The country's prime export is people. But is migration a real development strategy?

Been bloghoppin' and cames across an interesting article linked via the blog I visited.
Filipino world domination? Nakakalungkot lang isipin..tsk, tsk, tsk...

Some of the highlights
-But the Philippines does play a visible role in the global economy, thanks largely to a single export commodity—its people. According to the government, 1 million Filipinos will go abroad as contract workers this year, the biggest exodus ever. "The Philippines has already surpassed Mexico as the largest source of migrant labor in the world,

-Filipinos find themselves welcomed around the world as contract employees, both semiskilled and professional. They're laying pipelines in Siberia, mining diamonds in Angola and sailing ships in all the world's oceans. They clean thousands of homes a day from Hong Kong to Dubai to London; Bahrain's prime minister employs some 50 Filipinos in his own household

-"One of the defining characteristics of the Philippine middle class," says a senior Western economist in Manila, "is that they all want to get out."

-As Filipinos add to their achievements overseas, it's only a matter of time before the government will face the same question once posed to Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi: How is it that Indians succeed everywhere but in their home country?

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We're taking our snack yesterday on our closed office cafeteria (purposely closed during Ramadan) when I spotted this bottom information on the pack of Dates.

Dates what?
Dates are a festive treat during this holy month, It always comes with Laban (yogurt milk), usually taken during breaking their fast, no Iftar is complete without it. The benefit that interests me more is that "Dates increases male fertility and enhances the sexual strength.” (a natural Viagra?) Ironically for our Muslim brothers sex during Ramadan is prohibited.

To dates or not to dates..
For a non-Muslim like me Dates is a treat aside from its natural benefits because the best varieties springs up during this season specially those with almonds in the middle and flavored ones. I always took advantage on the free taste in the supermarket usually I sampled those AED 55.00 a kilo variety and the taste is truly a food for the Kings.

After watching Dubai, as I've mentioned earlier on my previous post, It goes as I expected. Me and my friends are joking about the title should be Canada not Dubai because the plot of the story evolves in it and the rest are side stories. A fellow blogger had commented on this and we have the same observation. Truly the movie bears the trademark of being Pinoy. Bakya!!! To sum it up "para sa akin ay ok lang, pero kulang sa sundot at katotohanan."Unrealistic ika nga!! Hope they can make it up next time...elsewhere..

I remember watching Milan years back and the movie really portrays the plight of the Filipinos sacrificing for their love ones and the sequel (as some people says) "Dubai" is currently showing in cinemas in the Philippines and soon to be shown in Dubai on Oct. 12. I’m quite excited but upon watching the movie trailer is quite disappointing, the story is quite predictable and it seems that it’s like a travel docu. showing all the good stuff with a little twist of love.

The Irony

Recently TV patrol correspondents in Dubai featured news on the plight of the 2 abused Filipina maids rescued from their employers and agencies followed up by their report this evening in rescuing about 7 other more maids. How ironic it is that the film Dubai is on its height of media blaze while their (ABS-CBN) news is reporting these stories of OFW’s in Dubai. Why only now? Maybe it’s a media strategy? A juxtaposition of stories? Nice try…

The Plot

Aga Muhlach plays Raffy, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) living in Dubai, United Arab of Emirates (UAE), and we first see him driving a pickup truck across the desert while singing along an Eraserheads song. John Lloyd Cruz is Raffy's younger brother Andrew, whom he sees after nine years. After financially supporting Andrew for some time, Raffy summons his brother there to get work and get to fulfill his dreams. You see, they grew up orphaned, had plans of migrating to Canada and sees Dubai as their ticket there. But things get awry as Andrew falls in love with fellow OFW Faye (Claudine Barretto), who turns out to be Raffy's ex-girlfriend. It seems that Raffy and Faye are still in love with each other.

Packed and ready for Dubai?

Predictably the success of Milan can’t be compare to what will be the outcome of Dubai, Why?

• “We were there for almost a month, and I never met any Pinoy there working as a domestic helper. I also never met one complaining about being exploited and harassed by his employer,” Quintos says. Years ago, she shot a movie in Hong Kong about Pinoy domestic helpers.

Dubai scriptwriters Ricky Lee and Shaira Salvador insist they interviewed hundreds of Pinoy workers there before they sat down to write their screenplay. Aga and John Lloyd portray the brothers who fall for the woman portrayed by Claudine. Since they are already earning enough from their white-collar jobs, they have more than enough time for love.

• This movie has a lot of glamour going on for it as is always the case with its predecessors, but in more ways it doesn't deliver.

• What's worse is, the film stumbles upon trying to find its identity. What exactly is this movie all about? The first obvious reference would be "Milan," where the daily lives of OFWs are featured as a background to a love story. But other than hint at obvious aspects of living abroad, the issues of Filipino immigrants aren't clearly tackled.

Excitement turns sympathy

Yes, I will be watching it but I’d rather not to go on the premiere night maybe on the regular screening. I'm not totally against the film. In fairness I'm so proud that we have film makers producing such socially relevant films and I'm a big fan of Ricky Lee. Hope they can deliver more next time. What’s next Bagdhad, Kabul, Jeddah anyone?