From Business Mirror April 24, 2008
[SIZE=3]We must stop Filipino worker migration![/SIZE]

Sure, I know it is not going to happen. And actually, I am not in favor of any sort of ban of this type. But I thought someone should say it at least once.

I am concerned by the evolution that it has taken and the current attitude toward Filipinos leaving the country.


I wrote in these pages two years ago that, “Every nation depends on the vibrancy, literary, commercial, scientific and social dynamism of its youth to make substantial national progress for the future.


Twenty years ago, Thais and Malaysians did not leave their home country. They stayed and built their nation.

Forty years ago, Taiwanese graduates did not go abroad, except for education, and now we provide the manual labor for their economy.”

When you see a large number of Filipino high-school graduates who list as their ambition to get a nursing degree so they can work abroad, you have the makings of a serious long-term problem.


But what if a global economic slowdown shuts the door on Filipino “global citizens”? What if economic isolationist policies become stronger in the First World countries?


What if we see a repatriation of Filipinos forced to give back their jobs because of rising unemployment in the host countries?

The Philippines is not prepared for this possibility, and will be less prepared if we condition our youth that an overseas job not only will be there but also is something one can always expect and plan for.


Perhaps more important on the migration issue, if it does continue through another generation, where does that lead the Philippines?


However, the illogical conclusion of this phenomena may be a time when “WOW Philippines” could mean something entirely different from today.

“World of Workers Philippines: We breed them, we train them, we ship them to your doorstep around the globe.”
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