The great Chip Tsao has apologized. See what other bloggers are saying:

http://pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com/2009/04/chip-tsao-apologized-what-now.html

http://daretospeakout.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/the-apology-of-chip-tsao/

http://aprub.com/chip-tsao-apology-an-insult-to-filipino-intelligence/

http://cathcath.com/?p=5508

http://guillotinechoked.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/chip-tsao-has-apologized-and/

http://www.sassyqarla.com/2009/04/chip-tsao-says-sorry-at-last.html

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090403-197696/Racist-HK-writer-wants-to-visit-RP

—————

Today, HK Magazine has published the statement below.

An Apology

HK Magazine

April 3rd, 2009

The publisher and editors of HK Magazine wish to apologize unreservedly for any offense that may have been caused by Chip Tsao’s column dated March 27.

HK Magazine has long championed the rights of Filipinos working in Hong Kong. We note that Filipinos have often been unfairly treated in Hong Kong, and that they make an important contribution to this community.

As a magazine, we would never want to say anything that would negate that belief.

The column in question was satirical. One aspect of satire is that it can at times be read in different ways. In this particular case, many people have read meanings into this column that were never actually intended.

We wish to assure our readers that we have nothing but respect for Filipinos, both living in Hong Kong and abroad.

—————

Okay then. Apology accepted. But Chip Tsao will remain an idiot in my book. Published words may sometimes fuel hate. As a veteran journalist, sensitivity is expected of him.

Filipinos around the world are fuming mad over the article, “The War at Home”, by Chip Tsao for HK Magazine. Of course, I am also angry, but not that much. Having lived in Hongkie (I’d always wanted to use that term, thank you Mr. Tsao for giving me the opportunity!) town for about 2 years now, I know that Tsao does not represent the whole Hong Kong populace in this respect. There are plenty of HK Chinese out here who respect and admire Pinoys. It is because of them that I am keeping my cool with this issue.

If you haven’t read it yet, here is the full article written by the great Chip Tsao. See for yourself why this “satire”, as declared by Tsao apologists, is a failure:

—————-

The War at Home
By Chip Tsao

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen onboard. We can live with that–Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem–we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on–even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as HK$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell everyone of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her Government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The Government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout ‘China, Madam/Sir’ loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly”. They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

—————-

Here are some more reactions to Chip Tsao’s idiocy:

http://bungangaraw.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/chip-tsaos-cheap-shot/

http://filipinovoices.com/in-praise-of-chip-tsao

http://pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com/2009/03/chip-tsao-satire-sparking-controversy.html

http://ruffybiazon.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/why-mr-chip-tsao-wrote-that-article/

http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/chip-tsao-learnings-about-satire/

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2009/0329_cayetano1.asp

http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/filipinos-rebuke-chip-tsaos-cheap-shot/

http://queeniemb.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/when-the-servants-stop-serving-what-will-happen-with-chip-tsao/

http://hanseman.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/philippines-a-nation-of-servants/

http://kikomatching.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/is-philippines-really-a-nation-of-servants/

http://mackyramirez.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/disaster-has-a-passport-mr-bean-err-mr-tsao/

http://reynaelena.com/2009/03/29/that-xenophobic-and-barbaric-chinese-remarks/

http://jimcaro.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/the-master-and-the-servant/

Around 4 in the early morning of 17 February 2009, I was sent a text message from the Philippines. It was my mother-in-law telling me that my wife’s water bag broke and that they were already going to the hospital. Actually, she sent me the same sms thrice before I picked up my cell phone and jolted off the bed. That was my mark. I had to hurry back home. Good that Manila is just a 2-hour flight from Hong Kong. Every second mattered. I promised my wife that I will be there when she delivers our first baby. I was so excited but I also felt bad that morning. I should have been with her the minute she had indications of labor. Alas, that is the sad fate of OFWs. Physical separation from loved ones is part of the sacrifice.

Rewind more than 9 months back… My wife spent her summer vacation with me. It was the longest time we ever spent together since we got married. She stayed with me in HK for more than a month. So “Made in China” our baby was. What else is not created in China nowadays? Food, drugs, cosmetics, garments, appliances, toys, electronics, gadgets, cars, ships, airplanes, rockets… You name it, them Chinese can make it! When will the Philippines beat that?

Back to my story… I was able to catch a Philippine Airlines flight scheduled at 1pm. Arrived in the Philippines before 3pm. Hired a cab to my in-laws’ house and arrived there before 4pm. Then my father-in-law took me to the hospital, just in time to see my daughter being placed in the nursery. A scene I would never forget! Wrapped in pink sheets was this tiny girl, born at exactly 4:04pm, grey eyes wide open, yawning every now and then, a few bubbles coming out of her pretty mouth as if teasing me. She was lovely!

This cash cow is now a father at last.

Finally, I get to write something positive about the Philippine Government. I have been dreaming about this for a very, very, very long time. This blog is not only about complaining you know. Ranting really helps me blow off steam but I don’t want to do it chronically because it can also drain one’s energy. Besides, I don’t want to be called a misanthrope. How can a docile “cow” be one huh?

More than 800,000 new jobs were identified in a joint summit recently held in Malacañang and attended by representatives from the government, academe, church, nongovernmental organizations, business, and labor sectors. The jobs will be created by the government for economic pump-priming as stated in a communiqué issued by the summit participants. For this, I commend all the officials who attended the conference; most especially the Department of Labor and Employment. Bravo! Sana palaging ganyan! Tulong-tulong.

The Inquirer stated that, “the following emergency employment positions are to be created:

• 506,082 at the Department of Public Works and Highways and 27,222 in the department’s its roadside maintenance program employing out-of-school youths

• 100,000 at the Department of Education and the state universities and colleges’ repair of classrooms and school buildings

• 81,134 in the Department of Agriculture’s irrigation projects, 36,500 in farm-to-market road projects, 10,400 in organic fertilizer production, and 3,645 in goat dispersal [whatever that means]

• 35,000 in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Bantay-Gubat [Forest Watch] and a project for displaced upland workers

• 23,550 in Department of Labor and Employment projects under the Tulong Hanapbuhay [Livelihood Aid] for Disadvantaged Workers and the Integrated Services for Livelihood and Advancement of Fisherfolk

• 1,022 in Laguna Water Lily Development of the Department of Trade and Industry.

The seven-page communiqué, a copy of which the labor department provided reporters, also said 80,000 to 100,000 jobs would be created in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.“

Now, add to that about 400,000 new overseas jobs waiting to be filled up as listed at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Good news indeed right?

I just hope the given figures are accurate and that the implementation phase would be smooth sailing and corruption-free. I also hope that there will be more encouraging announcements like this in the future. The numbers may still be small relative to the current total population of the country but the initiative is still praiseworthy.

Salamat Ginoong Roque at Ginang Arroyo!

References:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20090210-188390/Govt-projects-aim-for-800000-jobs

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148012/Business-labor-push-for-creation-of-13-M-jobs

http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002291

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in Saudi Arabia last week. There, she declared that OFWs in the kingdom need not worry about loosing their jobs.  She assured that Filipino expatriates working there are safe despite the global financial meltdown.  C’mon! What is she talking about?! She could not even keep the unemployment rate in her “Strong Republic” at a respectable level. How will she keep jobs safe in a territory she has no authority over for her compatriots? The oil-rich Saudi is also adjusting to minimize the deleterious effects of the financial crisis on their economy. Uncertainty looms. When push comes to shove, will the kingdom give priority to OFWs, say, versus their own citizens? Of course not! Filipinos scattered around the world will always be second class residents in their host countries; and being second class really sucks! But what sucks more is when your own government, torn by internal bickering and corruption, is too indulgent and does not seem to have any long term plans to counteract the diaspora.

On the contrary, since Philippine GDP benefits from OFW remittances, the government continues to make policies that enables emigration. This is a major dilemma. So, should we prevent something that is helping the economy stay afloat? I guess the answer is NO, sadly, because we have no choice right now. But I pray that the next president and future officials of our beloved country would not have this “cash cow” mindset because it just adds fuel to the fire.

As I have said in previous posts, the OFW phenomenon is a symptom of a problem. It is not the solution to the ills of our nation. Even without government officials acting as intermediaries between OFW wannabees and foreign employers, Filipinos will still be able to find overseas employment out of necessity. So when some big shot self-centered government official, always quick on the pogi points, announces that he or she was able to find a number of job opportunities in the Middle East or in Europe or even in Mars, my blood boils! That is like credit grabbing! In the first place, officials should not be looking for jobs outside the country. They should create jobs INSIDE the country! Looking for jobs overseas is a no-brainer. Anyone can do that! We have plenty of private employment agencies to help us. What a waste of taxpayer money some of our government officials are!  I suggest they end their career in government and set up an overseas employment agency instead.

According to the Inquirer, President GMA stated, “Dito sa Saudi ang pinakamalaking expatriate Filipino community sa buong mundo. Gusto kong tiyakin na matatag ang trabaho ninyo dito sa kabila ng pandaigdigang krisis sa ekonomiya, dahil may mga kababayang nawawalan ng trabaho sa ibat-ibang bansa. [The biggest expatriate Filipino community in the world is in Saudi. I want to assure you that your jobs are secure here, because in other parts of the world, our countrymen are losing their jobs].”

These are very big but empty words. Can she tell Filipinos who are still in the Philippines the same thing? That jobs in our country are secure despite the crisis? That is what I would really want to hear. That is what we should expect to hear from a president.

STOP MILKING THE CASH COW!!!

Reference:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090203-187201/Arroyo-Saudi-OFWs-jobs-safe

The annual Hong Kong Chinese New Year Parade was held on the 26th of January 2009 at Tsim Sha Tsui. Sponsored by Cathay Pacific, the spectacle was dubbed as the “World’s Happiest Party.”There were local floats and performers but there were foreign participants as well. I saw representatives from Macau, mainland China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, Latin America and even Africa! However, I was disappointed not to see one from the Philippines. I thought, since the Philippines is in the proximity of Hong Kong, someone from the Department of Tourism (DOT) or the Philippine Consulate would have thought of joining this internationally renowned parade. I bet it’s a good way to promote our country since tourists from all over the world, like the sweet Italian couple to my left, the pretty South Korean ladies to my right, the hyperactive German kids on my front, and the elderly Swiss tour group behind me, witness this parade every year. It is also a chance to somehow change the sterotypical domestic helper image of the Filipino in Hong Kong—not that there is something wrong about being a DH, but not all Filipinos who go here are domestic helpers.

I don’t know the politics and bureaucracy involved in enlisting for this parade and I am not sure if the Philippines has sent representatives in the past but we sure are passing a good opportunity by not ‘partying at the World’s Happiest’.

———————–

Here are some of the pictures I took during the parade.

I found my way to the blogosphere exactly a year ago on 24 January 2008. Being a new Overseas Filipino Worker then, I was so irked by Memorandum Circular No. 4 (MC No. 4) issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that I had to vent out lest suffer a heart attack. Having very few friends in Hong Kong that time, I decided to publish my frustrations on this issue via WordPress. After a few more posts on the same topic and a dozen or so comments from Filipinos who are scattered around the world, I discovered the therapeutic effects of blogging. Posting my thoughts on WordPress has kept me sane in this foreign land for the past one year. I hope other OFWs would discover this delight as well. Working far and away from your loved ones is really difficult if you don’t know how to deal with it.

Initially, I thought blogging would just be another one of those ningas cogon ventures I am notorious at taking. Ningas cogon is a Filipino figure of speech that roughly translates to “good at the start, but cannot follow through or finish.” But here I am with my 1st year anniversary post. This cash cow is still alive and mooing! Not so bad for an inexperienced writer huh?

…So to mark this humble achievement of mine, I have changed the theme and header of Milking the Cash Cow. I hope you like the alteration. Thus, I bid goodbye to the old format:

I am so happy because we have leaders like Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Noli De Castro, Prospero Nograles and Marianito Roque. Monuments should be erected and songs should be written in their honor. Streets, avenues and highways should be named after them. They should be praised for their contributions to Philippine politics, culture and society.

Leader No. 1. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

The photo-op President. I am sure those retrenched workers from Taiwan who wanted an audience with her but got “a bagful of brochures” instead would be delighted to hear that she found 37,000 job vacancies in Qatar recently. That is really something Mrs. President. Hurrah! Just when we thought the country would be swamped with thousands of returning OFWs because of the global economic crisis, you found another foreign land that would gladly absorb them. You are really getting good at this Filipino brain and talent exporting business thingy, Madame. That is just what the country needs right now. The more Filipinos sent abroad, the better for the economy! I think, if Oxford would ever consider adding a definition for the acronym “OFW” in future editions of its dictionary, it should state that “OFW” is slang for “a THING or COMMODITY akin to electronic chips, computer parts or even dried mangoes, which can be exported, used and abused by the government as leverage for economic growth.”

Leader No. 2. Noli De Castro

The “Kabayan” Vice President—during the inauguration of a BPO facility in Pasay City—is so proud that “the Philippines has enough supply of educated English-speaking labor force”. Right on! That is also a must for a country that has a multitude of dialects. Forget the Filipino language, we don’t need that anymore. We need more English-speaking youths and more call centers. That is the enlightened path the Philippines should take in the 21^st century. We should promote the country as a BPO haven so that it will be forever chained to the economies of the English-speaking world. Forget heavy industries and high local content manufacturing. BPO is the way to go!

Leader No. 3. Prospero Nograles

The Speaker. I almost broke my neck the other day nodding in agreement with Noggy’s proposal to remove the existing limitations on foreign ownership of land. This should have been proposed a long time ago. Come to think of it, why did we ever remove the rights of Spain or the United States to own vast tracts of lands in the Philippines? They should have been invited to stay to cultivate and develop the land for us. Bad Filipinos! Look at what you’ve done! Now, we have to lure back some foreigners again because we are hopeless without them.

Along with Noggy’s, the collective mindset of Leaders 1 and 2 is highly sound and ultra-clear. Actually, there is a mathematical formula for it. Here,

MORE Filipinos working abroad +
MORE English-speaking Filipinos +
MORE foreigners possessing Filipino land =
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!

Very simple. That is not too difficult to comprehend isn’t it? Cool then! Now, let’s continue extolling Noggy’s virtues. On the issue of Charter change, he was quoted to say that, “Only members of Congress can vote on these measures and they may possibly be influenced by the public outcry. But the demonstrations on the streets and its leaders cannot vote for or against Cha-cha [Charter change]. It’s the vote of congressmen and senators that will count. Not the streets.”

Well said, Mr. Honorable Speaker! You are truly the SPEAKER of the people. Crush the puny minority! Majority wins! Authority rocks! The House of Representatives should not be bothered by anyone. Most especially, it should not care about the people who it should be “representing” in the first place.

Leader No. 4. Marianito Roque

The DOLE Head. He is my favorite Secretary in the executive branch because this guy thinks fast and has valuable foresight. Imagine, he was able to identify the Middle East as shock absorber for OFWs facing possible retrenchment. Not only that, he has also found Canada and Australia as promising OFW destinations despite the global financial crunch. He recently announced that Canada has issued 8,000 visas to Filipinos! Wow! I couldn’t count all of that using my fingers and toes! Well, need I say more about the brilliant secretary? He is a true marvel. I would be eternally indebted to Sec. Roque, if I were among the 8,000 selected to go to Canada. These Filipinos are so darn lucky because finally, they would be earning Canadian Dollars. More importantly, they would have better chances of acquiring Canadian citizenship, which would allow them to leave our sick and yucky country for good. Probably, take a relative or two with them at that. Why not? It is also a good way for the government to ease population stress in the country. Not to mention, these future ex-Filipinos would still probably remit money to the country anyway. That’s a win-win-win scenario isn’t it?

——————————–

References:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139147/Retrenched-OFWs-duped-by-Malaca%C5%88ang-says-Migrante

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/dec/15/yehey/top_stories/20081215top1.html

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20081126-174378/Constitutional-menace

http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=3084&sec=3

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081211-177421/Nograles-nixes-Charter-change-protests

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081209-176852/8000-Canada-visas-issued-to-Filipinos

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081020-167438/Middle-East-will-be-OFW-shock-absorber

Can you help me sort this out? I am not sure if I should be happy or not. The government is providing a P250M livelihood fund for Overseas Filipino Workers who might, theoretically, be displaced due to the worldwide economic crunch. Livelihood? I am assuming this means that when an OFW is laid off, he or she can return to the Philippines and expect the government to lend a helping hand so that he or she can survive the crisis. This is an excellent initiative.

However, I am bothered about the “redeployment” strategy. The president said that monitoring schemes will be put in place to allow redeployment of displaced OFWs to emerging labor markets. This means an OFW displaced from one foreign country will be assisted by the government to find a new job in another foreign country. I don’t agree with that. This shows how our government views the OFW phenomenon as a solution rather than a symptom of a big problem. We should not allow this “cash cow mentality” to perpetuate. The government should shape up to prevent the Filipino diaspora. It should not be counting how many jobs the Middle East or Europe or Canada or Australia or New Zealand or Guam can provide for Filipinos. The government and its president should be looking for ways to create jobs in the Philippines to prevent its people from leaving. The government should inspire Filipinos and give them good reasons to stay.

Read more about this in the following links:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081022-167853/P250-M-fund-for-laid-off-OFWs-set-up

http://saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2008102420107

and share your thoughts through this poll:

Sa pagkakataong ito ay magfi-Filipino naman ako. Napansin ko kasing nag-ala-Tagalog na ang WordPress; bagaman di pa ganap ang mga pagsasalin. Bukod dito ay hindi naman yata magaling kung lahat na lamang ng aking isusulat ay gamit ang wikang Ingles. Isa pa’y Tagalog naman talaga ang pinili kong pangunahing wika nung ako ay nagsimula sa WordPress. Napukaw din ako ng kayayari lamang na artikulo (Filipino: Paraan ng Pagtanaw at Pananaw) ng hinahangaan kong manunulat na si Ginoong Añonuevo sa kanyang Alimbukad blog.

Ngunit hindi tungkol dito ang paksa ko. May mga aklat kasi na kating-kati akong bilhin simula’y aking napagalaman. Ito ang nais kong ibahagi. Una, ay ang “History Handbook for Overseas Filipinos.” Ayon sa paglalarawan ng Inquirer.net [1] at batay na rin sa pamagat, ang nasabing aklat ay nababagay na basahin para sa mga OFW na kagaya ko. Ang pagkakasulat ay talagang iniayon sa lumalagong bilang ng mga nangibang-bayan na Pinoy. Mahilig rin talaga akong magbasa ng mga aklat tungkol sa kasaysayan kaya tamang-tama ito para sa akin. Nagbilin na ako sa aking mga kaanak sa Pilipinas na ibili ako ng kopya at ipadala dito sa Hong Kong.

Ang ikalawa na nais kong bilhin ay ang “Special Centennial Edition” ng Philippine Journal of Science [2]. Biruin niyong mayroon pala tayong ganitong uri ng journal pang-agham. Naisip ko tuloy ang kabagalan ng gubyerno natin sa pagsusulong ng siyensiya kaya’t marami ang utak na bagkus sa Pilipinas pinapakinabangan ay sa ibang bansa nagagamit. Naalala ko rin tuloy noong nakaraang eleksyon, ikinampanya kong maigi sa aking mga kamaganak, kapitbahay at kasamahan sa trabaho ang AGHAM para sa Party List sa paniniwalang malaki ang tulong na magagawa nito. Halos lahat sila ay nahikayat kong bumoto para sa AGHAM Party List. Ngunit talagang mas marami ang di tumangkilik sa AGHAM kumpara sa bilang ng aking mga kamaganak, kapitbahay at ka-opisina. Wala sa kamulatan ng masa ang siyensiya. Nakakapanghinayang…

… Kapag umuwi ako ng Pilipinas sa kapaskuhan ay sasadyain ko ang pagbili ng nasabing journal. Marahil ay naipadala na rin sa akin ang kopya ng History Handbook pagdating noon. Gusto ko nang simulan ang pagbabasa…

There is really something humorous about the thought of Manila’s bid to host the Summer Olympic games in 2020 or 2024 that I had to make another post about this topic. In my last article, “Beijing 2008… Manila 2020?”, I said that I think the bid should be supported given that it would prove beneficial to all Filipinos whether they are at home or abroad. However, before wanting to host the games, shouldn’t we want a gold medal first? I mean shouldn’t we win one first? I see that all of the previous host countries had won gold medals to brag about before they hosted the games. The Philippines has only 2 silver and 7 bronze medals. No gold yet! Zero! Nada! Itlog!

Here is a tally of all the medals we have won by sport so far:

To think that we have been part of the Olympic tradition since 1928. We were among the first Asian countries that sent delegates to the games. Beijing is our country’s 19th Olympiad (note: we boycotted the 1980 Moscow games because of our pro-American political policies). China joined in 1932 but did not attend most of the games until the 80’s.

Indonesia and Thailand only joined in 1952. By 1952, the Philippines has participated in 5 summer games already. Comparing our medal standings with these two ASEAN neighbors is interesting. Let’s take a closer look at Indonesia and Thailand’s historical medal tallies.

Thailand:

Thailand is obviously better than us in Olympic Boxing, a sport that is also very popular in the Philippines. We have 3 bronze and 2 silver medals in boxing while the Thais have 6 bronze, 3 silver and 4 gold medals! So what has happened to the land of Manny Pacquiao? Thailand has 7 golds already! They have 21 medals overall.

Indonesia:

Badminton has been the goldmine of Indonesia. In fact, they have won 6 golds in this sport. Overall Indonesia has taken home 25 medals since 1952. Like Thailand, they are also competitive in Weightlifting. The Philippines has not won yet in this event.

Here are some more compelling facts. From 1924 to 1936, before the 2nd World War, our country has attended 4 summer games. In the same period, we won 5 bronzes. Then, post world war, we had 2 silvers and 2 bronzes in 15 Olympiads from 1948 to this year in Beijing. Let’s do some simple math:

Pre-WWII: 5 medals/4 olympiads = 1.25 medals per olympiad

Post WWII: 4 medals/15 olympiads = 0.27 medals per olympiad

This computation may be crude and statistically flawed, but it helps drive my point. We are not doing well in the Olympics. I believe we should strive to improve our sports program first. More importantly, the country’s meager budget is more wisely spent if used in solving more pressing issues like poverty alleviation, alternative energy sourcing and infrastructure development. Otherwise, we can not and will never be considered a “TRUE” Olympic host country.

Reference: Wikipedia

This is the closest I have ever been to the Olympics. No, I don’t have a ticket for the opening ceremonies in Beijing or any other sporting event for that matter. Like many folks in the Philippines, I will also be monitoring the action at home through the boob tube. Only difference is; my TV screen is closer to the sites of the XXIX Olympiad. I am currently in the Hong Kong SAR, host of the equestrian events. For now, that will do for me.

Months before the official opening of the games, the Olympic committee in Hong Kong made it a point to educate the public about equestrian sports. Thus, I have been able to add three more words to my Olympic vocabulary: eventing, jumping and dressage. These comprise the equestrian events, which is, by the way, the only Olympic sport wherein man and animal compete together. That’s cool isn’t it? I think there should be more games like this to showcase the connection we have with our animal friends. Sabong (cock fighting) perhaps? Or saputan ng gagamba (spider fighting)?

Kidding aside, I was surprised to find out that Manila is trying to bid for the hosting of the Summer Olympics in year 2020 or 2024. Can you believe that? You think I am still joking? Click here for the link. Also try Wikipedia. If the country will be successful in its bid, a high-tech sports complex will be built in Pasay City. Could this really be possible? Having lived in Hong Kong for more than a year now, I have observed how China encountered heap upon heap of difficulties in meeting the standards of the International Olympic Committee. Just thinking of the financial and logistical challenges the Philippines might face given our current political and economic status makes me giddy! But hey, 2020 or 2024 is still far away. Who knows what could happen. A miracle perhaps?… But shouldn’t we win a few gold medals first before dreaming to host the Olympics?

As a cash cow (Read “On Milking The Cash Cow”), I say, if winning this bid and hosting the Olympics will be beneficial to the country in the long run; if winning this bid and hosting the Olympics will create jobs and initiate a turnaround in the mass departure of Filipinos; if winning this bid and hosting the Olympics will cure the corrupt Filipino mentality that is responsible for our rot; then by all means let us support Manila 2020 or Manila 2024!

Just a breather…

———-

The Evolution of Medical Treatment

2000 B.C. – Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. – That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. – That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. – That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. – That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. – That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.

———-

Taken from the New York Times.

Nope. This is not a copy-paste of Abdullah Ai-Maghlooth’s full essay of the same title published in a local Saudi newspaper. By this time, his Filipino-friendly article has been amplified in a number of blogs (see Pinoy Around the World and USA Pinoy for example) and has landed in my inbox a gazillion times as a forwarded message. Why not? We hardly see something good written about OFWs and Filipinos in general. When we do get to hear positive remarks about ourselves, it is but appropriate that we smile and celebrate.

Randy David in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column Public Lives wrote A world without Filipinos which also mentioned Ai-Maghlooth. He quoted from the essay, “Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos… We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.” This could be true. I digress… Speaking of death, I wish greedy and self-centered traditional politicians in the Philippines, especially those with “cash cow mentality”, would die not only a slow death but a painful one at that!

I have been campaigning against the “cash cow mentality” (read On Milking the Cash Cow) of government officials in the Philippines. OFWs are being depended upon as cash cows. Bagong Bayani daw!!! In truth, the government has been juicing the fruit of OFW labor for years, setting up more and more remittance schemes here and there yet efforts and long-term programs to entice OFWs to return home are minimal if not nil.

I firmly believe that leaving the country to become an OFW could never ever be right. The government should not be contented with the billions of dollars in annual remittances by OFWs. The government should be held liable for OFWs who suffer discrimination, who are abused and who are murdered in foreign lands. The government should shape up and find ways to stop the Filipino diaspora. Otherwise, it is tantamount to committing crime against the people who they should be serving in the first place. The country has more to loose than gain by sending off its precious human resource abroad. I quote Prof. David,

“…[Foreign employers] single out Filipino workers for their skill, their tenderness and their loyalty. But they do not see the human being that performs all these services and possesses all these traits. They do not see the families these workers have left behind, the relationships they have put on hold because of migration, and the experience of humiliation and helplessness they often go through as virtual exiles in strange lands. Away from their loved ones and circle of intimates, their lives tend to be bare. Wrenched from the culture that is their medium, their identities tend to wither.

They help maintain and reproduce the social systems that host them, but these societies do little to integrate them as members. Their service is needed, but not their person, or-to be more precise-not the cultural practices that reproduce them as individuals with identities of their own.
A world without Filipinos may seem unimaginable to those nations whose lives have been greatly enriched by their presence. But, impossible as it may be, a world that allows every Filipino to take his loved ones along wherever he may choose to work would be a far richer world. Better still, a Philippine society that affords every Filipino the chance to grow and to use his talents without having to leave his country would be a far richer society.”

Now, what kind of government would allow the sons and daughters of its country to toil in foreign lands and rejoice in the bounty of their remittances? So sad. Very bad! Incompetent!

STOP MILKING THE CASH COW!!!

Good News

The Philippine Central Bank reports an expected increase of about 10% in total cash remittances by OFWs from last year. Total remittance for 2008 will be around $16.45 billion; a real boost for the country despite the global economic slowdown.

Bad News

New illegal migrant rules in the European Union will affect more than 94,000 irregular OFWs. They will face expulsion, detention of up to 18 months and/or a five-year re-entry ban.

Questions

What will the Philippine government do to help OFWs facing expulsion from the EU? Will they always be quick on the math with regards to remittances yet slow in formulating action plans for OFWs in distress? WHEN WILL THE MILKING STOP?

References:

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080621-143956/Central-bank-sees-08-OFW-remittances-at-1645B

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080620-143800/New-EU-rules-may-affect-94000-irregular-OFWs-in-Europe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7460007.stm

I got this from a forwarded email.

—————–

Economic Models explained with Cows – 2008 update

SOCIALISM
You have 2 cows.
You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk.

BUREAUCRATISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away.

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows.
The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company.
The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows.
No balance sheet provided with the release.
The public then buys your bull.

THE ANDERSEN MODEL
You have two cows.
You shred them.

A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike, organise a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create a clever cow cartoon image called ‘Cowkimon’ and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don’t know where they are.
You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
You count them again and learn you have 2 cows.
You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you.
You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity.
You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION
Everyone thinks you have lots of cows.
You tell them that you have none.
No-one believes you, so they bomb the **** out of you and invade your country.
You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of a Democracy.

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Business seems pretty good.

A FILIPINO CORPORATION
You have two cows.
One is reserved for the wedding of your son
The other one you give as bribe to your politician.

(The House Along the Railroad Tracks)

I recently transferred to a new home here in Hong Kong. My wife and I were so excited to move because this is our first house as a couple. I did not mind doing some wall repainting by myself. In fact, I enjoyed it. This is me happily painting a portion of our kitchen wall.

With two rooms, a large living room, a spacious toilet, and a comfortable tub, the flat is perfect for us. Even better, I get to see the Westrail train pass by every 15 minutes or so. I developed this habit of staring at the speeding coaches with the trademark red and blue colors of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation. Can’t explain why, but it relaxes me the way fishes calmly swimming in a glass aquarium do. My wife agrees 100%. I could stare all day and not get bored. It gets even better at night when the coaches are fully lighted.

Here is the view of the tracks from my kitchen window.

This makes me wonder about fellow Filipinos who squat near railroad tracks.

Do they also like seeing PNR trains go by?

What is our government doing to help them?

…we need long-term solutions, not quick fixes! Current government relocation efforts are superficial.

…more photos and insights by Sidney Snoeck at My Sarisari Store

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan calls on OFWs to donate to the AMRSP Sanctuary Fund which is aimed at assisting whistle blowers. In my opinion, this is a good move and that OFWs who give their support should be commended. All OFWs should consider contributing to the AMRSP’s noble initiative. I myself would be alloting a portion of my incoming salary to the fund (note: Philippine address, contact number and bank account number indicated in the Inquirer article below). However, I could not help but categorize this as another example of a “milking-the-cash-cow” mindset (see my post On “Milking the Cash Cow”), albeit, of a paler character.

What has Sen. Pangilinan done lately that is of benefit to OFWs, if I may ask? I checked his official site (http://www.kiko.ph/billsresolution. html) but found no bills of relevance to OFWs. Yes, he had a news release (http://www.kiko.ph/newsroom/022308newsa.html#) calling POEA MC-04 “a blunder,” but what concrete action did he take against officials responsible for this blunder? Does he have any legislative plans to prevent such blunders from happening again? I also noted that this release was dated February 23, 2008—long after the memo was suspended.

I admit that I am not familiar with Sen. Pangilinan’s political agenda and that I am not an expert when it comes to matters concerning the authority of members of the Senate of the Philippines. Also, please don’t get me wrong; I am not sour graping. I am merely citing the fact that most of our government officials, whatever their purpose may be, always look at OFWs as a source of money.

I agree with Sen. Pangilinan’s statement in his news release against MC-04 that “OFWs should not be the milking cow of our government.” But I hope we see more proof from the good senator who was a topnotcher with respect to overseas absentee votes in the last elections, that he is not one of ‘em milk suckers. Kudos Mr. Senator!

_____________________

Pangilinan urges OFWs: Donate money for whistle blowers

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 21:55:00 02/20/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged overseas Filipino workers to donate money to the “sanctuary fund” set up by church people to finance the legal needs of whistle-blowers on government corruption activities.

Pangilinan said the appeal is especially “for those who believe in the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) call for communal action and so that we are not mere spectators but are active participants in the search for the truth.”

He said that only on its sixth day, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines’ Sanctuary Fund to support witnesses like Rodolfo Noel Lozada has now reached P693,372.50.

Quoting former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri, Lozada himself said labor migration has become the “escape valve” that has kept the Philippine society from imploding due to the numerous government anomalies.

The fund was set up at the senator’s suggestion during a hearing on the cancelled $329-million contract wherein Lozada admitted to his own responsibility in possibly anomalous government deals.

He said the fund should help whistle-blowers defend themselves in case they are charged in court because of their exposes.

Pangilinan said check donations may be sent to AMRSP Special Funds at 28 Acacia Street, Quezon City, with telephone numbers 724-4434 or deposited directly to MBTC Account No. 3259-07445-3. He said the point person is Sister Estrella Castalone FMA.

“Make a stand for our nation’s future,” he said.

When it comes to blogging, I am a newbie. This is actually my first blog and I am just getting the hang of it. I am also a neophyte OFW. This month is only my 6^th in the Hong Kong SAR but I have been enjoying my stay here since day 1. Gone are the 12-hour office days in the Philippines. No need for overtime work. Pay is better. Nippy weather is great. Traffic jams are non-existent. Government agencies are systematic, fast and people-friendly. Bank personnel are always snappy. No kotong-cops. No yosi-puffing-walang-pakialam-kung- mabugahan-ng-usok-ang-pasahero jeepney drivers. Walang… STOP! This should not be an angst post. Sorry for that hehe. Now where am I? Oh yeah, I was telling you that I have just started blogging and that I am also a new overseas worker.

I made this blog due to 4 reasons: 1) Trip trip lang pare, 2) Para maipahayag ang pagkabagot ko sa mga maling kalakaran sa Pilipinas lalo na yung nakakaapekto sa mga OFWs (at sa akin syempre), 3) Hindi toxic ang trabaho ko dito sa HK kaya may oras na ako mag-blog (kasi sa dati kong trabaho sa Pinas e ihi lang ang pahinga kaya paguwi ko sa bahay lupaypay), at 4) pagbabaka-sakali na may matulungan akong kapwa OFW sa pamamagitan ng blogging.

Why title it “Milking the Cash Cow” then, you might ask? Allow me to quote Wikipedia.org:

“In business, a cash cow is a product or a business unit that generates unusually high profit margins: so high that it is responsible for a large amount of a company’s operating profit. This profit far exceeds the amount necessary to maintain the cash cow business, and the excess is used by the business for other purposes.

The expression is a metaphor for a dairy cow that can be milked on an ongoing basis with little expense after being acquired.”

Isn’t the analogy between a cash cow and an OFW perfect? OFWs are known as “Bagong Bayani” (as consuelo de bobo, I think) because their yearly remittances help keep the bedridden Philippine economy breathing. In fact, OFW money flowing to the country represents a major portion of the GDP. In other words—to use another moo metaphor in Tagalog—ang mga OFWs ang PAMBANSANG GATASAN ng Pilipinas! Tubong lugaw ang gobyerno sa mga OFWs. Ang galing di ba?

Wikipedia futher states, “Risks of a cash cow include complacency, with management ignoring the need for change as market forces erode value; and ongoing turf wars between the management in charge of the cash cow and other managers trying to garner support for other products.”

I am not sure if this “turf war” thingy is another facet applicable to the cash cow mentality of the Philippine government but I am positive about the existence of “complacency risks”. The World Bank warned us in 2005 about this side effect:

“The Philippines should not rely on the remittances of more than eight million [now more than eleven million] overseas Filipino workers to keep its economy afloat…. Over the years, excellent performance of remittances may have contributed to complacency [of the PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT] in addressing fiscal deficits and low productivity growth… Remittances should not distract the country from its huge potential for domestic investment and growth.”

Hindi ba swak? This is why I decided to call my blog “Milking the Cash Cow.” I hope you are convinced that we have a government that seems to be leaning towards more and more “milking-the-cash-cow” policies, as if the milk would incessantly flow from our OFW udders!

I say, as a member of the OFW herd, that we should not allow the milking to go on and on and on. Let us show these milk suckers that cattle can kick too!