Are we Pinoys in Pinas too arrogant to see we could be the problem?

[midinite]

Apologies if the title has come out too harsh. Just to see if you agree or not.

This is due to an article I read in Adobo Magazine (July - Aug 06 issue).

A profile of Paolo Mercado by Cynthia Dayco:

"...For starters, on his own the Filipino can excel in any endeavour overseas, even with nothing more than a local education. But here, among his own people, he wears blinders and imposes limits on his own potential.

'We have grown numbed to a lowering of quality over the years. And this mediocrity is wearing us down,' explains Mercado.

It's the 'pwede na' attitude that pervades the very asphalt of our roads, the classrooms and even the quality of advertising. Within the agency, for example, he has noticed that no one wants to take the responsibilty for something as basic as proofreading.

Since no one wants to take charge, no one gets upset when the typographical error occurs. No one wants to lay the blame on anyone's door, so no one get's penalized for the mistake. Thus no one learns his lesson: to do a better job next time.

...He also emphasizes our need to be more open to the idea or learning from other cultures, and not just that of the First World.

'The Filipino has an inferiority complex masquarading as a superiority complex...In a sense overcompensation. 'Akala mo, hindi mo na maturuan''

So he feels that the Filipino turns a deaf ear to best practices from Brazil, or ideas from the Middle East.

'It's not xenophobia,' Mercado clarifies. 'Simply a resistance to learning. And it keeps the Filipino from shining even more.

'We have to eat come humble pie and admit that we are being left behind at an embarrassingly rapid pace, by the most unexpected of countries and sectors...Vietnam, my God. We're being left behind by Vietnam."

Mercado's interview at Adobo Magazine


...Very interesting. When I left 10 years ago it is very different from when I returned last year to aid in what way I can. I can empathize with him...

What do you think?

[theveed]

'The Filipino has an inferiority complex masquarading as a superiority complex...In a sense overcompensation. 'Akala mo, hindi mo na maturuan''

Hence my repeated annoyance with threads or post that says "Pinoy yan" when it comes to foreigners who made it big tapos may ounce of Filipino blood lang aankinin na (Nicole of Pussycat Dolls, that American Idol Hawaiian girl, etc), unfounded claims like Flores (florescent light)... Everest climbers, BIG FRIGGIN DEAL!?

Ditto with Pacquiao bashers or critics about his personal life eh nung di sya sikat wala sila kapaki-paki sa kanya...

All the media hype with achievements that plays no moral or emotional gains for the country...

All the stupid names they give celebrities "Asian songbird" - SAYS WHO??? "Asia's Premier Band" WHA????

All the "glory" claims of Philippine basketball.. .WHERE??? SEA GAMES???

Parang "World Champions" ng NBA/NFL/MLB yan eh, ikaw lang ang "World".

Misplaced Pride sums it up for me.

[uls]

a pinoy will do good when he is in the company of world class people (like when the pinoy is abroad)

dito kasi, accepted na ang mediocrity. Like when there is wrong spelling or wrong grammar, ano sinasabi ng tao? Same sound naman e. pareho naman ung meaning diba? arte mo naman pareho lang yan...

So imbes na mag strive for perfection ang pinoy, nagiging way of life and mediocrity.

Like pag may pinakabit kang accessories sa car, ung tao na nag iinstall kelangan mo bantayan mabuti. Kung hinde, hindi nya gagawin ng maayos. Like screws that are left untightened, wires that are not connected properly, like sealant na kumalat sa paint etc

i think its coz pinoys here just think that kapwa pinoys don't deserve world class effort coz when a pinoy exerts world class effort here, he will just go unrewarded.

or something called "performing above and beyond the call of duty"... there's no such thing here. Kung ano trabaho ang binabayad sa kanya para gawin nya, yan lang ang gagawin nya.

We have company drivers who will not even change a busted signal light or headlight bulb coz he feels it isnt his job. trabaho daw ng electrician yan. the driver only drives.

Yan ang pinoy. bow.

[midinite]

Like pag may pinakabit kang accessories sa car, ung tao na nag iinstall kelangan mo bantayan mabuti. Kung hinde, hindi nya gagawin ng maayos. Like screws that are left untightened, wires that are not connected properly, like sealant na kumalat sa paint etc

i think its coz pinoys here just think that kapwa pinoys don't deserve world class effort coz when a pinoy exerts world class effort here, he will just go unrewarded.

or something called "performing above and beyond the call of duty"... there's no such thing here. Kung ano trabaho ang binabayad sa kanya para gawin nya, yan lang ang gagawin nya.

We have company drivers who will not even change a busted signal light or headlight bulb coz he feels it isnt his job. trabaho daw ng electrician yan. the driver only drives.

And are there not the whiners? Anyway, kaya naman kasi we have export quality goods? Does the Pinoy do less for his kapwa Pinoy as opposed to a foreigner? Kasi if we made roads outside it would be good...pero dito? O kasalanan din ba ng supervisor?

[oldblue]

a pinoy will do good when he is in the company of world class people (like when the pinoy is abroad)

true. "Hang out with losers, you become a loser." - Donald Trump.

[mazdamazda]

From my point of view...

Most Filipinos doesn't have that drive to go the extra mile in their work. A lot also doesn't want to improve beyond their current skills and/or conditions.

[nicolodeon]

From my point of view...

Most Filipinos doesn't have that drive to go the extra mile in their work. A lot also doesn't want to improve beyond their current skills and/or conditions.

In other words, a lot of Filipinos are complacent - tama na yan, pwede na yan, okay na yan..

Ano ba yan?!

Kaya nga ang tawag sa 'tin eh "The Sick Man of Asia." Biro nyo, 20+ years ago countries like Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea looked up to us as "models"?

As for the Vietnam, yes - napagiiwanan na tayo: by miles. I've travelled there a number of times and I tell you, within the next 5-10 years eh mapagiiiwanan na nila tayo ng husto. Vietnamese, like the Singaporeans, have the...intestinal fortutide to suck-it-up, hunker down and work their assess off collectively. Since these people are always afraid for their country and their race to loose face, they always try their darnest best that this does not happen.

[BoEinG_747]

In other words, a lot of Filipinos are complacent - tama na yan, pwede na yan, okay na yan..

.

madami talaga ganito tao ganyan ang mga katwiran,

may nadinig pa nga ako sa kasama ko after sabhin ang ganyan ay nag salita pa ng basta sumu-sweldo ok na iyon..tsk tsk tsk
kaya ako pag may ginagawa or my pinagagawa talaga double check ko at ayw ko ng back job.at saka di ka dapat makuntento kung ano pa meron ka sa ngayon ,kung may pag kakataon na makakita mas maganda kunin mo ..
Aim for a better

[uls]

From my point of view...

Most Filipinos doesn't have that drive to go the extra mile in their work. A lot also doesn't want to improve beyond their current skills and/or conditions.

Coz they won't get paid more if they did better work.

I know a mechanic who is capable of doing high standard work. But he is only willing to give u high standard work if u pay him good money. pag binarat mo sya, gagawin parin nya, pero ibababa nya standard nya.

Like a pulis. kung sisitahin nya lahat ng naglilitter, hindi naman tataas sweldo nya. Kung huliin nya lahat ng jaywalker, hindi rin tataas ang sweldo nya. Kikilos lang sya pag alam nya may kikitain syang extra.

The pulis will give the public the kind of service only in proportion to the amount he is paid by the govt. So what kind of service is that? Umm... he will stand around (pulis presence) or sit around.

[midinite]

From my point of view...

Most Filipinos doesn't have that drive to go the extra mile in their work. A lot also doesn't want to improve beyond their current skills and/or conditions.

Is the cause of the lack of motivation in-born or environmental?

[kevinp]

Agree ako kay theveed. People who make it big na may kaunting connection are always hyped up in the Philippines. Alex Pagulayan, Jasmine Trias, Rob Schneider, etc. I'll bet that these folks don't even care about the fact that they're Filipinos. Biruin mo, Pagulayan even gets an audience with the President of the country when, in fact, he's just an ordinary CANADIAN citizen.

In contrast, Roger Federer is an established superstar in the Tennis world, but nobody cares that he's "half-South African". He's got a Swiss passport and citizenship and people in both Switzerland and South Africa see him as a Swiss.

[theveed]

Agree ako kay theveed. People who make it big na may kaunting connection are always hyped up in the Philippines. Alex Pagulayan, Jasmine Trias, Rob Schneider, etc. I'll bet that these folks don't even care about the fact that they're Filipinos. Biruin mo, Pagulayan even gets an audience with the President of the country when, in fact, he's just an ordinary CANADIAN citizen.

In contrast, Roger Federer is an established superstar in the Tennis world, but nobody cares that he's "half-South African". He's got a Swiss passport and citizenship and people in both Switzerland and South Africa see him as a Swiss.

Listen to what the Asians in NY said when Chris Rock asked them about Tiger Woods...

Click Here - YouTube

hehe

[kevinp]

Sorry, when I proofread my previous post, parang OT yata.

Anyway, to stick to the topic, tama nga na there is an aura of mediocrity among pinoys. I think it's comparable to a person who's a guest at a friend's house. The guest would normally make an effort to keep things a bit cleaner and tidier than when he's at his own place, pero pag-uwi sa house, tatamarin na to be as clean as he was at the friend's place. To some degree, I think that's human nature, but the fact that there's no effort to change this behaviour is, I believe, a serious character flaw.

[caloyski5]

swak si theveed

[FrankDrebin]

I don't think lahat ng Pinoy ay ganyan. Katulad niyan. Generalization na naman. Pinalalaki lang ng media.

[morrissey_05]

at this point, let me reprint Alex Lacson's 12 things we can
all do for our country. something we can reflect on. pass it around if you want.


1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy Local. Buy Filipino.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

[midinite]

at this point, let me reprint Alex Lacson's 12 things we can
all do for our country. something we can reflect on. pass it around if you want.



5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
.

I am led to believe that Alex Lacson said we should follow all 12 things. Including this rule. We have all gotten so cynical we now just have created a scapegoat of these people failing to realise the important point...they too are people. If you keep treating someone bad...for example if you keep treating a dog like sh**. In due time it will become mean...What more kung tao. These are people who as someone mentioned stay under a hot sun in the rain and are tasked with serving the people...and country. Do we treat them well or...

And speaking of generalising don't we often have ours about these people?

[Chip]

It's the 'pwede na' attitude that pervades the very asphalt of our roads, the classrooms and even the quality of advertising. Within the agency, for example, he has noticed that no one wants to take the responsibilty for something as basic as proofreading.

This really ticks me off.

Pinoys are known for their ingenuity, true. But when ingenuity becomes an excuse to take shortcuts in one's work, "improvising", when in reality all you are doing is cutting corners, it shouldnt be something to be proud of. Like in the examples above, mechanics, construction workers are guilty of this especially since their workmanship is so easily inspected. "Pwede na yan, Di naman halata e. Pwede na yan, nataktakpan naman e."

Pinoys are also known as some of the easiest to please customers in the world, true. This also boils down to the "pwede na yan" mentality. Fly in your soup? "Pwede na yan, dumaan naman sa init e". Your fried chicken still bleeding profusely? "Pwede na yan".

The sad thing is, when you start to assert your rights, to demand excellence, you get labeled as "maarte".

I dont think we have xenophobia, quite the contrary, we have xenophilia.
We love everything imported and everything foreign. Sometimes it embarasses me to see a Filipino trip all over himself trying to be accomodating to foreigners when he cannot even show the same courtesy to his countrymen.

[CtrlAltDel]

...
The sad thing is, when you start to assert your rights, to demand excellence, you get labeled as "maarte".

I noticed that, too. If you try and assert your right, ikaw pa ang masama at wala kang kakampi. You're all alone because the bystanders think maarte ka nga. This is wrong. We lack so much education about our rights.

OT:

Example lang. I bought 3 kilos of bird seed, the tindera measured the weight on the scale which was sitting on the floor. As you can imagine, talo ako sa timbang kasi her view of the scale is from an angle above making the needle look like it's on the 3 kilo mark when in fact it's less than that. Sabi ko pwede ba tingnan mo yung timbang sa eye level? Ang sama pa ng sagot, at tama daw yun. I insisted so she poured a little bit more on the bag BUT only to make me shut up NOT because she agreed it was the right thing to do. Man, we have a lot to learn!

[theveed]

Chip: Regarding fly... Wala pang 5 seconds!