt I believe it is around 3.4 trillion pesos, but fluctuates also on the currency exchange. In terms of Filipinos working in the Philippines with so many going for careers like Nursing which is only in demand overseas many of the recent graduates are unemployable in the Philippines since they have an oversupply for the local market. There are at least 400k unemployed nurses where as the local market can only employ 60k.
In terms of children helping out their parents in the Philippines is very much similar to our social security and medicare system.
Hi chasdv – Well, I think that there are tons of opportunities here, people just need to think outside the box. Certainly the recycling business is one!
Hi Chris – You and I have different world views and life views, I think. It would seem that we are on polar ends of thinking. I am a strong believer in the Theory of Abundance, while based on the things you have said, it would seem that your view is the Theory of scarcity. I don't believe that the world has already seen it's best days. If oil is on the way out – no problem – there are other sources of energy to tap. I don't necessarily agree that oil is on the way out, though. I believe that the world's best days are yet to come, and that for those who play their cards right, they can benefit a huge amount. I am not talking only financially either.
Hi Gary – I am in full agreement!
Sorry folks I was quoting a dodgy source on the RP's debt; it is approximatly 3.7 trillion Pesos or $78 billion USD.
This compares favorably to the US where Government debt alone is over $10 trillion. The debt ratio here is pretty stable where the US is accumulating over $2 billion more debt each day.
More to the discussion about effects on children of being separated from parents:
my Mother was placed in a boarding school at 7 until 17 years old. During this time she only saw her parents once a year. She is now in her 60's and it takes very little to scratch the surface and find the pain still lingering from the experience.
Hi neil – Thanks for your comment. I hope things work out for your fiance's cousin and that she can find a way to keep the family together and still live a decent life. It is tough to have to choose, I have no doubt.
Ok Bob; one last comment on this subject from me, take it or leave it:
There is a theory called 'population overshoot' which is 100% proven in animal experiments. The theory is that whenever a species is given access to abundant resources for expansion; they will increase in numbers to the point of overshoot. That is; when ever expanding resources begin to diminish, populations must diminish also. There is currently no infrastructure in place to take the place of existing oil based infrastructure; nor is there any way of easily converting existing systems to alternative ones.
It's easy to sit in a priveleged position and talk about abundance. Just keep the blinkers in place and keep positive if that's what makes you happy.
Chris – Frankly, when you make it person, you are starting to make me angry. Did I slam you with something like "keep the blinkers on"? No, I did not say anything personal like that.
By the way, how can you say the "overshoot" thing is a "theory" and then say it is "100% proven." The two things are mutually exclusive! 😆
Please don't act like an ass here, Chris. There is no need for personal attacks. I guess you are saying that if somebody does not agree with you, then they are stupid, or at least wearing blinders? For me, I say that everybody is entitled to an opinion, and they don't all have to be the same. You are entitled to yours, and I am entitled to mine. It doesn't mean that either of us are wearing blinders.
Chris – By the way, you are 100% incorrect when you say that there is no infrastructure in place to take the place of oil based infrastructure. There are plenty of existing technologies for natural gas, coal (even clean coal technologies). How about oil sands, which are abundant in Canada?
Yippee! Oil sands! and then what?
Let's get every source of carbon and pump it into the apmosphere until there's another 5 billion people on the planet. Then what? Let them eat rocks?
I am talking here about theory applied to humans; as in animal experiments with medicine. An animal model is taken as proof of a theory in animal models; the final test is proving the model in humans. Then it becomes a fact.
I'm sorry if you are offended so much as to call me an ass; but frankly I am not happy about the fact that since the early 1970's societies around the world have ignored the problems and solutions/ in favour of endless economic growth.
This theory, the backbone of the free market system; is fine only if the society is on a planet of infinite size and resources. To provide 1st world living standards to the current population would require the resources of at least 6 planet earths.
We only have one.
Hi Chris – Honestly, if you read what I wrote you will note that I did not call you an ass. I said don't act like an ass. If you were an ass, you wouldn't have to act. 😆
Chris, I do not agree with the way that you think, you don't agree with mine. No problem for me, I am happy that we all have out own opinions. Can you live with it and just walk away from the fight that I am trying to avoid? If so, fine. If not, I will stop the argument on the site one way or another.
So, you are not happy that since the early 70's societies around the world have ignored problems. So, that makes it my fault and you should attack me? Something not right there, Chris….
Bob: this topic is one that hits close to home. One of the primary reasons Rebecca returned was to start a business so the family could sustain itself. Her brother is still in Abu Dhabi and we see the impact it has on his son… His son is 4 years old and sees his father once per year. Zaldy gets very melancholic being away and yes, it means his son grows up with his father away. The situation is sad and it erodes the basic values that kids are taught… No matter how well those values are enforced in the home, it is not the same. Of course, the child is loved, but extended family can only do so much. You hit the nail on the head. It is not the economic effects, but the social effects that are troubling. Rebecca sees this and the comparisons between the way she was raised, very traditional, and now are striking. Unfortunately, when you say that not much can be done, you are correct. You can't blame the OFWs as they are just trying to make a better life, but at what cost? The social fabric of life is what makes the RP special.. Not beaches, cost of living, or the myriad of other reasons that people come here. Other places have those things too. One can only hope that the situation does not get worse.
There is one indiactor I like to use called the "Gym girl flirt" . In the USA most people are very serious about their workouts and God help the guy that hits on a girl working out unless he is built like charles atlas or looks like brad pitt. They just want to be left alone to work out. And I really can't think of any other place there that is harder to hit on a girl than the gym. Now the Philippines is quite the opposite. It doesn't matter how serious the girl is or how fat or ugly the guy is hitting on the girl, they will still smile and engage you in conversation if even for a short moment. So I suggest that when this changes in the Philippines to the way it is in the States, abondon ship and run don't walk to you nearest airport out of the Philippines. The system has gone to hell in a handbasket and the Philippines has lost all sense of values
Hello Bob
Living in Kuwait I see and i work with a lot of philippino, Some times it pays off
sometimes not I have read in the Arab times Kuwait several horror stories of philippinas being gang raped, they reported last week there was a man selling
a Philippine lady for 250 kd like she was a piece of property, I know of another
lady who worked here for 14 years when she came home had nothing to show for it , so I guess it is like us moving to the Philippines they need a plan and stick
to it, there are a lot of people over here that are very successful and make wise business decisions so overall your right it is catch 22
James
OK Bob,
like most people, I have an ass and am capable of showing it!
I don't claim to know what is going to happen and it is important we can think positively about the future; however hard things may get. On that we can agree.
Only time will tell how all this will pan out. To help the situation I think it's best to have a broad view, as I believe you do; there are maxims about this such as:
think globally, act locally; wisdom is to focus on the things we can change, etc.
In some regards we are different yet we have a lot in common Bob.
Most importantly we look for a bright future for the Philippines; which you may find it hard to believe: I can see.
Far more interesting for me and my bent of reader than oil sands is the potential for geo- thermal development here; as an example.
More interesting than worrying about Balik Bayan money drying up; is the amazing potential of all those gifted Filipino beginning to see a brighter future here at home than staying overseas.
So I am capable of covering my ass too Bob; very unlike us gentlemen to be using profanities as such. I apologize for the personalised attack; as you know I am a little passionate about some ideas. In future I will refrain from such approaches.
Bob,
I do not have the patience to read all the comments, and I too have many thoughts about this subject.
I feel that the OFW sending money is a help for families and the Philippine Economy, it is hurtful in other ways too. A few Filipino families I have met have become lazy and complacent.
One family lives in the husband’s brother’s house. The brother build this big house for his future retirement. The wife works but at a low salary. The husband just sits at home and plans for the new car and objects he will buy when his brother sends home the next check.
About opportunities here, as we know, salaries are low, especially in the provinces. I know a doctor who could not support his family working in the provinces and was sometimes paid in chickens. Eventually he gave up medicine and manages his family’s business.
With the over population and the many college graduates the business owners use the old supply and demand policies and pays low wages even for licensed professionals.
Hi bob,
I enjoyed your article today as you stressed the contributions made by the OFW's the progress they made and the suffering they need to face everyday, I myself is an OFW for over 18 years, I've been to different countries and I moved country to country where the money is good.
I'd like to share my thoughts about it.
First, I don't believe that there is a "Brain Drain" in the philippines, I know you would not like the sound of it, but the fact remains, you've been living in the philippines for almost 9 years and i think you have a better experience seeing what is the real situation of progress in the philippines than most of your readers.
Fact #1, Philippines produces more nurses in a year than what the U.S can produce, because if ain't, then U.S would not hire nurses from the philippines or from other countries like india.
Fact #2, Philippines produce a lot of teachers in a year, and more than 60% of them are working abroad either a teacher in the states or a baby sitter/ maid in hong kong or in other country like israel.
Fact #3, Philippines produces a lot of Engineers of different fields, from civil engineering to Information technology every year.
There are approximately less than 6 millions of filipinos working or living abroad, I could not say that the entire 6 million filipinos abroad are all OFW,s I could say that at least 40~60% are non-working such as a family dependents .
I am only covering the 3 fields because it covers the basic team of progress, nurses covers the health care, teachers covers the education and engineers covers the infrastructure and technology advancement.
Philippines produces a lot of nurses every year but there is not enough hospital who can pay them well, as a matter of fact, there isn't enough hospital at all, a lot of our nurses demote their profession to being a "care giver", they rather choose to demote themselves than to go hungry. take davao for example, how many hospital do you know and how many nurses davao produces every year? do you think that the existing hospital in davao can accommodate our nurse graduates?
the teachers, Philippines has plenty of school and teachers but lack of funding, the education system in the Philippines deteriorates because the government set aside little fund for them, there are many children who needs education but no money to educate them, the teacher's pay is not even enough to make ends meet, and again, our teachers choose to be a maid or baby sitter than to go hungry.
every year there are many engineers in the philippines but there is not enough engineering company or a research and development company to take them a lot of them ended up working as a call center agent or a Jolibee service crew, I myself is in the field of R&D and Information Technology, I personally designed many electronic circuits and other IT appliances which I think has a big potential market in the Philippines, the problem is, I could not do it because there is not enough investor who will support me to develop and market it, for one, our patent office is useless they offer no protection, second, Filipino investor would not take the chance of risk, all they want is a big profit and no risk. personally, I don't want to live abroad anymore, I want to go home and live my life in the Philippines, I want to pursue my dream in the Philippines and not in other countries like the U.S, Canada or the U.K. I already gained the knowledge i needed to start my life all over again in the Philippines and by god's willing, in the next few year i will pursue it.
I've been asking my self, what is a filipino dream?? by analyzing the trend and the numbers of Filipinos who are leaving the country, particularly the number of Filipinos heading to the states and choose to change their citizenship, It only took me few minutes to figure it out. "Filipino Dream is to have an American" don't take me wrong, I am not an anti-American, it's just that, because of lack of opportunity in the Philippines, Filipinos are losing their patriotism and the love for the country, I may be working abroad and making money, that does not mean I don't love my country, I am here because I am saving money to purse my dreams in the Philippines.
The question is, is there really a "Brain drain" in the Philippines? statistics will show that there is none, the word "brain drain" is used to scare the Filipinos and to prevent the professionals from leaving the country and I personally think that everything is just a big BS considering the numbers of graduates the Philippine can produce every year.
Our president is an economy major, and I can clearly see that she have done a very good job, she makes a good economy for her administration only, she makes every politician in the Philippines 100 times richer .
This article is in todays Kuwait times
Kuwait Crime News
Gang of Arab expats nabbed for hiding, forcing maids to sell sex
Kuwait: Police have arrested six men — three Syrians, two Egyptians and an Iranian — for taking advantage of runaway maids and forcing them into prostitution, reports Al-Anba daily.
According to a security source police received information from a secret agent working for the General Immigration Department that a Kuwaiti man who claimed to be rich boasted that he paid KD 500 a month to the owner of a billiard hall to have fun with one particular female employee whenever he wanted. He also said he could take her out whenever he pleased. The man also informed the agent that the owner was ready to sell the ‘girl’ for KD 700.
Acting on the information police raided a billiard hall in Abu Halifa and arrested the six men and seven women of Asian nationality.
During interrogation the men said they gave shelter to runaway maids and then forced them into prostitution.
They also said several people pay between KD 300 and KD 500 monthly to have fun with women working at the billiard halls.
Meanwhile, the Al-Qabas daily said police have ‘rescued’ 20 women from different apartments in Mangaf and Khaitan who were being held against their will.
hi bob,
i made a typo error, i should have said "The filipino dream is to have an American Dream".
regardless of the reasons and the numbers of filipino going abroad, the amount of filipinos leaving the country is a signal that there is really something wrong in the philippines, every one wants to escape the poverty, every one wants to have a better life, seriously, how many filipinos go abroad just for the sake of fun? or being a tourist? or living outside the country because they are married to other nationals?, out of the 11 million filipinos, how many of them leave the country other than a contract jobs?
11 million filipinos overseas is much worst than 6 millions, it only translate that the number increases and the "brain" decreases in the philippines. let say for a minute that the 11 millions are all professionals, it means that the philippines is losing 11 millions of "Brain" that could help the philippines to progress.
Hi Bob- Imagine if all the ofw money, plus all the expat Philippinos money and balik bayan boxes sent back to the Philippines suddenly stopped! DISASTER!
On another note, I met a guy in the provinces about six years ago who was a retired seaman, and had quite a nice house for that area. At that time he was telling me of different businesses he was pursueing. Now the guy is an elected official in that province. I guess the quickest way to make money in the Philippines is to get yourself elected. ( can also be the quickest way to get dead!)
Changing the subject again, I believe the R.P,s biggest problem is overpopulation. It causes problems in so many ways.
well all said an done .. Now you make me feel like a OFW My family is in the Philippines and I am in the states,sending money to my family .. I work as a construction worker so I 'm on the bottom of the work ladder .. And i just want to go home now …to the Philippines that is … 🙂 …Phil n Jess
After having taken the time to read all of this thread, permit me to point out the obvious that appears to have been missed by all and please don't take offense.
A degree in Engineering, nursing, accounting, or agriculture does not mean you must obtain employment from an employer in that capacity. There are two groups of people: those who work, and those who employ them. Everyone here seems to think that you must graduate and go to work abroad or be "out of work". This is untrue.
My wife has a BS in commerce. She does not work for anyone. Her education gives her tools to manage the home and a business we created. With a very, very modest amount of capital, she started her own business while in college sewing handbags for her peers while in the Philippines, not "working for a company" as her degree would have her do in all opinions here. In other words, her education is just that: an education which allows her to rise above those uneducated. In all honesty, I was only looking for a good wife when I met Gen-Gen, and boy did I hit the ball out of the park with that decision! Gen's education makes her a spledid manager of the household and her education means that our daughter will also learn those skills.
Good management and fiscal responsibility means you keep more of the wealth that you have, and that is the same as creating wealth. In other words, you don't always have to work for someone else in order to create wealth. Sometimes if you learn how to save more wealth, it equates to the same as earning more but being inefficient at spending it: like an OFW earning more wealth and sending it home to be spent unwisely back home.
9 million Pinoys working abroad is only the tip of the sword. Each and every one of them touch their family in some way, thereby educating them as well. This is not a brain drain but a brain trust. My wife's family gain knowledge from her and her brothers' education. And mine. Mamang now understands that you are better off letting leaves decompose in a pile than burning them. Now she has nutrients for her beautiful flowers, and we don't have to buy as much miracle grow! By saving the $12 per box for fertilizer, we have created $12. Is this a simplistic view? I don't know, my wife is the college graduate, I dropped out in the third year!
Ok Bob,I will send u the relatives too …Hee Hee …Oh and you have to pay for transportation from CDO to Davao and back too … 🙂 Phil n Jess
Great article Bob! The habit of sending the best and brightist overseas is a self defeating proposition. Instead of having this resource available to improve their own country, the bounty of their energy and creativeness is reaped by other countries. The money send home will never replace the talent lost. Until the Philippines can retain this valauble resource , it will never prosper. Worse, the practice creats a wellfare state where creativity and energy are largely discouraged.
Bob I really like this topic and all the responses to it. I totally agree with your opinion and that of Robert.
If I may just add a little "scenario" that really makes some Filipinos decide to go abroad for a better life.
A Filipino graduates from college in UP (University of the Philippines) with a degree in Engineering, he then has this vast knowledge and talent to make his first invention that can benefit many in the Philippines (possibly the world), he then tries to patent the idea and the design then starts looking for a sponsor to get things running to no avail. He tries to finance it himself with the help of a few relatives, but since this product will have a retail value that will not be affordable to the people that this will be marketed for his dream starts to fade, his only hope is that with the growing number of OFWs keeping their relatives here "afloat", he can tap on that market and hopefully gain traction… but he cannot market his product, because not a single major company is backing the idea, until the Filipino gets a phone call from a US business man who believes that he has a market for it in the States, the Filipino then agrees because his invention will finally get its needed break but the American had him sign a contract saying, The US now owns the rights to his invention and the Filipino is paid a great deal of money, able to sustain him and his family for a long time. The Filipino decides to just live in the US for good. So you see, there maybe a lot of ideas and inventions that can be turned into a successful venture in the Philippines but without the proper support and funding, they just all go unnoticed and sadly ends up abroad.
Catch 22 indeed Bob.
Most Filipinos leave their families behind, albeit temporarily and then petitions them to join them abroad and many Filipinos living abroad have settled here and has established a good business as well that markets to the millions of Filipinos living abroad. Imagine ABS-CBN, Jollibee, Chowking, even Jerry's Grill making a fortune here in the US and parts of the world because of the money that the OFW's spend. Without the OFW's money, these companies will be relegated to the local market (in the Philippines) who can only afford "street food" and "free local programing" because of the low income they receive. But because OFW's send money home, the recepients are able to afford the Jollibees, Chowkings and even the other restaurants and even cable service for some.
If one is earning dollars (like most expats), they have a buffer and a higher spending power than the regular "Juan" who earns $150/month, hence it is easier to see things clearly because the "fear of going hungry" is not imminent.
no offense meant… I just wanted to share an opinion that hopefully helps many understand the plight of many Filipinos. I am not defending myself or the rest of the Filipinos living and earning a living abroad, I just simply want to show that it may not be as easy as just setting up shop.
Cheers.
… sorry, I just had to add a little more.
The OFW also helps the Philippine economy not just with their remittances. Companies that make "pancit canton", "patis", "toyo", "suka", Knorr products, Mama Sita's, Chicharon, Tuyo, Daing, Zest-O, Jack-n-Jill snacks and many other local Filipino name brand products are booming because their products are now exported abroad to serve the millions of Filipinos overseas. Filipinos can cook Sinigang and Kare-Kare and even sisig because their ingredients are available all over the US, Canada and UK. So you see, the catch 22 gets even more complicated. 🙂
I often wonder about my Filipino friends here in the US. They are always positive about life, works really hard and some of them even live a lavish lifestyle, yet when asked why they are not in the Philippines doing all these things they do here, almost all of them respond with a loud "no way we can do this back home". This really keeps me puzzled and even after reading this post, and the rest of the responses, I still couldn't figure it out.
We are talking about great minds on many of them, and the ideas that they think of can definitely make them well-off or at least enjoying the simpler pleasures of life back home, but they don't see it the way I see it, and I think I believe one of the comments here where they mentioned about Filipinos being complacent, low self-esteem and such negatives.
I'd love to someday see what Bob and the rest of you LiP readers see and live-in… the beautiful archipelago that is, The Philippines before the virtues and simplicity vanish…
Thank you Bob.
Hi Obei. I think that Bob is right in saying that it is probably the US company and not the US government who "claimed the right" from the example you gave. Also, although this analogy maybe true in many cases, I still believe that giving oneself a reason to have an excuse already made that person lose. There are plenty of reasons but there only needs to be one WILL to make it happen. I can imagine engineers making farming and agriculture profitable by ten folds through proper R&D.
Imagine Coca Cola saying "I can't move on, because I can't make more soda, I just don't have the equipment to do it"… but instead of going that route, they engineered their own production process to make it more cost effective (expensive in the beginning but profitable in the long run) and productive at the same time, thus enabling them to lower their retail cost.
I am not good at examples so I hope this made sense.
yes, I meant the US corporation and not the government. 🙂