Poor in the pocket, rich in the heart

June 2, 2012 

By K.Z. Eliserio
Kabayan Weekly (Dubai, UAE)

Why is the Philippines such a poor country when Filipinos are such intelligent people? When the majority of the population can speak English? This was a question posed to me by a friend/colleague one morning while we were having coffee and talking about the current status of our respective countries. Hers, being in a state of disarray, mine being in a state of seemingly self-inflicted poverty.

When I ask myself the same question, I can only come up with one answer, because Filipinos are all about heart. I think we Filipinos have a completely different human anatomy – heart in the head, brains in the chest.

The Philippines may be a third world country, or in the recent years a cub economy, but we are a country far from being poor. Truth be told, the Pearl of the Orient is rich. Loaded with natural resources, fact being our very own Puerto Princesa Undeground River has been included in the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and that’s just one of many. But Filipinos are our greatest national treasure.

However, we are a country ruled by the heart first and foremost.

Now, before I can even start a protest rally let me elaborate, after all, yours truly is first to admit, this theory applies to me.

The Filipino race has been gifted with intelligence, there is no question about that and yet, we always seem to decide with our hearts, second only with our heads.

As Filipinos are born amnesiacs, we forget and forgive so easily. Take for instance how the Marcoses, after a 20-year regime were driven out of the country. It was in the same manner that former President Joseph Estrada has lost his seat of power. Yet look at where they are now, back where we did not want them before. Why? Because we chose to see the good in them. We believe that everyone has good in them, and that’s what we always choose to see.

Because Filipinos are all about the game. Even as young children, we were taught that it does not matter if we lose or win, it’s is how we play the game. It’s always about giving one’s heart and soul to anything – never about giving 100% of muscles and brains. Never about being number 1, always about giving your all. Never about being the THE best among the rest, always about being one’s best self. We have this need to compete only with ourselves, and perhaps, that is all we need.

Because Filipinos are talented and passionately so. We are born artists and given the choice between the academe and the arts, we are sure to choose the arts. While we give a lot of weight to education, we allow this to take a back seat when a chance to explore our passion for the arts arise, which will explain why while we have millions of university degree holders, an even more number are into “finding one’s self” in the field where they can be happy.

Because Filipinos are happy and loving people. Have we not heard the phrase “what is important is that you are happy” over and over again? Happiness and family that is always our priority and perhaps we have it right. What are we here for to begin with anyway if not our family and our happiness?

Because Filipinos are carers and supporters. The world over, we are known for being the best nannies, caregivers, teachers & nurses and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, these are noble jobs and a lot of great people have been once touched by these caring hands.

Because the Filipinos are fast becoming citizens of the world, and not just because of our ever-growing population, but because of our ability to be flexible and to conform to the norms of whichever society we find ourselves in, regardless sometimes of being treated as second-class citizens.

In the Middle East, there is an estimated 2 Million Overseas Filipinos, while we have a lot of Engineers, Accountants, etc., the majority of our people are in the hospitality or sales industry and a growing number are in the administrative work force as secretaries or as personal assistants. We seem to be contented and happy enough to be in the background, so long as the team gets the job, so long as the goal is achieved, we are just as pleased with ourselves. And why should we not?

We may in the future, if the predictions are correct, have a vastly improved economy, or maybe not. But so what? I am certain one thing will remain constant, that we Filipinos will continue to be a happy, loving people. In the end, that’s all that matters anyway.