Sow and Reap
It really appears that there are a lot people sowing in the country and only a few are reaping.
What I heard sometime during the last elections on the radio really got to me. There was a typical working man commenting on a AM radio show and he said: "Hindi naman po kami tamad, bakit hindi pa rin kami uaasenso?" ("We are not lazy. So why are our lives not improving?")
That question so cuts through the core of what is hapenning today that I bet, even the wisest of economists, the President included, cannot give a a straight answer to such a simple question.
The most existential answer I got to this question came from a retired Hong Kong based engineer who plays violin at our neighborhood choir. "Perhaps God wants the Philippines (and Filipinos) to be perpetually poor so we would never forget Him."
But I'm not talking at the level. At least not yet.
That sentiment is no longer exclusive to the working man. Personally, I too, have that feeling. The hours put in is no longer equal to the compensation given. And the rising cost of living, gives us extra pressure.
I think society's value of work has already been skewed into unbelievable distortions. You see college educated waiters, but at the same time you see undergrad people who make a living being slapped around in some TV show earning more money and acquiring flashier stuff than that college educated waiter.
You see CEOs being paid unbelievably obscene salaries, money that they can never spend in their lifetimes, when in the end, they are being paid just to order workers around. Then you see workers virtually committing suicide for their jobs, being paid only half of what they and their families need.
Now, even a law degree is no guarantee of economic prosperty. Believe me, I know. We're becoming a dime a dozen.
That is why going abroad becomes so aluring. There, it appears that what you reap is still reasonably commensurate to what you sow. But I don't know if this is true. Never worked abroad.
I believe this society has placed too much value on entertainment. It has already become a drug. Never mind growing hungry and/or having instant noodles everyday for the entire family, as long as we can watch our daily fix of soap operas and/or watch a bunch of people living in an aquarium.
I likewise believe that the Philippines has already acquired first world values. Such values in a third world country is a recipe for disaster.
I also believe there is too much inequality. The irony of it is, the only people who get rich in this country are the people with money to begin with.
And the rich may not want to share their wealth (and just wants to acquire more). As if they could ride two cars and live in two mansions at exactly the same time. As if wearing two gold Rolexes will become fashionable someday.
And even if the rich do want to share, they don't know how. And whether what they share will truly have an impact in society.
This has to end. But I don't know how. So I'm just writing about it.
What I heard sometime during the last elections on the radio really got to me. There was a typical working man commenting on a AM radio show and he said: "Hindi naman po kami tamad, bakit hindi pa rin kami uaasenso?" ("We are not lazy. So why are our lives not improving?")
That question so cuts through the core of what is hapenning today that I bet, even the wisest of economists, the President included, cannot give a a straight answer to such a simple question.
The most existential answer I got to this question came from a retired Hong Kong based engineer who plays violin at our neighborhood choir. "Perhaps God wants the Philippines (and Filipinos) to be perpetually poor so we would never forget Him."
But I'm not talking at the level. At least not yet.
That sentiment is no longer exclusive to the working man. Personally, I too, have that feeling. The hours put in is no longer equal to the compensation given. And the rising cost of living, gives us extra pressure.
I think society's value of work has already been skewed into unbelievable distortions. You see college educated waiters, but at the same time you see undergrad people who make a living being slapped around in some TV show earning more money and acquiring flashier stuff than that college educated waiter.
You see CEOs being paid unbelievably obscene salaries, money that they can never spend in their lifetimes, when in the end, they are being paid just to order workers around. Then you see workers virtually committing suicide for their jobs, being paid only half of what they and their families need.
Now, even a law degree is no guarantee of economic prosperty. Believe me, I know. We're becoming a dime a dozen.
That is why going abroad becomes so aluring. There, it appears that what you reap is still reasonably commensurate to what you sow. But I don't know if this is true. Never worked abroad.
I believe this society has placed too much value on entertainment. It has already become a drug. Never mind growing hungry and/or having instant noodles everyday for the entire family, as long as we can watch our daily fix of soap operas and/or watch a bunch of people living in an aquarium.
I likewise believe that the Philippines has already acquired first world values. Such values in a third world country is a recipe for disaster.
I also believe there is too much inequality. The irony of it is, the only people who get rich in this country are the people with money to begin with.
And the rich may not want to share their wealth (and just wants to acquire more). As if they could ride two cars and live in two mansions at exactly the same time. As if wearing two gold Rolexes will become fashionable someday.
And even if the rich do want to share, they don't know how. And whether what they share will truly have an impact in society.
This has to end. But I don't know how. So I'm just writing about it.
transcription by Punzi @ 6:36 AM
2 Objection(s):
I think the sad truth in the Philippines is that money begets money. The only way you can actually flourish is if you have some sort of "pot" that can get you through to begin with.
Either it enables you to invest with your wealth - or it puts you in a social class which connects you with those who matter (hence can give you better jobs than the rest)
Only expceptions are those in the entertainment industry (assuming you're a lucky soul to be discovered) and of course, those who are really lucky (lotto, network marketing success stories, etc.)
The solution is the Economy really, the problem is the economy is affected by so many factors, so where should we start - when almost everything in this country is misguided. Jobs don't commensurate the work, bank interests don't even cover inflation. Opportunity is usually given in an inverse proportion to those who actually need/deserve it.
As far as the abroad thing goes, I'm a believer. I see the results in ALL our family members who live abroad (assuming of course 1st world tinitirahan nila). Maraming cases pa nga na yung mga MAIDs ng kakilala ko na lumipat ng states na mas maganda na buhay nila sa amo nila dito.
But in fairness, you really have to WORK daw. But the big difference is, YOU GET WHAT YOU WORK FOR. So you can just imagine how TAMAD the homeless are in those spoiled nations, because you CAN go hungry if you don't work. But you CAN get by even with just waiting tables, of course you won't have a happy life, but you WILL get by.
Now if you work there like you work here... then you're a sureball success story waiting to happen :)
Hey Atty. Punzi,
I came to Canada seven years ago. I interviewed those who were here before me. Starting is never easy if you expect a lot. It is better to know someone to accommodate you on the first 3 months the least until you find a job. Finding a job is the most important thing in migration - it pays all the bills.
Your job hunting skills would be put to test. Once you have the resource to let you pay your bills... the rest is up to you. This means that you have to pay for everything... they are not free unless you have been employed for quite sometime. Living in the US or Canada is a huge blessing. The no child left behind law - means that the education of your children is the best privilege here. This is only thing I would say that is free.
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