HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina P. Dizon
Pacquiao and DH stereotypes

Filipinas are stereotypically known as domestic helpers. This stereotype eventually found the definition of Filipina as a domestic helper/maid in the Oxford and Greek dictionaries. Credit this to corruption in Philippine government which earned its reputation as the most corrupt country in Asia according to a regional poll conducted by a Hong Kong-based group, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC).

With such a blood sucking practice which has seeped through almost every department in government, this, undoubtedly, has contributed to the exodus of Filipinos to work in other countries and leave their families behind. There are over 8 million Filipinos worldwide working as domestic helpers, nurses, caregivers, factory workers, teachers,and other types of work in economically better situated countries.

Enter Manny Pacquiao.

This legendary boxing hero who just sent Briton Ricky Hatton down the floor with a left hook on the chin, on a 2 round 6 minute fight in las Vegas. Pacquiao’s victory led to a euphoria among Filipinos worldwide, delighting and inspiring hope in them that indeed Filipinos are a people to contend with. A people who can do great things other than cleaning the house and washing dishes.

Though brief a jubilation, Pacquiao’s winning the welterweight championship gives Juan de la Cruz a brighter aura from its stereotypic image of a domestic helper. President Gloria Arroyo declared a holiday for the return of the welterweight champion in his home country. While this is so, the President better be reminded of practicing honest to goodness pro-Filipino policies to make more permanent glory for the Philippines.

One way of course is to stop corruption in government. This way, this country will be a great country to live in where its people will work inside the Philippines, build the country to greater heights and prevent the next generation to becoming domestic helpers in other countries.