Brain Drain and Great Gain

“Well, it is very important to the society.” This was the answer of a contestant in a beauty pageant after being asked: “What is your opinion about the brain drain in the Philippines?” The people in the audience were laughing. Maybe because they thought the contestant did not understand the question. Or maybe they thought it was not the right answer. Whatever their reason for laughing was, as a Filipino, I strongly believe the answer is correct.
Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Filipinos, good day. Brain drain is the movement of highly skilled people, especially scientists, doctors, nurses, educators, and technical workers, to a country offering better opportunities. The country, like Philippines, from where these skilled people come is metaphorically drained from brains (that’s why it’s called brain drain). Apparently, it’s a loss because the country will eventually suffer from a brainless nation: no doctors and professors. So, many nationalists don’t like the idea. They want the government to stop sending these people to other countries. If they, however, would try to see this case in a deeper way, they would agree with me that the government should encourage more and more Filipinos to go abroad instead for the country’s profit.
First, every Filipino has the freedom and right to work wherever he wants. As stipulated in the Philippine Constitution, every Filipino has the human rights. Part of which is the right to work and the right to work anywhere he pleases. The Philippines is a democratic country: a country for the people and a country by the people. With regard to this, if a Filipino wishes to work abroad, he is exercising his human right; it’s his choice—his freedom. If he is barred from doing so, he is being deprived from his rights. We all agree that we don’t want to be deprived from any human right. I mean, who does? If a Filipino is banned from going abroad, this is no longer in accordance to the kind of country that is for and by the people. If he wants to work out there, then, let him be. Give him freedom; he deserves it. I deserve it. You deserve it. We all deserve it. It is our right!
Another reason has something to do with Filipinoness. My history professor once told our class that history has never been kind to the Philippines. This country had experienced colonization and slavery for centuries. This then has given a label or brand that Filipinos are slaves. As a result, we Filipinos are being looked down by foreigners. It seems that we have become incapables to their sight. Let me ask you this question: Do you like to be treated as uncivilized or uneducated one? No, no one does. But that’s how most of the foreigners think of a Filipino. Hey, don’t get mad. I’m just telling the truth. Let’s face the fact. That’s why we have to prove something: that they are wrong. How can we do this? I would be presumptuous if I would say that I know the only way. But I can tell you one of the effective ways. Know what that is? Let me tell you of my friend’s case. He is a nurse. Now, he works in the United Kingdom. Every year, one worker is awarded of The Outstanding Nurse of the Year. Guess what? He’s got it! Through it, he’s able to prove to the people in the West that a Filipino can do something and be somebody. The award was like telling the Europeans to stop underestimating Filipinos. It clearly proves that he, a Filipino, is the best among other foreign workers. This is just one of the Filipino-worker-triumph stories around the globe. I know that you also have similar victory stories of your Filipino friends working abroad. The point is clear: Every Filipino can show to the world that he’s more able and more capable as he works in other countries. Because of this, can the foreigners still say we’re uneducated and uncivilized? Tell me.
Now, the last reason is about being a hero. Nobody would disagree with me if I say that those Filipinos who work abroad are called heroes. They are sending in dollars to our country which at least makes the economy better, if not best. In other words, more Filipinos abroad mean more dollars; and more dollars spells economic development. But working abroad is not all about being a fancy national hero, it is also about being a true family hero—to the ones you dearly love. I have a neighbor. He used to work as a technician in a private company in Iligan City. He has four children. Sad thing about his family was that they hardly ate three times a day and his children stopped schooling for a while simply because his salary was not good enough to sustain them and to send them to school. I can still remember that they would borrow money from my mother. One day, an opportunity knocked. He opened the door. And there he goes; currently, he works in Dubai as a skilled worker. I can say that the pay is real good because his children do not only eat three times a day but also they’ve got snacks in between meals (even some midnight snacks). At the moment, his children are not only enrolled at any school in Iligan City but to one of the prestigious private schools. Here’s more: Every Christmas and summer vacation, they travel to places like Baguio, Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Thus, while working abroad, every Filipino helps not only the Philippine economy and society, but most importantly, gives a brighter and better future to his dear beloved ones—his family.
The government should not ban Filipinos from working abroad. This is our right as Filipinos. This is our way of showing the foreigners we’re better than them. And this is our help to the Philippines and the gift of better, brighter future to our families. If the government stops sending Filipinos abroad, it stops the flow of benefits which the country could gain. That is why I strongly believe that the answer of that beauty pageant contestant is right: Brain drain in the Philippines “…is very important to the society” because of its great gains.