Live in the Philippines

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The Land of Promise

Language Learning, Video / by

I live in the Land of Promise.  That is the name that Mindanao is called by many people.  Why?  Well, because of the abundant natural resources, especially when it comes to growing food for the country.  Mindanao truly is the bread basket of the Philippines.  I was shown some statistics a while back showing that Mindanao grows a huge percentage of all of the food for the country!

But, what about the people who work as farmers in Mindanao?  Are they treated fairly?  Are they appropriately rewarded for their efforts in feeding the country?  Most people would agree that these people are not paid fairly, and actually live in hunger and poverty in most cases.  Much of the food production in Mindanao is also grown for export, such as pineapples that are grown by huge multinational companies.  The famous brands of canned pineapple grow much of their fruit here in Mindanao, using Mindanaoans to do the work.  Yet, these people are generally not paid well or even treated well by their employers.

Some of my own family has even worked for these large fruit growing companies over the years.  In fact, one of my brothers-in-law told me that he used to work for a very large American company, working in the fields.  He did tell me that working for an American company, he  was treated better than people doing the same job for some other companies that were owned and operated by Filipinos and also by other nationalities.  I recently came across a video on YouTube showing about food growers, and pineapple growers specifically.  I found the video to be interesting and wanted to share it with you.

One of the things that I enjoy about the video, as a side benefit, is that parts of it are in Bisaya (with English subtitles) and I enjoyed listening to the pure Bisaya, as here in Davao the language is often mixed with Tagalog.  Since I can speak Bisaya, it is nice to hear it spoken so purely, the way that I learned it.  If you want to learn how to speak Bisays, I would encourage it greatly, it is fun and rewarding.

What do you think about the treatment of the workers, as described in the video?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Hi Bob, yes very bad for the workers. Some of these chemicals are very bad, I have now gone off pineapples.
    Its so sad to see hardworking people being treated so badly.

  4. I could go on for hrs but I wont. I will say it is the same the whole world over in the farm and food biz. And all of life really. The govt. The corps. And the consumers all have a hand in this. Real wages have dropped everywhere in the world. Especially farmers and those that work the farms. Not just mindinao. Awareness is rising our food supply sucks. Period. It is killing us all. I hope change begins soon. But as long as people want inexpensive food it will not. Anyways I like the video. And now you know why I will be growing my own food for me and my family when I get there.

    • I am desperately trying to achieve food self sufficiency here but you know what!?
      It’s impossible to be 100% food self sufficient here.
      You can grow some of the fruits and vegetables and you can even sell some of it, but for the rest, like rice, camotes or cassawa, it takes too much energy and money to make it.

      • I can see where living completely off the land would be quite difficult. I know that for me it would be pretty much impossible. I applaud you to be able to at least put a dent in it.

  5. So sad that such gentle people are being treated so badly.. its the same though with the big chocolate producers. And the coffee producers .and mining companys.
    I am eternally thankful that God is keeping just records .

  6. after my graduation from flight school…i went to bukidnon….delmonte corp…pineapple & bamana plantation to build my flying time….6 months later….i have to quit my job coz i see people getting sick as i sprayed DDT pesticides….i said to myself….i’m killing these people coz of what i do….

  7. Hi Bob.

    In simplified terms, bottom line as the narrator stated, “Will the multinational corporations ever be able to put profit over people?”
    Non-union workers who have sold their land have little recourse but to keep on working.
    These health and unfair labor practices are not new issues of course and have been happening among farmers and migrant workers to for a long time all over the world.
    The organic bananas here I would think, are also dependent on how much the consumer is willing to pay for organic produce to make it profitable. Are bananas in the Philippines presently exported to other countries?

    Sugar cane production here in Cebu ahare many similar issues I would think too.

    In Cebu independent farmers are now being encouraged to grow crops in different ways and also using organic methods to fertilize and protect their crops. Local consumers are driving the demand here they said. Some farmers though, are reluctant to farm in a way that they are not used to, as they sometimes feel that they won’t get the same yields without pesticides. I think that this will work itself out though, and lead to more organic vegetables sold here in Cebu.

    This is a tough situation for Mindanao and I’m not sure how or if it will be resolved.

    On the topic of the Bisaya Bob, why is it that they are speaking pure Bisaya there in that part of Mindanao? Are certain provincial areas not speaking the “blended” way that they do in Davao and other areas? It was nice to hear it.

  8. Made me sad but more than that upset. Upset at the horrid injustice by these huge companies. The use of the chemical Endosulfan is so wrong, especially when banned in the West. Profits over people! Love Filipino’s and love the beauty and diversity of the country.

  9. Bob,
    It’s very sad and unfortunate that people have to be treated like that in this day and age. Money is always put above everything. I myself prefer organic produce and other products when possible. Shipped several organic products over in boxes. Organic products in the US are becoming very competitive with standard products price wise. If they made the prices more affordable here for organic i think you would see more people switch. PalawanBob, Camote’s and Cassava’s grow very easily and are everywhere in our subdivision.

    • Hi Papaduck – Interesting that you were able to ship in organic products. I thought that most fresh products like fruits and veggies could not be brought past customs?

  11. Hi Bob,
    I am not surprised by this video. My wife’s grandfather work for one of the American companies on a pineapple plantation. He developed bone cancer and passed away sometimes in 2001. I feel it was tied into him being exposed to the chemicals used there. I regret I never got to meet him. I have heard from others how bad it is to work on these plantations. Makes me feel ashamed that an American company treats their employees so badly.

  12. Hi Bob, lnteresting video it’s so annoying how good hard working people
    Are treated in the 21 century, but we all know it goes on from the big multinational corporations mainly American and British companies to local companies, and its
    All down to greed or profit, yes things are changing but at a very slow pace
    Maybe these types of videos should be made to be played in supermarkets
    Across the western countries to get a better deal for these people,
    Educate people to why their food is so cheap, Derek in pasig.

    • Derek,
      Greed and Profit are two different things. Companies are in business to make a profit and they are not a nonprofit charity. If they do not make a profit they go out of business. The real problem causing this is supply and demand. There is a under supply of jobs and a over supply of workers. So the over demand for the few jobs leads to a low demand for workers. This causes wages to be low. How can this be fixed? The Philippine government could step in and force better wages, but that might make the companies move out. Or they could make the climate for doing business in the country a bit more attractive. Attracting new businesses would be very good for the economy. Thus lowering the demand for jobs and decreasing the supply of workers. This would make the other companies compete for the workers and raise wages. It’s not always about greed sometimes it’s just economics.

      • Hi Scott D, the point I was trying to make was these companies could treat
        Their workers better, I know that they are there to make a profit I ran my own
        Business for over 35 years very successfully that’s why I retired at 52 ,
        I think sometimes I say things in the heat of the moment it just gets to me
        How we treat our fellow human beings ,thanks for your comments,
        Derek in pasig.

        • Hi Derek,
          I do agree with you they could treat the workers better. But it will not happen unless something drastic happens. The number crunchers and other decision makers do not live or have ever visited the Philippines. They look at numbers and make their decisions based on production. That is the difference between the company you started and the one they work for. You were personally involved and I commend you for that. My family started a successful tire store chain and wholesale operation. I worked in it from the time I was 14 till I was 36. We decided to sell it due to my dad developing health issues. We treated our employees good as they were like family to us. Big corporations lose this and become disconnected. Only when they have to compete for employees will that change. They need competition for employees. The Philippine Govt is what is holding competition back with its regulations and rules.

          • There was an article in the Bohol paper that talked about Bohol having the highest minimum wage in the central Visayans. Which is true. However, when I asked the employees at a resort about the minimum wage article they said that wasn’t true.

            So, whose is right? The article or the employee. Well, they both are. Seems the minimum wage here is only on paper and not a law.

            The employees are paid well below minimum wage. However, they are just happy to have a job. So there really isn’t a law dictating a wage, right?

              • The biggest resorts here, like Hennan, and the malls don’t pay minimum wage. Those that do must be businesses like SM or Ayala which aren’t on Bohol.

                When I asked the local newspaper editor about the minimum wage he said if the employee took the job, below the minimum wage, then there wasn’t anything wrong with what the business did.

              • One employee we talked to has worked for the resort for 7 years. He still doesn’t make minimum wage. Is someone whose worked for a resort as a waiter, etc. for 7 years a contractual employee?

                In the States don’t all companies have to pay at least minimum wage?

              • In the States restaurants have a different minus wage, only about $2/hr. The rest comes from tips.

                A person who has been with the same company should be regular and be making mini wage, that is my understanding.

  13. This is why the Philippine govt must get a hold on these companies. But I have a feeling pockets are fleeced and things overlooked by corrupt officials and big money… I hear that Monsanto was trying to get into the RP. Thank God that hasn’t happened and I hope it never will. But no need to stop eating these fruits/veggies. Just make a decision to by organic and local. Cant do too much about the exporting but somehow these peoples voices should be heard in Manila! Not only of the treatment but also the destruction of the land. After all these companies don’t care since its not their land. once the land is screwed up, they will simply move to another poor country and continue destroying land and people without regard.

  14. Protest picketing didn’t work…. they should lite that land ablaze.. burn it down, then maybe that will get some attention and their voices be heard!