Why we Filipinos love second hand items?

During the early days after the WWII. My grandfather told me earlier, that during that time there was absolutely nothing left from the Philippines. It was devastated.

We cannot start progresssing if there are no tools like machinery, equipment, even the people with great minds have died during the war. He must think of something so that the Philippines could stand up again - at least to survive.

So he talked to his American, European, and some Japanese close friends. He asked for a loan on their machinery, expertise, and training of Filipinos. Of course they knew my grandfather, he owned the philippines. But seeing him as a jolly person down going down as a troubled depressed individual have forced them to help him out. Some of them asked little or nothing at all. As all nations are devasted at war, rebuilding is the only option for now.

Machinery, equipment, tools, etc. came. all are used and some are already broken. What can you expect for something that is free? Of course they will never give new ones.

That triggered the Filipino notion of becoming a 'second hand/used item addict.' no need to buy new ones, just buy the used cheap one to get the job done.

(continued)

Not with the 'IN' crowd

Have you ever felt that you are alone in this world? seems that everybody has its own path to take and they knew what to do and seem to be very busy about it.

I am the one that watches things from the back drop, or in the background. Just checking things and be sure they are alright.

i dont know, what are our purpose in this world? is it to create a world or destroy it? I have the Philippines on the palm of my hand. What shall I do about it?

Maybe sell it to China.

Let the US come again and suck out all its natural resources.

Let the Brits come and colonize it like India.

Japan should conquer it too, they almost done it before.

Being a filipino is like almost nothing nowadays. it is quite different when someone mentions you are an indian, malaysian, chinese, korean, even vietnamese. hell, some are even confused on how they decribe your nationality. India = Indian; Bangladesh = bangladeshi; Korea=korean; Japan = Japanese

Philippines = hmmm Philippians (like the Bible?); Philippini (semi Arabic?); Philipinesse (odd);

So the correct one is Filipino. But that is a term for 'male' citizens of the Philippines. For Philippine women they are called 'Filipina.'

Arrrgggghhhhh

I am the owner, I am the one that is having problems. Well, i dont wanna sweat on the small stuff. There are important matters to attend to.

This is a more neutral thing to mention if someone asks your citizenship: "Philippine citizen'

Do you feel that empty feeling?

There are times when I view the whole metropolis from the PBCOM Tower in Makati (Philippine's tallest building), I've thought "what will become of my beloved Philippines?"

All of my best staff and workers from a semi-government company that I manage went out of the country to find good opportunities. Here is the most puzzling thing, i even offered them large bonuses, house and lot and a car (and you thought Manny Pacquiao can do this, so can I!), THEY DECLINED!

I told them "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I am giving you something that you deserve, you have worked hard for it, and I know you deserve this amount. There is even more I have to offer you, just ask."

Some cried, some are stunned, some fought against me (because maybe I am buying them or something), but none of them accepted the money and other things that is important for their families.

Actually, some of them I tricked believing they have won it as a prize or something. I even asked PCSO to rig some of the numbers that they have picked so that they will win.

But when I offered them in a direct manner, they refused.

We all want money, and material things. I do not know if this is an asset of the Filipino, or just being shy about it all, money and opportunity is there, why should you leave the country?

If it is work, being globally competitive, money, fame, etc. it is part of their reason. there is another thing:

Philippine Government sucks.

I knew it will come out to this. of course I kept my 'secret' with me, i still didn't tell them that I own the motherland. If I told them it will be a different ballgame. After I said goodbye to them. I always weep, because it is really hard to leave the place you were born. Not to mention leaving your family behind.

(To be continued)

Think back on your childhood.

I visited one government office and observed their work habits. they didn't know that I was a big shot.
Transactions are very slow and the management and senior officers are just sitting around and doing nothing.

Then the yearly bonus came, and their names are there, seeking higher bonuses.

I talked to the president and told them to invite me on their conference.

I told this story:

Once upon a time a Pig, a Cat, a Dog, and a Little Red Hen lived together
in a little house.  The Pig, the Cat, and the Dog were all very lazy.
The Little Red Hen had to do everything around the house by herself.

All the Pig, the Cat, and the Dog wanted to do was play.

One day, as the Little Red Hen was raking in the yard, she found some
seeds.  "Who will help me plant these grains of wheat?"  she asked.

"Not I," said the Pig.

"Not I," said the Cat.

"Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will do it myself," said the Little Red Hen.  And she did.

Soon the wheat grew tall and golden.  "Who will help me cut the wheat?"
asked the Little Red Hen.

"Not I," said the Pig.

"Not I," said the Cat.

"Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will do it myself," said the Little Red Hen.  And she did.

When the grain was cut and ready to be ground into flour, the Little Red
Hen asked, "Who will help me take the grain to the mill?"

"Not I," said the Pig.

"Not I," said the Cat.

"Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will do it myself," said the Little Red Hen.  And she did.

When the flour came back from the mill, the Little Red Hen asked, "Who
will help me bake the bread?"

"Not I," said the Pig.

"Not I," said the Cat.

"Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will do it myself," said the Little Red Hen.  And she did.

She made the flour into dough, and rolled the dough, and put it in the
oven.  When the bread was baked, she took it out of the oven.
Mmmmmmmmmm!  Didn't it smell good!

"Who will help me eat this bread?" asked the Little Red Hen.

"I will," said the Pig.

"I will," said the Cat.

"I will," said the Dog.

"Oh, no, you won't!" said the Little Red Hen.  "I found the seeds.  I
planted them.  I harvested the grain and took it to the mill.  I made
the flour into bread.  I did the work by myself, and now I am going to
eat the bread--all by myself."

And she did.

Think back to your childhood...didn't we learn ANYTHING?

I removed them from their posts and all their bonuses I gave it to those people who really worked.

My Adventures at Work part 3

During work tenure at Philippines, I learned many things. I was very surprised that we are more technically competent even with industrialized countries.

Imagine, I told foreign companies,

"THAT WE MADE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING."

We retrofitted existing plants and machineries, especially obsolete ones. I have worked in an ice plant factory as a technician. Compressors are there since World War II, still it runs today.

We even produced spare parts for expensive machineries. Instead of ordering it from the manufacturer, which is time consuming end expensive, we can make our own.

Filipino skilled personnel are the best workers if compensated properly. Too bad they are leaving because the pay is not good in their own country. Workers who work hard in nation building are building nations of others instead of their own.

So I went to abroad as well. Thats my next story.

I will tell this to PNOY!

I have received an email from one of my colleague, I was really inspired.

I will share it with you:

"MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY"


Germany is a highly industrialized country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, and Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small
town in this country. In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg , my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we
noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two dishes and two
cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their
plates.We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague
ordered more food for us. As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities arranged for us, we did not
spend much time dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.

When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant
owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were
really being too busybody.  "We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind," my colleague Gui told the old
ladies. The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform
claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organization arrived.
Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly
apologized to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, "MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY".
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.´"

Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE REALLY NEED TO
REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which is not very rich in resources. To save face, we order large quantity and also waste food when we give
others a treat. THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.
My colleague photostatted the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir. All of us kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that we shall never be wasteful.

My Adventures at work part 2

Actually, I was a working student. This is to show to my parents that I can support myself and be independent. Although they want me to study in exclusive schools like Ateneo, La Salle, etc. I was
disgusted by their way of teaching.

"How can I learn if money is always part of the curriculum?"

So I studied in a state university. Wherein the government subsidize the tuition fee. I enjoyed studying
here. I learned a lot of things and met new friends. My father once told me that some parents will sell
their land, cows, jewelry, etc. for their sons/daughters to finish their studies. That I encountered first hand with my classmates. Some even became farmers before, or out of schoo, youths. Some are twice
as old as I am and have children, but still they want to finish their studies. That for me is a lesson
not being taught in books - education is for everyone who wants it.

(continued)