Human capital flight: Is it all bad?

Among professionals and businessmen, whether in the board room, coffee shops or barbershops, the plight of the three executed drug mules tops their discussions. Same is true among peddlers and street vendors, as they try to think and rationalize these convicts’ outrageous choices of jobs. Amusingly, almost everyone had become instant diplomats giving pieces of their thoughts on how the three unfortunate souls should have been saved. Regardless of the length and diversities of their views, however, they have one common argument. Sadly, that this is just one of the downsides of human capital flight or economic migration.

Originally, human capital flight was coined to describe emigration of scientists or technologists from war-torn Europe to the United States of America (USA). The same trend continues and is growing in number. This time, however, most emigrants are coming from the developing countries in Asia. While it is true that sources of human capital have shifted, the USA remains the favorite destination. 

Human capital flight has broadened in scope in decades. While it was limited to scientists and technologists in the 50s and the 60s for Europeans, for the Philippines it encompassed migration of construction workers to the Middle East in the 70s.

Today, however, it is taking another turn. Not only are medical practitioners have made long queues in the offices of the Philippine Overseas and Employment Agency (POEA), first-class (soundly-educated teachers) domestic helpers are squeezing in as well in droves. While they belonged to different echelons, they all have one common goal - better financial reward.

No less than the United Nations recognized the significance of economic migration. In fact, it has regularly sponsored a global forum for migrant workers. More than two years ago, we had the opportunity to host its second staging. Attended by no less than UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, then, a bunch of self-proclaimed liberators (the ideologues) of the “oppressed dollar-earners” have called the forum a useless summit of “modern-day slavery.” Whatever their perceptions were, let’s leave it as-plainly theirs. However, to the misinformed men and women who are totally devoid of ideological biases, a clearer picture is necessary for better judgment. 

Migration existed since time immemorial. Biblically, Moises led his flock of believers to the Promised Land. Several others followed. The Greeks too, had theirs and called it “diaspora” which means dispersal. The Britons’ conquest of the United States of America, Canada, Australia and South Africa were even considered as another form migration.

Presently, Asians rank highest in terms of the most number of migrants. They are either in a neighboring Asian country or in the other continents. Apart from the records that will surely show the numbers, our neighborhood alone will reveal the score. Notably, China and India had the most numbers. Chinese migrants started traveling thousands of years ago. While it is true that they left mainland China illiterate and poorly educated, today, they are among the highly educated and most dominant business leaders in the majority of East Asian countries. In fact, in the country, most businesses are controlled by this race. The Gokongweis, Cojuangcos, Gotianuns, Uytengsus, Gatchalians, Sys, Tans, Tys and countless Chinese sounding family names are bywords in the country’s businesses and have held influences all over the world.

Indians are everywhere too. Recently, they are even buying companies in the USA. In the Philippines, most of them are in the accessories and lending businesses. Today, it is estimated that there are 25 million Indian migrants scattered all over the world.   Mexico ranked third. Though not visible in our country, most of Mexican migrants simply crossed the border and settled in the USA either legally or illegally. 

With over ten (10) million Filipinos abroad, the Philippines now rank fourth.   Majority, however, are in the USA and are mostly health professionals. The Middle Eastern countries and other continents likewise have played hosts to some health professionals, IT experts, construction engineers and workers as well as caregivers. 

We, in our own little way, have seen migration for years now. Even before the Middle Eastern countries started to explore their oil reserves and have attracted thousands of Filipinos, migration was already considered the most preferred option amongst us. Today, it is even becoming more popular. We called it rural exodus or rural flight.

Rural exodus or rural flight refers to migratory patterns that normally happen in a depressed region or province. Due to limited opportunities, there tends to be a movement of people from the rural areas to the urban areas. The search for better lives has always been their common denominator. 

In both instances, the advent of modern technology has been the biggest contributor to this phenomenon. News or reports about progressive countries or cities and the better lives of their inhabitants (true or not) can be heard or seen right in their or their neighbors’ living rooms. Naturally, the dream to try their luck mounts. 

Also, the advancement of communication technology made it easy for these hopefuls to make decisions. Though they have to leave their families for the time being, the portability of their best communication equipment made them more comfortable even if they are far away. They are fully aware that knowing their families’ well-being is just a call away.

Certainly, Filipinos do not decide at the spur of the moment as far as leaving the country is concern. Nor are they forced to leave this country because this government isn’t able to provide opportunities as claimed by the cause-oriented groups. The parents themselves, in fact, prepare their children for better opportunities abroad.

It is no secret that parents leave to work abroad so that they can send their children to big universities to take up nursing. Likewise, it is not surprising that some parents who never had the opportunity to earn dollars are mortgaging their properties so that their children can likewise finish a medical course. Similarly, it is not by mere coincidence that these parents knew that, by their sheer number, these types of professionals do not have opportunities here. Obviously, therefore, these future professionals are trained and educated in the best universities to be deployed abroad. 

Economic migrants (my preferred term for OFWs) are growing in huge numbers everyday. Whether they are compelled to do it for lack of choices as claimed by the cause-oriented groups remain vague. Certainly, however, they are leaving this country for their families’ future. They had to do it to provide their children the best education available. To some, they did it to give their families a kind of economic well-being that they perceived better than that of their neighbors. Or, in some instances, is brought about by that burning desire to outsize and dwarf an unfriendly neighbor’s mansion.

            There could be thousands of reasons why they had to leave this country to earn somewhere else. Likewise, there could be millions of reasons why some poor farmers in the hinterlands had to try their luck in highly urbanized cities like Manila or Cebu. Whatever their reasons are, we don’t know and we need not have to know. Certainly, however, they simply tried to make better choices-to live better lives. 

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