They say that if a person can live and is able to survive in New York, then he can survive in any place in the world. I say, however, that if you are a Filipino, you can survive anywhere.
Indeed, the Filipinos - in whatever part of the world they may go to work or travel, are notably resilient and easily adjust to their new environment. I believe this ability of the Filipinos to survive in new places has more to it than just being a ’unique or distinctive quality’ of our race. The truth is - Filipinos are driven by the passionate desire to conquer their own weaknesses, to rise above themselves, improve their lives and be able to earn more decently for their families back home. This is what pushes them to be more enduring and enables them to embrace strange lands, and live, survive and thrive.
(The following article is written by a Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, who works in the Middle East, joining thousands of his countrymen in search of more lucrative opportunities. He writes articles for the Lifestyle section of The Freeman. Oliver used to work as Media Specialist with GMA-7 before deciding to embark abroad. I met him in the course of GMA-7 Network’s 55th year anniversary celebration last year, to which I was an invitee. Young and full of talent, Oliver has since kept communicating, regularly sending through emails his articles for The Freeman, on which he has given permission for space in this site.)
Distinctively, Pinoy!
by Oliver Victor B. Amoroso
Ferdinand Magellan, the most famous Portuguese explorer for Spain, mentioned over and over again in Philippine history classes and books, is known as the first man to circumnavigate the globe. Ironically, he never did because he died on Cebu shores in 1521. What this so-called ‘discoverer of the Philippines’ failed to do, the Pinoys have achieved.
No citizen of any country, perhaps, could assimilate successfully with other cultures better than the Pinoy does. No citizen, perhaps, has spread out across the globe as massively as the Pinoy has. There are Pinoys in every country and chances are, there are Pinoys travellling in every known ocean.
The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have made their presence felt - from Singapore to Hongkong, Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom, Taiwan to Japan, Australia to the USA. Pinoys are active workers, helping to build countries and modernize their economies.
Latest statistics show that almost 10% of the Pinoy population of more or less 80 million is outside the Philippines. Since 26 September 2005, the country has sent almost 14,000 OFWs to 170 host destinations, more than the 711,813 that were deployed in September of last year. Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the biggest number of OFW’s is still in Saudi Arabia, making up 26 percent of the 209,293 land-based OFWs deployed in various countries during the first quarter of 2005.
Next to Saudi Arabia are Hong Kong with 26,006 OFWs, or 13.3 percent of the total deployed land-based OFWs; United Arab Emirates with 9.47 percent (19.817); Japan with 8.22 percent (17,213); Taiwan with 5.8 percent (12,222); Kuwait with 5 percen (8,660); and Qatar with 3.4 percent (7,193).
Before I bore you with statistics and figures, let me share with you some facts to ponder on, if you want, laugh on regarding the issue: “What makes our OFWs different and unique compared to their counterparts?”
People with the biggest smiles
One can easily spot Pinoys in a crowd. Usually the Pinoys are the ones who wear the biggest smiles. In a regional survey, the Pinoys have been tagged as the happiest people in Asia. Ironically, the wealthy Japanese appeared at the bottom of the list. It is the Pinoy’s sense of humor that helps them through cultural boundaries. With the Pinoy’s inherent charm - being simpatico, cariñoso, with warm smiles - they can easily adapt along with different nationalities.
Fashionable Asians
Aside from being known as the ‘much better smiling Asians’, Pinoys are fast becoming the most chic and fashionable global citizens. Pinoys are usually the most fashionable in a multi-cultural workplace and they don’t want to be left behind with what’s new.
Leap of “Faith”
We love to talk about God. Pinoys are pious Christians who, at the time atheism drew massive followers, believed in miracles. It is the Pinoys’ faith in God that gives them assurance of safety and peace even if expatriated in the farthest and most forsaken countries. Many Pinoys have brought their faith abroad and preached the “Good News”. Unfortunately, even to the extent that some of the Pinoys had been beheaded.
Well-traveled national hero
We have a national hero who traveled across Asia and Europe and visited America. Jose Rizal was one of the few, if not the only national hero, who showed characteristics of a global citizen. He studied and learned different languages and cultures. Despite the ‘assimilation’ he remained a true-blooded Pinoy.
Wealthiest of all ethnic groups
Pinoys have acquired great distinction abroad. For example, in New York - the world’s richest city - Pinoys were once tagged as the wealthiest of all ethnic groups. A 1990 census reported that Filipino-Americans have a median income of $45,000, the highest among all races, including the whites.
English speaking and linguists
Pinoys have a good facility of the English language which is widely used. In fact, majority of the Pinoys are hired as teachers and translators in the U.S., Japan and the Middle East. And the Philippines is listed as the world’s third largest English-speaking nation, after the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Humility and love for the country
It is the Pinoy’s humility that also integrates them into foreign cultures. Nobody, perhaps, is as humble as the Pinoys. A lot of our kababayans serve as nannies in Singapore and Hong Kong, caregivers in Canada and the U.S., gardeners in UK, construction workers in the Middle East and entertainers in Japan. Despite such positions, Pinoys are always proud of the Philippines. In any part in the world, Pinoys are heard talking about their country where people are heartwarmingly hospitable and the beaches are breathlessly beautiful.
Nothing Permanent
While opportunities are still around, most Pinoys aim to save for their eventual return to the Philippines where savings will go a long way. Given the choice, Pinoys would always come back to their native land.