The Filipino everyman as businessman
TALKING POINT
Maasin City (13 January) — It is hard to imagine the image of the average Filipino as engaging in business, a legal, legitimate, profit-oriented enterprise be it in the services sector or in commercial trading, buy-and-sell concern, merchandising or any other gainful activity.
This is not to say that the ordinary Filipino does not engage in business. On the contrary, many self-made, unheard Filipinos rose from humble beginnings and landed in the top of the lists, mainly by sheer guts and hard work.
It is just that it takes enough courage and real hard convincing to stimulate the energy of Filipino citizens to go into busin
ess.
Given a choice between going into one’s own profitable venture and seeking employment, the general reaction of fresh college graduates is to choose the latter over the former.
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Now please don’t get me wrong. It’s all fine and okay to scout for jobs, be gainfully employed, and thus become a productive member of society.
The reality, however, is that work is hard to find, and when there is one opening in the private sector, about a hundred will be lining up to apply.
This has led to our version of Filipino diaspora, where millions are now scattered all over the world working for foreign employers, sacrificing family closeness and personal care of children especially those still in their growing up years.
Employment in the public sector is not easy in coming either, and consider yourself lucky when you land in one (and have a sideline business, too) without necessarily resorting to having political clearances or back-ups.
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Perhaps the reason why a Filipino would not readily embrace the idea of going into business lies in our upbringing as a people. I remember my parents saying “daghan nang nag-negosyo niana” (many were already into such kind of business) when an offer to be in business props up.
Another is the persistent notion that a businessman is limbongan, tikasan (dishonest, theft).
Somehow the subliminal message instilled in our consciousness is that being in business is bad, or hard, or risky, or whatever negative connotation there is.
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Not anymore. We now know that upright, ethical, and morally-oriented businessmen have been there all around us to serve as our role models and inspiration.
In addition, many glossy magazines — aside from varied internet web sites — are now available in the market, encouraging and extolling the virtues of being one’s own boss, managing a small, medium, or a micro enterprise based on one’s skill, hobby, talent, or pastimes. (Granting, of course, that one likes to read, and appreciate these inspirational, rags-to-riches articles in hard copies and the net).
So the text generation of young Filipinos or young professionals, including the young once, have all the tools at their disposal to guide them in the rough road to commerce, and to keep their interests in business high.
Add initiative into the picture, and the Filipino Everyman — Juan de la Cruz, Juan Masipag, or its latest incarnation in Mang Pandoy — will be ready for the challenging world of business anytime, anywhere.
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LOCAL FRONT: This column/commentary has been inspired by the statement of Mike Nunez, the provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). During the DYSL Kapihan sa PIA forum last week Nunez urged the listeners to be in business and not seek jobs. Easier said than done, but such words carried a lot of wisdom. Here’s hoping that Mike’s words, and the thoughts in this column/commentary, would never fall on deaf ears.
ODDLY YOURS: The famous Manila Galleons, according to our history, sailed for 250 years between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico, from the years 1565 up to 1815, exchanging flourishing goods and cultures of east and west. From Manila, the Galleons, which were built by master Filipino craftsmen from Cavite, sailed the inter-island route of Mindoro, Masbate, and off to San Bernardino Strait between Samar and Leyte (yes, the seas behind our PIA Regional office is the highway of these Galleons) before setting off to the Pacific Ocean for the long, long journey to Acapulco. A one-way trip would take ten months to a year, depending on favorable winds, vice-versa. What was not detailed in history books was that out of an average of 400 passengers in one trip, less than one-half survived to reach the destination. Weather is number one enemy, and scarcity or dwindling food supply another, especially when the boring trip will be on its fifth month onwards. About 40 Galleons did not make it, many of them sunk along the way. One Galleon even floated aimlessly just before reaching Mexico: all its passengers died of starvation and diseases. So much for the vaunted glory of those Galleons. (PIA-Southern Leyte)
This is very aspiring and very challenging massage…
I suppose to address these concern of mine to mike nunez of DTI,, however, i dont have any idea on how to reach him.
Mr. Pedalino, i’m just new to source your column through this website having found comfortable reading all your inputs brain storming my young adult mind, it’s quiete interesting for me reading your column regarding business…
As Mr. Nunez urges listeners, to indulge in business and not job seekers. indeed its easier said than done. cause i noticed some of our signature products are being left behind and almost distined vanished in terms of DTI’s support.
A very good example.. am a lover of “Alice Amapao” ever since i pass by along the street vendors in our Market, ” Merkado” i always drop by and headed to nang ALICE and have a couple or 3 packs of ampao for my friends and family, Latter that day, i noticed something different the time i ordered/buy my favourate ampao… the “sticker/ label” attached on it, which uplift my feelings and even said, ASENSO NA!! DTI’s logo was on it.
but during my vacation on 2008, it seems to be strange for me as i am thinking alice ampao will not be only on stickers/label rather to be in big nearby cities for some sort of signature products of maasin. but seems to be going back to its original packaging….which is disapointing for me…
My quest is, what are the plans/projects mission and vision of our local DTI in terms of supporting or uplifting the SME’s in terms of concistent support. rather than leaving them behind and to be destined vanished.
Not only ampao, how about KANDILA, NAT’S BOCARILLO, SISING’S OTAP, and so many more, that have had attended the DTI’s training of ENTREPRENUERAL… (if am not mistaken..)