The following was written by INTEL General Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines :

Filipinos (including the press, business people and myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and this affects the perception of foreigners, even the ones who have lived here for a while. The negative perception of the Philippines is way disproportionate to reality when compared to countries like Columbia , Egypt , Middle East, Africa , etc.

Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or abroad. Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and 1995 (the year I came
back), I was struck by how much our country has progressed physically.

Consider the following:

1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did not exist in 1995. 1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then billions
of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in 1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.

2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue flyover), the SKYWAY, Rockwell and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.

3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so frequently travelled road was of very good quality.

4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe .

Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:

1. INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002, Philippine operations became Intel's biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.

2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the
world.

3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa , Laguna.

4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines .

5. TREND-MICRO, makers of one of the top anti virus software PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this) develops its "cures" for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City . When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the
virus.

6 . Today a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms in the U.S. have set up operations in the Philippines . This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.

7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering 90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.

8. PROCTER & GAMBLE has over 400 people right here in Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, Human Resources and payments processing.

9. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila , CITIBANK also does its global ATM programming locally.

10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of FORD Philippines. (I have an idea this article was written between 2001 - 2002, so this operation should have been on-going for the last 3 years or so. CYN)

11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.

Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates tell them the good news. A big part of our problem is perception and one of the biggest battles can be won simply by believing and by making others believe.
This message is shared by good citizens of the Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our country.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHER FILIPINOS!!!

I was back home last March and saw quite a few developments in the Quezon City area. Ang daming condominiums, may big mall pa close to SM North Edsa, at itong SM din na ito has an extension called The Block, at talagang ang sosyal ng dating (ate kendz and i enjoyed having a wee walk around). A bit sad though that still a number of our kababayans live below the poverty line

It is good to know that we are doing good in some sectors- this will give our kababayan the job they badly need. My concern still remains the unbalanced distribution of wealth. As long as the middle class remains the third player, we are still in the danger zone. But it appears that there is an awakening in the election choices and process. In Pampanga, a priest with no political machineries was elected as a governor. He relied mostly on volunteers and the message of HOPE plus religious revolution if you will to win. There is also a rude awakening for actors who run. Popularity alone does not give you an advantage. I think the Pinoy voter is becoming more mature and independent in his election choices. Sana naman gumanda lalo ang takbo ng buhay sa atin - simple lang naman ang gusto ng Pinoy. Yong basic needs lang naman ng pangarap: Magkaroon ng trabaho, affordable medical services, mapakain ang pamilya ng tatlong beses sa maghapon at mapag aral ang mga anak. Kahit ano pang kakulangan meron sa Pilipinas- I am still a proud Pinay with our values that I am trying hard to pass on to my children. Salamat po sa space.

windy city gal,

yes, i agree with you, the filipino voters became very smart but i think it is because they are no longer afraid and timid in voicing their opinions. nanonood nga ako ng tfc news, i admire yong mga tao na nagbabantay sa mga ballot boxes...kahit na talagang talamak ang dayaan, at maaaring ikapahamak nila, they were vigilant in watching their votes...meron pa nga, nakasulat na 1,000 ang votes tapos biglang naging 1,800...dinagdagan ng isang bilog yung ibabaw ng first zero...it was so blatant na kitang kita na nadoctor yung number. nag demand ng recount yung poll watchers and low and behold, yong number ng registered voters na bumoto was only 1,000 lang pero yung supposedly votes na na cast was 800 more, ..sabi ng tagapamahala, mistake lang daw..nagkamali ng pagkasulat...and the power of text messaging as well as mms, nakatulong kasi gamit ng mga voters and watchers ang mga cell phones nila to record yung mga pandaraya....nakaka proud tignan kung gaano lumaban ang ating mga kapwa pinoys in their own little ways....kaya lang di pa nadi declare yung mga winners....hopefully wala ng (black) magic pa na gagawin.

tita lyn

Nothing against pinoy actors turned politicians, but one thing that I am really proud of is that our kababayans became more conscientious of their vote this time. Hindi nila binigay lang basta basta dahil sa popularity. I find that some [actors] were too ambitious (opinyon ko lang po). Even those old-time politicians did not make it either or are struggling to get to the top 12 in Senate race or to win a re-election bid. Good for Juan dela Cruz.

Nasa government din ang pag-asa na somehow the margin between the rich and the poor will decrease. Mag improve sana ang local job market at mas marami pang investors ang magkaron ng interest sa country natin as this will open a job opportunity for our kababayans. Sabi mo nga 'windy city gal' - trabaho ang kailangan natin. Totoo yan.

I quote TJ in his recent guesting in At Home Ka Dito - he said "sometimes life is unfair and you have to be grateful for what you have". I take it that this can be aptly put to one kababayan who's struggling to provide food on the table for his family but still manage to with a small earning being grateful in life compared to another who could not even get a job because the opportunity is not just there.