|
 
| |
The
following was supposedly 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
Columbia, 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 provinces, you will notice
that national roads are now of good 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 Philippines 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 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.
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.
11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This
is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing
charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten
wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.
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.
| |
LICA Management and Holdings, Inc.
|
