A few days ago, my mom awoke to a cool, crisp morning, chirping birds, and me sitting in front of my laptop. She shook her head. She had said goodnight to me sitting on that chair the previous night. She asked me, "Are you never going to quit the internet?" I said, "No" in my head. Many people already know what a wonderful thing information technology is, but there are many, like my mom, who have yet to realize its full worth and potential, particularly in lifting the Philippines to--why not?--first-world status. Just how is this possible? I can give you five ways.
1. World-class Talents Recognized
The Filipino is inherently talented and resourceful. These are traits probably acquired from decades of colonization--of having to serve, to please, to make do. But that is all beside the point. The point is, we have talent and skills to offer, but as the rate of underemployment in the country indicates, there are very few takers. With online job markets like odesk.com and elance.com, though, the problem can be alleviated. That we can charge two to three dollars per hour for a typing job against an American competitor's $33 per hour is just one reason to be happy that there are so many pesos against a single dollar.
2 and 3. Knowledge Database and Knowledge Sharing
The fact that it has been said many times does not make it cliche one bit--education is priceless. Only two out of ten Filipinos who start elementary school get to go to college. This means that very few Filipinos actually get an education--education that we, the more fortunate ones who have acquired knowledge and experience from around the world, can collect and share with them through the internet. More educated citizens equals more people working for progress.
4. Local Products, International Market
Ask anybody to give you a short list of what he must experience in any new place he visits, I'll bet you a leg and an arm that it will include "local food". Lucky for us Filipinos, we have the type of cuisine that is inspired by so many cultures, it has become unique--a delightful fusion all our own. With the help of information technology and the internet, we can introduce Philippine cuisine to more of the world. Iligan City's
sukang pinakurat, for instance, is now being exported to the world, thanks to the internet. If the internet can be made available to more Filipinos, we can dominate the world food market. Recently, Anthony Bourdain--a celebrated culinary figure--visited the Philippines to feature Philippine cuisine for his TV show on the Travel and Living Channel. Asked what the Filipinos can do to stand out in the world, he said, "Push the food." For Filipinos who cannot yet afford to "push the food" by being present at international food fairs, the internet is the next best thing. By giving the world a taste of our food, we generate enough interest in them to come over and savor Philippine cuisine hot and fresh. And this is just Filipino food. Don't even get me started on Filipino art, accessories, furniture and other home furnishings.
5. Exotic Beauty on Display
Many tourist spots in the Philippines would not be discovered by the international community if not for information technology. Until the 90s--perhaps even the early 2000s--Boracay was the face of Philippine tourism to the world. Primarily due to the ease of building a website, as well as free advertising on blogs that rave about the beauty of our country, more and more Philippine tourist spots are getting their share of attention--and revenues--particularly from the international community. Panglao Island in Bohol and Siargao, to name two, owe the internet much of the popularity they are now enjoying.
Many beautiful Philippine spots have yet to be discovered, more money has yet to be earned, and more lives have yet to be uplifted. The internet can make all this possible.
