General Info

[Gangles]

My two cents worth.

I put two women through short technical training courses.

One was a secretarial course, and one was computer course.

On completion, both immediately got permanent jobs, and as far as I know, they still have, almost 10 years later.

I sponsored one woman through a degree in HRM, ignorant of the potential outcome. She studied hard, got good grades. I spent more money helping her through job interviews. She still does not have a job, 5 years later. It is a useless bit of paper.

Maybe with some tech training, or post grad, she could find a job.

Just keep in mind that until very recently, the Philippines school system was 10 years. This means that their ordinary degree program is about equivalent to a trades course in Australia, certificate level 3. There are exceptions. UP, Feati, Ateneo, maybe Sto Tomas.

G

Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?

[Econo Tech]

It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.

GE.

A lot of Delusional Filipinos believe Marcos was the best president ever, as most of the infrastructure in PH is during his time.

Of course, they forget the billions he spent on useless stuff, like the Nuclear Power Plant and Imelda's obsessions. Coconut palace et. al.

[Sam 14]

I hope you don't find too good of a French restaurant GE, we may loose you. The big thing I noticed last time I was in BKK, or didn't notice I should say, was the smell of diesel smoke and all the trucks. Apparently the trucks run at night and most of the taxis run on LNG.

[GoodEnough]

I've been with my Filipina partner in Bangkok for the past several days. It's her first time here, and though we've been together to Hong Kong and Singapore, she looked on both of these as "rich," so the discrepancies between the living standards and infrastructure of those cities and the Philippines impressed her, but didn't shock her very much. Her Thailand experience has been different though, and she's been consistently astounded at the huge differences she's seen between Bangkok and Manila, particularly since she understands that most of the major infrastructure: the elevated highways, the SkyTrain the subway to name but three, have all been constructed within the last 15-20 years as has the airport.

The immediate basis of comparison for her was the airport. I think we had to walk about 1. 5 km in Manila Terminal 3 to get to our "gate" so we could walk down some steel stairs and across the tarmac to our plane. There were two 20 meter or so people movers, but of course they were not working. The distance from the gate to Immigration in Bangkok was longer, but covered by literally hundreds of meters of people movers. The insights began then.

It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.

GE.

[Econo Tech]

Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.

Filipinos insist if Floyd didn't keep running away or hugging, Manny would have won.

Alas, the statistics on the number of punches landed and connected show Floyd is the true winner.

[Dg8787]

Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.

Run Mann, are you Floyd?

[Run Mann]

Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.

[Great Muta]

Most people have no idea what they want to do in life. I'm 26 and have a degree but still have no idea, aside from fucking women everyday. Most people just end up settling with a job that pays the bills.

Going to school for something you aren't into, aren't sure of and can't make money in is just a waste of cash.

[Member #4351]

Thanks for all the excellent advice and comments. I have passed it all on to her (removing names of course). My feeling is that she obtained the valedictorian title by working hard and doing a lot of memorizing. I'm afraid that any sort of analytic problem solving is most likely absent in the High School curriculum. I hope that she will be able to make a better decision thanks to the information you have provided.

[Red Kilt]

Guys, I don't mean to be argumentative at all. I respect all of your views. I think first of all I / we need to know what or how much is a decent income she is looking for to provide herself a decent future to give you an appropriate responses. And does she have any areas of interest, knowledge or talent(s)? Is she shy or more outgoing? Can she lead?

With all due respect Dg, I think we have given David enough food for thought for his ex-gfs valedictorian little sister.

It's up to her now.

I wouldn't attempt to advise her on a specific future course; we have provided enough ideas for them to take this issue further.

As GE says, she is probably too young to know what she wants to do anyway, and, as we all know with today's global graduates, they rarely end up doing the job that they trained for anyway.

[Dg8787]

Guys, I don't mean to be argumentative at all. I respect all of your views. I think first of all I / we need to know what or how much is a decent income she is looking for to provide herself a decent future to give you an appropriate responses. And does she have any areas of interest, knowledge or talent(s)? Is she shy or more outgoing? Can she lead?

[Geneva Guy]

As a veteran visitor to SE Asia but have never been in PHIL (but have fucked many Filipinas in Singapore), wanted to make some naive observer comments, veterans, don't laugh too hard:

-Security: I had never seen a real sawed-off shotgun before but there were all over Bacolod city and Manila (airport area and mall of Asia). I wonder if those guys know how to use those guns or maybe the shells are blanks. My taxi driver said "in PHIL we have lots of security but no security" hahaha. I need to get one of those sticks they use to look in your bag. The only perk. Having the lady security pat me down (I always tried to head over to the girls). "is that a cucumber in your pocket or are you happy to see me honey?" I asked for a full search. No luck.

-Rules: Staying at the new Hyatt city of dreams I figured, a US based hotel. Should be great. The rooms are nice, the staff are nice but too many freaking rules. Took my GFs kids to the pool, first was told they had to have cotton bathing suits, went to the mall, got them, came back, nope they need spandex suits. So which is it. If the guy I was taking to wasn't built like the hulk, I would have argued with him (they did finally get to swim).

-No soap: Public bathrooms often had no soap. I shook about 2000 hands in Bacolod and got to Manila and kaboom. Travelers diarrhea. I ate what everyone else ate (but maybe I ate someone no one else ate haha).

-Wechat very useful in places like Bacolod city. Prices are cheaper and no limits. I was able to get daytime and nigh time house calls for fun times. And the visitors didn't even ask for $, no mention of it. But of course, I offered the right thing to do. (1000 P).

-Airport: Yep, the WiFi station in T2 is crappy. No WiFi. But I learned the trick. You listen for a flight that is boarding and put THAT flight number into the username (a Filipino taught me that while sitting there). I think it was slower than dial-up (I was waiting for that annoying modem noise).

-Mall of Asia: Yum yum. If GF hadn't been with me would have been a buffet for me, sales girls, shoppers, giving that long look and smile. Oh well, I had the runs anyway. But the Sunday crowd was WOW. All the ladies coming from church in their Sunday best.

-L'Fisher hotel Bacolod city: Best hotel in town. 2 stars at best, WiFi 5 mbs, was told they would give me a "special" login, boosted up to 10 mbs. Wow.

-Manny pacquio signs everywhere. I was told he has many GFs. You think honey?

Anyway, this forum has been a big help to me guys so thanks.

GG

[Econo Tech]

The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian.

Such valedictorian titles etc have not much meaning, outside Philippines.

So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?

Did you use Decent Future and Philippines in the same sentence?

As of now, and near future, I see no hope for any job prospects, including doctors and lawyers and engineers.

As long as the country is t the control of the powers-be, who have crafted laws that only favour their own kind, and allow employment ads that specify height, weight, marital status, maximum age (yes, for doctors too they have started to state such stuff) there is not much hope in the country.

As for HRM, every other girl studies HRM, and then finds the jobs that are available are as waitress and tea maker in Singapore, Malaysia or even Middle-east.

As for nursing, those who study nursing, with the arm twisting of the politicians who have vested interest in hospitals, have been banned from taking in trainees- so nurses graduate, don't get training, and minus a minimum of 3 year training, most countries will not employ them as nurses. And the few who manage to pull strings end up working.

They end up as care givers in old folks home and such. Or the brave end up taking jobs in Libya, Africa and all, where, even there they are not paid more than 900 US $ or so.

Doctors? Well, that's an area that may work, if she can afford the 12 plus years of studies, graduation, finding a suitable hospital to do housemanship and then do the diploma etc, etc, and in Philippine system, set aside at least that amount of years, and it may be past 35+ before she can open a clinic, and hope she is not subject to any harassment. In Philippines, the robbers and thieves target doctors and such because they think the doctors and such are rich, and are not so untouchable.

And doctors, again, are not 'mobile' internationally. Only few of the Universities in Philippines are recognised and recognition doesn't mean a surgeon will get to work as a surgeon in Singapore, Malaysia or Brunei or elsewhere. They will start one level or more lower, and may stay for a few years there, before possibly getting recognised.

Call centers? It is a mini boom, that is slowly getting eroded, as the talented ones are moving overseas and the latest recruits have more than serious issues with English and comprehension.

IT engineers? Filipinos have been earning the ire of many country folks in South Asia and Middle east, accepting lower pay, than be jobless back home. But a few Filipinos manage to shine, and come up, though again, not in Philippines. It is always out of the country.

That's the scary part.

As to what career advice I would give?

Do what she likes, and be ready to switch / adopt, on what future demand brings. If she plans to stay in Philippines, go the general path. Nursing or HRM and then see what the future bring.

Or hope to find a job outside the country, based on what is in demand, and hopefully, with the right referrals, anchor herself firmly.

[Hutsori]

1. If she is undecided and let's someone sway her, then I doubt if she has the desire and will power let alone motivation to make it. Maybe she is not ready for higher education! Possibly a 2 year stint at a low paying job might give her some goals before going on to college.

Keep in mind this girl is the valedictorian, an honour indicative of her smarts, willfulness, and diligence. I think a lot teens will seek and heed the "expert advice" of educated elders, and young Filipinas tend to be quite deferential. Some may benefit from a gap year to work, but I think she needn't look far to see a lot of people working menial jobs and the lives they live. There are life-time earnings consequences of a 2-year finding-myself-and-my-goals delay. Plus, she may be surrounded by knuckleheads working such a job.

For a woman, who will eventually marry and have kids, having a career that provides a good income and provides family flexibility is desirable. Assuming one owns her own business being a dentist or a pharmacist allows a woman to maximise both.

[GoodEnough]

With all due respect to your question and concern for her education. I have a much harsher view and responses.

1. If she is undecided and let's someone sway her, then I doubt if she has the desire and will power let alone motivation to make it. Maybe she is not ready for higher education! Possibly a 2 year stint at a low paying job might give her some goals before going on to college.

2. It seems like a degree is necessary to open some doors but she needs to know what doors she wants to open.

3. IMO whether in Phil or US it is almost total waste of money for higher education unless the student has some goals in mind. That is not saying the higher Ed is worth the money either.

4. If she wants to know where the future higher paying jobs are, she just needs to look around to see who has it and ask them how they made it.

If she just wants to follow the flow and see where ever life takes her then please disregard 1-4.

I disagree with the above within the context of the Philippines. Most decent jobs here, including short-term sales work in the major malls require some sort of tertiary degree. It's virtually impossible here to secure adequate employment if credentials are limited to a high school diploma. RK's suggestion regarding pursuing some sort of TVET certification is much more astute and accurate. This place has a dire shortage of skilled technical workers, and pursuit of technician-level qualifications is an excellent suggestion, and one that's likely to result in viable employment.

As to being "swayed" by the opinion of others, I think her desire to seek knowledge from those who are more experienced, and presumably more knowledgeable than she are to her credit. Career counseling here is virtually on-existent in any formal sense, and often life-long career decisions are made on the basis of the college curriculum that the parents can afford. Historically, children graduate from high school at age 16 or so; an age at which they cannot be expected to possess any extensive knowledge of career options.

GE.