MikeLigalig.com

A reaction letter sent to the editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

“OFWs ARE PROOF OF ECONOMIC boom -- De Castro.” (Inquirer, 9/2/07) If indeed the Philippine economy is booming, why are more and more Filipinos leaving the country for work abroad? They’re leaving the Philippines because there are no job opportunities here. How then can Vice President Noli de Castro claim an economic surge?

It is the overseas Filipino workers who are keeping the Philippine economy afloat, not the government. De Castro is part of the government but he does nothing to stop the exodus.

Thailand is in need of thousands of skilled workers which the Philippines can surely provide. What is De Castro doing? If he can do something about this, maybe he’d earn bragging rights in helping OFWs. We Filipinos are going to Thailand for different reasons, but only with one thing in mindâ€"to find a decent job not available to us in the Philippines. Many of us entered as tourists, then became “TNTs.” Most of us have been successful because there are lot of opportunities here, unlike in the Philippines.

Fortunately, we don’t have domestic helpers here, mostly professionals. If De Castro wants to leave a legacy, he can do so by reducing the number of Filipino teachers who are on the verge of falling into the pit of mendicancy.

What is the significance of education to OFWs who are domestic helpers? Is it necessary to have a college diploma to become a DH? Most of the OFWs have no college diploma; they honed their skills through experience because they could not afford to continue their studies. Diploma is useless nowadays. Special skills cannot be obtained from the universities; they are acquired in the low-salaried jobs.

The Vice President should not brag about a soaring economy while college graduates are making do with menial jobs to survive.

-- LEAN ALBERTO,
lean_al@yahoo.com

It is clear articulation. The question is definitely answered as explained above. As I know, God said: "Lihok tao kay tabangan ko ikaw" - and Philippines government  said to the Pilipinos: "Layas mo kay wa koy  ikatabang ninyo"! 

Bali pod ka sis... ana lang "Layas mo kay akoy puli"""

QuoteMost of the OFWs have no college diploma; they honed their skills through experience because they could not afford to continue their studies. Diploma is useless nowadays. Special skills cannot be obtained from the universities; they are acquired in the low-salaried jobs.

Yes, I agree and I was one of them.

QuoteFortunately, we don’t have domestic helpers here, mostly professionals

Because, even if you are a professional in the philippines, you can't get the job you want if you don't have a great backer

tinuod, its "you- know- who" didto...

It's useless to make proclamations nga ing-ani nga kesyo economic upsurge...wala na'y gamit if the people don't feel it.