What is the impact of overseas Filipino workers to the Philippine economy?

 

Bisaya

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

Overseas Filipino workers are a vital part of the Philippine economy. They contribute billions of dollars to the economy each year, and they play a critical role in supporting their families back home.

The money that overseas Filipino workers send home helps keep many families afloat, and it has a ripple effect throughout the economy. When families have more money to spend, they put it back into the local economy, which helps to create jobs and support businesses.

Overseas Filipino workers are an essential part of the Philippine economy, and they make a huge difference both for their families and the country as a whole. Thank you for your question!

What is normal in the Philippines but is considered delusional in the rest of the world?

Bisaya

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One thing that is normal in the Philippines but considered delusional in the rest world is the belief[1] in lucky charms and superstitions. In the Philippines, it's not uncommon to see people wearing amulets or talismans around their necks or carrying good luck charms with them. Some people even believe that leaving garlic cloves under your bed will bring you good luck.

Superstitions are also common in the Philippines. For example, many Filipinos believe that crossing your fingers will bring you good luck, knocking on wood will keep bad luck away, and making a wish while blowing out candles will come true. While some of these beliefs may seem like nonsense to people from other countries, they're taken quite seriously by many Filipinos.

One reason for this is that, because of the heavy influence of religion[2] on everyday life and culture, superstitions and lucky charms are often seen to keep things like illness and poverty away. They're also viewed to ensure good business and school performance. Many Filipinos believe very strongly in superstition because it gives them hope that things will go their way and improve life.

Another reason why superstitions are so popular in the Philippines is because of the country's location and history. The Philippines has been hit by many natural disasters[3] throughout its thousands of years of recorded history. This, combined with the fact that it was colonized and occupied by different countries throughout the years, is why many Filipinos believe that higher powers are trying to help or harm them. Religion plays a huge role in this belief.

The Philippines has one of the most Catholics per capita in the world. Over 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, and most family social gatherings center around weddings, funerals, baptisms, and masses. It's not unusual to see firecrackers set off outside churches or crucifixes hanging around people's necks.

Lucky charms are seen to bring good luck to these religious events. However, with the success of many Filipinos living overseas, there is also an increasing number of Filipinos who have a more Westernized perspective on superstition and the supernatural. Many Filipinos of this group don't necessarily believe in superstitions, but they do respect the beliefs of their family members who have different views.

Superstitions also hold a special place in Filipino culture because they express one's personality or character. In many cases, people who believe in luck charms and superstitions are often viewed as creative. They may also be considered more optimistic than those who don't practice these beliefs, which can be a good thing if you're looking for an adventure buddy.

Finally, many Filipinos have superstitions because they see them as part of their culture. After all, the Philippines has a rich history and culture of its own. Some Filipinos believe it's essential to respect this history and culture by practicing some age-old customs, including superstitions and lucky charms. Whether these people realize it or not, they're also respecting their family members who have practiced these rituals for generations.

On a final note: By looking into superstitions and lucky charms, we may not only learn more about Filipino culture but also more about ourselves. After all, these beliefs are an intense part of who we are as Filipinos. We should cherish them and pass them down from generation to generation so that they can live on for centuries to come.

Footnotes

[1] The Wacky World of Filipino Superstitions

[2] Simbang Gabi: Keeping Faith During the Pandemic

[3] The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture

Are you proud being a Filipino?

Bisaya

https://barokandtakya.com/

Lived in Iligan City

I'm not just proud of being Filipino... I'm so proud of being Filipino. There's an old parable about how the actual test of pride in one's nation is when it has nothing to be proud of. And that, my friends, would describe this country perfectly. Yes, we're marred by plagues and natural disasters regularly. Yes, our people are waging war against poverty with no end in sight for them or us - people are living entire lifetimes in crushing poverty who know they'll never see the dignity

And yet they still teach their children to be brave

Our heroes are breaking records abroad

Our economy is slowly showing signs of light at the end of what seemed like an eternal tunnel of darkness.

We are still the same people who have overcome every single obstacle in our way, no matter how impossible it seemed. We are still here today because our ancestors were strong enough to survive the hell they lived in. With every generation, we get stronger and more resilient . Every other race on this planet should count themselves lucky to be recognized as citizens of a country that has shown time and time again that it will not die, no matter how many times you threaten its very existence.

I'm not proud of being Filipino because our people can produce marvels which put us at the top of the world map... I'm pleased because, despite all odds stacked against us, we are still standing. I'm proud of the sheer will of our people to fight until victory is ours. No matter how many times you knock us down, no matter how many lives you take from us - we will not stop fighting for what is proper.

And that is why I am proud to call myself Filipino.

What are the first livelihood skills that Filipinos developed?

 

Bisaya

Filipinos in the early 1500s were primarily farmers and traders. This is one of the reasons why a majority in the present day, 10 million Filipino people in Metro Manila, still reside around slums near public markets.

Life becomes difficult when you continually move from place to place to access clean water, food, or jobs. For our city dwellers not to be deprived of any one of these three, they needed a system that brought everything within their reach to start trading with other countries from all over Southeast Asia by land and sea routes. They created a kiosk-residence type, which became Manila's center point where all population flowed into during breaks between work periods and always found a comfortable room to rest.

For the average Filipino to survive, they needed to produce crops for food and clothing, build their own house, teach English or Spanish in exchange for money with foreigners who came to Manila. These were the first livelihood skills that Filipinos developed before modern technologies were introduced.

Do you agree that the Filipinos are good imitators? Why?

 

Bisaya

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

Filipinos are such good imitators because of their rich heritage and background. Filipinos have such a well-mixed history that makes them well equipped to absorb new cultures. The Spanish, American, and Asian cultures combined with native culture have created the Filipino people -- one who is prepared to live in any country or area and rise through it successfully. Our cultural roots run deep, and we can tap into these roots when we need an idea for something new! It's not so difficult for many Filipinos to be part of different communities at once. As long as we know how to balance our time, we will inevitably succeed at everything we do because of this extraordinary ability that defines us. I think one of the most admirable of all Filipino qualities is the ability to adapt and mimic. This quality allows us to become accepted more readily in schools, companies, and other social circles to maximize our potential and achieve great things. We're not only good imitators; we're also very creative people who can find ways to make almost anything work--and maybe that's why Filipinos are such good imitators!

What is it like to live near The Hundred Islands, Pangasinan?

Bisaya

, https://barokandtakya.com/

Ah, a delightfully serene place. You can hear the call of the howler monkeys from the top of any one of those hundred tiny islands from my bamboo bridge with no interruption from all, but your soft footfall stirs the leaves and rustling trees. The water is always so clean, especially after it's been rained on, or perhaps after a gentle morning haze has recently risen to meet you there. Taste it if you like! Bubbling freshness made available to all without cost should be expensive indeed! Truly this must be paradise... But alas, I fear not enough for some it could be challenging to coexist alongside its neighboring islands which each feel entitled share in this bounty; Yet should that strife reflect upon you?

I dare say not! One can easily ignore the inconvenience of others from a comfortable distance, but so long as you accept everyone and show kindness in return, you will never be disappointed. My recommendation: Learn to swim! As there is no shortage of food nor means to happiness here. And nothing could ever go wrong with that attitude!

Oh, I do apologize. Dear reader, it appears I must depart. The call of the sea is ever so strong on this refreshing day! Perhaps see you again some other time! Adieu.