Philippines: Trash bin of garbage goods?

[Teacher Rey]

Philippines: Trash bin of garbage goods?

By Reynald M. Cacho

“Repackage and sell them in the Philippines.”

Krusty the Clown, in a September 3, 2009 episode of The Simpson at
Jack Channel/TV, passionately uttered those striking words after
having found that his pregnancy test kit products valueless for US
market consumption. Instead of selling them locally, he opted that it
will be more lucrative to export them in the Philippines. What are
implicated by these words? Do they have the right to demean us in this
way? How do other countries see the Philippines as a marketplace? What
does the status quo show us? What can be done to avert the future of
the Philippines as the most loved and liked by the exporters of
garbage goods?

Although handful of laws were passed and enacted resolving issues on
economic resources taken in and out of the country, it does not seem
to change the place we seems to be complacently seating on the
muckraking eyes of this global economy. Generally, much insult have
been said by our unfriendly neighbors— whether we are the academies
and factories of maids and human organ sellers but to be branded as
incessant buyer of inferior goods is staggering and even more
demeaning for the first people who fought for democracy in Asi

If the Americans, through an ideological agent and iconic sitcom, The
Simpson, have injected such humiliating words, perhaps, they have seen
how the market works in our settings. On the point, something must be
wrong. We cannot help but accept the status quo; the ill-witted
remarks has bases. They are manifested in the news we almost hear
every day. From the rampant smuggling of double-dead meat wide-spread
in some city market, to the emergence of low-end 3G China mobile
phones commonly used by criminals in their clandestine deeds, and, to
large extent penetration of expired medicines from foreign soils, are
simply undeniable scenarios, hard truths that lead to one negative
effect to another more destructive. Had it not for the income-minded
lion business giants, among us, importing these low-grade goods, would
the Philippines still be marred by the intolerant insults? Had it not
for some Custom people permitting shipment of them, would Filipinos’
international and local standard be tainted? Or had it not for some
common people’s extreme colonial mindset and likings for ill-imported,
inexpensive but low quality products, would our sense of taste and
patriotism be uplifted? Seemingly, myriad questions could still be
raised and much to answer.

Indeed, history has continued to repeat itself, and will persist to
take its toll in the near future, unless we do something to
reconstruct our damaged image. As I see it, the Americans, Chinese,
Taiwanese and other people who would rather choose to criticize than
to praise our great boxers, unifying diversity, hundred white beach
islands, and our very democracy, through various media, are just
simply opening our eyes from the uncomfortable position that we are in
and on today as the result of what we have become. Nevertheless, it
does not mean that we should just sit down and let them say what they
want to say on our behalf. Although the sad part of the story is that
we still have to linger for their debasing words before responding to
the problematic issues our country is placidly facing, we cannot
afford any more humiliation. Something must be done! We can always
make a nationalistic choice that should not end up stinky in the trash
bin of promises and foolish hopes.

[alyssa]

For me, this adage or statement could degrade our reputation. It seems
that er serve as their "bins" for their trash? Maybe we just
appreciate ither countries' trades and products, and we just
appreciate some offers. But, that doesn't mean that it woukl be the
treatment for Filipinos. On the other hand, for Filipinos, we must
learn to appreciate more our own customs and try to avoid, even just a
little, colonial appreciation.