‘When a banana has sprouted and bore fruits, it’s time to cut it down’, this, was one of FVR’s (former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos) messages to the Pinoys working and living abroad, expressed at the dialogue with the Filipino community at the Philippine Embassy on August 18, 2009.
FVR KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AIT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Like most Filipinos who have been living and working abroad for a good number of years now, I too, am disillusioned with the current political situation in our country. And so with heavy shoulders, I went to the Philippine Embassy last August 19, 2009, expecting more of the same scene when politicians come to visit: a lot of BS, nothing substantial.
Surprisingly however, FVR (Fidel V. Ramos), our former Philippine President, turned out to be a breath of fresh air. I’ve witnessed his quick and ready humor on television for several occasions in the past. And who could ever forget the image of him making a jump with arms raised in triumph at EDSA during the 1986 People Power Revolution?
FVR started his dialogue with leaders of the Pinoy community in Thailand by going back memory lane, wisely reminding everyone in the room of the fact that the Philippines became the first ever democracy in Asia in 1898.
With that, he went on to allay fears that he was here in Thailand to start his political campaign or to endorse somebody in the upcoming elections. He was invited by the Asian Institute of Technology to come to Thailand and be AIT’s keynote speaker at its 50th Anniversary. Along with that, FVR is also to receive an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Technology.
THREE SHINING MOMENTS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
According to him, in our history as a nation, there are three shining moments. The first one was the spirit of 1896. It was the beginning of Sigaw sa Pugad Lawin and Balintawak. The second shining moment, according to FVR, was the spirit of 1942 – the Defense of Bataan and Corregidor, where many of our WWII veterans fought and died. And finally, the spirit of EDSA in 1986, when Filipinos and Divine Providence joined hands together and took to the streets. This was the one time when all differences were put aside, and one goal remained:freedom! It is his fervent hope that the latter be most remembered by Filipinos, not because he played a huge role in that revolution, nor because that was one time when the Filipino nation was looked on by the rest of the world with awe and admiration, but because it was the one time in our history, when we embodied solidarity in its truest form.
Mrs. Ramos, at that time, was teaching at the International School of Manila, which boasted of over 40 different nationalities among its student body, according to FVR. And it was heartwarming to hear from them, “I, too, want to be a Filipino”.
“Sana maibalik ang samahan na yun”. FVR hopes we get back such display of teamwork and solidarity again. For it is “only with teamwork and solidarity can we surpass these other countries we try to overtake”, FVR added.
THE PHILIPPINES’ WOE: LARGE FAMILIES
It is uncanny how great countries, like superpower Germany, the third superpower, according to FVR, can be so great with a mere 18 million population. The key to their success, according to the former Philippine President, is their productivity. In contrast, we Filipinos, which boasts of over 90 million people, are “reproductive”!
When a family has to feed and educate more than 5 children, it becomes a big challenge. When the elder three children have managed to finish school, the parents would have reached an age when they are no longer as productive, being in the early years of retirement. Also, that would be the time when the elder three children, who were expected to help the younger siblings to go to school, would be thinking of starting their own families. Thus, the younger siblings, most of the time, miss out on education, and eventually, on life opportunities.
To help our nation prosper, according to FVR, we must raise quality children, and extend opportunities to everyone in terms of education. During his term as President of our country, he chose the later very controversial Juan Flavier to be his Health Secretary. With Flavier’s “Barrio Doctor” (countryside doctor) experiences, he knew well what problems plagued the Filipino families – too many children in a family.
TEACHERS IN THAILAND
Towards the end of FVR’s dialogue with the Filipino community in Thailand, the floor was opened for questions. Siam Pinoy raised the question of the lack of a standard salary and benefits scale for teachers working in Thailand. Siam Pinoy wished to know if it is better left to the two governments of the Philippines and our host country to hold talks on this matter, or should Filipino organizations in Thailand initiate talks with the Ministry of Education and the Thai government in behalf of the Filipino teachers.
FVR says that such problems already existed since his term as President of the Philippines. No bilateral labor agreement exists between our two countries. However, as a member of ASEAN, the two countries abide by the principles stated by the ILO (International Labor Organization), which is to be fair to migrant workers.
On this note, the Philippine Embassy Consular Services opens its doors to anyone who has labor issues, and Filipinos’ problems will have to be dealt with on a case-to-case basis, because of the fact that a bilateral labor agreement is still to be put into place between our two governments. Consul General Badajos, however, has good news to Filipinos in Thailand. He says that the DFA and the Philippine Government are working closely to establish such an agreement. In fact, it is of the highest priority, according to the Consul General. And more good news is, a staff is to be deployed by the DFA to Thailand to serve as Overseas Welfare Officer, whose main job is to provide assistance to Filipinos in distress.
COME OUT AND VOTE
As the dialogue with FVR came to an end, he reiterated his purpose for meeting the community, and that is, to spread the word to everyone to come out, register and vote as absentee voters in the upcoming election. He says, that being said to be over 8 million in number, we, Filipinos Working Overseas, are yet to have our presence and voices felt in our choice of government officials.
Though our political system may be such that he was warned to put aside thoughts of running for town mayor in fear of him losing right after his Presidency, he still wants Filipinos to have hope in our country. One of his greatest hopes, is the seeds being planted each and every day by the many migrant Filipino workers all over the world, most especially those working in the homes of their host countries. It is the Flor Contemplacions of today, who might hold the key to a better tomorrow for Filipinos. It is them, who spreads and inculcates Filipino values into the young ones left to their care. In Germany, the parents are happy with the way their young broads are taught by Filipinos to greet people, show manners, and other values so typically taught among Filipino families, FVR says. This, he says, is what gives him hope for the Philippines in the future.
And so there it is, in a nutshell, former President Fidel V. Ramos’ message to Filipinos in Thailand : do not lose hope in the Filipino and in our country, the Philippines. Take part in the absentee voting and let your voice be heard in the choosing of the future leaders of our country!
‘When a banana has sprouted and bore fruits, it’s time to cut it down’, this, was one of FVR’s (former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos) messages to the Pinoys working and living abroad, expressed at the dialogue with the Filipino community at the Philippine Embassy on August 18, 2009.
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