August 4, 2006 – (Manila) – Just a few years ago, U.S. West Coast Filipinos were laughing at the pun stand-up comic Rex Navarette created about Filipinos who work abroad to become domestic helpers.
Navarette created the character “Maritess” who was hired by the super hero comics characters who belong to the Justice League.
The situation Navarette created for “Maritess” was funny, and he was able to describe how a Filipina domestic helper could actually interact and become the hired help for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and others.
The idea of having a Filipina working within the fictional Justice League is not really far from reality.
Not that the Justice League is actually real but in essence, the comic Rex Navarette suggests that in almost any part on the world, we could actually meet a Filipina working as a household help.
The harsh reality of seeing fellow Filipinos leaving this country to work as domestic helpers is once again glaring under scrutiny as thousands of Filipinas are trapped in Lebanon, most are almost close to begging for help to leave the war zone.
Almost 30,000 Filipinos are working in Lebanon and most are employed as domestic helpers.
As of this date, almost 2,000 have been repatriated back home in a near pathetic effort of the Philippine government, who in this time of crisis are still in the process of political squabbling and allegations of corrupting a fund, financed by worker contributions.
Reality now is that the government doesn't have a contingency fund or a real program in place to evacuate Filipinos anywhere if and when a crisis happens and the lives of fellow Filipinos are in grave danger.
Thousands flee from their employers, breaking their contracts and camping out inside the yard of a church which is fortunately managed by a Filipino priest.
Back home, the government is besieged by pleas by unemployed workers for assistance and support.
The government replies with a pledge to provide livelihood funds to support the Filipinas and a promise that they will be prioritized in the next possible deployment for the next available job abroad.
Many Filipinos already abroad prefer not to go home in fear of not finding suitable employment.
Others may find work but the pay is below the minimum wage, the benefits as guaranteed by law are not being given and work conditions could be horrendous.
The government, possibly ailing from myopia prides and congratulates itself for giving Filipinos work abroad while the real priority is to give these Filipinos work here in the country and not elsewhere.
The other day, in a public broadcast forum of national leaders, the panel spoke of promoting Filipinas as “Supermaids.”
The leaders assured the displaced domestic helpers from Lebanon that they will be getting assistance and be placed into the manpower pool in any part of the world.
These people, the policy makers entrusted to guide this country into progress were having a myopic view on the long term good for the people of this nation by being so proud to promote the Filipina as a “Supermaid.”
Owing to the fact that this country can not sustain any effort for self reliance to allow the millions of jobless and under employed, it is so pathetic to see government leaders indirectly insult their own people by simply branding them and encouraging them to become a mere “Supermaid,” when a Filipino can instead become a “Super Scientist,” a “Super Programmer,” or a “Super Businessman.”
Diaspora Filipino
In recent years, we have seen how almost all Filipinas have set their goals in leaving abroad being domestic helpers.
The artistically inclined Filipinas train to become entertainers and singers while those with money to invest in getting some training for a specific skill turn to care giving courses and a number who could afford a degree in allied medical sciences take a course in nursing.
The real score here is that perception and ambition by a number of Filipinas or Pinoys as a whole is that life, work opportunity and better compensation lies brod and not here in their own homeland.
In our coverage before, the real and firm belief among Filipinos is that, if one wants to save and take one’s family out of misery and the glut is for one family member to take a job abroad.
For most, emancipation from poverty lies abroad and this country has nothing much to offer to enable anyone here to live even just a comfortable lifestyle – a lifestyle that will allow ownership of a house and land, basic comforts at home like a television set, having three meals a day and opportunity to send the children to good schools and possibly become professionals who would also be able to work abroad when their time comes.
For now, the Philippines is recognized the world over for exporting not electronic parts, agricultural produce, textiles, technology or oil but instead as a leading exporter of skilled and cheap labor.
In 2005, dollar remittances into the country from overseas Filipinos reached US$10 Billion and by the end of 2006, the projected remittances would reach US$11 Billion.
It’s been said by government bureaucrats that close to 24% of the Philippines’ current Gross Domestic Product now comes from U.S. Dollars sent back to the country by Filipinos working broad and of migrants to the family members they left behind.
The exodus abroad all started to boom in the seventies when Saudi Arabia and its neighboring Middle Eastern countries started to experience an economic boom as a result of their new found wealth in oil exports and construction for new buildings, factories, refineries and housing facilities required skilled workers, which the Philippines had plenty to spare.
The markets opened for Filipino laborers and in the last two decades, two to three generations of Filipinos have become the country’s pride and honor for their efforts abroad.
The Philippine government takes much pride in the industry and perseverance of Filipinos to find work abroad and has even dubbed them as the modern day heroes of the country, along side the heroes who shed blood and sweat for this country to gain independence.
These heroes were fighting for independence from those who treated this country before like a nation of slaves, exploiting the natural resources of these islands and its people.
Misplaced Priorities
In other countries, the exodus abroad is seen as an opportunity to find an opportunity not just work but to do business.
The Chinese for example are in every part of every major cities in the world and this is seen with their closely knit ties as evidenced of having a “China Town” from New York, San Francisco, London and Paris.
The Chinese travel and migrate throughout the world carrying their craftsmanship and skills in business and taking advantage of the available business opportunity.
In this country, history describes the early Chinese migrants here with much scoffing for their different practices and tradition.
Less than a century ago, the Chinese in the Philippines were described as a low regarded artesian who does menial jobs but several years later, the Chinese who have integrated themselves in the Philippines are now the major business and investment leaders of the country, running most of the critically important industries of the Philippines.
A century ago, feudalistic Japan sent its people abroad to study the ways of the West and their emergence from centuries of isolation led them to become an economic power of the world, the first in Asia to become a First World Nation.
China, for the longest time was called a “Sleeping Dragon,” but with its leadership experimenting on market enterprise after years of a planned economy that failed, China is now on the brink of becoming a major economic power in the world.
While the rest of Asia is engaged in building its respective economies to meet up with the challenge of free trade and the quest to join the ranks of emerging economic powers, the Philippines and all of its potentials are being limited to sending people abroad.
Lately, in less than five years, Business Process Outsourcing or BPO is a rising industry in the country and the industry is gearing to employ over 100,000 Filipinos who are computer literate, well-versed in the English language and skilled in customer relations for various nationalities.
The BPO industry is set in the major business centers of the country, inside modern buildings, high compensation and open to college graduates with skills, proficiency and savy in business communications.
Those who will qualify in the BPO industry need not to leave home anymore and still get the good pay that everyone is so keen in getting.
However, regardless of the amount of compensation and the perceived glamour of the profession, still the Filipino who works for these BPOs or call centers are doing menial work, not being the business leader or the entrepreneur like the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Singaporeans, Thais or Malaysians.
Sometimes while spending time having coffee at the business district at night for a pow-wow with friends, it could be so disheartening to hear young people talking out loud in trying-hard American accents, proud of their achievements as call center agents and not realizing, that life is not just about the big pay they get compared to traditional office employees but instead there is a more meaningful career other than answering telephone calls.
Not to demean the career that a number of friends have taken but the bottom line is that Filipinos are limiting themselves and not attempting to explore their possibilities.
The government is not even helping its people to find independence and instead are encouraging Filipinos to leave and become modern day “slaves” to other nationalities in every part of the world.
Instead of promoting a goal for self reliance and building Philippine business and industry, government thinks that we Filipinos are better off handling menial jobs for other people.
As more Filipinos in Lebanon seek help to return home, one can’t forget the events in Iraq where this country had to evacuate its people before the invasion of that country … the plight of domestic helpers Delia Maga and Flor Contemplacion who were executed in Singapore for their crimes … the uproar over the creation of a word “Filipina” in the Oxford dictionary few years ago defining the term “Filipina” also means domestic helper … the stories of abuse and maltreatment in every part of the world where a Filipino is working … it’s a sorry sight and there seems to be no light at the end of this process.
This government, despite all of its short comings should not just be limited to deploying “Supermaids,” but instead think of a way, dreaming and wishing is free anyway … for time in the immediate future when Filipinos no longer need to leave this country and instead be proud to be gainfully employed in their homeland.
Navarette created the character “Maritess” who was hired by the super hero comics characters who belong to the Justice League.
The situation Navarette created for “Maritess” was funny, and he was able to describe how a Filipina domestic helper could actually interact and become the hired help for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and others.
The idea of having a Filipina working within the fictional Justice League is not really far from reality.
Not that the Justice League is actually real but in essence, the comic Rex Navarette suggests that in almost any part on the world, we could actually meet a Filipina working as a household help.
The harsh reality of seeing fellow Filipinos leaving this country to work as domestic helpers is once again glaring under scrutiny as thousands of Filipinas are trapped in Lebanon, most are almost close to begging for help to leave the war zone.
Almost 30,000 Filipinos are working in Lebanon and most are employed as domestic helpers.
As of this date, almost 2,000 have been repatriated back home in a near pathetic effort of the Philippine government, who in this time of crisis are still in the process of political squabbling and allegations of corrupting a fund, financed by worker contributions.
Reality now is that the government doesn't have a contingency fund or a real program in place to evacuate Filipinos anywhere if and when a crisis happens and the lives of fellow Filipinos are in grave danger.
Thousands flee from their employers, breaking their contracts and camping out inside the yard of a church which is fortunately managed by a Filipino priest.
Back home, the government is besieged by pleas by unemployed workers for assistance and support.
The government replies with a pledge to provide livelihood funds to support the Filipinas and a promise that they will be prioritized in the next possible deployment for the next available job abroad.
Many Filipinos already abroad prefer not to go home in fear of not finding suitable employment.
Others may find work but the pay is below the minimum wage, the benefits as guaranteed by law are not being given and work conditions could be horrendous.
The government, possibly ailing from myopia prides and congratulates itself for giving Filipinos work abroad while the real priority is to give these Filipinos work here in the country and not elsewhere.
The other day, in a public broadcast forum of national leaders, the panel spoke of promoting Filipinas as “Supermaids.”
The leaders assured the displaced domestic helpers from Lebanon that they will be getting assistance and be placed into the manpower pool in any part of the world.
These people, the policy makers entrusted to guide this country into progress were having a myopic view on the long term good for the people of this nation by being so proud to promote the Filipina as a “Supermaid.”
Owing to the fact that this country can not sustain any effort for self reliance to allow the millions of jobless and under employed, it is so pathetic to see government leaders indirectly insult their own people by simply branding them and encouraging them to become a mere “Supermaid,” when a Filipino can instead become a “Super Scientist,” a “Super Programmer,” or a “Super Businessman.”
Diaspora Filipino
In recent years, we have seen how almost all Filipinas have set their goals in leaving abroad being domestic helpers.
The artistically inclined Filipinas train to become entertainers and singers while those with money to invest in getting some training for a specific skill turn to care giving courses and a number who could afford a degree in allied medical sciences take a course in nursing.
The real score here is that perception and ambition by a number of Filipinas or Pinoys as a whole is that life, work opportunity and better compensation lies brod and not here in their own homeland.
In our coverage before, the real and firm belief among Filipinos is that, if one wants to save and take one’s family out of misery and the glut is for one family member to take a job abroad.
For most, emancipation from poverty lies abroad and this country has nothing much to offer to enable anyone here to live even just a comfortable lifestyle – a lifestyle that will allow ownership of a house and land, basic comforts at home like a television set, having three meals a day and opportunity to send the children to good schools and possibly become professionals who would also be able to work abroad when their time comes.
For now, the Philippines is recognized the world over for exporting not electronic parts, agricultural produce, textiles, technology or oil but instead as a leading exporter of skilled and cheap labor.
In 2005, dollar remittances into the country from overseas Filipinos reached US$10 Billion and by the end of 2006, the projected remittances would reach US$11 Billion.
It’s been said by government bureaucrats that close to 24% of the Philippines’ current Gross Domestic Product now comes from U.S. Dollars sent back to the country by Filipinos working broad and of migrants to the family members they left behind.
The exodus abroad all started to boom in the seventies when Saudi Arabia and its neighboring Middle Eastern countries started to experience an economic boom as a result of their new found wealth in oil exports and construction for new buildings, factories, refineries and housing facilities required skilled workers, which the Philippines had plenty to spare.
The markets opened for Filipino laborers and in the last two decades, two to three generations of Filipinos have become the country’s pride and honor for their efforts abroad.
The Philippine government takes much pride in the industry and perseverance of Filipinos to find work abroad and has even dubbed them as the modern day heroes of the country, along side the heroes who shed blood and sweat for this country to gain independence.
These heroes were fighting for independence from those who treated this country before like a nation of slaves, exploiting the natural resources of these islands and its people.
Misplaced Priorities
In other countries, the exodus abroad is seen as an opportunity to find an opportunity not just work but to do business.
The Chinese for example are in every part of every major cities in the world and this is seen with their closely knit ties as evidenced of having a “China Town” from New York, San Francisco, London and Paris.
The Chinese travel and migrate throughout the world carrying their craftsmanship and skills in business and taking advantage of the available business opportunity.
In this country, history describes the early Chinese migrants here with much scoffing for their different practices and tradition.
Less than a century ago, the Chinese in the Philippines were described as a low regarded artesian who does menial jobs but several years later, the Chinese who have integrated themselves in the Philippines are now the major business and investment leaders of the country, running most of the critically important industries of the Philippines.
A century ago, feudalistic Japan sent its people abroad to study the ways of the West and their emergence from centuries of isolation led them to become an economic power of the world, the first in Asia to become a First World Nation.
China, for the longest time was called a “Sleeping Dragon,” but with its leadership experimenting on market enterprise after years of a planned economy that failed, China is now on the brink of becoming a major economic power in the world.
While the rest of Asia is engaged in building its respective economies to meet up with the challenge of free trade and the quest to join the ranks of emerging economic powers, the Philippines and all of its potentials are being limited to sending people abroad.
Lately, in less than five years, Business Process Outsourcing or BPO is a rising industry in the country and the industry is gearing to employ over 100,000 Filipinos who are computer literate, well-versed in the English language and skilled in customer relations for various nationalities.
The BPO industry is set in the major business centers of the country, inside modern buildings, high compensation and open to college graduates with skills, proficiency and savy in business communications.
Those who will qualify in the BPO industry need not to leave home anymore and still get the good pay that everyone is so keen in getting.
However, regardless of the amount of compensation and the perceived glamour of the profession, still the Filipino who works for these BPOs or call centers are doing menial work, not being the business leader or the entrepreneur like the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Singaporeans, Thais or Malaysians.
Sometimes while spending time having coffee at the business district at night for a pow-wow with friends, it could be so disheartening to hear young people talking out loud in trying-hard American accents, proud of their achievements as call center agents and not realizing, that life is not just about the big pay they get compared to traditional office employees but instead there is a more meaningful career other than answering telephone calls.
Not to demean the career that a number of friends have taken but the bottom line is that Filipinos are limiting themselves and not attempting to explore their possibilities.
The government is not even helping its people to find independence and instead are encouraging Filipinos to leave and become modern day “slaves” to other nationalities in every part of the world.
Instead of promoting a goal for self reliance and building Philippine business and industry, government thinks that we Filipinos are better off handling menial jobs for other people.
As more Filipinos in Lebanon seek help to return home, one can’t forget the events in Iraq where this country had to evacuate its people before the invasion of that country … the plight of domestic helpers Delia Maga and Flor Contemplacion who were executed in Singapore for their crimes … the uproar over the creation of a word “Filipina” in the Oxford dictionary few years ago defining the term “Filipina” also means domestic helper … the stories of abuse and maltreatment in every part of the world where a Filipino is working … it’s a sorry sight and there seems to be no light at the end of this process.
This government, despite all of its short comings should not just be limited to deploying “Supermaids,” but instead think of a way, dreaming and wishing is free anyway … for time in the immediate future when Filipinos no longer need to leave this country and instead be proud to be gainfully employed in their homeland.
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1 comment:
Hmmm... with Superman heartbroken over losing Lois to Richard, might he finally divert his affection to his Pinay Supermaid? :-))
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