.rika
28th Jun '07 Thu, 16:37
The Better Side of the Philippines, written by INTEL General Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines
Filipinos (including the press, business people and
myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and
this affects the perception of foreigners, even the ones
who have lived here for a while. The negative perception
of the Philippines 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 and 1995 (the year I came back), I
was struck by how much our country has progressed
physically.
Consider the following:
1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did
not exist in 1995. 1995 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 kms of fiber
optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed
line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over
7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in
1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.
2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the
Ayala Avenue flyover), 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% 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
Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced
products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the
end of 2002, Philippine operations became 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% of all NOKIA cellphones and 80% of
Erickson 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 (I may have mispelled this) 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 . Today a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center
firms in the U.S. 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% 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. (I have an idea this article was written
between 2001 - 2002, so this operation should have been
on-going for the last 3 years or so. CYN)
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.
Filipinos (including the press, business people and
myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and
this affects the perception of foreigners, even the ones
who have lived here for a while. The negative perception
of the Philippines 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 and 1995 (the year I came back), I
was struck by how much our country has progressed
physically.
Consider the following:
1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did
not exist in 1995. 1995 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 kms of fiber
optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed
line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over
7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in
1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.
2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the
Ayala Avenue flyover), 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% 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
Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced
products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the
end of 2002, Philippine operations became 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% of all NOKIA cellphones and 80% of
Erickson 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 (I may have mispelled this) 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 . Today a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center
firms in the U.S. 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% 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. (I have an idea this article was written
between 2001 - 2002, so this operation should have been
on-going for the last 3 years or so. CYN)
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.