How To Promote Patriotism?
I believe that choosing to work abroad does not make a Filipino less patriotic to his country. It is easier to say "I love my country" rather than exercising patriotism. Now, the question being asked is, "How can Filipinos be patriotic to his country while working abroad?"
Aside from the remittances as the foremost way of being patriotic, thus, helping the country's economy, are there other ways?
Maraming paraan kung paano mahalin ang bayang Pilipinas kahit nasa labas ng bansa. Ang isang magandang ehemplo nito ay ang paggamit ng wikang Pilipino. Ooooops, that is meant for a joke!
Of course, we can not speak Tagalog...o Bisaya didto sa abrud!
What I mean is, we can speak our dialects anytime but it is not appropriate to use it to communicate to others especially in the presence of other nationalities. Such behavior is a form of disrespect to other foreigners, making them feel uncomfortable and out of place. Same thing is true when you're the only Filipino, for instance, in a crowd of Middle Easterns. You will feel alienated, unless if you're fluent in their language.
In the hospitals that I worked with in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Libya, all instructions were given in English and Arabic, making both as the official languages to be spoken. Other languages were not encouraged especially during duty hours and within hospital premises. Bawal ang ubang lengguwahe maskig slang pa nga inintsik o hinapon kay basig matingala ang mga Arabo.
Actually, we were encouraged to learn Arabic in order to lessen communication barrier with the local citizens. Learning to say "As-salam-alaikum" and "Alaikum-as-salam" as response would at least help.
Going back to the main issue, "Aside from sending remittances, how can Filipinos promote patriotism while working abroad?"
If an OFW, the so called Philippine's "present-day modern hero", is a wise buyer, I think that he can be very patriotic in his own simple way. What do I mean? Here is the version of my story.
If Philippines has Divisoria or Baclaran, where ukay-ukay is some kind of an attraction to the consuming public, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also one in Riyadh. The place is called Batha and it remains as one of the popular landmarks in the Kingdom's capital.
Batha is a huge commercial and market place where one finds different multi-cultural communities who engage in various business. These are the Bangladeshis, Egyptians, Indians, Jordanians, Nepalese, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Sudanis, Syrians and Turks among others.
If you're in Batha, particularly in the Filipino market, you will feel as if that you're in Metro Manila. Why? Because you will see plenty of kababayans. Thus, the Filipino market in Batha serves as one of the famous venues for OFWs.
During salary day, the ambiance in Batha is like a carnival fiesta. Thousands of OFWs go to the remittance centers to send their hard-earned money to their loved ones back home. Sometimes, one needs to fall in line and wait for more than an hour in the bank while waiting to be served by the bank teller. Such scenario is an indication of the huge percentage of the total OFW remittances that are sent to the Philippines.
We have plenty of kababayans who are fond of shopping. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, jewelries like rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces made of gold or white gold are affordable. Aside from Saudi gold, imported appliances and electronics are also low-priced.
And one can ask for a discount! In Batha, Filipinos are known in asking discount to Saudi merchants. A little smile and "chikka" from a Pinoy buyer can convince a Saudi storekeeper. This is one reason why many Saudis who engage in business in Batha know the Tagalog term "kuripot".
You may be surprise to know that there are Philippine products in Batha like Bench jeans and T-shirts to name a few. These Philippine items imported in Saudi Arabia are a little bit expensive when converted to peso.
When I flew home via PAL, I already knew that my pieces of baggage will exceed the 40-kilogram maximum weight. Few weeks prior to my exit from KSA, I sent my other things that I bought in Saudi Arabia through sea cargo. At the back of my mind, the fees that I paid in excess baggage and sea cargo were enough for me to buy another appliance in the Philippines.
When I stayed in Davao and Manila, I made a comparison between the prices of food, clothing, appliances and others. In general, I found out that I paid less in purchasing these personal needs and wants.
I think that one of the ways where OFWs can promote patriotism is buying products, whether Philippine-made or imported, here in the Philippines instead in abroad, that is, if he goes home for vacation or whatever.
From my experience, I realize that the things that I bought in Saudi Arabia were also available in duty free outlets and other leading malls in the country, sometimes, on a very affordable or lowest prices. I think also that the reason in general why most prices in the Philippines are more affordable as compared to Saudi Arabia lies in the currency status of the country.
Just imagine how many OFWs are there in the Middle East alone, not mentioning other OFWs in other parts of the world. If majority of the OFWs will have similar perceptions like what I have in mind, surely, it will be a BOOM to the Philippine economy. It may also solve other existing problems like unemployment because as a result, there shall be creation of new jobs, as determined by supply and demand.
What can you say?
Recent Comments