Would you say that the average Pinoy is hardworking?

Aldo Apostol, QUEZON CITY: Yes, Filipinos are hardworking. Check out those working abroad who became successful and rich due to hard work. It’s just the Filipino labor system that makes them sloppy.  

Alvin Padual, Quezon City: Aside from the fact that Filipinos are typically industrious, the average Pinoy is hardworking because they have no choice.  

Absolutely

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Yes, ask any OFW. Aside from their regular jobs, they still earn extra income working as nannies, waiters, bartenders, etc. Masipag na, madiskarte pa.  

Johann Lucas, Quezon City :Hardworking when motivated, resilient when tested. That is the Filipino spirit.  

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Yes, take me as an example. Even if I pay huge land taxes to our government and have only one child, I still do lots of gardening and I have a piggery.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Magtataho si Mang Celo. Sa maghapo’y sumisigaw, “Tahooo!” Sa dakong alassingko kumita ng tatlongdaang piso; bibili ng bigas na kinilo at ulam na galunggong na ipapaksiw sa windang na kaldero, mainit na hopyang pasalubong. Malinis, maligaya at buhay si Mang Celo sa paglalako ng taho! Yes, the average Pinoy is hardworking.  

Pete Dave Farinas, Metro Manila: Absolutely. Pinoys are some of the most hardworking people in the world.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: The mere fact that many medical doctors shift to being nurses for better money abroad is proof that Pinoys can work harder even at the price of more glorious professions. The mere indisputable fact that so many Pinoys go to wartorn nations for betterpaying jobs or even lowpaying jobs for the jobless is proof that they can sacrifice physical detachment from their loved ones and risk their lives. Thus, Pinoys are largely hardworking.  

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasina:  Of course he is. The hardworking average Pinoy is found toiling in the green fields or manning his motor vehicle to eke out a living.  

Imee Aglibot, Rizal: Overall, the average Pinoy is a genuinely hardworking lot, thanks to the mixture of different bloods running in our veins.  

Let me put it this way

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: The average Pinoy is oftentimes hardworking. The aboveaverage Pinoy is very, very hardworking. The belowaverage Pinoy is always hardly working. Indigents are, as usual, only hard with no work. Yet, these are the very people who complain so often that they have nothing to eat and they want the government to bail them out. Also, of all complaints, they want PGMA to resign. What a life!  

Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City: Pinoys are generally hardworking, while some are simply hardly working.  

Much room for improvement

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Compared to the Chinese, Japanese and other laborers, Pinoy workers have a lot to improve on when it comes to efficiency, industriousness, productivity and work ethics. Despite our low minimum wage, foreigners complain of the high cost of local labor compared to China and other countries. This could be the reason why many prefer to put up factories in China. Of course, we also have to take into consideration factors such as our militant labor unions and corrupt officials.  

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: No, hardworking Pinoys are below the average mark. You could be one hardworking pedicab driver but, at the end of the day, you don’t pay your taxes. Basically, if you don’t help the country, you’re as good as any foreigner passing by. Personally, I won’t call you a Pinoy either. If you can’t help the country in any way, you should shape up and start doing so. Better yet, you should build a country of your own.  

Philline Isabel Amado, Dagupan City: Well, looking at the facts and figures published in www.census.gov.ph, we would see that the unemployment rate here is 6.8 percent as of October 2008, and that’s a big number, considering the fact that there are about 88.7 million Filipinos. I can conclude that no, the average Pinoy is not hardworking. And besides, it’s very obvious that, compared to other Asian countries, our country’s development is very slow. No wonder.  

I would like to believe so

Col. Dennis Acop (Ret), Baguio City: I would like to believe that the average Pinoy is indeed hardworking. However, it is a fact of life that we see many idle men each day early in the morning as we go off to work. I have spent some time in the military and law enforcement and my experience tells me that many are also engaged in illegitimate activities to make a living and this cuts across the entire spectrum of society, whether high and mighty or low and powerless. Now, why would a hardworking man do that? But of course there are also the really hardworking ones who toil day in and day out, refusing to pocket money they did not earn. Like the taxi driver who returned half a million in jewelry and cash despite his desperate need for money to send a sick wife to the hospital and children to college. Like the soldier who gave up his life so corrupt government officials could go on corrupting and filthy rich businessmen could go on not remitting their correct taxes to government. The eternal optimist in me tells me that more Filipinos are hardworking but the realist in me also tells me that there are many in this country that cause and sustain its doom.  

Yes, but is he a smart worker?

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: Although being a hard worker is a prerequisite, thinking with sense is a must to achieve productivity. Seemingly, the masses have lost their ability to think, analyze, and disseminate lessons they come across. Television, a medium that only requires looking and watching, plays a big role in the education of the masses. Sadly, it refuses to go beyond commercial objectives in order to uplift the general thinking of the masses.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: If hard work means working without thinking, yes the average Pinoy is hardworking. He works and comes out with hard results. That could be the reason why the average Pinoy worker remains poor. But if he first studies the work he will do to get results that will benefit everyone concerned, then he is a smart worker. That could be the reason why there are only few successful Pinoy workers.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Yes, he is hardworking. However, Pinoys also need to be entrepreneurial and smart to be successful in this highly competitive world.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Judging from the number of OFWs, the average Filipino is hardworking. Sadly, he isn’t financially literate.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Generally, yes, but we love to splurge our earnings and we don’t save much.  

Only in foreign lands

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Yes, but ironically, foreign countries are the ones harvesting the fruits of the labor of our hard work.  

He will do anything for family

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa: Yes, the average Pinoy is hardworking. The proof is in how, even if he is overworked and underpaid, he still does his best for the sake of his family.  

James Gaw, Quezon City: Absolutely. He is very hardworking. He puts the welfare of his parents and siblings above his own.  

Marlone Ramirez, Dubai: The famous Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” These words encapsulate the average hardworking Filipino and they live up to this expectation all over the world. They provide for their families’ needs from the sweat of their brow and with the remarkable outcome of their toil. Every task they perform is accomplished with dedication and honesty. Personally, I am proud and happy to belong in this group.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: I would say that Pinoys are really hardworking. They take on any job just to make both ends meet. I really admire Pinoys for their being resilient and being hardworking when it comes to muchneeded work. Professional na nga, DH pa ang trabaho.  

Foreign employers prefer Filipinos

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Yes, it is one reason why Filipinos are the most soughtafter by foreign employers. Even working 8 to 12 hours a day, six days a week does not seem to be enough for a workaholic.  

Felix Ramento, Manila: The huge demand for Pinoy workers abroad only attests to their being reliable and productive business partners in many parts of the world. I am proud of the tag “exOFW.”  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Very much, as shown by foreign employers hiring thousands of Filipino workers.  

He doesn’t have a choice

Felix Plamio, Antipolo City: Pinoys are hardworking because they have to feed an average of four children, send some money to the province, give to the church, and give their share sa inuman.  

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: The average Pinoy is hardworking nowadays if only to hurdle the hardships of everyday living for the family because of skyhigh prices due to unabated corruption in our government.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Yes, he is hardworking and he needs to be kind, kundi pupulutin siyang dilat sa kalye. Here, the equivalent of our existence is work. Being idle is a strange word; one only needs an extra boost to achieve a modest lifestyle and enjoy the little luxuries in life.  

Francis Santos Viola, Quezon City: Absolutely. You’ll hardly find a Juan Tamad these days, though perhaps a lot of us are working more for ourselves than for the people around us.  

Jack of all trades, master of none

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: The average Pinoy is not only hardworking but he also strives hard to excel. He is a jack of all trades, though a master of none.  

5050

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: In my own personal opinion, some of our kapwa Pinoys are innately imaginative and ambitious but they lack the mobility or the drive to realize progress. Some are content with what they have today and leave everything to chance tomorrow. On the other hand, some Pinoys are hardworking, maybe because they have some responsibilities on their shoulders. These hardworking Pinoys also put their hearts and souls in their work to earn so as to coast through the adverse repercussions of the global crunch.  

Waiting for manna to fall from heaven

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Yes, but he is outnumbered by belowaverage Pinoys that remain poor and victims of political manipulation. Hence, we have negative survey results.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The average Filipino still has the personalities of Juan Tamad fame. For if not, we would not be where we are now. We still wait for manna to fall from heaven.  

Jojo Ocampo, Puerto Princesa: We have a reputation for having bad work habits. Statistics show that we are not as productive as other countries.  

Only when he wants to

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Those overseas who have the right education for the work they are hired to do and most of those in depressed areas who are skilled on some specialty kind of work are really hardworking. Alas, there are many in depressed areas who become lazy, knowing that help comes from benefactors, church groups and the religious who go on apostolate missions. Alas, too, there are those employed in private companies and governmental functionaries who are highly educated but influenced by prevailing work ethic and culture who work inefficiently during regular work hours but do great output during the overtime period. In all cases, we see that Filipinos can be hardworking only if they want to.  

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: The average Pinoy is hardworking when properly supervised but not if he is not.  

Yes, given a chance

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: I can safely say that all Pinoys are hard working in the category where they are qualified. The only problem is, there aren’t enough decent jobs to accommodate everybody; thus, some risk their lives through petty thievery, holdups and any other means to earn a living.  

Antonio Antiquerra, Las Piñas City: For sure, every Pinoy is hardworking. It’s only that employment opportunities are lacking. Give them jobs and they’ll give their best.  

Janet Lopez, Manila: Given half a chance at a decent wage or his own business, he works very hard. See the talipapas; they’re still busy past midnight.  

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Yes, basta may trabaho at kumikita.  

Filipino workers are exploited

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Yes, the average Pinoy is a hard worker, so much so that said traits have almost always been exploited by foreign employers, politicians and oligarchs.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: When I worked for the Japanese Buddhist group Reiyukai in 1978, they taught us loyalty, honesty, hard work and karaoke. We taught them merienda, siesta and lakwatsa, so are Pinoys hardworking? I’d say, depende sa tao. My buddy Kenneth Moraleda, a UP artist, was a workaholic. He is now an international actor. The Ibanag trait of his clan emphasized this. Many Filipinos are hardworking, but, unfortunately, we are exploited by those who have the money.  

THE WAY I SEE IT

Rollie de Leon, Valenzuela City: One way to weather the global economic crisis, is to patronize our products. Let’s do it now.  

J. Lammoglia, Metro Manila: PDEA is not without sin but the few good men left in the likes of Gen. Santiago, Maj. Marcelino and Atty. Lazaro deserve all the support we can muster for them. Mabuhay kayo, mga pagasa ng bayan!  

Esmie Olaes, Cavite City: Palestinians who sow terror against Israel are now reaping terror. Violence begets violence.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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