A 100 million Filipinos is a huge plus for PH!
For our special presentation on our talk show Straight from the Sky, we bring you a Women’s organization that preceded many advocacies by environmentalists, and 28 years later they are still strong and active in helping Cebu grow and develop responsibly. I’m referring to the group that calls itself the Federated Organization of Women Active & Responsive to Development (Forward) an organization envisioned, founded, and developed by Mrs. Martina “Beling” Go Ching Hai. Our TV show has been around for 18 years, but Forward even preceded our show as they are now 28 years old.
So tonight, we have with us, Mrs. Go Ching Hai, Mrs. Mila C. Espina co-founder/adviser, Mrs. Terry Escaño Manguerra the current president of Forward, and Mrs. Tess Chan, past president of Forward who will give us their own stories of the importance of Forward in the growth and development of Cebu. So please watch this very interesting show on SkyCable’s channel 53 at 8 p.m. with replays on Wednesday and Saturday same time and channel. We also have replays on MyTV’s channel 30 at 9 p.m. Monday and at 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
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So what if the Philippine population has continued to grow? This is what the media wanted to emphasize the other day after the 100th millionth baby turned four yesterday and they are saying that we have the fastest-growing population in Asia. Population Commission (Popcom) Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III announced that the Philippine population is expected to grow by a million by year’s end. He added saying that the Philippine population is the 13th largest worldwide and second biggest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Perhaps we should ask whether a huge Filipino population is beneficial to the nation? Mind you, there are a great number of European populations. Right now, Russia still has the biggest population in Europe with 143,964,709. This is followed by Germany which has 82,293,457, and the United Kingdom is third with 66,573,504, followed by France, which has 65,233,271, fifth place goes to Italy with 59,290,696. In short, the Philippines has a bigger population compared to against European countries, except Russia.
Way back in 1986 during the EDSA People Power revolt, the Philippine population was less than 50 million and there were few Overseas Filipino Workers and no growth in the digital industry. Back in those days, the only vacation that Filipinos would take is to go to Baguio, Mactan, and a few tourism destinations. Flights to anywhere in the Philippines were prohibitive that more often than not, Filipinos take a ferryboat to go to Manila for business.
I used to travel on my motorcycle all the way to Aparri and 70 percent of the roads in Luzon were unpaved. Today, these roads are widened and cemented. Cebu had no traffic jams to talk about and anyone who bought a new car, many of us would know who that person is. Today, thanks to a huge population, the Philippines has an internal tourism industry of Filipinos who would rather visit our tourist destinations and enjoy these sights than travel abroad. Frankly speaking I would rather have what we now have today where people can afford to buy even a motorcycle.
So we go back to what is happening in Europe. I heard on the internet a long time ago that Europe would be Muslim in 30 years if the people in Europe do not make babies as fast as the Muslims do. In short, Muslims would become a majority in Europe if the people living there today do not change their attitudes. So if Europeans do not watch out, they will surely find themselves becoming foreigners in their own country.
As for the Philippines, our population only needs to be educated properly so they can approach any jobs that the world has to offer to Filipinos. Mind you, Singapore, Japan, and many other ASEAN nations have a dwindling population problem, so let’s not go in that direction.
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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.
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