US State Dept Backgrounds Notes: Philippines

The Philippines has one of the highest literacy rates in the developing world. About 93% of the population 10 years of age and older are literate.
Remittances are expected to grow 3%-4% in 2009 despite the global financial crisis, helping the economy avoid recession and supporting the balance of payments and international reserves.The U.S. Trade Representative removed the Philippines from its Special 301 Priority Watch List in 2006, reflecting improvement in its enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.The Philippines is one of the world's most highly mineralized countries, with untapped mineral wealth estimated at more than $840 billion

Hope that good news translates into something to benefit the people....

Jose, thank you for sharing. Meaning, the OFWs are the heroes....

no matter how co Filipinos degraded these OFWS for leaving the Philippines....

Visaya,

I would not degrade Filipino OFW's but to rely on them and accept their plight as part of some sort of normal economic standard is way out of bounds. In a normal society millions of workers should not have to leave their country and subject themselves as disrespectable cheap labor force.

Im not saying that but the world is. Ask them and they will say the Philippines is a cheap labor pool with an english language as a bonus.

Thats the reality. The Philippines will never get international respect until the people respect themselves.

Don the American wrote:

Visaya,
I would not degrade Filipino OFW's but to rely on them and accept their plight as part of some sort of normal economic standard is way out of bounds. In a normal society millions of workers should not have to leave their country and subject themselves as disrespectable cheap labor force.
Im not saying that but the world is. Ask them and they will say the Philippines is a cheap labor pool with an english language as a bonus.
Thats the reality. The Philippines will never get international respect until the people respect themselves.

That is your personal opinion and start focusing with our labor force here in the USA. At least Filipinos have option to seek employment abroad because other countries welcome them. But here in the USA right now, millions of unemployed have no other alternative but wait for the government to support them. Disgraceful and no self respect waiting for government's dole...

Some people who could not handle the hardships resorts to committing suicide, robberies, killings, etc.

Don, to quote you: "The Philippines will never get international respect until the people respect themselves"

I'm talking for myself. Leaving the Philippines and was able to compete with the Americans in a very competitive challenging job is a pride and honor for myself. I gained the respect of my co workers and people surrounding me. I gained self respect, dignity and great pride. Thats the reality.

Don, to quote you: "millions of workers should not have to leave their country and subject themselves as disrespectable cheap labor force."

I disagree with you describing the Filipinos as "
disrespectable cheap labor force:.

We, Filipinos working in the USA are receiving the same pay as our White/Black constituents working in the same position and job description. Equal pay to equal labor. No disrespectable cheap labor because of ethnicity.

CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber, Ap Economics Writer – 19 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher.

Nearly 16 million people can't find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. Many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.

The Labor Department said Friday that jobless rate rose to 10.2 percent, the highest since April 1983, from 9.8 percent in September. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the downwardly revised 219,000 lost in September, but more than economists expected."

Visaya wrote:

CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber, Ap Economics Writer – 19 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher.
Nearly 16 million people can't find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. Many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.
The Labor Department said Friday that jobless rate rose to 10.2 percent, the highest since April 1983, from 9.8 percent in September. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the downwardly revised 219,000 lost in September, but more than economists expected."

What a pity and disgraceful situation of these 16 million people who could not find jobs. What a shameless way to wait for the dole out of the government to survive.

Lucky are those Filipinos who could find jobs in other countries and not wait for dole outs from the government in order to survive. They can maintain their honor and dignity with pride.

Visaya wrote:

CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber, Ap Economics Writer – 19 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher.
Nearly 16 million people can't find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. Many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.
The Labor Department said Friday that jobless rate rose to 10.2 percent, the highest since April 1983, from 9.8 percent in September. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the downwardly revised 219,000 lost in September, but more than economists expected."

That 10.2 % u speak of is very misleading. That 10.2% only accounts for the people drawing unemployment at this moment. It does not account for the people that are unemployed still after drawing all the funds that the government would give. Also it does not account for the older Americans that have just plain given up their search for jobs. The real number of unemployed Americans is somewhere in the 15 to 18% range but you have to do more research to find the real numbers because or government will not give the truthful numbers of unemployed. People must remember that this downturn (as they call it) started almost 2 years ago. It's a long hard road for most of us here that have worked steady for over 35 years.

jmbro wrote:

<quoted text>That 10.2 % u speak of is very misleading. That 10.2% only accounts for the people drawing unemployment at this moment. It does not account for the people that are unemployed still after drawing all the funds that the government would give. Also it does not account for the older Americans that have just plain given up their search for jobs. The real number of unemployed Americans is somewhere in the 15 to 18% range but you have to do more research to find the real numbers because or government will not give the truthful numbers of unemployed. People must remember that this downturn (as they call it) started almost 2 years ago. It's a long hard road for most of us here that have worked steady for over 35 years.

I only copied the latest article of the economist. But I fully agree with you that the figure is misleading. There are a lot of people who are no longer entitled to unemployment pay and lost hope of finding jobs...Here in California, I heard from other economist that it's reaching as high from 15 to 18%.

And would you believe, the latest news is that the CA State is going to charge 10% more tax to State employees. A sort of "cash advance" from withholding taxes. So paychecks are getting smaller and smaller from the unpaid 3 days force leave without pay; and for the city employees, unpaid holidays aside from some who were demoted to help cut the deficit.

But life must go on. Hopefully, the Obama administration will concentrate more on the economy and jobs. No stimulus to the greedy companies who got stimulus then gave millions of bonuses to their rich fat employees. When I was working in PI, we got profit sharing when our company had profits. But here, those who failed were given rewards.

God bless America!