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Deciding with their feet

There is one area where Gloria can claim success and nobody would dispute it. And that’s in the export of Filipinos.

Today, more than eight million Filipinos are scattered all over the world, even as far as Equatorial Guinea in Africa, with the numbers increasing every day. The Commission on Overseas Filipinos said since January this year, at least 6,000 Filipinos have left as immigrants for an increase of 23.4 percent in the number of departing Filipinos. I don’t have the figures of contract workers but I can imagine the number is much more.

Many more want to leave. The latest survey by Pulse Asia conducted from June 24 to July 8 showed that Filipinos who spurn migration dropped by 15 percent from last year’s 52 per cent to 37 percent now.

Three in ten Filipinos (30 %) or at least 14 million adult Filipinos want to leave the country and permanently reside abroad for whatever reason if given the opportunity.

Another 32 % – virtually a third of the public – are vacillating and will also not rule out the possibility of migrating if it were possible. Compared to last year, the number of those vacillating has risen by 11 percent.

Why are Filipinos fleeing Gloria Arroyo’s Enchanted Kingdom?

The other part of Pulse Asia’s survey showed an increasing sense of hopelessness among Filipinos. Twenty-one percent of Filipinos think the Philippines is a hopeless case.

Although about half of the nation (49 %) continue to believe that the Philippines is not hopeless, they are decreasing in numbers. Pulse Asia said:, “This is the lowest level of public hopefulness in the Philippines since July 2002. Between March and July 2006, the percentage of Filipinos expressing this optimistic sentiment has declined by 10 percentage points.”

This growing sense of hopelessness is making Filipinos decide with their feet.

Experts in migration talk of “push-pull” factors behind the phenomenon of people leaving their homeland for foreign shores. One of the “pull” factors is career opportunities and better quality of life in destination countries and this is true for those migrating to US, Canada, Australia, Europe and other developed countries.

The “push” factors are the low quality of life in the country. Poverty is the main “push” factor for many of our countrymen and women who venture into hostile destinations like Lebanon. Among the middle-class, they are fleeing an environment of lawlessness, injustice and the culture of impunity that the Arroyo government is fostering.

I caught up with speech of former UP law dean Raul Pangalangan at a forum on “Reforms for long term-growth and prosperity” organized by the Action for Economic Reforms and Businessworld last Wednesday . His analysis of the current situation helped explain the feeling of frustration that is making many of us re-evaluate our option of going abroad.

Pangalangan said Arroyo’s banner program is a Strong Republic. It is supposed to project a “matatag na republika.”

But strength is not projected when persons with arrest orders come and go through NAIA without being apprehended. Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, until his arrest last month at the Los Angeles airport, had been going in and out of the Philippines and authorities at the NAIA never questioned him despite an arrest order by the Senate in connection with his alleged involvement in the diversion of P728 million fertilizer fund to Arroyo’s 2004 election campaign kitty.

Pangalangan also cited the case of former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano who was never accosted by law enforcement authorities when the House of Representatives was looking for him. It had to take the Singapore government to tell the Filipino people that Garcillano passed through Changi airport enroute to other destinations.

Contrast that, Pangalangan said, to the zealousness of the justice department in preventing Rep. Satur Ocampo from leaving the country.

“The government is strong against its enemies and soft with its friends.,” Pangalangan said. He added that the uneven application of rules confuses the public.

During the open forum, it was brought out that the lack of outrage from an apathetic public is making Gloria Arroyo bolder in making a mockery of the law.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, also a speaker, said he detects a feeling of desperation. He is worried about it because “crises have a way of providing solutions” which may not be good for the country in the long term. He warned against a desire for a military solution.

Pangalangan provided a ray of hope when he recalled the dark days of the Marcos era. A strong sense of malaise then gripped the nation. People thought there was no way out.

He said there was no lack of opportunities just like what is happening now. Some of them they seized but lost just like what is happening to the opposition now.

Until, Edsa One happened. And the rest is history.

Truth and justice will have its day. Gloria Arroyo’s time of reckoning will come.

Published inMalaya

64 Comments

  1. Ellen:

    This is true. Filipinos caught by the police here for instance for violating the Immigration Law of Japan that is considered criminal over here and even now in the USA, which has copied I guess the Japanese ruling on illegal migrants, would rather welcome a prison term than go home.

    Their own lawyers themselves, together with the judges and the prosecutors are shocked at this attitude of Filipinos, who would not care about honor and dignity that the Japanese cling to high and dear.

    For these people, money seems to be the only consideration that they would not even care if they are duped by recruiters, who try hard to make money out of them, even by fraud as when they are sent overseas with passports not in their own names.

    For all these deployments of Filipinos, what we see evolving is a people without shame and honor that they would be willing to exchange their souls for the love of money. Added to this is the lack of spiritual guidance because of the corruption of the religious themselves as in the case of the CBCP bishops who have accepted bribes to silence them against the Pandak who has attempted to corrupt them more.

    Yup, iyan ang nangyari sa mga pilipino. Nawala ang hiya. Natira lang sa kanila ay ang kanilang pagmamahal sa mga material na bagay.

    When I was a little girl, I used to hear old folks there say, “Mabuti pang magdildil ng asin kesa magputa.” Now it is more, “Di baleng puta, may bahay at lupa naman!”

    Napapakamot na lang ng ulo ang mga abogado nila mismo pati na ang mga hukom at taga-usig kasi para sa mga tao dito sa Hapon ang mas mahalaga ay puri at dangal, pero para sa mga pilipino na

  2. Religiously speaking, it is actually a matter of choosing between God and mammon!

    Scriptures for the day: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24, Luke 16: 13)

  3. E-mail from Jay C:

    I remain watching, listening, cogitating, analyzing what’s going on in No Man’s country.

    I read just now in the Tribune about Jun Magsaysay and it dawned on me that if he succeeds in the Bolante Case, if he relentlessly pursued it to its omega, he could be the answer to the opposition and the people’s search for a leader.

    If media picks it up and your true bloggers support it. Then there’s still hope for the hopeless.

    I hope your group will discuss the pros and cons. The country history should not be limited to the story of a bad father president and evil daughter but should also have the deeds of a patriot father and son for its president.

    Just as I did trust the father while a still a college sophomore, so I do now for the son.

  4. npongco npongco

    Pardon me, what’s mammon? Choosing between God and mammon or mormon? Ms. Ellen, please don’t delete. It’s an innocent question. I’ve never come across the word mammon…mormon, es.

  5. Spartan Spartan

    npongco…Mammon is “personified as” the demon of love and money…

    Etymology
    Mammon is a word of Aramaic origin, means “riches”, but has an unclear etymology; scholars have suggested connections with a word meaning “entrusted”, or with the Hebrew word “matmon”, meaning “treasure”. It is also used in Hebrew as a word for “money” – ממון.

    The Greek word for “Mammon”, mamonas, occurs in the Sermon on the Mount (during the discourse on ostentation) and in the parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:9-13). The Authorised Version keeps the Syriac word. John Wycliffe uses “richessis”. Other scholars derive Mammon from Phoenician “mommon”, benefit.

    The word is used in contemporary language with the same meaning in at least Finnish (mammona), Danish (mammon), and Polish (mamona). This is extremely likely to be a result of biblical influence.

    so it’s not “mormon”. 😛

  6. npongco npongco

    Thanks Spartan. I appreciate it. Isn’t mammon also some kind of a bread we eat that’s called in Pilipino?

  7. Spartan Spartan

    @npongco…and what we also call “an over-sensitive” person…”pusong-mamon”…hehehe 😀

  8. Spartan Spartan

    pero si gloria….”pusong-marmol” at may mukhang singtigas at kapal ng “granite”…LOL…LOL

  9. Spartan:

    Tama ka, mammon can never be mormon. Iyong mammon ay attributed sa demonyo, while Mormon was a decent man who lived in the American continent in the meridian of time prior to the annihilation of some tribe of Israel who settled in the Americas.

  10. Spartan Spartan

    advise well taken “Manang” Yuko…thanks. 😉

    Although it would be “really-really-really” (superlative na masyado) great, if we would not have “any of those”(what you’re referring to) in here. At least, we would have a lot of “clashes of honest views and opinions” without the “hassles” of “attacks on personal issues” like ones gender, sexual prefrences, or even she/his IQ, but due to the continued “sporadic appearances” of “characters” here like jefferson, bentong, and the likes, we can not avoid such “arguments”…hehehe…talk about the POWER of BLOGGING…or for the whole, the tech called “INTERNET”. To Ma’m Ellen ( I am not kissing a@#), thank you for providing this “venue”. 😉

  11. I’m the one enjoying and learning from all your views. Huwag lang personal na away. That distracts us from discussion of issues.

  12. soleil soleil

    o nga Ellen, Spartan…gusto lang naman nating magpalitan at magbalitak-takan(no insult ha..jst adjctve)…kaso minsan masakit yung di mo naman inaano titirahin ka d b? basta iisa ang adhikain natin d2…BOMBAHIN NA!!!! NOW NA!!!! Si Super-Garapata!!!!

  13. You bet, Spartan at Soleil, huwag lang personalan, kahit clash ng opinions OK lang.

    Ang kaso mo may mga Internet Brigaders talaga na pumapasok sa mga ganitong egroups na ang layunin ay (1) maghasik ng lagim/gulo para masira ang usapan leading even to the dissolution of some groups lalo na kung laban kay Pandak, (2) magpropaganda para kay Pandak na sometimes kunyari pa nga laban kay Pandak pero sa bandang huli lalabas at lalabas din ang katotohanan na planted pala sila ni Pandak sa mga ganitong blog o egroups. Ang masama magtatangka pang hatiin ang grupo at ipagwalangbahala ang layunin ng may-ari ng blog na pagbukludin ang mga magkakaparehong utak para sa tagumpay ng adhikaing itinataguyod ng lahat maliban nga lang doon sa mga tuta ng binabatikos tulad ni Pandak at mga alipores niya!

    Ang masama ay may ginagawa pa para hindi makakapasok ang mga bloggers na gustong mag-contribute sa mga ganitong blog ng kanilang nalalaman at opinion. Ganyan kapikon itong si Pandak. Kapag hindi ayon sa kaniya, patay ka!

    Ang galing nga ng tactic kasi paiba-iba pa ng mga pangalan na akala mo tunay pero basahin mo ang mga sinasabi iisa lang. Kunyari galit kay Pandak pero sa dulo ng contribution, lalabas at lalabas din ang katotohanang planted pala ni Pandak.

    Remember may malaking communications center iyan sa Cebu. Iyong anak nga na babae nakababad sa Internet na nagbla-blog sa iba’t ibang pangalan. Madalas kong makita ang mga alyas niya doon sa egroup ng Malaya na mabuti naman at lately, doon nagko-contribute iyong isang columnist ng Tribune na si Ka Mentong kaya hindi masyadong makahirit. Si Pandak nga sabi ng mga crew ng PAL, nakababad daw sa laptop niya. Noon, ang akala nila talagang masipag. Hindi nila alam na nakikipag-blog-an lang siguro sa mga blogsites katulad nitong kay Ellen! 😛

    Ingat lang tayo kasi ang husay ng mga ito na manloko. In short, mga batikang manggaganso ang mga ito. Ganyan din siguro ang ginawa ng lolo ni Pandak na nagtraydor sa KKK noong mahigit na isang daang taon ang nakalipas.

  14. npongco npongco

    How true is it that Gloria is using her laptop even when she’s doing the s…t in the toilet? The laptop is on her lap while she’s doing it…you know that.

  15. nelbar nelbar

    “I appreciate it. Isn’t mammon also some kind of a bread we eat that’s called in Pilipino?”

     
     
    noted na iyong mga ganitong klaseng joke.
    dito mo ngayon makikita kung anong klaseng mentalidad ang mga pinoy.
    diba mababaw ang kaligayahan?

  16. AYAW na kasi ng Pinoy sa uncaring management ng administrasyon ni glue macapal-arrovo.
    Meron nga bang MINA-manage sila? Mukhang miniMINA na nila ang Bayan, ah?

    glue and her legions have made a mockery of our Laws.
    Just look at what’s going on in PORO. It’s been a week, pero NO TALK si glue sa kanyang alagang si chavit. Baka masabit, hindi kaya?

    No wonder, Pinoys want their way out, by all means.

  17. npongco npongco

    You see nelbar, at least that’s how we try to enjoy despite all the problems even if the jokes are corny. You’re not obligated to laugh.

  18. norpil norpil

    Bagito lang ako dito sa blog pero hindi ba hinuhuli ang mga ito?
    30 years na rin akong wala sa pinas kaya di ko alam kung qualified pa rin akong makipagdiscuss dito.
    May comment lang ako sa sabi ni ellen tungkol kay jun magsaysay na he may be the answer to the fil quest for a leader. Enough na kaya ang change ng leadership para sa pinas? maaaring as a first step pero marami pang dapat mapalitan para umasenso tayo.

  19. soleil soleil

    off topic..hahahaha!!! talaga ngang binabasa ni bruha and her minions ang site na ito! they are monitoring this site!!! yehey!!!!…kc tatawa tawa si bruha na sinabing hindi daw sya alcoholic(i have no intention to quote her directly 🙁 ..)…wala daw sya sakit sa atay (sa utak meron!)…kaya mga ka-blogger..cge banat pa at harinawa maagnas habang binabasa tayo dito..take note binabasa and not only monitor hehehe…insecure na sila!!!!…to u @$$h0l3$…read and die!!!

  20. Soleil,

    Wala siyang sakit sa atay. Sakit sa ulo, meron kasi kung sira ang ulo ni Pandak, bakit gustung-gusto niyang magkunyaring may sakit siya. Forgot the term for it, pero may tawag sa ganyang sakit sa ulo as a matter of fact which is in layman’s language is called “feigning sickness” to gt what she wants at saka para maawa ang mga niloloko niya sa kaniya.

    Iyan ang tunay na sira. On the other hand, kung mahilig ngang tumoma, baka nga nagkasakit na sa atay. Noon, sinasabi nilang lasenggo si Erap, e siya rin pala, lasengga rin. Kaya pala kapag nagsasalita sa harap ng madla at parang sira, bakya pa ang dating! Parang walang pinag-aralan kung kumilos at magsalita. Buti pa nga si Cory, kahit papaano ay mat finess.

    Pag dating sa pagde-declaim, walang tatalo kay Macoy kahit na ano pa ang sabihin nila! Ikaw na ang maging topnotcher sa bar. Pero itong si Pandak, hindi naman abogado at wala namang karapatan e akala mo kung sinong magaling na binabago ang batas according to her wiles and whims.

    Delikado talaga ang mapailalim sa mga sira at bobo! Kawawang Pilipinas!

  21. Welcome to this blog, Norpil.

    Just to clarify. That comment about Magsaysay is Jay C’s, not mine. It was e-mailed to me.

    As to your question about it is time to change leadership,my answer is “Long-time overdue”. The point is Gloria Arroyo was not elected by the people, so she should never have been in Malacañang.

  22. npongco npongco

    Following the premise that if one is not elected by the people he should never have been in Malacanang, can we say the same thing again with Cory who was also not elected but selected? Of course her followers would claim she won the snap election. But evidences proved the contrary. Marcos was declared winner by the Comelec and took his oath. What Marcos did then was exactly what GMA did. The only difference was that Marcos failed and GMA succeeded against the people.

  23. AmangLaya AmangLaya

    Hi, I’m new here …
    I was compelled to register so I can post my comments.

    ” Until, Edsa One happened. And the rest is history.

    Truth and justice will have its day. Gloria Arroyo’s time of reckoning will come. ”

    and after that day of reckoning what will happen to her and her minions ?
    will they live happily ever after as cash rich exiles ?
    will they move in to the Fort and become the neighbors of another infamous ex-Malacanang resident who should rightly be rotting in jail ?
    I have not voted with my feet … despite being an OFW. I am proud of my country … it’s her leaders I am ashamed of.

  24. npongco npongco

    Amanglaya, welcome to the blog. You’ll find this blog to be very democratic and enjoyable, though some want to think they are the best. You could distinguish those opinionated ones and those who are moderate in their arguments. But over all, this is the best blog you can find.

  25. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    The COMELEC can proclaim winners from senators to barangay council members. The Philippine Congress has the sole power to proclaim winners for President and Vice-President upon DETERMINATION OF THE AUTHENCITY of all provincial and city certificate of canvassers (COC’s).

    The late Apo Marcos proclaimed winner by then Batasan Pambansa or National Assembly. Ferdinand Marcos won the presidential election by landslide with no credible opponent. Whereas, illegitimate President Gloria Arroyo proclaimed winner by Malacanang-controlled Congress after more than five weeks of ballot switching and tampering of election returns with the connivance of election top officials and high ranking military men. The opposition KNP ’s evidence about tampered COCs would not be entertained but merely “NOTED” courtesy of Sharon Francis Pangilinan and SiRaulo Gonzalez.

    Mrs. Gloria Arroyo declared winner with fraudulent certificate of canvassers (COC’s) and swore in as bogus “elected president” when most Filipinos are sleeping. There are the same Arroyo lapdogs who junked the first impeachment complaint due technicalities. I have the reason to believe that these representa-thieves will dump the recent impeachment complaint. This is how the democracy of the elite class works in Gloria’s Enchanted Kingdom. Long live banana republic!

    npongo said: “Marcos was declared winner by the Comelec and took his oath. What Marcos did then was exactly what GMA did. The only difference was that Marcos failed and GMA succeeded against the people“.

  26. Yup, Ellen, the Pandak is long overdue for dismissal and removal from the palace by the murky river, with or without any more qualified substitute, BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ELECTED THE PROPER WAY BY THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AT HOME AND EVEN ABROAD BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENT CHEATING RIGGING OF VOTES!

    The Election Code is very clear about electioneering and election frauds, that whosoever breaks its provision is subject to disqualification. Accordingly, since there have been enough evidences of fraud, electioneering, and even plunder being committed by the overstaying temporary tenant of the palace by the murky river, why then can she not be just disqualified instead of giving the crooks in the Philippine Congress satifaction of laughing at their fellow countrymen, even at the people who voted for them by hook or by crook.

    God, what are the lawyers in the Philippines doing? Why have they not made sure that easier ways of removing crooks like the Pandak would be available anytime so that there would be no more need for EDSAs that have proved to be useless in eliminating if not totally eradicating graft and corruption in the Philippines? Worse is when the Integrated Bar Association of the Philippines has proved ineffective to protect crusading lawyers there! 🙁

    Indeed, I wonder why they would not even think of disqualifying this crook who calls herself “President of the Philippines.” One thing concerned Filipinos and ex-Filipino citizens can do is collect signatures and send them to governments of countries with whom the Philippines has ties to inform them to stop recognizing the crook as one.

    Likewise, media in the Philippines should be more careful in tagging the personal trips overseas of the Pandak as state visits even when they are not like her visit to Italy and Spain recently that according to my source were no state visits at all. Otherwise, the leader of Italy for example would not delay his meeting with the Pandak even for the sake of cheering the Italian team in the World Cup!

    Nawiwili ang ungas, and the media there, except perhaps Malaya and Tribune, are as guilty as the Pandak and her alipores for helping them dupe and defraud Filipinos and peoples of countries having diplomatic ties with the Philippines.

    I’ve been told in fact of how the Pandak bullies the staff of the Philippine Embassy to qualify hers and her lackeys’ visits to Japan by trying hard to make an audience with the emperor knowing how he tries hard to keep a friendly and benevolent image to dispel any notion to connect him with the sins of Japan in World War II.

    Enough is enough. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  27. npongco npongco

    Diego, thanks…you’re another one aside from Tony who share the same opinion about democracy and Marcos. Marcos actually made a huge blunder by agreeing to call a snap election after being challenged by Ted Kopell. He didn’t have to. He was still the officially and duly elected President of the Philippines. But because of his sinking popularity and desire to get a fresh mandate from the people, he agreed. This is what makes him different from this Gloria who refuses to call snap election. Marcos knew he would win. Gloria knew she would surely lose.

    As I said, Marcos made the biggest blunder of his life. He was in a no-win situation. If he won, Cory would cry cheating. If he loses, Cory would claim it was the will of the people. And on those days, the US was already distancing from Marcos. The US was ready for Marcos’ no-win situation. The rest was history.

  28. Spartan Spartan

    Someone here mentioned the word “history”…that’s exactly the reason why, I guess it’s about time we “avoid” if not “close” tackling the issues about the late Ferdinand Marcos. He’s history…history have already “judged” him, although his judgement may vary base on individual Filipinos’ belief, but still he’s DONE, he’s GONE, and is already a part of HISTORY. Talking about Marcos, for that matter even “arguing” or having a “discussion” tantamounts to us arguing about the “dinosaurs”…if the T-rex is the true king of reptiles, or he’s no much to the Velociraptors…they’re “all extinct”, and now just part of our kids subjects in school…so, as per my personal opinion, let’s give our kids, the younger generations the “honor” of tackling the issues about Marcos and his legacy and infamy.

    And again…mga Kababayan, our “main course in this buffet” ay si gloria…kaya, please…enough of the “appetizers”, balik na tayo sa kaniya….hehehe

  29. Spartan Spartan

    Marcos..Marcos…Marcos….pulos na lang Marcos…ok! Ma’m Ellen, please “bukas” ka naman ng topic na talagang para kay Marcos…para at least, angkop yung “entry” sa usapan. 😡

  30. npongco npongco

    Spartan, if we speak of politics, if democracy is mentioned which was started on this blog, and if we remember Ninoy and Cory, we cannot avoid mentioning Marcos. Marcos played a very important role on the above subjects. The discussion on democracy and dragging Marcos’ name here was triggered by the statement that Marcos destroyed democracy. A few of us here disagreed. If this subject hurts your ear, then I suggest that you don’t particiate in this discussion and just continue to discuss topics of your interest. But I do acknowledge the many good ideas and contributions you give to issues here.

  31. Spartan Spartan

    npongco….pakitignan mo lang ulit…please….yung titulo sa itaas ng “entry” na ito….yung sinasabi mo duon sa “kabilang ibayo”, ang brgy. Wasak na Demokrasya…andito tayo sa brgy. Deciding with their Feet…..gets mo na ba ibig kong sabihin?

  32. Spartan Spartan

    ayan tinagalog ko na…hindi ko kayang mag-kapangpangan, mag-bikol, mag-ilokano, mag-bisaya, o mag-mandarin…sana naman, maintindihan mo….ang napansin ko kasi sa iyo npongco, sa nakalipas na 3 hanggang 4 na “entries”..hindi mo na tinantanan ang “pag-ungkat” kay Marcos…nasimulan mo ito nang “ipasok” ni Ellen ang blog about the planned “commemoration” of Ninoy’s Death in Japan….anak ng patuka sa manok…mula nuon, hindi mo na tinantanan ng “kakadada” tungkol kay Marcos.

  33. Spartan Spartan

    kita ko naman gusto mong palabasin….nalaman mo na yung si ystakei ay may “connection” kay Marcos..kaya panay “papasok” ka naman ng topic…gusto mo me “sumalungat sa iyo” at “mag-react” ng “masakit o mapait” na komento tungkol kay Marcos….you’re “baiting” the sharks ika nga…kasi, kung ito naman si ystakei ay “masaling ang pride” o in short “mapikon”..magkakaruon na naman ng “sub-plot” dito….npongco…para kang “matsing”, tuso pero “napag-lalangan” din….efF yoU Cee Kay whY Owe yoU

  34. Spartan Spartan

    About the filipinos’ “inclination” to leave the Philippines, let’s face it…by working abroad, the compensations they could get could be ten folds of what they could earn in our country. Just look at our professional doctors…others are even already in their “experienced” years, but they are deciding to “go down” in rank by “converting” themselves into nurses, because the demand for nurses especially in the US are so high. And they would earn much much more working as nurses over there than as “regular” doctors in ther Philippines. Plus yes, the growing “hopelessness” with our current “political and economic” crisis, most are already “abandoning the ship” before they “sunk with it”.

  35. Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Working abroad

    We must never fault any Filipino for wanting to find greener pastures
    abroad-and we do acknowledge their sacrifices.

    But with our good economic indicators and the growing spirit of enterprise
    among Filipinos, we hope to eventually reverse the trend.

    Our economy is on a winning streak, driven by tough Presidential decisions,
    and the payback to the people is starting to flow down in terms of more
    jobs, infrastructure and basic social services.

  36. Press Statement
    Rep. Renato Magtubo
    Partido ng Manggagawa

    Happy Workers not Super Maids

    Press secretary Bunye is engaging in doublespeak when he reacted to the massive migration of Filipino labor. Malacanang is not just passively resigned to labor migration but is actively promoting it.

    If government is sincere in stemming the flood of labor migration then it must end the regime of cheap labor and the first step is legislating the P125 wage increase as an immediate relief from escalating inflation.

    Happy workers are hard workers and government must make workers contended by promoting decent wages, regular jobs and labor rights. We need a paradigm shift away from capitulation to globalization, the policy of cheap labor and labor contractualization, and the promotion of overseas employment.

    The very idea of super maids is symbolic of government’s sponsorship of overseas employment despite the weak protection provided migrant labor, the attendant social costs and the immense brain and brawn drain resulting from it.

    Overseas employment does not lead to national development and better standard of living for the people. Since Marcos started the migration program, the remittances of OFW’s have helped keep the economy afloat but it has not and will not lead to indigenous development.

    The economic growth that Malacanang is painting is all in the enchanted kingdom. The hard reality of life is poverty and hunger.

    Economic growth is not trickling down to the masses. Since GMA came to power, real wages have remained stagnant despite the 5% average yearly GDP increase, which means that only capitalists have been gaining from the additional wealth created by workers. Since 2001, there are 1.5 million more Filipinos unemployed if we go by the old instead of the new and manipulated definition of unemployment.

    If government will not terminate the policy of cheap labor and labor contractualization then the program of so-called super regions will simply mean the super exploitation of workers. The rich will become richer and the poor will become poorer as investors reap the benefits and the masses bear the brunt of sacrifices of a capitalist development funded by a massive public works program.

  37. npongco npongco

    Sorry Spartan. I may be in the wrong thread. This topic is not about democracy. But, my position is still the same on the subject.

  38. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Finally, I am able to get in.

    Very nice and well-meaning point, Spartan.

    I’ll write more in my next comment. Been trying for days but unfortunately can not get in… ang mga tinamaang magagaling na “saboteurs” ang pinaghihinalaan ko.. kung wala kayong magawang mabuti ay huwag kayong manggugulo dito!

    Pwede ba… magbasa na lang kayo at magyroon pa kayong matutunan sa aming mga sinasabi.

  39. Welcome back again, Emilio.

    I can’t blame others who give up on the Philippines and leave for better environments. I’d like to think that many of those who are out of the country, like many of you in this blog,care a lot for the country and are willing to see genuine democracy flourish in this country.

    I an for Filipinos exploring the world beyond Philippine shores. But it should be under conditions where we have options to choose and not in situations liek amy of our kababayan in Lebanon. Nakita naman natin, “kapit sa patalim” lahat.

    We then go back, why have we sunk into a situation many of the Filipinos have to go to risky places just to survive. The we go back to how our country is being managed. Or being destroyed by people who are supposed to lead us to development.

  40. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    Jay C,

    I’ve also been toying with the same idea. Senator Jun Magsaysay is one who could be a good leader of this country. So far, his name has been untainted. Decent, sincere, humble and a hard worker. And has been taking on even the big controversial issues against this Administration. And he does it in a manner thatdoesn’t smack of arrogance and political palabas. He is also a successful businessman.

    Once the country gets a well-respected leader like this, change and reforms will come much easier and faster.

    Mar Roxas is another possible alternative, but he’s been very silent in all this chaos his countrymen has been subjected to. And yet he was the No. 1 Senator. Quite a disappointment.

  41. soleil soleil

    speaking of which..wat happened to the case of the LTFRB Chief who is believed to be linked with MarRoxas and escort pa ni SiRaulo gonzales makalabas ng airport?..SEEEE!!!! palakasan to the max d2 Yuko!!!! walanghiyaan at puro makapal…nagtatanong din uli ako, were is Samuel Ong? he still in hiding like Honasan? and Lacson? Y is he so quiet amidst all the trash around?..is he brewing something or keeping himself safe?

  42. Soleil:

    Huwag na nating pakialaman si Lacson. Hindi siya kasing-tapang ni Arsenio Lacson, that’s what! Kasi kung matapang siya at wala siyang ginagawang kapalpakan, bakit siya nagbayad doon sa swindler na nagdemanda sa kaniya e may kaso din sa Pilipinas. Mahirap iyong di bale Diyos na lang ang bahala sa kanila!

    One thing good about going abroad is you learn about people. Ang masaklap ay kapag nakita mo ang kabulukan na hindi mo napapansin noon. Para kang nangobeta, at ang tagal mo sa kobeta hindi mo na nasanay ka na sa amoy, tapos lumabas ka, at pagbalik mo lamang malalaman mong ang baho pala ng pinanggalingan mo. Nakakalungkot, di ba? Lalo na ngayon na puro bugaw ang nakaupo! Tignan mo na lang ang kalokohang pinagsasabi ni Bunyeg na wala na tumatanda yatang paurong at dahil sa napapaligiran ng mga kamote, ay kamote na rin ang utak!!!

    Alam mo dito, kapag naglagay ka, kulong ka pati iyong nilagyan mo. Kahit kaibigan mo hindi mo puedeng lagyan dito. Mapapahiya ka! Dapat ganyan sa Pilipinas pero mahirap mangyari lalo na iyong mismong nakaupo ay mga kriminal!!!

    May nagsabi, “one is innocent unless proven guilty!” Right, kung matino ang hustisya diyan. Kaso mo JUST-TIIS na lang (quote from Taipan iyong Just-tiis!”)

    Kailangan tibakin ang mga ito! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  43. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Thanks a lot, Ms. Ellen.

    When a country got a leader who is more concentrated on staying in “stolen” power rather than good governance, all things will tend to fail. It is a shame to hear from other expatriates that corruption and cheating is a way of life in the Philippines. The administration can prevent the damage control being sought to the public by bombarding hard-to-believe advertisements. Not the foreign press news which are readily available in the local newspapers which are read by both Filipinos and expatriates. These two latest cheating events were known here: age cheating of the baseball players for the Palarong Pambansa and the cheating in the Professional Regulation Commission’s Nursing Licensure Examination!

    These nurses are all eager to get their licenses and become one of the best export commodities of the administration, human export! Never in the history of the Philippine presidency that human exportation was the main program and encouraged. Only Pandak! Inaglahi niya naman ng lubusan ang mga ina at kababaihan na sa halip na bigyan niya ng pagkakakitaan sa pamamagitan ng hindi magiging alila ay ipinangangalandakan pa na maging “super maid”!

    Ang mga domestic helpers “DH” dito sa Middle East ay nakakahabag ang mga kalagayan dahil wala silang laying makapasyal sa mga Arabong amo na halos 20 oras ang trabaho sa halagang US$200. Lalo pa ngayon na malapit na ang Ramadan na ang gabi ang ginagawa nilang araw at sa araw naman ay natutulog sila. Ayaw silang pagpahingahin habang gising ang mga amo.

    Si Pandak kaya ang sumubok na maging “super maid” at tingnan natin kung makapagyabang pa siya!

  44. npongco npongco

    Phil, unlike you and the others, I can’t say all the good things about Senator Magsaysay ’cause to me there’s really not much to say about him. What I now is that it’s only now that he’s making noise and his presence in the Senate felt. As a Senator for many years, we’ve never heard much from him until only recently. He was one of the most quiet Senators.

    I understand this is his last term as a Senator. So, he has nothing to lose if he now attacks Gloria. Unless he’s expecting an appointment to GMA’s cabinet, Magsaysay can say what he wants about Gloria now. And this benefits him in the long run especially if he’s eyeing for a higher office in 2010. He’s a good candidate for the second highest office but not the highest. Question is, why the noise only now? Where was he in his first few years as a Senator and as GMA ally?

    Today’s Magsaysay family is no longer the same as that of then the late President Ramon Magsaysay. The Magsaysays in Zambales don’t have that good image and reputation today. In fact, the family headed by the current Governor is reported to be operating jueteng in the areas they control. One Magsaysay (reported to be on drugs) even withdrew his signature in last year’s impeachment.

    I’m not here to bash the Magsaysays. The above comments are based on what I know about the family and as reported in the media. Those who know them would concurr with my statements.

  45. One thing wrong that is being inculcated in Filipino minds is that the Philippines is a third class country that Filipinos themselves should abandon if they can.

    When I was growing up there, the favorite destination as a matter of fact was the USA, which most Filipinos were made to think to be paradise itself despite the racial discrimination, etc. that could actually make living there like hell, and nothing much different from their lives in the Philippines except perhaps the fact that it was cleaner there, and poverty was pronounced as it was/is in the Philippines.

    People here do not find this special affection Filipinos have for the USA, and why they would want to migrate there, but they do raise a brow when they hear about those OFWs stranded in Lebanon willing to stake their lives there rather than go home. It is something unthinkable to a Japanese who would not do such kind of thing that they consider foolish and stupid.

    I actually envy my husband and son for not having such kind of orientation as Filipinos are deliberately being made to accept because they have a government that actually does not care what happen to them as long as this government can continue to milk them like carabaos!

    For my husband and son, there is no place like Japan, and they wonder why my folks would even want to go and settle in the USA even when actually there was no need for us to look for greener pasture.

  46. Yes, not greener pasture, but more in search of identity and even pride, I guess.

  47. artsee artsee

    Dito sa Tsina, may identity kami di tulad ng mga Pilipino na hindi alam kung sino sila pagdating sa ibang bansa. Maunlad ang bansang Tsina ngayon pagkatapos ng maraming taon mula noong huling digmaan.

    Sana ang titulo ay “Deciding with their hands”. Balik tayo sa bansang Tsina, hindi namin kailangan ang magpadala ng mga tao sa ibang bansa para maging OFWs. Mga Chinese mismo ang amo at may-ari ng mga negosyo sa ibang bansa…Amerika, Canada, Australia, Europa. Dito sa Tsina, bitay agad kung may kasalanan ka. Bilang isang interpreter, bilib ako sa sistema dito kaya takot ang mga tao. Di tulad sa Pilipinas na palpak.

  48. soleil soleil

    the very fact that pinoys r so ga-ga on going abroad is such a pity kahit pa taga kalkal ka ng imburnal(i hav nothing against menial jobs) but wat i mean is the pride and prinsipyo..some of our kababayans would rather stoop so looowwwwww just to make a buck…di bale magp*t* as a japayuki, or dh na na-rape ng amo n pinakasalan(kc napamahal na rin?!?!) at ok na ang buhay kesa sa miserableng buhay d2 da bundok…how sad and pathetic nga talaga…this administration talks about education, better public service and all the ek-ek…sa education palang sa elementary nagbabangayan na kung ituturo ang sex education or hindi ano pa kaya ang pagturo ng being nationalistic and loving your self with self-respect and conviction. the so-called moralist na hindi naman nakaka-angat sa buhay ang iba at akala mo ay 24/7 nasa tabi ng anak, yun pala d nya alam na nakikipaglampungan at panay ang cutting classes. in the end buntis or may STD! naku, ito ang hirap sa ibang kababayan natin…super super kitid ng utak..ayaw umamin kung hindi alam o hindi naintindihan ang sinabi ni hey joe or ni ashok..tapos pagka napagsabihan, drama to death na kesyo pinag-mumura or sinapak(in fairness ibang amo or employer ay walanghiya talaga!)…samantalang ika 10 beses na nyang pagkakamali..cause, kc katangahan mula sa pagkabata. i always believe na one doesnt have to have a very high degree or standard of education to have commonsense or the respect that need to be earned. its all about being open and honest..open to the things and people aorund you and being honest to your mistakes and in the end learning and adapting…walang duda, kahit binobola ka na, may pwed kang isampal sa nanloloko sa yo ke naka tsinelas ka o naka barong!…
    Yuko is so right when she mentioned na sa tagal mo sa isang lugar, hindi mo mapapansin ang kabahuan. When we r blessed to have the chance of going abroad whther for pleasure or permanency, we get see a whole new world! sooo sooo far from what we have here. and we see lalo na tayo na ang pinag-iiwanan ng panahon at tadhana. ang dahilan? wala lang…dedma basta’i-go-on-my-way’ attitude..result?..lahat damay!!!hindi alam ng iba pati sila damay in the end, pati yung mga nakikibaka na nauna ng nabugbog. watching Kit Belmonte yestrday he mentioned several times he admire these Magdalo soldiers kasi they are very honorable and hindi sila takot ipaglaban ang totoo…kahit kawawa silang mga natitira, na ang iba ay bumalimbing narin(there’s always a reason behind n this we can only guess)..mayb i am too naive on saying my praises to the young Belmonte, but one can always see and ‘feel’ a person’s honesty by his spontaneous expression..
    in the end, it all boils down to discipline, pride and principyo in the system…yes in China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and even Saudi..may disipline at prinsipyo ang systema..wlaang palakasan o padrino ke sino ka man…and that is the true measure of good governance!

  49. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    Hi, npongco,

    Thanks for the info. As I said I’m still just toying with the idea of Sen. Magsaysay as a possible leader of this country. “Toying” because I’m not that sure yet about him. He may have weaknesses and certain questionable activities which I may not yet know of.

    At any rate, in case of a snap election (just in case), who would be the best person to lead the country, in your opinion?

  50. we should really have a snap election to correct the distortion of the one that happened in 2004. 2010 is too long.

  51. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    You’re so right, Ellen. Snap elections is urgent.

    Can’t endure four more years of this. My whole neighborhood is alreading stinking to high heavens from all the puke wretched out each time the Woman appears on TV. It would be a great public service if TV networks could minimize showing her face and airing her guttural voice meantime. We need a respite. Wouldn’t mind the same treatment for her Circus Chimps at the House and her Puppies at the Palace.

  52. npongco npongco

    But do you think this GMA is so stupid to follow Marcos by agreeing on snap election? She will not….never.

  53. Spartan Spartan

    Ma’m Ellen…ang sinabi mong iyan tungkol sa isang “snap election” sa susunod na taon 2007 para sa pagka-pangulo at pangalawang-pangulo ang para sa aking sariling opinyon ay “pinaka-magaling” na solusyon sa kasalukuyang krisis politikal ng ating bansa. Subali’t napakaraming “balakid” upang isakatuparan ang “option” na iyan..unang-una, knowing how “mental” itong si gloria, hindi niya “susubukan” na ipakipagsapalaran ang kasalukuyang “kapit(tuko” niyang kapangyarihan, alam niya sa sarili niya na kung “tatakbo” ulit siya, kung may limang kandidato ay tiyak na “pang-anim” pa siya…hehehe, sa madaling salita “kulelat” ang LOLA, iyon ay KUNG magiging “malaya at malinis” ang halalan..kung saan, ang isyu ng kasalukuyang komposisyon ng COMELEC ang hanggang sa ngayon ay NAPAKALAKING HADLANG upang maisaisip ng TAUMBAYAN na magiging “patas” na ang mga susunod pang eleksyon. Pero, kung saka-sakali mang magtagumpay si gloria at mga “demonyo niyang alipores”, na patayin ang 2nd Impeachment Process…ang nabanggit mong “snap election” lamang, ang tanging paraan upang MAIWASAN ang MALAKING KAGULUHAN at DUMANAK PA ANG DUGO ng mga PILIPINO dahil sa KAPWA RIN PILIPINO.

  54. Spartan Spartan

    artsee…marami din namang pinoy ang “may-ari” din ng mga “sarili nilang” negosyo sa ibang bansa. Although, majority din ng mga pinoy na ito ay maituturing na “of chinese descent”, pero ang punto ay mayroon ding mga Pilipino na masasabing may magandang “katayuan” sa economic and financial aspect sa ibang bansa. Kaya nga lamang, I think next to some Latin American nationalities, tayong mga pinoy ang may pinakamaraming “export” na “katulong”, “nanny(kuno)”, DH, “House Manager” na siya ring si “SuperMaid”. 🙁

  55. Spartan Spartan

    http://www.visapro.com/Message-Board/23852.asp

    Immigration Message Board

    ——————————————————————————–

    Work Place Issues For Foreign Workers

    Messages | Categories | Search Topic | Create a Message

    Send this to a Friend | Reply to this Topic

    Author Topic: Hiring Domestic Helper
    Evleyn

    08/11/2003 We are thinking of hiring a domestic helper from the Philippines. Where can I get the detailed information for this?

    Re: LAIDA I. DONES

    08/18/2003 I’m 41 yrs old , just retired from 22 yrs of working from a telecom company. Unluckily, my retirement pay almost running out and I want an immediate employment

    Re: LAIDA I. DONES

    08/18/2003 I’m 41 yrs old , just retired from 22 yrs of working from a telecom company. Unluckily, my retirement pay almost running out and I want an immediate employment

    Re: Ana D. Improso

    09/04/2003 I am 42 yrs. old, 112lbs. and very energetic. I retired from a chemical company as a QA analyst 3 yrs. ago. I am willing to work as DH abroad esp. USA. Pls. respond. Thanks.

    Re: gillian

    11/13/2003 Hi Ms. Evleyn,
    Im Gillian, 31 yrs old, Filipina and currently working as a domestic helper here in Hongkong for the past 7 years.I saw your message and I’m very much interested to work in the US. Hope to hear from you.

    Re: Nisha

    11/19/2003 I’M Nisha from Mandaue and separated from my husband. Have resigned from my job as Administrator of a computer training facility. I have 4 kids to support.

    Re: Rosalyn Lamoc

    03/19/2004 I am 24 yrs. old, 116lbs. and very energetic. I am an encoder and technician right but I want to work in abraod as DH esp. USA. Thanks.

    Re: Rosalyn Lamoc

    03/19/2004 I am 24 years old, married very energetic, right now i work as a computer encoder/technician in one of the computer shop her in the philippines but i want to work abroad as a domestic helper i hope you respond my message. thank you.

    Above is the webpage that I happen to “browse upon” in the net…these women are “real” mothers and singles, who are willing to “go abroad” even as DHs, just to get out “from the economic mess” that our country is in right now. It’s somewhat interesting to read “how some of our kababayans are advertising themselves”…talk about “DESPERATION”.

    Pagkatapos, itong si toting(ina nya) bunye, ang lakas ng loob na sabihing “maganda ang economic atmosphere at patuloy pang gumaganda para sa Pilipinas”…kung ano ang itim ng gilagid ng “damuho” siyang itim ng kasinungalingan sa dugo ng walanghiya. Dapat barilin sa “kanto” ang kumag na ito…PWE!!!

  56. Spartan Spartan

    Immigration Message Board

    ——————————————————————————–

    Work Place Issues For Foreign Workers

    Messages | Categories | Search Topic | Create a Message

    Send this to a Friend | Reply to this Topic

    Author Topic: Hiring Domestic Helper
    Evleyn

    08/11/2003 We are thinking of hiring a domestic helper from the Philippines. Where can I get the detailed information for this?

    Re: LAIDA I. DONES

    08/18/2003 I’m 41 yrs old , just retired from 22 yrs of working from a telecom company. Unluckily, my retirement pay almost running out and I want an immediate employment

    Re: LAIDA I. DONES

    08/18/2003 I’m 41 yrs old , just retired from 22 yrs of working from a telecom company. Unluckily, my retirement pay almost running out and I want an immediate employment

    Re: Ana D. Improso

    09/04/2003 I am 42 yrs. old, 112lbs. and very energetic. I retired from a chemical company as a QA analyst 3 yrs. ago. I am willing to work as DH abroad esp. USA. Pls. respond. Thanks.

    Re: gillian

    11/13/2003 Hi Ms. Evleyn,
    Im Gillian, 31 yrs old, Filipina and currently working as a domestic helper here in Hongkong for the past 7 years.I saw your message and I’m very much interested to work in the US. Hope to hear from you.

    Re: Nisha

    11/19/2003 I’M Nisha from Mandaue and separated from my husband. Have resigned from my job as Administrator of a computer training facility. I have 4 kids to support.

    Re: Rosalyn Lamoc

    03/19/2004 I am 24 yrs. old, 116lbs. and very energetic. I am an encoder and technician right but I want to work in abraod as DH esp. USA. Thanks.

    Re: Rosalyn Lamoc

    03/19/2004 I am 24 years old, married very energetic, right now i work as a computer encoder/technician in one of the computer shop her in the philippines but i want to work abroad as a domestic helper i hope you respond my message. thank you.

    Ma’m Ellen, I am trying to “re-enter” this…the above is a webpage that I happen to “browse upon” in the net. It’s interesting to see how some of our “kababayans”, particularly women, are “advertising” themselves just to be be able to go “abroad as DH”. It’s a clear indicator of “How much they want to get out from the present economic mess, our country is right now”.

  57. norpil norpil

    First, thanks ellen for correcting me. I just would like to say something about some of the comments here in general. When I left the pinas they called it brain drain now it seems to have another name. Regardless of what is the name for it, the thing is that whatever job there is as long as it is honest and correctly priced, I think it is OK. Working as an engineer in a very cold climate is probably more difficult for a filipino than washing toilets inside the homes for older people. What the govt should do is to see to it that those who live get properly paid. I myself donot regret what I have done 30 years ago and I donot think it is fair for me to tell the others that they should not. But my question now, when I will retire soon is the pinas worth going back to? Or should one wait for the messiah.

  58. Spartan, that’s an interesting webpage that you discovered. It speaks a lot of our situation today.

  59. Spartan Spartan

    Well Ma’m Ellen, let us give thanks to the “power of technology”…hehehe…I guess, without the place called “cyberspace”, most if not all of us would still be “in the dark” in connection with the “TRUE STATE OF THE NATION”. But as what a number of us “visitors” here in your BLOG always says…thank you also for “KEEPING THIS UP”. 😉

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