outsourced

The Pearl of the Orient.

During the turn to the 20th century, this is the apt term to describe La Islas de Filipinas. Stories abound about how lush our forest were. How diversified it is. Naturalist were amazed to see such diversification in such a small place. Paradise.

No thanks to the Spanish forebearers and the insuing, then, limitly inspired North Americans, the rich vegatation, like that of Negros, now only can support the life of say sugarcanes - all commerce and shallow roots.

I guess, we Filipinos, never really understand what it means to be blessed with natural resources. We never really understood, much less appreciate and value it. And the most unadmirable thing about this is - we use our hospitality as an excuse.

We see the "seemingly richness and blessedness" everyday and yet our life is at it is. Poor.

Poor?

The crazy, the most unbelievable and the most painful part is - we need the poverty to help us realize how blessed we were once.

Moving forward - the 21st century.

The 21st century manifestation of La Islas de Filipinas lush greens is our native ability to speak in English with ease and with a Western context. That ability is worth so many billion dollars. Enough to build infrastruture that will ensure our competitiveness in the 21st century version of wealth creation - business.

But how many of the those who are involved in the country's BPO spends their money in nation building. No, let's slice it to a smaller piece - neighborhood building or family building? Business building? Soul building?

Or do we still carry that galleon trade induced trait and mentality that allowed the Old World super powers to call us - INDIOS!

I thought the American education already rid us of that trait, of that mentality! Did it?

I welcome the chance to be proven mistaken but how many of our BPO citizens spend their money on other things than movies, DVDs, alcohol, iPod, entertainment system, clothes, car and condominiums?

What's our difference with the farmers of old (and of now) that tilled the land, worked until the harvest came (and until they are old and gray) and never asking if this is the best use of the land?

And in our times and context, what is the best use of our native ability to speak English? Answer phones, wait for the payday and spend it? And then answer phones again... and the cycle continues.

What have we become because of this English-speaking ability? With this gift? Did it curse us? Or blessed us?

It seems that we are all consumers. Little is left for the builders. That's difficult kasi. I mean, with the annual lament on typhoon induced situation, on political bickering and the never ending expose' - who would want to build? Let's party for tomorrow we die = )

So, how different are we in the Rizal-described characters in the 18th century? Does it take another 300 years to revolt? Not in the Bonifacio way but in sense of the 15th century Rennaisance...

Outsourced. Yes, the 1st world did this with some of their low-value jobs. But we are still choosing to outsource a high-value job to them - the right to set a course in nation building. Why? for we are still choosing to be just consumers in the economic dance, not a producer.

So, how different are we with what happened in the many places in the Philippines, like Negros, in centuries past? All commerce and shallow roots.