Realities and perceptions

In the interest of balanced presentation of views, allow me to share with you an e-mail received from someone who has looked at the Philippines from a different angle. This e-mail has been shared by a number of people for some time now. For those who are trying so hard to be an optimist and those looking for a lift out of the brink of depression, this could help. Read on.

"Filipinos tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and this affects the perception of foreigners, even the ones who have lived in the Philippines for a while. The negative perception of the country is way disproportionate to reality when compared to countries like Columbia, Egypt, Middle East, Africa, etc.

"Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or abroad. Looking back and comparing the Philippines today, I was struck by how much our country had progressed physically.

"Consider the following:

"1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did not exist in 1995. That was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kilometers of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995, we now have over seven million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in 1995; now we have an over 11 million-line capacity.

"2. The MRT (Metro Rail Transit) along EDSA and Sta. Mesa to Pasig, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue and Buendia flyovers), the Skyway, Rockwell, and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA Terminal 2, and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.

"3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so frequently travelled road was of very good quality.

"4. Philippine exports have increased by 600 percent over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.

"Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:

"1. Intel has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The Philippine plant is where Intel’s most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002, Philippine operations are expected to be Intel’s biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.

"2. Texas Instruments has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI’s Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100 percent of all NOKIA cellphones and 80 percent of Ericsson cellphones in the world.

"3. Toshiba laptops are produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

"4. If you drive a Benz, BMW, or a Volvo, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.

"5. Trend-Micro, makers of one of the top anti virus software PC-cillin, develops its "cures" for viruses right here in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the virus.

"6. By the end of this year, it is expected that a majority of the top 10 US call center firms in the US will have set up operations in the Philippines. This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.

"7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering 90 percent of AOL’s global e-mail inquiries.

"8. Proctor & Gamble has over 400 people right here in Makati (average age, 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, human resources, and payments processing.

"9. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila, Citibank also does its global ATM programming locally.

"10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of Ford Philippines.

"11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.

"Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates, tell them the good news. A big part of our problem is perception, and one of the biggest battles can be won simply by believing and by making others believe.

"This message is shared by good citizens of the Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our country."

Feeling better?

Some would say, a bit better, but the cynics among us would say, yes, we run a hundred yards but the rest of the world has run a mile. And what about the bottom half of Philippine society? Have they increased or decreased over these years? Are they less poor or poorer?

What’s your view?

Non-wager poker tournaments

The Poker Club of the Philippines is reminding poker enthusiasts that the fifth leg of the ongoing Poker King Challenge, a series of non-wager poker tournaments, is set tomorrow at Casino Filipino, Tagaytay City.

Prize certificates with cash value of up to P60,000.00 await the leg champion, in addition to trophies and valuable gift items from tournament sponsors, namely the Poker Club of the Philippines, Philippine Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Jack Daniels, Miller Genuine Draft Beer, Bicycle Playing Cards/Star Paper, Hyatt Hotel and Casino, Ralph’s Wine, and MyReviewerOnline, the Internet knowledge-builder.

Poker players, old and new converts, who would like to test their skills or gain experience in tournament competition, are enjoined to visit HYPERLINK "http://www.PokerClubofthe Philippines.com" www.PokerClubofthePhilippines.com to get the latest news about non-wager poker tournament schedules to be held in various places.

Watch out, too, for announcements regarding the biggest tournament being organized, the TEXAS HOLD’EM PHILIPPINE CHAMPIONSHIP. Details are available on the website or from the Club Secretariat (c/o Cindy) at 817-9092.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected] or at [email protected]. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.