Filipinos have a strong work ethic and self-discipline. They are dedicated to their work for which they are sought after by employers. They work with sincerity to deliver quality service, said a cross section of Filipinos in an interview with Christopher Moulton, Canadian lecturer at the English Language Center, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
They were responding to his question as to why Pinoys are often deemed the best service workers on the globe. Neil V. Grajo, based in Riyadh and working in the services sector here said they are easily motivated and are fast learners of techniques and methods. Moreover, they respect their customers or employers and do everything to satisfy them. This is in addition to other values like their sense of internal discipline, courtesy, punctuality etc.
He said Filipinos also offer many other skills to their employers free of charge. They are humble and modest in their dealings with people whom they address as “sir” or ma’am when meeting for the first time. They use such honorific titles even for their fellow countrymen.
Asked if President Benigno Aquino III (P-Noy) was sincere in his dealings with Filipino Muslims in Mindanao, Rasol Abbas, said the president is following in the footsteps of his father who was known for his historical friendship with Muslim leaders when they were in the opposition. “President P-Noy is the only country chief of command who did not use force while people called for that during the killing of newly graduated cadets in a battle last year in the Muslim territory in Baraka, Sulu,” he observed.
Aquino ordered the investigation against army commanders assigned to the area for the lapses they were responsible for and made his final decision to remove those officials involved in the death of young soldiers because of the negligence of their superior officers.
Elaborating on his statement, Abbas said P-Noy is the first president to meet with the MILF leadership in Japan. He recently hosted those leaders and world Muslim leaders, including the OIC secretary-general and the Malaysian prime minister, at his palace in Manila to sign the Framework Agreement.
“It is now obvious and very clear to the administration the importance of Muslims states as partners in economy and development and that would further strengthen ties by making final and lasting peace in the Philippines,” Abbas added.
Asked about the future of the Philippines in the world and whether they could become another 'Asian Tiger' like Singapore, South Korea and, to a lesser degree, Thailand, Abbas said that so far, the Aquino III administration has a good track record in terms of rapid economic development. “All indications, including the many world economic watch, point toward a very promising future for the country. This, of course, is because of the Aquino Administration campaign to root out corruption from the country’s various systems and departments. The previous president was in jail for her involvement in graft scandals. The present administration is strictly implementing measures to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability.”
The Philippines is expected to be among the fastest growing economies in the world between 2010 and 2050, according to a study released by Knight Frank and Citi Private Bank.
The 2012 Wealth Report predicts that the Philippines would post a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.3 percent during the period, making it the 6th fastest growing economy in the world.
Overseas Filipino Workers have a big role in their country’s economic development. Their annual remittances amount to billions of dollars, making the Philippine currency stable and strong. They build luxury houses giving a big boost to the real estate market in the country.
According to a PH local daily report, personal remittances from overseas Filipinos were up to $ 2.043 billion in September, the highest monthly level recorded so far, the central bank said recently.
The September remittances, which were 6 percent higher year-on-year, brought the figure of the first three quarters of 2012 to $ 17.3 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent from a year earlier, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Officer-in-Charge Nestor Espenilla Jr. said.
This is in addition to the availability of highly skilled manpower despite the fact that corrupt elements in the government and natural calamities took a heavy toll on the national economy. "With our strong willpower and trained manpower, I am confident that the Philippines will overtake many neighboring countries and maybe in the world in the next five years or so," Abbas said.
Asked how they would compare the Philippines with Indonesia, he said “I’ve never been to Indonesia and was surprised to know that Indonesia is a member of G-20. Indonesia will remain the largest Muslim country in the world in terms of population and other dynamics powering its economy.”
The Philippines, on the other hand, is rich in human capital. “We are actually in high demand, not only in developing countries, but also in developed countries. We almost dominate the manpower in the Gulf countries in all fields including mega construction activities, factories, medical services and many others. Our high quality of human capital could be utilized for good governance in the Philippines. The current indications are that this is happening,” he asserted.
Why Pinoys are popular at workplace
