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.

[architect]

that's great

you're dreams came true coz only dream for yourself (where's the patriotism you're trying to project dude?)

who cares about the Phils. diba?

it's easier when you take care of youself nalang

isnt it great to watch what happens to the Phils. from the outside?

nood ka lang ng TFC, check the news on the net

di ka affected diba?

feels good right?

congrats man

you're living your dreams



Ya ngayon alam ko na

It is quite unfair to assume right off the bat that those who leave the country are unpatriotic in the same token it is unfair to deem those who are cynical about our country's state of affairs as uncaring and apathetic.

The harsh reality is that Filipinos are forced to seek greener pastures overseas simply because the lack of economic infrastructure in our country does not provide sufficient opportunities for the vast majority. They are forced to work and stay overseas, often separated from their loved ones, in order to achieve financial stability. I am sure, most OFWs, given the chance to earn the same amount locally, would choose to stay home.

And while ABS-CBN would like us to believe all OFWs watch TFC entertainment fare, there are actually a lot more Filipino ex-pats thinking of how they can help their fellow Filipinos. Of course, we don't hear about the Fil-Am Silicon Valley engineer providing scholarships in his native Vigan. Or the group of nurses providing funding for a clinic in their southern province. Or how Dado Banatao has been pushing for a united Fil-Am business community, albeit not that successfully. Because these are boring stuff repeated over and over. Not sensational, not entertaining but with real-life Filipino beneficiaries.

I am sure there are lots of other Filipinos whose hearts bleed whenever they travel abroad and see how other countries are progressing by leaps and bounds and then only to come back home to bridges that lead to nowhere, voter-rich mega squatter colonies right smack in the metropolis, unbridled pollution, and flash flooding caused by wanton littering.

And another harsh reality is that it is not easy to change these overnight. God knows how many well-meaning souls have attempted, been frustrated by politicians, become exasperated, and finally become cynical. Knowing what they have gone through, I know their cynicism is borne out of downright frustration. Especially since they know the potential.

But if I didn't know better, I would have stupidly judged them as unpatriotic and uncaring.

While the posts in this thread seem to be polarized, the truth is that every single individual participating in this thread cares about the country. If you think about it, all the thoughts have the same underlying emotions, they are merely expressed from different viewpoints borne out of varying experiences.

If and when we all realize these, and I hope we do, then perhaps the discussion can shift to more constructive plan(s) of actions. While it is likely we will never change the world, at least if we are able to change OUR world, even at one step a time, then at least we are on our way.

Just some food for thought.

[badkuk]

Well,its not 90% but only 42%.

oops, my bad

point is, people should come first before nukes. Any government that fails to see that is just f_ked up.

This can be partly explained by their closed and rigid social stratification system called caste system thats why alot of people in India are still poor.

But, still India is now part of the prestigious so-called BRIC countries and among the highly industrialized "developing" countries aside from Brazil, Russian Federation and China.


:peace:

ewan ko lang ha, progressive nga ung China, but progress/development is limited to the key cities. afaik the more "probinsiya" areas are still dirt poor. Russia may also be on the rise, but it also has the highest rates of alcholism and alcoholic-related deaths in the world. And i doubt it that's caussed soley by their harsh winter B)

Anyways...going way OT na...:peace:

[ghosthunter]

ewan ko lang ha, progressive nga ung China, but progress/development is limited to the key cities. afaik the more "probinsiya" areas are still dirt poor.

There will always be "provincial" places anywhere you go. Even in the western areas like Europe and USA, there are under developed places. I don't see it as good or bad.

But the thing with China, those "key cities" shows a rapid development from where they were 10 or 15 years ago. There is a "minor" city called YIWU that I visited this year. It got it's own new airport that opened early this year. That airport is more modern than our NAIA Terminal 2 and it's only meant to handle domestic flights.

There is another city (Xiamen) that I first visited 15 years ago. It had a few narrow concrete roads and other places had narrow asphalt or clay roads. The buildings were old traditional structures. This year, during a day's stopover visit, the city is more modern than Metro Manila. It has 4 to 8 lane roads through the city center with light traffic. It has a system of elevated roads for dedicated buses that run like our M.R.T. (and it costs less than our MRT to setup & operate too). It even has a SM Mall.

[jpdm]

oops, my bad

point is, people should come first before nukes. Any government that fails to see that is just f_ked up.




ewan ko lang ha, progressive nga ung China, but progress/development is limited to the key cities. afaik the more "probinsiya" areas are still dirt poor. Russia may also be on the rise, but it also has the highest rates of alcholism and alcoholic-related deaths in the world. And i doubt it that's caussed soley by their harsh winter B)

Anyways...going way OT na...:peace:

My take, you just cant solve all social problems overnight.

Even the G7 and OECD countries were not able to totally eliminate poverty (now called social exclusion in Europe) and other social ills like unemployment, crime and even suicide (in Japan and Finland, Nordic countries).

Just be optimistic on things like development (socio-eco to political etc.) Take things (problems and limitations) one at a time.

[1D4LV]

^^aba, nakaabot na pala SM sa China....

[jpdm]

There will always be "provincial" places anywhere you go. Even in the western areas like Europe and USA, there are under developed places. I don't see it as good or bad.

But the thing with China, those "key cities" shows a rapid development from where they were 10 or 15 years ago. There is a "minor" city called YIWU that I visited this year. It got it's own new airport that opened early this year. That airport is more modern than our NAIA Terminal 2 and it's only meant to handle domestic flights.

There is another city (Xiamen) that I first visited 15 years ago. It had a few narrow concrete roads and other places had narrow asphalt or clay roads. The buildings were old traditional structures. This year, during a day's stopover visit, the city is more modern than Metro Manila. It has 4 to 8 lane roads through the city center with light traffic. It has a system of elevated roads for dedicated buses that run like our M.R.T. (and it costs less than our MRT to setup & operate too). It even has a SM Mall.

Agree here.

And China should be emulated because they were able to bring hundreds of millions of their people (han, hun, tibetan and other ethnic groups in China etc.)out of poverty in just a few decades and still counting. That's a big accomplishment for a very huge country (pop. largest in the world at 1.3 billion (official). 3rd largest country in the world in terms of land area. (Russia 1st and Canada 2nd) ) always underestimated by the West.

Now, unofficially, its the 2nd largest economy after the US...

It was a slow process for an ancient "primitive" kingdom (rocked by socio-eco-political upheaval) into a galloping modern and industrial state.

Thats development. Slowly but surely. Always with optimism. This great nation always see op****ity in every crisis. No wonder China has the distinction of having the longest running continuous civilization in the world.

[ghosthunter]

^^aba, nakaabot na pala SM sa China....

Actually there are two SM Malls in China that I know of to date.

[badkuk]

points taken sirs. No hope, no life ;)

[ghosthunter]

And China should be emulated because they were able to bring hundreds of millions of their people (han, hun, tibetan and other ethnic groups in China etc.)out of poverty in just a few decades and still counting. That's a big accomplishment for a very huge country (pop. largest in the world at 1.3 billion (official). 3rd largest country in the world in terms of land area. (Russia 1st and Canada 2nd) ) always underestimated by the West.

Now, unofficially, its the 2nd largest economy after the US...

It was a slow process for an ancient "primitive" kingdom (rocked by socio-eco-political upheaval) into a galloping modern and industrial state.

Thats development. Slowly but surely. Always with optimism. This great nation always see op****ity in every crisis. No wonder China has the distinction of having the longest running continuous civilization in the world.

China is it's own market for the goods it manufactures. It definitely helps if you have billions of potential consumers of the goods you produce within your own "backyard". It is also a big help that they are reachable via road or rail. It makes distribution simpler. You can drive for days and you can see kilometers more of good highways to take you anywhere and you can still see more new roads under construction everywhere.

Compare that to the Philippines where our road network is rather lacking in the outer areas. You can see half-done roads waiting for funding. Our inter-island shipping can be crippled simply by the sinking of a single ferry (we have a shipment of goods from the southern philippines that is delayed over a week and a half and counting because of this). Even the transport of certain types of products is hampered by certain levels of red tape that makes it both a headache and expensive to distribute throughout the country.

As for the issue of corruption, at least in China, corrupt government officials are shot after they are convicted of their crimes. This makes them an example for others. In the Philippines, these proven corrupt officials even have the guts to run for president (again!) or sue people for speaking the truth (aside from kidnapping/salvaging them).