Excellencies, Ambassadors Lecaros and Brillantes, Mrs. Lecaros, Labatt JBJ and Mrs. Jimenez,
Faculty Advisers, Embassy Officials, Filcom Leaders, Malaysian Nationals, Princess Becky, Datu
Lim Sun Hoe and Datu Sunny Lim, Honorees, Guests, Fellow Students and Graduates, Friends
Countrymen and Visitors, Good Afternoon.
I thank God for this honor and I express gratitude to my country and government for this
opportunity. I accept this distinction with both joy and sadness. There is joy in my heart right
now because once again I have proven that there is a reward for hardwork, dedication, and
excellence. But I am sad right at these moment, I am sad for our country and for our people. I
am sad for you fellow graduates. And I am sad for myself.
I am sad that the Philippines, the homeland of brilliant, highly skilled and very articulate people,
is now becoming the number one supplier of cheap labor including domestic helper into the
booming world of global markets. We can kid ourselves by saying there's nothing wrong in
being a domestic helper. Oh come on! I am a domestic helper myself and I'm not ashamed to
be so. But then, what?
I am looking at the big picture and I am looking at our country and I am disappointed that there
is not much hope if we remain there. I am regretful that every single day, no less than 3,200
Filipinos are leaving the Philippines, many of them for good, in the hope of finding jobs that can
send our children to school, buy medicines for our sick, repair our dilapidated shanties or pay
for all our indebtedness.
What happened to the Philippines?
Our country is supposed to be the Pearl of the Orient Seas. In 1961, many Malaysians used to
envy the Filipinos. They dreamt to study in UP, La Salle or Ateneo. Today, Malaysians are the
employers of Filipino domestic helpers. They have sent an astronaut into space, while the
Filipinos are still quarrelling about government contracts and alleged rigging of elections.
We, the OFWs must begin the process of the renewal for our country. The FWRC is our center
of excellence to be able to compete globally and turn around our country.
The global labor markets are unforgiving. The avalanche of rising demands for quality comes
rushing every single moment and the standards of excellence keep on rising without pause.
Only those who never stop learning will survive in this crazy and mind-boggling competition for
skills.
Filipino engineers and technicians in IT who surf the cyberspaces for emerging opportunities
find themselves competing with highly competent Indian computer wizards. Indians are also
emerging as our OFW's top competitors in the global labor markets.
Our oil and gas engineers are still preferred by Malaysian employers because the local chemical
and mechanical engineers prefer to work in UK and in the Middle East. This is the result of
globalization of human capital.
Our domestic helpers from the Philippines are still the preferred ones by Malaysian royalty, high
government officials and top businessmen. But the Filipino domestics represent only a
miniscule 2% of the entire DH market in Malaysia, Indonesia commands more than 90% of the
500,000 household service providers in this country. But the Philippine government is aiming
for QUALITY employment. We frown upon QUANTITY or high volume of 5 D's: the jobs that are
DIRTY, DIFFICULT, DANGEROUS, DEMEANING and DECEPTIVE.
Even if the Filipina DHs are only few, they enjoy superior benefits. They enjoy Sunday day-offs
every week or at least every another week with the two Sundays paid for when they are not
allowed to go. They have much higher pay and better terms and conditions of employment.
They are allowed to study in the FWRC Skills Training Program.
The Filipino household service workers, along with other OFWs do study in FWRC. They learn
word processing, spreadsheet, internet, illustrator, photoshop, autocad and multiple computer
applications. They study Commercial Baking, Advanced Cake Decorating, Western Food
Cooking, Basic Nursing, Reflexology and Arts and Crafts. They even learn the Art of
Communication, Composition and Correspondences, Business and Social Correspondences,
Financial Management, Business Development and Entrepreneurship.
The Labor Attache and top Embassy Officials teach BLAWSFIL (Basic Labor Laws for Filipino, a
subject created by Labat JBJ as a means for empowerment, to arm the OFWs with fundamental
knowledge of the labor and family laws, immigration and even contract laws and criminal
statutes. The migrant workers from the Philippines are aware of their rights as well as
obligations to employers and host government. They have less chances of being arrested and
detained and they are more confident when confronted with legal issues.
OFWs from Malaysia who are now venturing to UK like Lyn dela Rama and Gene Sarmiento,
both outstanding FWRC alumnae, have better chances of survival and even excellence in more
challenging work environments. Former FWRC resource persons like Dang Penarubia who
migrated to Canada have better probability of success than others who went without
FWRC KASH (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits)
Today, the 21st of October, here in the Grand Ballroom of Crown Princess Hotel in Kuala
Lumpur, few shall graduate those among the 490 who enrolled in January, survived the
grueling holistic training in FWRC. Today, the word GRADUATION should be understood as a
process, not an end, a process of enhancing elevating, improving and developing
the KASH positions of the OFW who made the correct decision to study in FWRC.
Today, also is a COMMENCEMENT, a starting point, a beginning, a point of embarkation to a
higher level of consciousness, to a better perspective in life, a much improved point of view and
a stronger, higher quality of qualification, a better state of readiness, an empowered new
beginning of the rest of our lifetime journey.
The quest for excellence, the drive to win the global labor markets, the hunger for bigger
challenges, the thirst for learning -- an insatiable yearning to learn more -- these are the
hallmarks of men and women who are geared and programmed for success in life.
The next motto of FWRC is "ON TO THE MARCH FOR EXCELLENCE," both in skills and in
Character. Both committed and competent. Thus, today is indeed a day for celebration. But
after the celebration, we need to do something for our country.
And so today, ladies and gentlemen, what are we going to do to create a meaningful difference
in the future of our country? Evil triumphs because good men do nothing. Let us all do
something, no matter how small.
FIRST, let us not remit everything that we earn here. Let us save at least 50% through the
Samahang Impok Bayan and keep it until we go home for good.
SECOND, let us all take courses in the FWRC that will help us in our reintegration like Business
Management, Entrepreneurship Accounting, Basic Laws and other relevant courses. Indeed it
is only bring EXCELLENCE THAT WE CAN TO THE GLOBAL WORLD.
THIRD, let us all write to our congressmen, let us write to our newspaper, let us e-mail jour
opinions and let us be active in denouncing the abuses of our political leaders.
FOURTH, let us rally behind honest and hardworking officials and staff in government but let us
denounce and expose and charge all those who violate their oaths as public servants.
FIFTH, let us help in the FWRC. Whatever honor we receive today should provide us an
inspiration to share our knowledge to other OFWs.
SIXTH, let us discipline our families at home. They should learn to value our remittances and
not squander them in luxuries. Let us let them learn that we worked hard for the money and
we should not tolerate extravagances.
SEVENTH, let us all be aware of all the economic, social and political developments in our
country. Let us monitor what are the trends and programs of our country's future. And let us
share our thoughts with those who spend our remittances.
AND lastly number EIGHT, let us all be aware that all that were, all that are and all that will be
in the Philippines are driven by economic realities, high population growth, labor excess
economy, cheap labor, globalization without safety nets, insufficient social services. All these
are exacerbating the pains and sufferings of our people.
These are the reasons why the joy of my success today is eclipsed by the sadness in our
situation as a nation and as a people.
We've got to feel the pain so that we will do something about it. We can not continue deluding
ourselves. We have to face realities and bite the bullet.
According to a great social scientist: THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE DISCONTENTED. The
Filipinos should start to be discontented with our situation and tell our leaders of our
discontentment.
According to a Chinese Philosopher: IT IS CRAZY TO EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS IF WE
CONTINUE TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES. The Filipinos should accept that there are for too
many mistakes and we have to correct them.
And according to Dr. Jose Rizal in his NOLI ME TANGERE, recorded in the history of human
sufferings is a cancer of so malignant a character that the least touch irritates it.
Since the time of Rizal until now more than a century after, the cancer is still here -- a SOCIAL
CANCER, AN ECONOMIC MALADY.
The only difference is that we can do something about it. Yes we can. And we should. No
matter how strait the gate and how charged with punishment the scroll, we are the masters of
our fate. We are the captain of our souls, to borrow from Invictus.
Kaya mga kababayan, dapat umpisahan na ang pagbabago, umpisahan sa ating sarili. Kung
hindi ngayon, kaylan pa? Kung hindi tayo and mag umpisa, sino pa? Bahala tayo sa ating
kinabukasan at bahala tayo sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa Pakaisipin ninyo ito. Huwag
kayong masyadong magsaya. Dapat magkaroon din kayo ng lungkot, upang magsikap kayong
magbago. Dahil ang mga problema ay hindi nakakatuwa.
Marami pong salamat.
Faculty Advisers, Embassy Officials, Filcom Leaders, Malaysian Nationals, Princess Becky, Datu
Lim Sun Hoe and Datu Sunny Lim, Honorees, Guests, Fellow Students and Graduates, Friends
Countrymen and Visitors, Good Afternoon.
I thank God for this honor and I express gratitude to my country and government for this
opportunity. I accept this distinction with both joy and sadness. There is joy in my heart right
now because once again I have proven that there is a reward for hardwork, dedication, and
excellence. But I am sad right at these moment, I am sad for our country and for our people. I
am sad for you fellow graduates. And I am sad for myself.
I am sad that the Philippines, the homeland of brilliant, highly skilled and very articulate people,
is now becoming the number one supplier of cheap labor including domestic helper into the
booming world of global markets. We can kid ourselves by saying there's nothing wrong in
being a domestic helper. Oh come on! I am a domestic helper myself and I'm not ashamed to
be so. But then, what?
I am looking at the big picture and I am looking at our country and I am disappointed that there
is not much hope if we remain there. I am regretful that every single day, no less than 3,200
Filipinos are leaving the Philippines, many of them for good, in the hope of finding jobs that can
send our children to school, buy medicines for our sick, repair our dilapidated shanties or pay
for all our indebtedness.
What happened to the Philippines?
Our country is supposed to be the Pearl of the Orient Seas. In 1961, many Malaysians used to
envy the Filipinos. They dreamt to study in UP, La Salle or Ateneo. Today, Malaysians are the
employers of Filipino domestic helpers. They have sent an astronaut into space, while the
Filipinos are still quarrelling about government contracts and alleged rigging of elections.
We, the OFWs must begin the process of the renewal for our country. The FWRC is our center
of excellence to be able to compete globally and turn around our country.
The global labor markets are unforgiving. The avalanche of rising demands for quality comes
rushing every single moment and the standards of excellence keep on rising without pause.
Only those who never stop learning will survive in this crazy and mind-boggling competition for
skills.
Filipino engineers and technicians in IT who surf the cyberspaces for emerging opportunities
find themselves competing with highly competent Indian computer wizards. Indians are also
emerging as our OFW's top competitors in the global labor markets.
Our oil and gas engineers are still preferred by Malaysian employers because the local chemical
and mechanical engineers prefer to work in UK and in the Middle East. This is the result of
globalization of human capital.
Our domestic helpers from the Philippines are still the preferred ones by Malaysian royalty, high
government officials and top businessmen. But the Filipino domestics represent only a
miniscule 2% of the entire DH market in Malaysia, Indonesia commands more than 90% of the
500,000 household service providers in this country. But the Philippine government is aiming
for QUALITY employment. We frown upon QUANTITY or high volume of 5 D's: the jobs that are
DIRTY, DIFFICULT, DANGEROUS, DEMEANING and DECEPTIVE.
Even if the Filipina DHs are only few, they enjoy superior benefits. They enjoy Sunday day-offs
every week or at least every another week with the two Sundays paid for when they are not
allowed to go. They have much higher pay and better terms and conditions of employment.
They are allowed to study in the FWRC Skills Training Program.
The Filipino household service workers, along with other OFWs do study in FWRC. They learn
word processing, spreadsheet, internet, illustrator, photoshop, autocad and multiple computer
applications. They study Commercial Baking, Advanced Cake Decorating, Western Food
Cooking, Basic Nursing, Reflexology and Arts and Crafts. They even learn the Art of
Communication, Composition and Correspondences, Business and Social Correspondences,
Financial Management, Business Development and Entrepreneurship.
The Labor Attache and top Embassy Officials teach BLAWSFIL (Basic Labor Laws for Filipino, a
subject created by Labat JBJ as a means for empowerment, to arm the OFWs with fundamental
knowledge of the labor and family laws, immigration and even contract laws and criminal
statutes. The migrant workers from the Philippines are aware of their rights as well as
obligations to employers and host government. They have less chances of being arrested and
detained and they are more confident when confronted with legal issues.
OFWs from Malaysia who are now venturing to UK like Lyn dela Rama and Gene Sarmiento,
both outstanding FWRC alumnae, have better chances of survival and even excellence in more
challenging work environments. Former FWRC resource persons like Dang Penarubia who
migrated to Canada have better probability of success than others who went without
FWRC KASH (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits)
Today, the 21st of October, here in the Grand Ballroom of Crown Princess Hotel in Kuala
Lumpur, few shall graduate those among the 490 who enrolled in January, survived the
grueling holistic training in FWRC. Today, the word GRADUATION should be understood as a
process, not an end, a process of enhancing elevating, improving and developing
the KASH positions of the OFW who made the correct decision to study in FWRC.
Today, also is a COMMENCEMENT, a starting point, a beginning, a point of embarkation to a
higher level of consciousness, to a better perspective in life, a much improved point of view and
a stronger, higher quality of qualification, a better state of readiness, an empowered new
beginning of the rest of our lifetime journey.
The quest for excellence, the drive to win the global labor markets, the hunger for bigger
challenges, the thirst for learning -- an insatiable yearning to learn more -- these are the
hallmarks of men and women who are geared and programmed for success in life.
The next motto of FWRC is "ON TO THE MARCH FOR EXCELLENCE," both in skills and in
Character. Both committed and competent. Thus, today is indeed a day for celebration. But
after the celebration, we need to do something for our country.
And so today, ladies and gentlemen, what are we going to do to create a meaningful difference
in the future of our country? Evil triumphs because good men do nothing. Let us all do
something, no matter how small.
FIRST, let us not remit everything that we earn here. Let us save at least 50% through the
Samahang Impok Bayan and keep it until we go home for good.
SECOND, let us all take courses in the FWRC that will help us in our reintegration like Business
Management, Entrepreneurship Accounting, Basic Laws and other relevant courses. Indeed it
is only bring EXCELLENCE THAT WE CAN TO THE GLOBAL WORLD.
THIRD, let us all write to our congressmen, let us write to our newspaper, let us e-mail jour
opinions and let us be active in denouncing the abuses of our political leaders.
FOURTH, let us rally behind honest and hardworking officials and staff in government but let us
denounce and expose and charge all those who violate their oaths as public servants.
FIFTH, let us help in the FWRC. Whatever honor we receive today should provide us an
inspiration to share our knowledge to other OFWs.
SIXTH, let us discipline our families at home. They should learn to value our remittances and
not squander them in luxuries. Let us let them learn that we worked hard for the money and
we should not tolerate extravagances.
SEVENTH, let us all be aware of all the economic, social and political developments in our
country. Let us monitor what are the trends and programs of our country's future. And let us
share our thoughts with those who spend our remittances.
AND lastly number EIGHT, let us all be aware that all that were, all that are and all that will be
in the Philippines are driven by economic realities, high population growth, labor excess
economy, cheap labor, globalization without safety nets, insufficient social services. All these
are exacerbating the pains and sufferings of our people.
These are the reasons why the joy of my success today is eclipsed by the sadness in our
situation as a nation and as a people.
We've got to feel the pain so that we will do something about it. We can not continue deluding
ourselves. We have to face realities and bite the bullet.
According to a great social scientist: THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE DISCONTENTED. The
Filipinos should start to be discontented with our situation and tell our leaders of our
discontentment.
According to a Chinese Philosopher: IT IS CRAZY TO EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS IF WE
CONTINUE TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES. The Filipinos should accept that there are for too
many mistakes and we have to correct them.
And according to Dr. Jose Rizal in his NOLI ME TANGERE, recorded in the history of human
sufferings is a cancer of so malignant a character that the least touch irritates it.
Since the time of Rizal until now more than a century after, the cancer is still here -- a SOCIAL
CANCER, AN ECONOMIC MALADY.
The only difference is that we can do something about it. Yes we can. And we should. No
matter how strait the gate and how charged with punishment the scroll, we are the masters of
our fate. We are the captain of our souls, to borrow from Invictus.
Kaya mga kababayan, dapat umpisahan na ang pagbabago, umpisahan sa ating sarili. Kung
hindi ngayon, kaylan pa? Kung hindi tayo and mag umpisa, sino pa? Bahala tayo sa ating
kinabukasan at bahala tayo sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa Pakaisipin ninyo ito. Huwag
kayong masyadong magsaya. Dapat magkaroon din kayo ng lungkot, upang magsikap kayong
magbago. Dahil ang mga problema ay hindi nakakatuwa.
Marami pong salamat.
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