By Ma. Lurenda Suplido-Westergaard, M.D., Contributor
INQUIRER.net
15. GROCERY bags — Since I have to pay for each one I take here in Denmark, I have established a collection of plastic bags from the major supermarkets, all (sort of) neatly stored under the sink. They get to be used many times, until they end up as trash bin liners. I used to have a more massive collection of plastic bags from mall supermarkets in Manila, and they hardly ever got re-used. I wonder what would happen if I brought those to SM and Robinson’s and then say to the bagger, please use these, they’re perfectly recyclable. There’s a fashionable (environmentally friendly) cheesecloth bag here that’s supposed to be used for shopping — to do away with plastic altogether. But if I send this home, it would pale in comparison to our bayong. On her birthday, I gave my mother-in-law a sturdy and finely woven bayong that I bought from Aldevinco in Davao City. It’s her favorite shopping bag.
14. GPS (global positioning system) — There is this amazing car gadget that shows you how to get from one place to another. It has a map that displays exactly where you are and a pleasant female voice that tells you when to turn. Of course this would have to be configured for Philippine traffic where the best option isn’t always the shortest route. There are other factors — peak hours for going in and out of offices, big churches, schools and universities; the scheduling of three-day sales in big malls; fiestas and processions; political rallies; barangay basketball tournaments; burol sa bahay (vigils held at the home of the deceased, with family gatherings spilling over to the street); funeral processions; busted traffic lights; traffic collisions where both parties make a big deal out of superficial scratches on their bumpers; and then there’s flooding…
13. Trains and buses with a fixed schedule — It’s strange to be able to say to someone: “I’ll take a bus at this station at 10:43, transfer to a train at 11:08 and meet you at your office after a six-minute walk.” Yes, in Pinas there’s always a jeep, FX, bus, taxi, tricycle, or pedicab waiting to take you door to door. The adventure lies in when you will actually arrive, and if you have to report your time of arrival, you have to say: “Ah, eh, not sure, siguro mga 20 minutes pa, more or less.”
12. An efficient vote counting system — A few weeks after I arrived there was a parliamentary election. Results were known before the end of the day. Yes, they have a smaller population here, but that would be the equivalent of knowing election results for Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan, Makati, and Pasay within six hours of closing the polling centers.
11. Community newspapers — We get them for free (I guess they’re supported by taxes, not just advertising) several times a week. They’re like Inquirer Libre at the barangay level. I find it most interesting to read profiles of one’s neighbors (ordinary folk, not starlets, rich people or politicians), and get updates on when road repairs are expected to be finished. Today there are four pages on how the barangay’s tax money was spent, complete with charts and bar graphs.
10. Windmills — It would be great to harness the power of amihan, habagat, and frequent typhoons. I’ve heard of a project on wind power in North Luzon. Imagine the country having so many more them, like at the farm level.
9. Bicycle lanes — I bought a second-hand bicycle to avoid the high minimum fare on public transport, and feel safe riding it on specially marked paths. It is possible to get to the supermarket without getting on a road with cars! You can attach special seats to these bikes so a toddler can ride at the back, held in place with a seatbelt. I wouldn’t think of trying this out with my son in Manila though.
8. Packed museums — Yes, we have museums in the Philippines, but what I’d like to see are places teeming with people who are there because of genuine interest — not for school field trips, and not just because of a chance encounter at a mall exhibit. The last time I saw a packed museum in Manila was maybe 20 to 25 years ago, when there was a big display of artifacts from the Vatican, one of the events during a Papal visit. This is not to disparage our museums, or the general public for not patronizing them. I’m just describing the heady sense of excitement I feel in seeing many people share my interest in objects of art and reminders of our history.
7. Fresh milk — My husband looked at the “fresh milk” cartons I used to buy in Manila and wondered why they took so long to expire. Here, shelf life is about one week, opened or not. The milk here tastes different, and there’s the option to buy milk produced ecologically, mas mahal nga lang (more expensive though). Drawback: because there’s no evaporated milk, much less condensed milk, I have to figure out a new family recipe for leche flan.
6. Cheap broadband — Everything seems expensive to me, but in relation to income, monthly broadband subscription costs are very low and represent a small share of household expenses. I’m excited about the potentials of computers and the Internet for education, health care, low cost communication with family and friends — potentials which can be realized only if the technology is ubiquitous and accessible to all. See what we’ve already done with SMS in the texting capital of the world!
5. Candles on Christmas trees — I did not get to see a single parol (Christmas lantern) this year, but we had a real pine tree, and that in itself is a thrill. What I was really impressed with are holders that allow you to light up trees with candles. I know that safety concerns will not make this popular in Pinas — we have enough causes of fires to deal with. So I guess I’ll just send pictures.
4. Bird feeders — When asked about what I wanted for Christmas, all I could say was a bird feeder. I had to explain to my family that I felt sorry for all the birds that have to live in the cold. Their trees don’t even have leaves on them! There are so many different kinds of bird feeders on sale, and supermarkets sell bird food that are meant to be placed outside people’s homes for the consumption of wild birds, not caged pets. The ducks in a stream nearby survive partly because residents bring them left over bread. Of course there’s more to this desire to have a bird feeder. It’s about teaching my son to care for wildlife. It’s about accepting that I live in a country where people don’t eat wild ducks, they feed them!
3. Good fun — Confucius said, wherever you go, go with all your heart. I think for Pinoys, this should be rephrased as, wherever you go, go with all your sense of humor. Many times during my travels to other countries I would happen upon something unusual, scary or downright bizarre, and then immediately make a joke out of it that only a fellow Pinoy would understand. After reading my previous list of 15 things I miss about the Philippines, my close friends and family laughed out loud knowing that I was ably dealing with the stress and bewilderment that accompany migration and being part of a multiethnic household. But those who don’t know me so well sent messages of serious concern for my wellbeing. The country I am in is not bad; neither is the Philippines a paradise. Yes, I miss our old apartment in Malate, and the UP campus but I don’t miss the floods on España and Taft Avenue. There have been moments when a profound sense of melancholy overtakes me and I feel like hibernating for the rest of the winter. I know being homesick is natural and inevitable, but I take solace in the fact that home is where you create your happiness (and where you cook adobo).
2. Free quality education for all — Okay, now for the serious stuff. One of the things I worried about most while growing up was how my parents would take out loans to pay our tuition and how my father eventually worked in the construction business abroad in order to support our education. My two brothers, sister and I went to the best private schools in Manila. We grew up speaking sosyal (elitist) sounding English not because we were economically privileged but because our parents placed the lion’s share of the small household “fortune” into our schooling. Living in Denmark now, I wonder: how did this small country of 5 million people produce 16 Nobel Prize winners for medicine, literature, physics, chemistry, and peace? I believe the answer is in realizing every person’s potential for contributing to society, and that rests on educating everyone in the best way possible. I wish all Pinoy children would have the same opportunity.
1. Free universal health care — Soon after arriving, I received two letters: one from the city health service reminding me to go for a pap smear, a screening procedure for early detection of cervical cancer and other gynecological diseases; a second letter was an appointment for my son to see his dentist. On my health insurance card are the names of two doctors my family has been “assigned” to. Their office is close by, and I have their phone numbers. Beyond hospital or clinic-based health care systems, there is the overriding concern for safety in the streets, creating healthy workplaces, curbing pollution, living well until you’re gray. I don’t need to describe how a Pinoy family can be devastated economically by serious illness, and how patients, especially the poor, don’t often get the care they deserve.
Since the publication of my first list on INQUIRER.net, some readers thought I was whining about my condition as a Pinoy living abroad. Seriously, hindi po (I wasn’t). I am handling it in the same way I’ve faced other major life events: with some measure of grace and the biggest smile I can muster. In this second list, some might feel that I’m making empty (if not strange) promises to fellow Pinoys after migrating (often seen as synonymous to abdicating one’s responsibility to participate in nation building). Seriously, hindi rin po (I am not). The worst interpretation of these two posts is that I left the Philippines because being abroad is better. It is not so. It’s just different. One of my professors told me I’m like a turtle: I carry my home on my back everywhere I go. I think there’s more to that analogy: turtles also have a keen sense of navigation; they know how to go back to the place where they were born.
My simple hope is that I could get through the holidays (and all winter) with my Pinoy sensibility intact; to put some distinctive Pinoy touches to a Christmas season where, for the first time ever, I won’t get to hear Gary V. sing “Pasko Na Sinta Ko” on the radio.
Manigong bagong taon sa ating lahat (Happy New Year to all)!
January 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
God- is this blog still here ? Discard it and be silent of a Filipina doctor- professor who has the mentality and writing prowess of an 8 year old.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
dr. luren,
hi dr. i am smiling again infront of my computer because you stirred once more readers of this popular blog of inquirer.net. I really enjoyed reading your coundown (1st/2nd) including the reaction of readers and can’t keep laughing because more were got mad at you the second time around. I believe your humor makes you look younger than your age. Please share more about real Filipino experiences in a foreign land. One day I will give my share too.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
hmmm. i read the previous post but only realized it made a big stir when i read this second one and saw the comments. i wondered why because i thought it was a witty but very personal piece. i read and enjoyed and forgot about it.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Ginagalang na Gng. Dr. Suplido-Westergaard,
Dapat nating itanong sa ating mga sarili, bilang mamamayan ng Pilipinas-
“Ano na ang nagawa mo sa iyong sariling bayan?” Lahat ng mga taga
Denmark at iba pang ma-uunlad na bansa ay nagpakahirap, nagbayad ng buwis, nag-alay ng dugo
at buhay upang makamit ang kanilang kasalukuyang katayuan, na
siya namang pinagsasamantalahan ng mga immigrant na katulad mo. Walang dangal
doon kahit ano pa ang ipagyabang nyo.
Ang iyong paglalathala ay isang insulto sa akin, bilang mamamayan ng
Pilipinas
na piniling bumalik at manatili sa kanyang sariling bayan upang sikapin
na mag-alay
ng panahon, pagod at buhay sa ikabubuti nito.
Madaling sabihin na mahal mo ang iyong bayan. Ngunit ang pagmamahal ay
may katumbas na tungkulin na dapat na ginagampanan.
Ano sa tingin nyo ang maidudulot ng inyong sulat? mapapabuti ba nito ang
Pilipinas?-hindi!.
Nagdudulot lamang ito ng pananaig ng kolonyal na pag-iisip at mga
damdamin ng paglisan sa sariling bayan.
Sana naman ay maging sensitibo kayo sa katayuan ng bayang Pilipinas at
sa mga nangyayari dito sa susunod nyong paglalathala, maging sa mga
maaaring idulot ng mga sinusulat niyo sa pag-iisip at damdamin ng mga
mamamayan sa Pilipinas na tunay na may pagmamahal at malasakit dito.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Re: To Christian Magnusson,
I assume you are from Denmark, because you said at the end of your comment, “Be thankful for small mercies in Denmark.”
First of all, I must say, you are way out of line here. What exactly is the point of your comment? Granted, Denmark is a first world country. So why must you pour salt in our wounds and compare Denmark’s living conditions with those of the Philippines? You have infuriated me. Another ‘countdown’ of the Philippines’ shortcomings is not needed—we all know that. If the author (I’m sorry, I was mistaken about her country of residence) truly desired to send those things back home for Christmas, she should first have at least some semblance of pride for her mother land instead of spouting out solely negativities.
Since you’ve been excessively negative about the Philippines and entirely disregarding the improvements currently taking place there, I’ve looked up a case study regarding Social conditions in Denmark that might be a good read for others.
Denmark sucks!!!
By Peter Bjorn Perlso
Published March 2005 (based on an original from March 2004), Updated March 2006
In short, Denmark is a socialist hellhole, that you would have to be cortically challenged to want to live in, unless you are a spineless and unproductive welfare leech. Here is why:
1. Extreme income taxation (confiscation of private property under threat of violence), ensuring a complete annihalation of the incentives to producing wealth and prosperity:
Top marginal tax rates are 50% in Japan, 45% in Germany, 40% in the UK and 35% in the USA. Income taxes on lower incomes are naturally much lower (ex. 10% in the US and UK). Keep in mind that the average income for a full-time employed person is in excess of 200.000 DKr/year, and, as you can see above, a full time danish employee thus has a marginal tax rate of 42% and up.
2. Extreme General Sales Taxes (25% of all values derived from sales of goods), even on foodstuffs. It must be seen in the light of the glorious welfare state (which supposedly exists for the sake of the poor) that high sales taxes hit the low-income groups especially hard, as they are applied to things that cannot easily be omitted in the everyday household. The UK and USA, oft targets of socialist mudslinging for being rough on poor people, do not tax foodstuffs.
3. Business/corporate taxation of 28%, plus lots of rules & regulations than regulates you to withing an inch of your life if you decide to start a company.
4. Assorted taxes on investment and capital gains (such as stock profits). We can’t have people create capital for new businesses, can we?
5. Automobile taxation: A tax on all automotive vehicles, between 105% for small and environmentally friendly cars, to 180% for large cars (say Volvo, BMW or Mercedes). And this is, of course, before you add the GST, which brings us to a grand total of 131 % to 225% added to the market value of the car (so your car will cost you 231 % to 325% of the actual market price). Crikey!
6. Since the public transportation system works as poorly as it does (see below), most people have to buy a car. And since new cars are so expensive, due to the aforementioned taxes, a lot of people buy used cars, or keep their old car for longer than they would otherwise. That is why most of the cars in Denmark are miserable, dangerous, wasteful and polluting pieces of junk.
7. Duties on oil and petrol increasing the price for one liter of gasoline for your car to exceed 8 DKr (approx. 1.33 US$. Compare to a US price of gas that is around 2 US$ for a (US) gallon, which is 3,8 litres)
8. Estate and rental value taxation: You pay taxes based on the assessed value of your property. If the value assessment of your house increases (eg. due to market demand, or expected market demands, interest rate fluctuations etc), your tax goes up. As such, you pay tax on money that you already paid income tax of. This also goes for people who live in (rented) apartments - wonderfully social, isn’t it ?
9. Mediocre public transportation: Public transportation is rarely on time, and rarely completely effective. If you depend on public transportation to get to you job in the morning, you had bettter be prepared to do a lot of sincere apologizing to your boss, who will not be amused that you regularly arrive 15 or 30 minutes late for work. [Furthermore, during the socialist years (1993-2001), collective transportation recieved major financial subsidies from the government (unsurprisingly). One of the major companies providing public transport - Combus - was on the brink of brankruptcy in the late 1990's. The Socialists' answer to this was to pump even more tax money into the bus company - a total of 600 million DKr over a span of 2 years. Even despite this massive aid package, the company went bankrupt shortly thereafter. The minister (Sonja Mikkelsen) in charge of public transport - and thus this enormous subsidy - was never charged with the dismal misuse of taxpayer money.]
10. Public broadcasting based on licensing that invades privacy and uses mafioso methods to procure funds: DR, the largest radio station, is funded on money that are extorted from you if you buy a television or a radio. There are made many attempts each year by the DR authorities to breach the privacy of the homes of private people to find out if they have a radio or TV set. If the DR authorities assume that you have a TV set in your household, you are sometimes greeted with threatening phone calls, encouraging you to pay or be heavily fined for not paying your TV license.
11. Mandatory yearly payment (~2000 DKr.) to aforementioned state controlled media corporations for owning radio and television recievers. Lots of rules and regulations and checks of your household if you choose not to support the state media monopoly.
12. On top of that, the DR is pervaded by socialist affiliates, who skew the news coverage and media programmes in both TV and radio in favor of the left wing of Danish politics.
13. Mandatory Bi-yearly car checks, even on newly acquired vehicles. (price: 400 DKr per checkup)
14. Taxes and duties on more things than you can shake a stick at (tea, coffee, rechargable batteries, yes even low-power lighting bulbs).
15. Alleged environmental CO2-taxation burdening any and all industrial businesses.
16. Complete state control of educational institutions, from kindergartens to universities; a) ensuring uniform thoughts in all the state pawns; b) Destroying the market for private and unregulated education, making sure that the only way to obtain a higher degree is by attending state-funded and controlled teaching institutions.
17. Restrictions on free speech - no dissident thought allowed. No “racism” (conveniently redefined to mean criticism of state-sponsored immigration) or blasphemy allowed - punishment ranges from fines to imprisonment.
18. Wideranging state sponsoring of “culture”, meaning theatres, music, movies, books etc. Would you be surprised to learn that we have a very large number of collectivist book authors and movie producers in Denmark, and that numerous authors are financed directly by means of tax funds every year?
19. Severe restrictions on immigration: If you are under 24 years of age, the state can intervene in deciding who you can and can not marry, especially if it happens across borders.
20. Complete firearms restrictions. Owning a firearm is not only illegal if not registered by the police, and a permit is difficult to obtain, plus the weapon itself (it is additionally difficult to get any reasonably useful handgun or rifle). Should you be able to obtain a firearm, you will not be allowed to use it in self defense. Plus, firearms owners, apart from hunters, are stereotypically seen as potential criminals, murderers and generally Bad People. Not as individuals with a right to self defense the best way possible, oh no.
21. Conscription. Unless you are deemed unhealthy or chronically ill, you are to be conscripted into the Danish armed forces. If you choose to refuse, the state can send you anywhere they please, more or less, to be used as cheap labor. This is naturally to discourage dissent. Big surprise.
22. Healthcare system is state owned, and while private hospitals do exist, a) they are few and far between; once again a result of the market-destroying state intervention on behalf of the “common good”; b) The quality of treatments on publlic hospitals are at best mediocre, and the line you have to wait in is long. If you have cancer, you are likely to die while waiting for treatment.
23. Unions: Many unions in Denmark are in some degree affiliated with the Social Democrats, the largest socialist party in the country. First of all, that means that some of your union money goes directly to the SD’s, unless you actively opt out from the “contribution”. Second, whenever the chance arises, the union bosses will be sure to voice public support for the socialist political parties of the country, and of course attack and denounce the liberal and conservative parties (as seen by SID, HK and others). Third, some unions occasionally blockade factories and entrepreneurial businesses, if there have been disagreements about wage or work conditions at the factory, or if lower-paid foreign workers are found to be employed (of course they aren’t union members). Unions prefer violence over diplomacy, it seems.
http://haxor.dk/articles/dksucks.html