Is there hope for this country?

Is this country hopeless? That was the topic of debate in last Thursday’s edition of Debate With Pare at Mare (with Mel Tiangco pinch-hitting for Winnie Monsod). This country being hopeless is said to be the reason why a relatively large chunk of Filipinos want to leave the Philippines.

In the panel during that episode was a domestic helper who has worked abroad for many, many years, but who is leaving again because she no longer sees any hope for this country.

Also in the panel was actress Maritoni Fernandez, who spent eight years in London (from high school up to college) and a year in the US, but wants to remain here because she is still hopeful that things would shape up in this country.

It was a good thing I was not invited to this Debate panel (although I was – and it was for another topic – a few weeks ago) because I wouldn’t know where to put myself. You see, in with my current status as a US immigrant staying here in the Philippines (again, I would like to stress that my papers and documents are in order so I’m not afraid of the people from the US Immigration and Naturalization Services reading this), I’m really torn between migrating there or remaining for good in the country of my birth.

I have various reasons (from the most profound to the downright silly) why I’m tempted to eventually live in the US. These are some of the reasons:

* The supermarkets there are like paradise on earth. Maybe it’s my colonial mentality working in me, but I really salivate and drool over the seemingly endless shelves of goodies galore in the supermarkets there – especially in the Price Club. (The S & R in The Fort is really very much like the Price Club in the US and, in fact, has even better layout.)

* I long for some of the fruits there like peaches, persimmons and cherries. I also like the Guatimalan mangoes (very much like our Indian mangoes) which they import from Central America. However, there are more Philippine fruits that I like: mangoes, rambutan, atis (which I buy by the canastro when it’s in season), marang and, quite recently, durian – after that eat-all-you-can durian festival in Greenhills last month.

* There’s Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke in the America. Even if most Pinoys in the US insist that Dr. Pepper tastes like ipis, I still thirst for it. While in Baguio last year, I discovered a convenience store in Session Road that sells Dr. Pepper for P23 a can. Early this year, I was pleased to discover this soda brand also being sold for P17 each in Uni-Mart and this is enough reason for me to stay. (Yes, I can be this shallow.) Now, if only I can find a local store selling Cherry Coke.

* There is hardly any traffic in the US. The rush-hour traffic in the freeway most Los Angeles residents complain about is just like EDSA at lunchtime.

* There is so much discipline and order in the US. When I went applied for an SSS number, I finished it in a matter of minutes. Applying for a California ID took longer – about half an hour because they still had to take my picture.

* The air is really so much cleaner there. The water is not necessarily so – especially in the big cities.

* I have family there.

Now, here are the reasons why I’m having second thoughts about settling in the US:

* My work is hard. I absolutely don’t welcome the idea of working there again as a forklift operator or as a stacker of canned goods in the Air Force commissary. But I do have to say that there really is dignity in labor there – at least in the sensibilities of the Americans. But the Pinoys there? Nah! Most of them (especially those in the West Coast) still look down on fellow Filipinos doing blue-collar jobs.

* It’s not necessarily safer there. When I was staying in an apartment in the place called Somerville (two cities away from Boston), one of my nightly activities was watching from my balcony a team of cops chasing after muggers.

* There is discrimination – particularly in the East Coast. Californians, however, are generally warm and friendly.

* Movies are so much expensive there. But I love the popcorn refill.

* I can’t stand the weather there. When it’s cold, it’s really cold. But during summer – especially in L.A.– I don’t leave the house until 8 p.m. because the heat outside really dries you up. Summer here compared to there is heaven.

* This is home for me.

* * *

Based on the discussions in that episode of Debate, I would like to conclude that it’s not the people here who are hopeless, but the politicians who run this country. In fact, there were a couple of politicians in the panel that evening and I thought one of them (but I’m not telling which one) should be shipped to the Arctic Circle.

The panelists from show business, however, were wonderful. Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez (although he is also from politics) may not be as erudite, but he gave intelligent and enlightened responses in that evening’s debate.

Brod Pete was there for comic relief and proved to be very effective and quick on the uptake. He is undeniably one of our most intelligent comedians in the business today.

The most impressive performance in that Debate episode, however, was given by Maritoni Fernandez, who – despite her being half British – showed that she is really Filipino at heart. She was very sincere with her statements and, boy, she made us Pinoys proud of her that evening.

Her reasoning was sound and she was never abrasive during the entire course of the debate. Most important of all, there was a lot of substance in every sentence she uttered during the discussion.

If only every other Pinoy were like Maritoni (and I’m not referring to her good physical looks), then maybe there is still hope for this country.