It's almost 6 months that i've been here, yet i've never felt discriminated here. Every people that i've met, they welcome me with open arms. Denmark maybe is a small and low-profile country, but there's a lot of things this country can boast around the world. One thing's for sure, this country can withstand a lot of struggles for years and years to come, 'cause they've got something other people don't have: they love where they came from. They love their country.
From where i came from, you know, it's hard sometimes i can't stay away from comparing. I know it's not a good thing, but it's human nature. We do sometimes compare. I just noticed things that i didn't see or experienced in my country, The Philippines, from where i am right now, Denmark.
First thing. Denmark is on the top of the food chain, along with Finland and New Zealand, as The Least Corrupt Countries in the World. They really do well in all aspects of life. The Philippines, well, at least there's a sigh of relief, not to be included in the Ten of the Most Corrupt Countries in the whole World, but, (there's a but), Philippines is the Most Corrupt Country in Asia. Haaaay, napakagandang tag. We'll be carrying it for a very long time until corruption is eradicated..
Second, people here are well-disciplined. Well, not really all, but the majority of the population here, native or foreigner, respects the law. For example, the Traffic Rules and Regulations. When the traffic light is in red signal you're supposed to stop - and that's what they do here. Not like in the Philippines, when it says red, as long as you have the chance to go and as long as there's no one crossing the street, just go! You see, the more that we violate the law, the more we get used to doing it. (teka nga, bakit ba ako ingles ng ingles, pwede namang magtagalog... hehehe..) Nasaan na nga ba ako?? Yun, yung simpleng pagsunod sa patakaran at batas. Kaya naging asensado ang bansa na ito dahil may disiplina ang bawat tao na nandito. Sabihin na nating hindi lahat ng tao dito eh disiplinado, dahil may mga taong sadya pa ring hindi naliliwanagan sa kung ano ang tama sa mali, pero, most of the people i saw here (or i encountered), follows and do the right thing. Well, to think about, hindi naman mahirap sumunod sa kung ano ang tama, its good when you get used to doing something that is right. No hassle, move freely...
What other things that makes this country so special? Actually, there's nothing really special. Life is very simple here. Denmark is a family-oriented country. They take very good care of the welfare of the people here. Dito, required kang mag-holiday. It's part of their benefits. Sa 'pinas, magpapapiyesta ka kapag pinayagan kang mag-holiday, kasi mag-aalay-lakad ka, magpuprusisyon, at magpepenitensya bago maaprubahan yung holiday request mo sa trabaho mo. They work here 5 days a week, monday to friday, saturday and sunday, off.. Di ba?? Kung babasahin, parang katulad lang ng sa atin sa 'pinas?? Pero, kapag pinaliwanag ng maayos, iba ang interpretation niyan sa kanila.. 5 days a week, 6 hours a day, per ora ang bayad, di ka pwedeng puwersahin mag-OT dahil pwede mo ireklamo ang company na gagawa nun, hassle pa sa kanila, at binibigyang-halaga yung mga complaints na yun ng gobyerno dito. Mga malls dito, up to 8pm lang. Kapag saturday, up to 5 lang. Kapag sunday, closed. They have more time with their families. Let's say they might have a boring lifestyle, but, looking on the bigger picture, spending time more with the fruits of your loved ones strengthens the bonding of the family. Hindi ka na mag-aalala na walang kasabay ang anak mo sa hapag-kainan pagdating ng hapunan. Quality time ang naibibigay at nailalaan mo sa pamilya mo. Eh, sa 'pinas? Sige, work until you die! You work ALMOST all days of the week, 8 hours a day, 382 pesos a day (yan pa rin ata ang minimum) and a lifetime of stress and ailments. Lucky for you if you can squeeze time for your family to at least spend one day of the weekend with them. Most of the time, you're forced to work overtimes, with no pay. Yes! That's right! There are companies that doesn't pay overtime work, it depends to the superiors of the work place if they will give it to you.. Try to complain why will you work overtimes, in your own expense, sometimes you'll get memo. Di ba?? ikaw na papagurin, kasalanan mo pa pag nagreklamo ka... Where else could you experience such things like that???? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES...
Meron pa.. The Government. Dito ang eleksyon, one day lang. The following day, declaring of winners na. Sa tin? Wait for another century to finish the counting of ballots. Then during the counting, you'll hear news about vote-buying, fraud, killings, etc.. Everytime election time comes in the Philippines, things like that happen. Kakabit na ata talaga ng eleksyon yun. AT mukhang di na mababago.. I just hope and pray that one day, we can put a righteous leader on that most coveted position. The scenario in Election Day is always the same. Nothing changed.
There's a lot of professionals around the Philippines, who chooses to work abroad, than to work there and suffer later. I mean for example, doktor ka na sa Pilipinas, but because of the not-so promising future and low income, pinili nilang maging nurse sa ibang bansa, because of higher compensations and benefits. Wherever you go, there's not a place you won't see a Filipino. Sometimes, i tried to ask them why. I only got one answer most of the time: Mahirap na dun, dito maginhawa.. Kahit nga sa Iraq, na naka-ban ang pagpasok ng mga pinoy dun, meron pa rin. Di ba ang sakit isipin at tanggapin na kahit ayaw mong talikuran ang bansang kumupkop at pinagmulan mo, kung bugok naman ang sistema ng buhay, hahanap ka talaga ng ginhawa sa banyagang lupa? They're willing to take the risk, just to give a wonderful and bright future for their family. Kahit alam nila na ang isasakripisyo nila eh ang pagkawalay nila sa mga mahal sa buhay, para sa magandang kinabukasan, aalis at aalis yan. You cannot blame those people who has that mentality. They're just being wise.
Kapag pumupunta ako sa pinsan ko dito sa Denmark, nakikinood ako ng Pinoy shows, but not the entertainment. I watch the news about the country. Paulit-ulit lang yung napapanood ko: May pinatay, may nasagasaan, mga artistang naghahangad ng posisyon sa gobyerno na wala namang alam, mga politicians na nagsisiraan, nagsusulsulan, nagbabangayan, nag-aangasan na parang mga inutil, mga political ads ng kanya-kanyang mga nagawa at ginagawa, nasunugan, ninakawan, binomba, mga welga at rally, sakuna, kalamidad, mga sex scandals, kaartehan, kabaliwan, at iba pa.. Nagiging maganda lang ata ang balita kapag nanalo si Manny Pacquiao sa isang laban nya sa boxing eh... Yun lang ang magandang balita. Maliban dun, wala na. So, sometimes, when you think about your future, do you really have a chance to fulfill that in a place where money,power, and corruption rules? I don't think so...
I love my country. I really do. I don't want to sound bias, but, you know sometimes, we have to accept that our country is sinking into the depths of hell, while others prosper - on my own standpoint. For now, there's no assurance of a secured future on a country that is plagued by corrupt politicians and hypocrites. Even if the government now says that there are improvements and developments in the country, others are still skeptical. But i still do hope that someday, the good life out here, can also be there from where i belong... Peace Out!
