CEBU, Philippines - There's no reason why the Philippines has to be a poor country. It has a lot of resources and has people who are capable — even world-class.
It's just that Filipinos have forgotten the "bayanihan" spirit, something that has been innate in the Philippine culture, according to British book author and social entrepreneur Thomas Graham.
Graham, together with Irish author and speaker Mike Grogan, spoke before students and professionals in Cebu City yesterday on Filipinos being the world-class people.
Both, who have lived in the Philippines for quite some time now, said they are learning many things from the Filipinos especially the bayanihan culture. Both claimed that they came from individualistic cultures.
"We are here to remind Filipinos how beautiful they are, how talented they are and they have the traits within them to be world-class," Grogan told The FREEMAN in an interview yesterday with Graham.
"The Philippines is not poor because your people are not kind or you don't have a bayanihan spirit but it's poor because people have forgotten the fact that this is a country built on communities, built on kindness and people living together," Graham said.
Filipinos should translate the bayanihan spirit into economic benefits.
For instance, businesses must have the social impact to the community.
"We need business. Business has the potential to end poverty but it must be done in a slightly different way," Graham said, citing the important role of social enterprises.
Graham, a journalist, came to the Philippines and visited Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto in 2012 to ask about poverty and economic growth in the Philippines.
But it turned to be his life-changing journey in the Philippines and worked with GK and later on wrote a book entitled "The Genius of the Poor" which tells his journey in the Philippines.
Grogan also wrote a book entitled "The Rise of the Pinoy." (FREEMAN)