I just read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today that the Philippines per capita income is now $1,463, which is the highest it has been in the post-war era. (Of course, among all those other years, if you adjust for inflation, I'm sure you'll find quite a few which are above today's level.)
Just think about that for a second. The highest level in the post-war (WWII) era is $1,463???
Makes me realize just why so many Filipinos leave their country to seek work abroad. There is just no way, no way at all, that over 90% of Filipinos can hope to have a comfortable life with that kind of income. All the best universities in the Philippines (with the exception of the University of the Philippines) cost a lot of money to enter (I know of some whose tuition PER SEMESTER exceeds the income an average Filipino gets for a YEAR). Without "elite-level" education, how can Filipinos find jobs, especially in this competitive world? Without good jobs, how can they hope to feed their families and educate THEIR children in the future? The vicious downward spiral keeps going on and on... with no end in sight. I mean, if an average Filipino tried to pay rent on a decent (read: clean and reasonably safe) apartment, then he would have to pay more than the average per capita income just to have a place to stay... forget food, clothing, utilities and, God forbid, public transportation. He'd have to walk to the nearest banana tree to get a meal. (Which fact assumes that: a) there is a banana tree within 100 kilometers of his home that hasn't already been ravaged by hungry Filipinos and b) he is legally entitled to take the bananas, given that the rich (and decidedly few) landowners in the Philippines would probably shoot him for even trying...)
Damn. How the heck can a Filipino ever hope to see a brighter day with these numbers?
I am really fortunate to have been blessed with the skills and the opportunities to earn a much higher income, but I still can't help feeling sad that there's no way I could ever raise a family in the Philippines in the way I would like with the salaries they pay their workers, not unless I was a CEO or business owner. And the latter alternatives would take too long anyway. If I want to be able to raise a family soon (and who wouldn't be thinking this at my age?), I have no other option but to stay outside the shores from which my blood came.
It's enough to make a man really sad.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Chosun Ilbo article: Korean Food Among World's Most Expensive
taken from: Chosun Ilbo, Sept.9, 2006 (Online edition)
Korean Food Among World's Most Expensive
The prices of major foods including beef, pork, milk and potatoes in Korea are the fifth highest among 34 leading economies. The country has become one of the world’s most expensive nations, with consumer prices soaring about 20 percent since 2000.
A comparative study on consumer price growth in 30 OECD member countries from 2000 to the first six months of 2006 showed Korea experiencing a growth rate of 20.3 percent on average, the sixth highest after Turkey, Hungary, Mexico and Spain. During the same period, consumer prices increased 17.8 percent in the U.S., 16.6 percent in Britain and 6 percent in Switzerland, while the rate fell 1.3 percent in Japan and 4.9 percent in Hong Kong. Food prices climbed 22.3 percent on average in Korea, the fifth highest among OECD countries and far higher than the averages of the OECD (16.3 percent) and EU (12.9 percent.)
According to statistics on wages and food prices in 34 major countries compiled by the International Labor Organization, beef cost US$48.09 per kg in Korea, the second most expensive following Japan with $76.52. The prices of apples and potatoes were the second highest among studied countries, and 77 percent and 110 percent higher than those in the U.S. Korean milk was twice as expensive as U.S. milk. Pork cost $13.1 per kg, the fourth highest after Norway and Switzerland. Rice was sold for $2.15 per kg, the eighth highest, and bread cost $1.66 per 500 g, the seventh highest.
When Korean consumer prices are set as the standard of 100, U.S. prices stood at 180 in 2000. But the figure dropped to 148 in 2002, 116 in 2005 and 110 in June 2006. In other words, U.S. consumer prices were 80 percent higher than in Korea in 2000 but only 10 percent higher this June. British and Swiss consumer prices were twice as high as Korea with 180 and 209 in 2000 but only at 126 and 159 June this year. In Japan, consumer prices were 1.38 times as expensive as in Korea in June, down from 2.64 times.
Jeon Young-jae, a senior researcher at the Samsung Economic Research Institute, said prices have been growing rapidly in Korea since prices of imported goods are still high compared to advanced nations due to the nation’s limited opening of the manufacturing goods and service markets. “What’s more, productivity has improved at a lower pace than in other developed countries."
Korean Food Among World's Most Expensive
The prices of major foods including beef, pork, milk and potatoes in Korea are the fifth highest among 34 leading economies. The country has become one of the world’s most expensive nations, with consumer prices soaring about 20 percent since 2000.
A comparative study on consumer price growth in 30 OECD member countries from 2000 to the first six months of 2006 showed Korea experiencing a growth rate of 20.3 percent on average, the sixth highest after Turkey, Hungary, Mexico and Spain. During the same period, consumer prices increased 17.8 percent in the U.S., 16.6 percent in Britain and 6 percent in Switzerland, while the rate fell 1.3 percent in Japan and 4.9 percent in Hong Kong. Food prices climbed 22.3 percent on average in Korea, the fifth highest among OECD countries and far higher than the averages of the OECD (16.3 percent) and EU (12.9 percent.)
According to statistics on wages and food prices in 34 major countries compiled by the International Labor Organization, beef cost US$48.09 per kg in Korea, the second most expensive following Japan with $76.52. The prices of apples and potatoes were the second highest among studied countries, and 77 percent and 110 percent higher than those in the U.S. Korean milk was twice as expensive as U.S. milk. Pork cost $13.1 per kg, the fourth highest after Norway and Switzerland. Rice was sold for $2.15 per kg, the eighth highest, and bread cost $1.66 per 500 g, the seventh highest.
When Korean consumer prices are set as the standard of 100, U.S. prices stood at 180 in 2000. But the figure dropped to 148 in 2002, 116 in 2005 and 110 in June 2006. In other words, U.S. consumer prices were 80 percent higher than in Korea in 2000 but only 10 percent higher this June. British and Swiss consumer prices were twice as high as Korea with 180 and 209 in 2000 but only at 126 and 159 June this year. In Japan, consumer prices were 1.38 times as expensive as in Korea in June, down from 2.64 times.
Jeon Young-jae, a senior researcher at the Samsung Economic Research Institute, said prices have been growing rapidly in Korea since prices of imported goods are still high compared to advanced nations due to the nation’s limited opening of the manufacturing goods and service markets. “What’s more, productivity has improved at a lower pace than in other developed countries."
Sunday, September 03, 2006
R.I.P. - Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter
This news is sad... :(
He had such zest for life that you couldn't help but be enthused everytime you saw him. May he rest in peace, and may his wife Terri, and his children, recover from this tragedy.
* * * * *
THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.
He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.
It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart .
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called about 11am (AEST) and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the crew's boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html
He had such zest for life that you couldn't help but be enthused everytime you saw him. May he rest in peace, and may his wife Terri, and his children, recover from this tragedy.
* * * * *
THE Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is dead.
He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said today.
It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest and reportedly into his heart .
He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas filming an underwater documentary when the tragedy occured.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called about 11am (AEST) and an emergency services helicopter was flown to the crew's boat on Batt Reef, off the coast near Cairns, with a doctor and emergency services paramedic on board.
Irwin had a puncture wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html
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