This is a part of the Leaving Las Manila series in which we talk about things we’ve missed, things we’ll miss and whatever else comes to mind as we reflect on heading home since arriving here in the Philippines in October of 2005. Take this opinions for a grain of salt. They are not fact or statements of any kind of position of a company or call center. It’s just my brain trying to process ideas. Capiche?
Living in Manila (aka living in Quezon City, a city in “Metro Manila”) you have to deal with something you experience in the United States. Beggers. Children who say, “sir, sir money please.” and simply give you the most heartbreaking looks any small child could find deep in the skin they live in. But the difference is that here in this place it’s much more prevalent and at times overwhelming you simply have to adopt the unfortunate stance of “No” to everyone asking you for money. It’s hard, but you can’t save everyone.
This whole poverty thing cannot be understated. People who come here and live in the Shangri La Hotel (like I did for four months) and the Discovery Suites (as I did for a month) don’t see any of what I see every day I walk to work. They might see it out the window of the ride into the city (Quezon city is about a half hour away from Manila where there are cities such as Ortigas, Pasig City and Makati which are primo rich money places) or on their walk out of the building to the car that takes them back to the hotel.
You need to understand just how bad it can be at times. There are people who have literally lived on the sidewalk next to my apartment complex for the last week or so. They’ve burned wood to boil water and cook what little they may have. I wish that I could give them something to help but the harsh reality is that it may help them for a day but that’s all that will happen. The next day is going to be the same story.
There are even guys who will have their own group of kids that they send out to collect money. Do the kids see any of that money or the goods bought by it? Usually not. When you start to dig a little deeper into this world around you it begins to feel somewhat sickening to think about all the people living in nothing and collecting junk to sell to shops and maybe make some pesos this week for food.
It is in all of this that I have become numb to seeing people who are in these situations. I’ve waded through the begger children without a thought. I’ve looked straight ahead and not at the soiled baby in her mothers hand as they stare me down. I can only imagine the thoughts going through their mind as I walk on without breaking my stride.
What they must think of the uncaring American (or white person depending if they know my nationality) is a mystery and I can’t begin to imagine what it makes them think about people of my skin color. There are many a program here to help those in need but the trouble is there is so much it is simply one word.
Overwhelming.
And yet when you talk to people they are ok with these things. There is a Filipino expression, “What will be will be.” Most students express the same feeling. Some used to be in those positions and finally got tired of being where they were and fought to move upwards and beyond that place. They express frustration with the people who seem to accept their fate and do little to change.
Yet (I love that word because it is the one word keeping me from making this a very biased article) there is also the challenge of where do those people go once they want to move forward? Regular day jobs have a low pay expectation. Call Center jobs require a certain level of English proficiency. And passing requirements (much like the application process in the States but so much more painful and involved with way too much paperwork for any human being) can be taxing and so much work you wonder if it’s just easier not to try and move up in life.
Again, it’s a interesting challenge here. As a “white boy” I have my perspective that runs very counter to most peoples ideas. There are Filipinos who believe along what I’ve talked about but those are the ones living in houses that are even bigger than anything I’ve lived in myself. Heck, my apartment is pretty spartan compared to some of these houses.
The other troubling item on the horizon in the Philippine Peso. The exchange rate has gone from 55 to 48 in the time I’ve been here since October of 2005. I asked a Filipino friend about that because I figured you’d want your money strong no matter what, even if it made my life a little harder. His response floored me because I hadn’t heard it explained in such a way before.
He said the government itself would force it back up to 50 when elections came back around. I asked why, being the dumb American that I am. He patiently explained that if the Peso does get stronger against the dollar that imports such as Call Centers will find it harder to do cheap business here. Additionally trades and exports would suffer the consequences. He explained it in a way that confirmed what I had long expected.
The Call Center industry is both a healthy habit and a life threatening addiction. While it helps put jobs in the Filipino’s hands it forces the Peso to remain weak because the exchange rate is so useful to offshore operations. I came to realize the future of the Philippines and the Call Center Industry are very much intertwined and separating the two may come at a very painful and ugly price for both sides. Who really knows what the future holds here.
Again, you have to take what I say with a grain of salt. I don’t know much. I’ve only lived this life since October of 2005. If I had stayed longer I suspect that I would have some deeper thoughts and more fleshed out opinions. Since I’m leaving in about two weeks…this is all you get.
More to come as we get closer to departure day.
