As others see us

What else do we want to hear to be convinced that life in our country is getting better? First we heard the Prime Minister of Canada referring to the Philippines as an “emerging tiger”. Of course he meant an economic one? And then came the report from the United Kingdom saying that the Philippines is now an “exciting” country to trade with. That did not sound at all like the comments we used to hear a few years ago that were mostly complaints against the graft and corruption that pervaded even government-to-government transactions.

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The latest ego-booster came from the managing general of the International Monetary Fund, no less, who said that other countries should emulate our policies to improve their own macro-economic environment. Such wonderful words to hear, after all the negatives that used to come from those who had observed the way our country was being run. The words came from Madame Christine Lagarde, of the powerful IMF, that she began to head after the expulsion of its high-profile, but terribly horny head before, who had been enmeshed in several scandals involving his sexual behavior.

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Just imagine, Mde. Lagarde even said we should be an excellent model for other countries, in an interview. And, note this: she also pointed out the we are to be envied for having a young population that provides a strong work force. Indeed, this column had mentioned in Wednesday’s issue that the growth of our population is a driving force for economic growth as well. That was quoted from an item in the New York Times. Which means that, they, too, noticed that about our country.

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Indeed, those noted economists and financiers know whereof they speak, because they are now comparing the situations obtaining in Asia and Europe, with the former appearing to be at an advantage. Note that while several Asian countries have been soaring in their development, a lot of European ones are steeped in debt and economic problems. We have seen how other countries have been pushing to help such problematic ones like, say, Greece and Spain. The others, like some oil producing and wealthy ones, are besieged by uprisings and bloody protests, some of which had led to the overthrow of their leaders. So it is time to see ourselves in a better light, and we in our city can start by reciting the mantra “Life is good in Bacolod”! It is, isn’t it?

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What Lagarde failed to mention, or may, perhaps not have noticed, is that the Philippines is also supplying labor as well as professional services to several countries around the world. Our nurses, teachers, seamen, have been manning hundreds, maybe even thousands, of establishments and are also highly appreciated. Our doctors, accountants, engineers and architects are also sought after, and are among the highest paid in such countries as the United States, Canada, and the Middle East. They find employment easily, because some countries now have more old people than young ones to replace their labor force. Anong say ng RH bill advocates?

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Meanwhile, it will be interesting to watch the developments in the case of the country’s ambassador to Kuwait who has been accused by his domestic helper, a Filipina, of molesting her while she was in his employ. When the case blew up, Ambassador Shulan Primavera was denying to high heavens and even invoking the name of Jesus Christ as witness to his innocence. But the girl seems determined, and her claims are being backed by a fellow house-helper. It must be terrible days for Primavera, whose name, ironically, means “spring”.

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And what is this we hear about two former chiefs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, being themselves investigated for alleged involvement in transactions concerning illegal substance? The two had allegedly engaged in the sale of confiscated chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs. The report is very saddening because those officials used to be perceived as very determined and effective in the fight against illegal drugs. I hope their present predicament is not the handiwork of those they had nabbed or “neutralized” before, who now want to get back at them because, if the claims are true, many of their former admirers will be very disillusioned.

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A 21-year-old Filipino was crowned Miss International Queen in a contest staged in Thailand for transgenders, meaning male people who had undergone surgical conversion of their original sex organs into those of the opposite gender. The Filipino-turned-Filipina won over several candidates of the same condition, and her pictures were splashed over media outlets really looked female. That is, until you notice her hands, that are really too big and too heavy for that of a genuine woman. What a give-away!*

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