A Simple Solution to a Worldwide Crisis

[architect]

dude, your decision in sending your kid to Stanford is excellent

that will make him see how small and insignificant and unimportant the Philippines is in the grand scheme of things

Actually it was his decision to go to Stanford. I have always told my kids - it is their lives. They are the ones who have to llive it. So they decide where they want to study for college.

Anyways, my son has been fortunate enough to have traveled, studied (short-term), and lived in China three times before, as well as spent his summers and Christmas in the USA. And I totally agree with you. He has come to realize just how inconsequential Philippines is in the scheme of things.

But know what? He has also spent time with NGOs helping the poor and the victimized. He knows it is next to impossible to change the country overnight. But you know what he told me? "Papa, if I can change the world of one person - help him get a better future - it is a good start." And I totally agree with him.

i'm not always bearish

my bearishness is location specific

if you have big dreams and you're at the right place, great things can happen

if you have big dreams and you're stuck here, you can only go so far

the best drivers go to F1

the best actors go to Hollywood

the best pool players and boxers compete at Las Vegas

Very true. As I have always told my staff and scholars - the best are recession-proof and are always in demand.

Now can Filipinos be the best in the world? Definitely and in various disciplines - in sports we have Paeng Nepomuceno, Manny Pacquio, Efren Reyes, Bustamante, etc. In computer animation, practically all major studios have Filipino artists. In IT, we have the likes of Dado Banatao. I am sure we have other excellent Filipinos in other fields - I only mentioned those I am familiar with.

Now does it matter if they have to go abroad to practice their trade? Yes and no. It depends on the individual and his/her family. Actually it is the same with OFWs - if they want to be abused by their families, it is their perogative, which unfortunately seems to be the trend. Yet there are also some who have managed to uplift their living standards through simple collective prudence.

An important thing is to bring back what they have learned and earned into the mother country. Of course, it is optional. And that's where the Philippines is different from its neighboring countries. US-trained Chinese are always encouraged to go back to China to transfer technology. Ditto for Indians, Koreans, and Taiwanese. A lot do - either for fortune or for sheer love of country.

Filipinos? Most of those I have met would rather stay in the US, even as illegal aliens. Even our own corrupt politicians invest their ill-gotten loot overseas, with an eye of migrating their families eventually. It speaks a lot about how our so-called leaders regard our country. That's why I don't blame my friends who have given up and have become so cynical. And they are not even involved in government affairs!

i don't care how much positive thinking one has

i don't care how many inspirational and motivational quotes one memorized.

It is not so much as memorizing them than truly living them. It is the same thing with so-called devout Catholics who regularly go to Sunday Mass but once outside act like they are demon-possessed.

Thinking positive is only the first step.Unfortunately motivational posters don't tell the whole story.

Planning your steps and executing them are obvious requisite steps as well. But for the half or barely educated Filipinos, of which there are a lot, they see a Think Positive poster, and not knowing any better, equate positive thinking with daydreaming. And we all know what you get when you daydream too much - bangungot. And I agree with you - with so many poor Filipinos daydreaming too much (trying to win the lotto, trying out the game shows for instant fortune, etc) the entire country is in a collective state of bangungot. Sadly, it takes a lot of effort not to be cynical about our state of affairs.

if you're stuck here in these poor Pacific islands, your just a midget

even if you're the tallest midget

you're still a midget

Well, for better or for worse, everyone's starting point is what life has dealt you. If you are born black you are black your whole life - well, maybe with the exception of Michael Jackson.

Is that fair? I believe the answer depends on your outlook and situation. I am sure there are countless Pacific midgets cursing their lot in life. Some might even dream everyday they will wake up, transformed into Lebron James. But I am also sure there are some tall blacks somewhere in the world mad at their fate, just as I am sure there are Caucasians, Chinese, Koreans, Spaniards, Mexicans, et al dissatisfied with who they are, where they are and live everyday wishing they were somebody else in someplace else.

The point is most of us are never satisified with our situation, with our lives. Of course, for those of us who seem to have a lot material-wise, it is so easy to assume the poor hate their lives - especially the urban poor. But try talking to the so-called rural "poor" and you might be in for a surprise. Some even pity us - the stereotyped urban professionals who are so hararassed and stressed out that they have to go to rural, tranquil places to relax. We have to endure traveling for hours to get to their place - where they live comfortably and happily on a daily basis. No stress, no fatigue, etc.

Of course, based on our standards and what we are used to, we would shudder to even think of exchanging places with them. No internet (meaning no Tsikot), no air-conditioning, no regular massages, etc. But it is the same with them. They wouldn't even consider moving to Manila.

So to us a midget might be a midget. But if the midget is perfectly happy with his life, and is successful in his realm, who are we to assume he is miserable because he is a midget?

For all we know, when he looks at us and looks at our cynical expressions, he might even take pity on us and laugh at our misfortune of being too tall.