Over in the food blog, two separate entries spawned some discussions about tortilla presses. I’m looking for one, some readers gave advice as to where I can buy one, another suggested that, since it isn’t hard to make one, I can have a karpintero do it for me. I replied to the latter that with the very skilled carpenters having flown out of the country to become OFWs, there is a dearth of good carpenters among those that remain. And while most of them are okay with simple projects, something with moving parts might be problematic.
Even good cabinet makers are hard to come by. And the good ones don’t take small projects. They prefer major projects. Like do an entire kitchen. Or an entire bedroom. Hire one to make a tortilla press for a few hundreds and he probably won’t even pick up his phone.
So have someone make a tortilla press? I think not, unless there is an exact model to copy from. But if I have to buy a tortilla press that a carpenter can copy from, why hire a carpenter to make a copy, right, when I have the real thing already?
We live in a generation of overseas workers. But the dearth of skilled workers left in the country is just one of the many consequences. The discussion about the tortilla press made me think about a neighbor whose entire family is financially dependent on an overseas worker. A young couple with two toddlers. The guy’s father owns the newly-built house they live in, the father works abroad, the couple living in the house are both unemployed. The husband spends most days drinking with similarly unemployed neighbors (yeah, lots of OFW families here). Other residents have complained about them; one even called the barangay once because of a drunken ruckus.
I understand that overseas workers are lauded as heroes. I don’t agree with the label but I understand that they prop up an economy that would have collapsed long ago were it not for the remittances they send regularly to their families back home. But the system has also bred a culture of dependency. There are families that make good use of those remittances by putting up small businesses so that if the one working overseas is laid off, or if his contract ends and there isn’t a new one immediately lined up, there would still be a viable source of income for the family.
But what about those like my neighbors who spend and spend the remittances and nay a thought on what will happen when the money stops coming?
And what happens to the economy when this generation of overseas workers pass on and the next generation is made of drunks with no skills because they spent their youth as dependents whose only skill is to drink and be merry?
I totally agree with you that in the next generation there will be more “tamads” since many families have been disrupted by the OFW phenomenon: 1)kids are not properly guided by their parents who are working abroad.They are left with relatives or friends most of whom doesn’t really care about them 2)kids become materialistic equating love with the “pasalubongs”of their OFW parents.They shower their kids with material things to make up for their absences 3)kids copy the “dependency culture”they see around.The remaining parent/relative usually doesn’t know how to handle the money coming from abroad and spends like there is no tomorrow.Aren’t you surprise how all these big malls survive in this economy?Extended families live from what their OFW relative remits.4)and if on the other hand, their kids go to college, guess what courses they take?those that are in demand abroad.I mean we forgot to teach our students how to be self sufficient, be entrepeneurs and excel.I dont see many Filipino scientists anymore. Filipinos are brilliant.We were once the tiger of Asia.Once upon a time, we taught the Thais on agriculture(rice production) at the IRRI in Los Banos and look where Thailand is now.Do you know that at present there are many Indonesians studying medicine and taking up ther residencies here?And what does it mean,we train people of other countries and in the future it will leave us with no skills to pass on to our future generation.Look at all the Koreans coming now to study English here and yet we forget to teach our own.This is really sad.We(especially the govt) should all do something to remedy this.
And yet the government encourages the export of labor instead of going in the direction of self-sufficiency.
I don’t know why we can’t be self-sufficient. We are an agricultural country and the first step towards real independence is self-sufficiency which, basically, just means we should be able to feed ourselves. Once that is a reality, progress follows.
Ewan ko nga ba. The government would rather laud the OFW culture and the call center industry. Might be the short-term solutions but long term? We lose.
These are 2 different sections in the economy (1)production and (2)services.
The production side specifically agriculture has always crop devastation problems due to bad weather conditions before the produce can be harvested. Organizational and business skills of the farmers have not been elevated to such high level like in the western counterpart that they can:
1. effectively form corporations that can better negotiate in the acqusition of farm equipment and fertilizer.
2. pool goods into centralized warehousing and marketing to stabilize supply.
3. cut middlemen who prey and set farm prices.
On the services, the call center and BPO model is one way to keep our manpower pool locally instead of losing them out to countries who can pay them better. There is always brain drain in professional services because rich countries are willing to pay higher money. To keep the needed skills available in the country, both the government and education department should initiate and maintain a program and make it easy for returning OFWs and retirees in a pool of part-time teachers either in public or private schools.
We only lose if no action is taken.
It’s only the government, particularly Arroyo’s, that calls OFWs as modern-day heroes. As you rightfully said, OFWs’ remittances (that officially reached more than $16 billion last year) keeps the economy afloat. Of course, it’s all lip service. The Arroyo government has perfected the art of ‘pambobola’.
In fact, the government treats OFWs probably worse than ordinary citizens in the country. Most OFWs are forced to work abroad due to lack of local employment opportunities. No mother or father would leave her family to work in a mostly hostile foreign country if she/he has the opportunity to earn decently to support the family back home. And when they face serious employment and other problems in their host countries, the government in most cases fail to provide them the needed help.
The government has also turned them into milking cows via the detested Phil. Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). It has been reported that one of the major sources of GMA’s election funds is POEA, the reason why in all these years the agency never issues any financial report about the funds, probably running now in billions, collected from OFWs in the form of membership dues, health insurance, etc.
Unfortunately, I think that until a competent, honest government takes over the country and better job opportunities are created, this OFW phenomenon will continue. So too with the concomitant brain drain and social costs (broken families, wayward children, etc.)
in t
Actually, it’s media that first called them modern-day heroes, not the government.
Thanks for the correction, Connie. I take it as a fact, you being in the media. GMA has always parroted OFWs as ‘modern-day heroes’, the reason why in my mind (and probably most other people’s minds) the term has stuck as another fabrication of the government.
Well, just like it was media too that first called Pacquiao “pambansang kamao.”
So phil, what is wrong if GMA or anybody, including me, calling the OFWs as modern heroes?
“It’s only the government, particularly Arroyo’s, that calls OFWs as modern-day heroes. As you rightfully said, OFWs’ remittances (that officially reached more than $16 billion last year) keeps the economy afloat. Of course, it’s all lip service. The Arroyo government has perfected the art of ‘pambobola’.”
Phil, What do you mean by that? What is the lip service and pambobola? I supposed there is the data to support the S16 B dollar remittances from OFW. So what is the lip service and pambobola or you just want to politicized the issue at GMA’s expense?
Rate of unemployment is not unique to our country. It’s every country’s problem particularly this present time. The way I observed it, Filipinos are resilient and flexible. Look around on how we cope with unemployment (including me). Again, the way I observed it, the real pambobola is from those who are saying more and more Filipinos are unemployed. When they were shown the data on how many jobs are created to ease unemployment. What did those doomsayers say – “they’re not quality jobs”. Jeez!!
It reminds me when I’ve watched this tabloid ch 2 morning show last year. The topic was shortage of local nursing staff due to brain drain. This nagmamarunong Tunying “Pilipino to Chinese Time Interpreter” Taberna’s simplistic (or simpleton) solution for the brain drain – increase the nurses’s minimum wage!
Sinalo na lang ni Edu na ang dapat ay required ang mga nursing graduate to serve for a time locally before going oversea for work.
“…or you just want to politicized (sic) the issue at GMA’s expense?”. Sorry, I don’t even need to ‘politicize’ any issue at GMA’s or anybody’s expense. GMA herself has damaged her own and her administration’s reputation beyond repair, though the damage she has inflicted on the country and its institutions may yet hopefully be salvaged by a future, honest government.
Economic statistics (employment, GDP, data on remittances, etc.) are all available publicly for anybody to see (BSP, NEDA websites). Read also other sources (UP, Ateneo economic reports) and make your own analysis and conclusions.
On OFWs as modern-day heroes, I already clarified that in my post below. For reports on OFW abuses (rapes, torture, maltreatment, contract violations) check your news archives; there were so many reported last year and the previous years. And go to Migrante and other OFW organization websites. There, you can read for yourself what GMA has ‘done’ for the welfare of OFWs. Then conclude for yourself what I meant by lip service and pambobola.
She damaged her own reputation beyond repair? Well of course that is your opinion.
My own opinion is, GMA based on those data that are available, has performed better economic wise than her predecessors. If she’s really inflicted that damage in our country as you are portraying, just like Marcos and Erap, baka sa kankungan sya pinulot. Why it did not happen?
Take this one for example:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/12/16/09/president-arroyo-philippine-economy-better-shape-i-found-it
How about your example? I mean not just a generalization based on your anecdotal experience.
“If she’s really inflicted that damage in our country as you are portraying, just like Marcos and Erap, baka sa kankungan sya pinulot. Why it did not happen?”
Just because it did not happen doesn’t mean she’s better than Marcos & Erap. You have to remember what happened after Erap was ousted and the events that transpired during Greedy Arroyo’s watch. The people became disillusioned with those frequent Edsa thing and finally realized they are just being taken by trapos and people with vested interest who always benefits when there is change of power.
You must be joking. You take as an example of GMA performing better economic wise her own words in an interview? If you trust and take as truth the utterances of an inveterate liar, then it’s hopeless to have any discussion. You ask me for my specific examples? There are hundreds of more reliable, honest assessments/reports out there, all available in the internet. Of course, if you’re only interested to look for all reports praising your idol, walang mangyayari.
“…baka sa kankungan siya pinulot.” Sure; di lang sa kankungan, sa kulungan pa, if the next government will seriously pursue her crimes against the people.
Pero mahirap imulat ang mga mata ng mga nagbubulag-bulagan. Hello Garci…are you still there?
The “economic performance” ek-ek of Greedy Arroyo is an oasis, a facade, a fallacy, a propaganda. You know why? They have to show something as a cover, as an accomplishment. Without that slogan there would be nothing to talk about Greedy Arroyo’s performance except scandals, corruption and greed..
Well, those are your opinions and allegations. Everybody is welcome to it. It’s free. So Phil, sampolan mo nga ako ng link mo comparing GMA’s economic performance with her predecessors. According to you, there are hundreds of them that are available. Refute her claim in that interview. Show your data rather than relating to me your generalization based on your anecdotal observation.
BTW, GMA is not my idol. I’m not just carried by unsubstantiated allegations and innuendos which are reeking with political motivation.
See, Jonas, “scandals, corruption and greed” are big words. But without specific provable allegations, they’re just propaganda.
Trosp puts it well when he says: “GMA is not my idol. I’m not just carried by unsubstantiated allegations and innuendos which are reeking with political motivation.”
My sentiments, exactly.
Ms. Connie the man on the street, the ordinary people needs no ‘specific probable allegations’. They’re no lawyers nor judges. Those are for the courts to decipher and decide. If they read and hear that Greedy Arroyo called Garcillano and she denied it at first and later on apologized for it do we still insist on “specific probable allegation” and “innuendos” for that? What’s important is people have an idea of what’s happening around them. They may not be exactly right but at least they know what’s out there.
Whether or not Trosp idolized Greedy Arroyo is immaterial. In times like we have right now, you don’t play neutral or you don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear on what’s goin’ on. If we do that we’ll always experience the Ampatuans in our lives.
Ms. Connie the man on the street, the ordinary people needs no ’specific probable allegations’.
Anong “specific probable allegations”? Walang ganun. I said “specific PROVABLE allegations.” Iba yun.
So, whatever “”specific probable allegations” may be, let’s follow that standard? Susmaryosep. What are we discussing for? Let’s just oust every government official that are PERCEIVED to be corrupt and guilty. Hayan ka na naman sa “What’s important is people have an idea of what’s happening around them.” Eh that’s precisely the problem. NO ONE KNOWS THE WHOLE TRUTH. The ones who claim they do, nagmamarunong lang. And having “an idea of what’s happening around them” is enough for them to pass on the guilt or innocence of every person in government? *Shakes head* Heck, I hope you’re one of a kind with that thinking.
I’m still waiting for your data where GMA has failed in his economic program. Show the readers of this blog your links refuting my claim.
Mahirap siguro yung puro daldal. Are you fact deficient?
People want to work abroad. The gov’t. can either stop or allow them to do so. But since we have plenty of labor the market cannot absorb all of them. That’s only a part of the story. A lot of Filipinos, since the 80′s, prefer to work abroad because of the attractive pay compared at home. It really cannot be avoided unless the gov’t will stop it. But I don’t the gov’t. is that crazy to do that because it doesn’t have the capability to provide jobs locally.
Can we be self-sufficient? Maybe yes, maybe no. Defending on who is answering. If I am to answer that question based on what’s happening on the ground, I would say that we may be self-sufficient in theory only. Why did I say that? People will do what they want to and we cannot force. If sufficiency lies in the agriculture but people don’t want to do it and the gov’t. does not lift a finger to push it nothing is going to happen.
I understand the social ills that accompanies the absence of every parent/s in the home because of overseas jobs. But it is what it is. People, with or without gov’t. assistance, will be force to rely on themselves to fend of and combat the risks and the problems that comes with it. Eventually, we reap what we sow.
Ang haba nung sinabi mo. Ano point mo na nga?
Ang point po e natural ang mga pangyayari at epekto ng mga ito.
Na kagustuhan ng mga tao ‘yung mga ginagawa nila dahil na rin sa limitasyon sa loob ng bansa na nagpapalala ng kanilang kalagayan. Na tali ang kamay ng gobyerno dahil sa kainutilan at kawalan ng kakayahang ibigay ang kailangan ng mga mamamayan.
Sa madaling salita Ms. Connie, bilang isang nagmamasid sa ating lipunan, nakikita ko o natin na ang mga nangyayari ay dahil na rin sa kahirapan ng buhay at kagustuhan ng tao na maibsan itong kahirapan na ‘to.
Oo, merong masamang epekto ang paraang ginagawa ng mga tao subalit ‘yan ay kaakibat at kadalasan ay tanggap na ng mga tao bilang parte ng sakripisyo.
Inutil ang pamahalaan dahil wala naman talagang buto ‘yung “self-sufficiency” na tinatawag. Isang saranggola lamang ‘yon na masarap tanawin sa itaas ng himpapawid pero wala naman talagang katuturan sa lupa. Isa lamang slogan ‘yon na ginagamit tuwing eleksyon o kaya pampapogi ng mga politico. Sa papel, oo, pwede tayong maging self-sufficient pero sa katotohanan maraming balakid at problema ang nakahambalang para maisakatuparan ang pagiging self-sufficient natin.
Mabulaklak ang mga salita mo pero ang pagmamasid ay walang katuturan kung walang tamang assessment and analysis.
It’s for this reason that shopping malls have flourished every where in the country. Spend it all away instead of investing it in the local economy. Never mind that the country’s human resources have been taken down to its knees along with the economy, as long as most have their latest gadgets and fill of Starbucks coffee, there’s nothing to complain.
Unmindful spending seems to be the rule when talking money earned by someone else. Ganun yata talaga eh. Unless you exerted effort to earn money, you never really appreciate its worth. So for those that simply wait for monthly remittances, it’s easy to just spend. Why not, more will arrive next month.
I don’t see anything wrong in calling the OFWs modern day heroes. Who started to call them such is also immaterial to me. I think what we, gov’t., private sector, etc, should focus on is how to combat the negative effects of the people’s absence at home because they are working abroad.
Nobody says it’s wrong to call OFWs modern-day heroes. If only for the fact that their hard-earned remittances have been propping up the economy all these years, they deserve the accolade (indeed what a lucky bitch, this Malacanang occupant, though she unashamedly credits her economic policies, whatever they are, for the economic stability).
What is wrong is paying lip service to the term, using it only as a propaganda tool to gain ‘pogi’ points come election time. Recall that TV ad showing a presidential candidate, with several OFWs in tow, bragging how he saved them from oppression in foreign lands and flew them back to the country at his expense. Or GMA, TV crew on hand, doling out ‘kalamay’ and other small freebies to arriving OFWs at NAIA last Christmas.
Yet, go to the basement (yes, basement!) of the POEA Bldg in Ortigas and you will see thousands of OFWs lined up for hours, wasting precious time out of their limited vacation, to pay for several fees – to which pocket they go, nobody knows. Without paying the fees, they won’t be allowed to depart from NAIA. Dinudugasan na nga, pinahihirapan pa. Buti pa ang talagang holdap, mabilis lang.
Indeed, it would be good if concerned civil society groups/NGOs spare some of their efforts to come up with programs for OFWs and their families to lessen the negative impact of this Pinoy diaspora, teach them on spending/investing wisely, reintegration, entrepreneurship, etc.
Filipino workers abroad also need to think twice about how they want their earnings spent. Many have tried starting up businesses and we have a lot of success stories na naging milyonaryo after spending a few years working abroad. But entrepreneurship is also not for everyone, marami rin sumubok mamuhunan sa negosyo pero nalugi kaya after a few years kailangan na naman tumanggap ng kontrata sa ibang bansa. Buti ngayon maraming mga investment facilities for OFWs but very few have accessed such facilities. Apart from having too much of an OFW culture, we also have too little a culture of saving and investment.
“And what happens to the economy when this generation of overseas workers pass on and the next generation is made of drunks with no skills because they spent their youth as dependents whose only skill is to drink and be merry?”
Hmm. Drink + merry = children? Children who they can send abroad to work and depend on for financial support. It’s just the globalization version of folks in far flung baryos sending at least one of their children to big cities to work as factory workers or house helpers or salesladies in tiangges and department stores.
And thanks to catholic guilt and filipino culture of utang-na-loob, it’s a vicious cycle, with no end in sight.
“It’s just the globalization version of folks in far flung baryos sending at least one of their children to big cities to work as factory workers or house helpers or salesladies in tiangges and department stores.”
You are so right. That’s a very good way of contextualizing the OFW phenomenon and the dependency culture that we see. Makes us realize that the dependency has always been there, and we’re just seeing from a new perspective.
totally true! its okay to help our families of course but not to the extent of making them overly dependent. we have practiced this value of familial piety and utang na loob in a way that is not helpful. we should live by example of this saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
btw, i’m a social worker by profession and this topic has been included in our discussions when i was in college and still up to now has been a continuing issue. its so sad to know that it has not been properly dealt with. ang dami ng problema sa mundo. i think its time that we take some actions and not just rely on the government alone. each one of us is accountable to contribute positive change even in our small ways. we could start by modifying some of our values and attitudes and by being a good example to others. i think its not so dificult to do if we just know how to discpline ourselves.
That’s one reason why I don’t like dole-outs, even in the form of charitable donations. Same thing why I can’t support government projects like free bag of rice etc. Hand a hungry person some cash and the moment it’s spent, he’ll just go hungry again.
i would agree on that. it does not address the core issues of the problem. our social welare system here in the philippines really sucks as compared to other countries.i just hope that future public officials would not just focus only in creating infrastructure projects (i.e. roads, foot bridges, buildings) but also on social services which would address poverty alleviation.
regarding on dole-outs most LGU’s does not practice that nowadays. i’m not really sure as to what their programs are coz i’m connected with an NGO.