Progress: Against all odds

3/2/2006

Why are people so fond of painting doom’s day scenarios for the Philippines?  Horrors, even likening us to war-torn Afghanistan!  A travel ban to the Philippines is now and then reimposed by some western countries on their nationals, no matter that more people get shot and killed in their first-world streets than here in our metropolis. 

And why do a lot of Filipinos, especially those sanctimonious ones living overseas, speak and think negatively about our country?  Does any of this pessimism do any good? 

If only the people in media and politics, who do not have anything helpful to contribute, would just take a break, give us a break, and shut up, our economic progress will happen twice as fast.  If they cannot speak well of the Filipino, the most prudent recourse would be to just keep quiet.  It must be obvious to all that nasty comments at times like these are counterproductive and can scare investors away. 

Do these people, who pretend to be nationalistic, not give a damn what happens to the country as long as they can chip in their two cents’ worth of criticism?  Has it become so fashionable to kick ourselves now that we’re down? 

In one of the congressional hearing, when someone from the audience, a representative of the silent majority, the taxpayer and the private sector, stood up and told one congressman to shut up, it should have been seen as a symbolic message to all those who hamper progress with the negative things they persistently say. 

This vicious attitude has been going on for decades in media and politics.  But in spite of this, our lives for go on.  Fortunately, Filipino entrepreneurs and developers seem to have risen above it all and proceeded to work toward progress.  Black propaganda, destabilization plots, and demolition jobs directly translate to the crippling of our economy. 

I salute the Filipinos who now seem immune to these plots and have decided to just keep on working for the improvement of their way of life, and ultimately, our economy.  Only because of them, have we stayed afloat. 

Just to shake up some of our countrymen still in the dark, thinking that our country’s economic situation is hopeless, I listed some tangible indicators, particularly in the construction sector, to prove otherwise. 

Real-estate developers are continuously building and gradually increasing and opening up new and beautiful housing developments.  What’s more, sales for these developments are growing.  The landscape of the Calbarzon region in the south is fast transforming into a well-planned, urbanized area.  This movement strengthens the building industry and creates a lot of jobs for brown-collar to white-collar workers. 

Once the buyers are ready to move in, they buy furnishings and appliances, creating a chain reaction that turns the wheels of commerce.  Car dealers, too, have been advertising like mad, promoting newer upon newer models because people seem to have the capacity to buy.  Electronics and communications businesses are also making a killing. 

Call-centers have provided thousands of jobs for the young urban professionals.  Overseas contract workers continue sending their earnings to their families, thus adding to the business of banks and financial institutions.  And now that the buying power of the Filipino has increased, huge, new commercial centers have mushroomed on every street corner. 

Existing commercial centers are being redeveloped, such as Ayala Center’s Glorietta and Greenbelt shopping complexes.  They have even managed to link shopping/dining areas to business districts and main transportation hubs.  Araneta Center in Cubao, with their spanking, new complex, the Gateway Mall, has done the same. 

Likewise, the Ortigas Center has revitalized the Greenhills Shopping Center into a prime shopping district and is currently developing new ones in the Ortigas area.  And please do not say “parang wala ka sa Pilipinas” when you visit these places, just because you do not want to admit what you can see with your own eyes. 

There are other developments and lifestyle centers that have also recently sprung up.  Eastwood City Walk in Libis and the expanse of The Fort in Taguig boast some of the finest restaurants in town.  Tutuban Center Mall has been refashioned for the comfort of bargain hunters in the heart of Manila.  Business tycoon, Henry Sy, is currently building the Mall of Asia, which, similar in distinction to the US Mall of America, could be the biggest shopping center in this part of the world. 

The proliferation of Sy’s SM malls, which have sprung up all over the country like your neighborhood “sari-sari” (variety) stores, must be a big indicator of his trust in the local economy.  The Robinsons group is just as prolific with their new malls and must likewise be as confident of our growth. 

Now admit it, even our roads are getting better.  These are only a few of the signs of Filipino confidence and progress that we can see in the construction sector. 

Staying indoors, glued to your TV screens, reveling in bad news would really give you a negative outlook of the country.  It would surely make you want to migrate elsewhere. 

On the other hand, it may be better to look around, go out for a stroll in one of our new malls, and appreciate how construction has improved in our cities.  It may give you a more encouraging impression of our country.  You must have a positive mental attitude and work for progress, instead of merely dreaming about winning your millions in “Game Ka na Ba?”.  You can watch and whine or you can participate and win.  It’s your choice.