I had a random spurt of scrutiny and criticism because I did not understand why this country endeavors to prefer and show favoritism to OFWs and the children of OFWs. Not only that, but I was sickened by the obvious biased rhetoric of the bank and exasperated by the antithetical essay topic that encourages nation building towards a sector of the economy that is EXPECTED to leave for work overseas. How, in anyway, does that constitute nation building?!
Yes, it is a given that remittances play a large role in the Philippines' perception of "nation building" because the golden rule is to always provide support back home. The government sees a huge economic opportunity when they make OFWs pay fees and taxes to work overseas. All the money generated helps to pay for this broke ass country where local employment is dismal, wages are devalued by the suffocating presence of multinational corporations, and education holds no significance when business process outsourcing (call centers) are taking in all of he Philippines' educated and unemployed youth to train as customer service robots for the western world (shout out to dependency theory, International Relations 101).
Ah yes, no wonder people want to leave. No wonder people are so sick of their depressing and poor lives here where only a few are able to get a salary that is above minimum wage. The brightest students graduate with a four year degree in engineering, communications, nursing etc. and instead of working and being successful in their field, they end up working in call center agencies. This is shout out to my friend Ton, working as a nurse in a local hospital earning a dollar a day to clean people's asses--bidding his time until he can leave to work overseas as a nurse in Australia. Is this how the Philippines treats the best and the brightest of its youth? Oh no wait, Ton just as to be a son of an OFW to get all the perks. Yeah right.
I digress, so this BPI competition spurred my curiosity and even my angst against the Philippines. One of the things I can truly say I dislike about the Philippines is this OFW hero rhetoric that is suppose to instill national pride and nation building. When in fact, it only promotes a weak country and undermines any chance to promote strong independent local industries. The people who stay and try to make their lives better by starting their own businesses, harvesting their own crops, and still having faith that they'll make something of themselves in this country are the true heroes. Those who choose to leave the country are simply jaded by the horrendous employment options in their locality, especially nurses.
Can you believe how much income can be generated if the government invested in the nursing sector?A SHITLOAD! Will the Philippines ever invest in the local nursing population people? Yes, only if they want to go abroad to work.
Remittances have become such a huge part of Filipino society that even the government recognizes its significance, all 6 billion pesos of it...roughly 9% of Philippines GDP (ILO). Hence, the mantra "OFWs are modern day heroes" bull crap is all government rhetoric to instill a false sense of nationalism and influence people to continually work overseas for the sake "of the country." The Philippines is experiencing a massive brain drain and weak local economies, BUT IT'S OKAY as long as the country still receives it's remittances.
How can that promote nation building and nationalism? It just fuels people's desire to leave this country. It fuels people's realization that this country has nothing to offer them. It fuels people's frustrations that their country can't even provide them with employment opportunities that match their educational background (instead of becoming a call center drone). That's what this "OFWs are our modern day hero's" mantra does...all for the sake of remittances.
Props to all the slum tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, farmers, and jollibee workers earning shit pay. They are the heroes..because they can put up with the b.s. of life's injustices. Does the government or society see worth in that? No.