The article below came from Arab News a couple of days ago. Though its a feel good article as much as everyone agrees, I believe its lone overdue.
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Imagine a world without Filipinos
Abdullah Al-Maghlooth | Al-Watan,almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa
Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: "When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite."
Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. "There is no comparison between Filipinos and others," he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.
Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers - 1,019,577 - outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not o nly play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.
Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world's seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.
So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.
What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.
When speaking about the Philippi n es, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world's total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.
Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because "I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere." Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. "She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather's blood pressure and giving my m o ther her insulin injections," she said.
This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.
The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.
We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.
We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.
We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.
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posted by
estong, 5 months ago
I suck at formatting!
And that is "long overdue" up there.
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posted by
wicked1925, 5 months ago
let's just hope that our fellow Filipinos feel the same thing.
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posted by
Chrisangelo, 5 months ago
Estong: Formatting seems to be a huge problem to thread starters.
On topic: I'm glad the Arabs are appreciating our work.. but still, there's no way I'm going to work in Saudi Arabia if ever I graduate. >:)
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posted by
acer3ya1, 5 months ago
^ dude, you need to finish your studies first before dreaming of going in and out of the country. :P
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posted by
lyka, 5 months ago
Yes, though I appreciate the sentiment of this post... I find it a little funny and over the top that the author would go as far as saying they'd die a slow death if Filipinos left. That's borderline between paying us a great compliment and saying they're incompetent nincompoops.
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posted by
Chrisangelo, 5 months ago
^ Well atleast I'm trying. Nyahahahaha
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posted by
Chrisangelo, 5 months ago
Last post was for Acer. :D
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posted by
kherdiezel, 5 months ago
^ before anything else, you should learn how to kiss first..:D
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posted by
rafnex, 5 months ago
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posted by
rafnex, 5 months ago
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posted by
estong, 5 months ago
lyka: if you actually talk to them everyday, you will say this is decent enough an article.
Today the opinion page on one of the newspapers here screams "Afghanistan is overtaking Iraq as focus of terror war"
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posted by
butiki, 5 months ago
no Filipinos? ...fewer FOBs...
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posted by
minjiemeiji, 5 months ago
"We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us."
that was a good article..but that last part..err... they are dependent on us?? haha that's weird...
no wonder why a bunch of filpinos prefer to work abroad... hehe
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posted by
lei, 5 months ago
if only Australians had the same sentiments, I'd have a better job!!!
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posted by
estong, 5 months ago
there there now.
remember think of happy thoughts, listen to happy music, look at happy colours.
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posted by
jhastin, 5 months ago
^ and subscribe to TFC if possible!
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posted by
avatar421, 5 months ago
IMHO, if the Chinese stopped working, the economies of the great west would screech to a grinding halt.
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posted by
estong, 5 months ago
^ ever heard of that theory that if the chinese all over the world pee in unison the world will be flooded. i guess its the same thing.
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posted by
mesai, 5 months ago
hindi kasi mareklamo ang mga Pinoy sa among banyaga, meron pa ring "slave mentality" and/or inferiority complex at the very depth of our consciousness, kaya nagugustuhan tayo ng karanihan sa mga banyaga. we have the tendency to lick their feet and kiss their asses which they love.
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posted by
lyka, 5 months ago
mesai: i once had a conversation with someone who said he preferred asian women (in relationships, i'm assuming) because of their tendency to be more docile and domesticated. Domesticated amp.
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posted by
chelsea, 5 months ago
lyka, i dunno bout that. i think its innate for pinays to be submissive in most circumstances. i dont like the word domesticated. lol.
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posted by
rob, 4 months ago
filipinos really are malambing. i guess thats why most foreigners prefer them over other races.
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posted by
trukr, 4 months ago
I think a more accurate description would be...that we are respectful, and take pride in our work. We also have a tendency to want to outperform our coworkers. Unfortunately, to the simple minded, this can be mistaken for ass kissing.
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posted by
angtipaklong, 4 months ago
Filipinos particularly here overseas succeed and excel as individuals , but so very often fail as a group. I think its that everyone wants to be the Chief mentality and no Indians.
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posted by
muffin, 4 months ago
Hmm, im quite confused to whether to be flattered or disgusted by the thread. in one hand, he compliments how filipinoes "excel" in doing jobs they themselves would rather not do.
on the other hand, he compliments how filipinoes excel in doing jobs "they themselves would rather not do".
its almost like complimenting your rectum for dealing with all the shit you'd rather not deal with yourself. its a compliment, but you're still considered a rectum.
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posted by
mesai, 4 months ago
trukr: respectful? in what place on earth were you from? definitely not in reality, because most Filipinos talk shit about their boss and co-workers whenever they're not around, or when they got home from work.
angtipaklong: it's the crab mentality, dude.
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posted by
trukr, 4 months ago
Raised in Canada, and some high school in the states. We do very well here.
Talk shit about our boss?...sure, when they deserve it. And like you said..."whenever they're not around". Otherwise there's no need to bite the hand that feeds us.
It's just work. We know it let's us drive home in our nice rides, to our beautiful pinay girls, and to relax with the boys. We know there's more to life than work, and the whiteys here are envious of that ability. We can be successful in all aspects of life. Something few of them are able to achieve.
Even in high school, they just fall into cliques. Jock, nerd, stoner, gearhead, etc, etc. But the filipinos here can be all that. Good grades, artistic, play ball, nice rides, dance, whatever.
As far as Saudi goes....we do whatever it takes to provide for our families. Others would rather let their kids starve before they take a job beneath their abilities. So let them say what they want...it doesn't mean shit. Your kids are fed...there's can starve in pride.
If you're one of the pinoys who would rather let your kids starve because you're too good for that kind of work...then I can understand how those comments can be taken personally. Way to represent.
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posted by
lyka, 4 months ago
muffin: eh, just like the rectum's got the shitty lot, someone's gotta do the things that "they'd rather not do themselves". i don't think that things should necessarily be that way, but if it's the reality... then it's the reality.
like trukr said, and i agree: there're a few things we wouldn't do to provide for our loved ones. i guess i don't fully understand the hardships as i've been lucky enough to benefit from my parents' struggle and ambition to better our lives. but i've seen it, and i can say as much. filipinos have heart, and we've got good work ethic. or at least, better than others anyway lol.
i'm really lazy compared to others, me thinks. but my boss still thinks i'm quite valuable. hahaha. i'm not about to argue with her! pfft. (oops, sorry if this comment went all over the place. i'll end it before it gets any farther off.)
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posted by
trukr, 4 months ago
dang...I meant theirs
anyhooo...all I'm saying is I'm able to do what I do, and have what I have, BECAUSE i'm filipino. My fellow countrymen here who are not succeeding, fail DESPITE being filipino.
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posted by
mesai, 4 months ago
trukr: I assume they taught you how to use and understand the contents of a dictionary, maybe you can try and take a look at the meaning of the words respect and respectful. talking shit about your boss whenever they're around or not is a sign of disrespect. being meek is very different from being respectful.
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posted by
mesai, 4 months ago
trukr: I assume they taught you how to use and understand the contents of a dictionary, maybe you can try and take a look at the meaning of the words respect and respectful. talking shit about your boss whenever they're around or not is a sign of disrespect. being meek is very different from being respectful.
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posted by
lakerfan, 4 months ago
nicely put, muffin. nicely put. :)
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posted by
lakerfan, 4 months ago
nicely put, muffin. nicely put. :)
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posted by
trukr, 4 months ago
@mesai....so you've never mumbled anything under your breath after being scolded by your parents, disciplined at school, or after a quarrel with a loved one??? If so then I guess you just don't respect any of them. :)
you can keep your dictionary...i'm satisfied using common sense
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posted by
trukr, 4 months ago
oh by the way
the difference between meek and respect...is perspective
the arrogant and condescending often confuse respect for something negative
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posted by
Stingray, 4 months ago
well ok.. i just hate the idea of stereotyping filipinos as ultimate katulongs by other races. :(
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posted by
darthjesus, 4 months ago
the article seemed patronizing when it's obvious that employers really love cheap labor.
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posted by
CuntClapper, 4 months ago
It's natural to the profit motive to go for cheap (and productive) labor. Some can see that as an equalizing impact of globalization. Good, competent work always deserves respect, regardless of race, age, gender, and level of ridiculousness.
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posted by
mengcrupcy, 4 months ago
the thing is that we are not compensated for our services... one way love.. gee they need to reciprocate too you know..
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posted by
Quentin, 4 months ago
incidentally, the company im working for now chose pinoys as the main work force. and yeah, i think one stereotype we have is that we're people who just "do as we are told."
that's being general however.
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posted by
raia, 4 months ago
others- i mean the foreigners - would often say that we filipinos are hardworking. in the company i am working with, filipinos are the only ones who would even stay up so late in the evening just to get the work done ..even without the OT pay...and regarding the use of the English language, we have the nicest, neutral accent compare with other ESL-speaking countries.
brown is the color of my skin and i am proud to be a filipino...wherever i go.:p
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posted by
xmlwiz2k, 4 months ago
off topic: just trying out if this works.
good arguments
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posted by
MrClean, 4 months ago
I imagine that in a world without Filipinos some other southeast asian nation(s) would pick up the slack.
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posted by
ututero, 3 months ago
if you remove all filipinos in abroad, nobody will clean their toilet.
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posted by
Harley_Quinn, 3 months ago
Fact: Filipinos are hard workers if the pay is really worth it. That's the simple reason we thrive in countries better than our own.
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posted by
Harley_Quinn, 3 months ago
Fact: Filipinos are hard workers if the pay is really worth it. That's the simple reason we thrive in countries better than our own.
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