It's Possible

(My last blog entry for our Social Studies class’ multiply site.)

I think I haven’t been a very good teacher during the entire school year. Even if I didn’t see one of my students’ rating of his teachers, I knew I’d get a grade of 4, 5 being the HPS. Thinking again, all those who got 5 were already veteran teachers, being in such profession for years. Given so, I think 4 is quite enough for a new one like me. Ang taas pa nga yata nun. Dude, make it 3 na lang. hahahaha…

I already know the reasons. Often, I teach too fast to the point of bulol na ako. I had a hard time too managing stuff. You know, a teacher’s job pala is not limited in the classroom lang, the room per se. A teacher has other duties -check papers, make lesson plans, prepare visually-stimulating educational aids, prepare quizzes and LTs, communicate with parents, faculty meetings and so on. It’s not really just about walking on the platform and along narrow spaces between columns and rows of seats in the classroom while trying to catch the students attention, making them focus on the lesson or subject matter. It’s so challenging, you know.

Bilang guro, di lang ako nagtuturo. Bilang guro, sinisikap ko ring maging instrumento para mahubog sila. At yun ang di maintindihan ng iba kapag nagbibigay ako ng mababang grado. marami dyan, gusto puro matataas na grade na hindi naman sila deserving batay sa output. Ang iba mas pinahahalagahan ang .5 kesa sa maintindihan na may kulang sa essay niya, mas pinahahalagahan ang 1 point at magtatampo dahil nakakuha ng -1 dahil sa NFD, mas pinahahalagahan pa nila yun kesa sa pagkatuto na huwag nang ulitin pa ang pagkakamali.

I guess, ganun talaga ang trabaho ng guro- nagtuturo at umuunawa.

Sometimes, because of sleepy faces or noisy students, I get lost too. Haay, too many things I want to express. That’s one of the limitations of a teacher — in spite the fact that he has the mastery of his subject, he can’t explain everything. Simplest or most profound.

Indeed, we can’t learn everything in an instant. Pinatitibay ng panahon — hinuhubog ng Diyos upang maging mahusay sa kalaunan.

That’s the best thing I’ve realized.

The bottomline is… yeah, sorry guys, hindi ko na-meet ang expectations ninyo. Pero sana dumating ang panahon na makita rin ninyo ang maliliit na bagay na naibahagi ko sa inyong pagkatuto sa first year high school bilang AP teacher ninyo.

Salamat at paalam…. sa iba, kasi mukhang may magsa-summer. Dun sa mga mapo-promote, paburger naman kayo.

Malalaking regalo kayo ni God sa yugtong ito ng buhay ko, pramis. sige na, nagdadrama na ako dito.

God bless you, students of 1C, 1F, 1H, 1K, 1N.

Analysis on Middle East Oil, MNCs and the Philippine Government’s Role Links

Aaron Laylo

It was mid-2008 when oil prices augmented to their highest peak for the year. Such “oil price crisis” had direct and shaky effect on international and local trade for almost two months. Import transportation cost higher. As an effect, duty and tariff prices could also increase; thus affecting the prices of imported goods. As these commodities reach the domestic market, and transported again to smaller markets, prices could have reached the ceiling level. Not only would the goods be affected by price increase but even transportation fare. This chain effect that began with international oil price increase had adverse effects even to mere domestic consumers of the sari-sari store or the simple jeep pasahero.  

How does international political economy of oil affect the Philippine energy industry? What is the important role of the government in adjusting oil prices or does it have authority to dictate prices at all? How powerful are multinational oil companies and their impact on the local industries? Who holds a tighter and stronger grip on black gold–the producers or price-setters?

The largest hydrocarbon deposits in the world may be found in the Middle East. For this reason, most members of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries belong to this region. It may also be one of the reasons why this region plays an important role in global political economy. However, although the region exports large numbers of barrels of oil, it does not fully or directly determine prices. This other important task is at the capitalist helm of multinational companies which are responsible for the rise and fall of oil prices in the international market.

Given the distinguished roles of oil-producing and exporting countries against that of multinational corporations, which group may be considered more significant in oil importation? With which group then should the Philippines tie up tighter trade relations and economic partnership?

Middle East is the largest supplier or source of oil to the Philippines. MNCs dictate the prices. Since the Philippines is dependent on Middle East oil, we value our trade relations with the region’s oil-selling states. But given that MNCs dictate the prices, the Philippines, therefore is tied up with these companies more than the oil source itself. It may be neutral and good to say then that we must maintain close ties with both the OPEC and MNCs to safeguard and satisfy the country’s need for black gold.

The smoke however gets into the picture when oil prices rocket in the market. As oil source states increase the value of their product, the MNCs would add profit and when they market refined oil to the consumer-states, the oil price would have multiplied many-folds already. It’s given that in such scenario, it’s always the consumerist state that would simply comply with the dictates of oil prices. How does this consumerist state adjust to soaring numbers given the continuous demand for oil in the country?

Here comes the role of the government –regulation. But still, it depends on how the government handles the economy and on what principle it follows. In the Philippine setting, oil prices have been deregulated since mid to latter 1990s when Ramos broke the monopoly of the big three and set the tone for deregulation. This follows free trade. At first, the result was commended by the masses. Since there is competition in free trade, oil companies tend to lower their prices, thus everyone could enjoy cheap oil. However, as the government partly allows free trade through deregulation, influential and giant oil companies may also tend to connive and eventually dictate a common price which may dominate and practically dictate the prices again, and add larger profits to these giant companies. The common people are those that are worst affected by this oil game. Even when there are crises, influential players are still winners and consumers are clearly the losers here. They can’t do anything to pull down oil prices because in the first place, it is the government’s free trade approach that tolerates it. In free trade, anything goes and things only stop when things hit the ground. But things such as oil prices do not actually stop in free trade, they just decline. Eventually, they’ll soar as soon as crises soften.

MNCs and the OPEC countries are important to the Philippines insofar as the political economy of oil is concerned. But these two components may be harsh too in the economic climate of the country if the government will not intervene in times of wanton dominance by the former. It is therefore the government’s prime responsibility here to hold on to the interest of its people. Free trade may be good for the country but the government should always see to it that the energy needs of the country would not be too much dependent on foreign oil resources and companies. If such happens, the country would less likely to attain its development plans and sustainable energy programs.

Aaron Laylo

Estimately 10 percent of the total population of the Philippines works overseas. In almost every corner of the globe, you can find Filipinos working as supervisors but most of them, as support employees, “mere” low-skilled workers, just as how their masters see them. But when asked what compels them to work abroad, most of them would reply with reason: For greener pastures. Indeed, there’s reason on that. Greener pastures may mean bigger salaries to satisfy or to somehow fill in their financial obligations. For most Filipinos, working abroad has always been as simple as that: working in greener pastures. Only a few do recognize that even in green pastures, especially, in an alien land, they are still vulnerable to various sorts of troubles related to their menial jobs. They become subject to abuse and ill-treatment by their employers.

 Thank God, my father who still works in Saudi Arabia has not so far encountered such harsh treatment, maybe because he’s sort of a supervisor there. But how about those Filipinos who work well but still are abused by their employers in various manners?

The government, as the manager of its citizens’ affairs, is responsible for the protection and welfare of the Filipinos working overseas and must see to it that they are treated decently despite their low status. The Philippine government should recognize that OFWs are not mere commodities in alien lands; they are human beings who have physical weaknesses too and emotional defenselessness at times, and most importantly, they also deserve respect for man worthy of any person. And that is what the government should take action of. It must ensure that proper treatment is given to Filipinos working abroad.

And since the government has already been seeing overseas migration as a tool for economic stimulation through remittances from OFWs, therefore beneficial to the country’s development, they should also consider actions that may further boost OFWs vital role in nation-building. By formulating laws that would ensure their protection and welfare, the government could suppose that workers sent abroad will be more interested and may therefore become more productive in their line of work. In that manner also, OFWs could improve their skills, because they are motivated. If the government employs an informal policy on labor migration that encourages further export of manpower, it must also add value and reason to such actions: economic growth driven by healthy and motivated overseas workers.

Coordinating with governments of labor-receiving states is perhaps the most appropriate action now. A more concrete step is to review available bilateral labor agreements and forge BLAs with countries with which the Philippines has not yet tapped or being tapped. These BLAs should be responsive to the present challenges that OWFs should courageously face in alien lands.

In fairness to the government, it has been responsive on matters pertaining to the need for creating laws and policies that push for the protection, security, and welfare of OFWs. It has forged BLAs with some countries regarding manpower development. With RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers Law passed in 1995, provisions concerning the recruitment, development, protection, security and welfare of migrant workers have been recognized. But the more important actions expected by the people is the implementation, actually proper implementation of the provisions and other laws done in the past. Through the DFA, DOLE and related agencies though, it has responded to some cases with regard to abuses and maltreatments to OFWs. These key agencies coordinate with and through a network of related offices such as embassies and consulates as well as labor offices. It may also be very helpful if the government would further recognize the important role of the migrant labor sector, such as in a recent global forum on migration held in Manila.

Overseas Filipino Workers are recognized as new heroes because of their personal sacrifice for their families left in the country. They also play a significant role in increasing the countries finances through their remittances. But more than their financial importance, their human value is what matters more. They deserve attention.