Some Facts about Filipinos

This is something to be really proud of!
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Here's something positive about Pinas from the eyes of a foreigner.
Optimism
I was moved more by the fact that the GM of Intel counted himself as a Filipino!

The following was written by INTEL General Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines:

Filipinos (including the press, business people and myself) tend to dwell
too much on the negative side and this affects the perception of
foreigners, even the ones who have lived here for a while.
The negative perception of the Philippines is way disproportionate to reality when
compared to countries like Colombia, Egypt, Middle East, Africa, etc.
Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive
especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or
abroad.

Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and 1995 (the year I came back),
I was struck by how much our country has progressed physically.

Consider the following:

1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did not exist in 1995.
1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then
billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular
networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at
a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in
1995 we now have over 7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist
in 1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.

2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers including the Ayala Avenue flyover),
the SKYWAY, Rockwell and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most
of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.

3. If you drive to the provinc! es, you will notice that national roads
are no! w of goo d quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just
went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so
frequently travelled road was of very good quality.

4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years.
There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years.
Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.

Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:

1. INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The
Philippine plant is where Intel's most advanced products
are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002
Philippine operations are expected to be Intel's
biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.

2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio for over 20
years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world.
DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant produces
the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA cellphones and 80% of Erickson
cellphones in the world.

3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a good
Chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.

5. TREND-MICRO, makers of one of the top anti virus software
PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this) develops its "cures" for viruses
Right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks in any
computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of
finding the virus.

6. By the end of this year, it is expected that a majority of
the top& big multination operation ; ten U.S. Call Center firms in the
U.S. will have set up operations in the Philippines. This is one area in
Which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money. (my
comment: One is InterContinental Hotel's Group headed (& corp hand-picked)
by a Filipino expat.)

7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering
90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.

8. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has over 400 people right here in Makati
(average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations
Including finance accounting, Human Resources and payments processing.

9. Among many other things it does for its regional
Operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila, CITIBANK also does
Its global ATM programming locally.

10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be
Exporting cars in quantity courtesy of FORD Philippines.
Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates,
Tell them the good news. A big part of our problem is perception and one of
the biggest battles can be won simply by believing and by making others
believe.

This message is shared by good citizens of the Philippines
Who persevere to hope and work for our country.