Question. Are we going to see an exodus of US companies like BPOs and multinationals out of here? What is going to happen to our call center agents?
Answer. They can learn Mandarin, Chinese companies are coming. But seriously, American companies would rather stay here because of our workers’ competence in English. But if contractualization is going to end, let’s see how these companies are going to react.
Q. Isn’t Mandarin hard to learn?
A. Is that a problem when teens can memorize K-Pop songs without knowing what they’re memorizing?
Q. So is this goodbye democracy, hello communism?
A. First, your idea of democracy is the United States, where blacks get shot, a misogynist-racist runs for the presidency, and the CIA interferes with other countries?
Let’s get this clear.
This is a business deal with China, not an acceptance to an indoctrination.
Besides, how much do you know about China? If you look at Chinese officials, they don’t quote Mao or wear his Zhongsan suit anymore.
They’ve swapped that for an American coat and tie, and multinationals building sweatshops all over the country. China’s already embraced capitalism, and that’s why they’re super rich now.
Q. Is America our enemy na?
A. Just the American government and oligarchs, specifically US envoys with the names Goldberg and Russel who sow intrigue on Duterte. So, you can still go watch HBO, Cartoon Network, and NBA.
Q. Would there be an invasion?
A. Most likely, you have a Filipino-Chinese in your friend’s list or a Fil-Chinese running a store around your corner. Have you seen them go amok? You’re watching too much Hollywood now. Or you’re still believing that old tale of the Chinese turning old folks into vetsin.
Q. Are we going to have a flood of cheap inferior gadgets, phones and imitation brands?
A. Most likely, your phone is made in China, and you’ve snapped a million selfies or played hours of CoC without burning your phone down. Your shoes might also be made in China.
Here’s a joke: God made the Earth, but everything else is made in China. That’s because China is the biggest sweatshops for US companies like Apple. This is where dollars are poured in to China.
Q. So this deal will make the Filipino-Chinese richer?
A. My family’s business is still staying in Davao Chinatown. No sign of us moving to a mall, or any of our names from Uyanguren moving up the Forbes’ list of rich Fil-Chinese taipans operating malls, banks, real estate and food chains.
Q. So is this deal any good?
A. This deal guarantees 25-billion dollars from China to build roads, bridges, ports, energy projects, agricultural support, drug rehab, financing for rural development on our country. In exchange, there will be cooperation and better fishing conditions in the South China Seas, and better markets for our agri-exports.
Whether this is good remains to be seen. Business is business. Deals can go off. China may act as a good benefactor and friend, or it can be the next US acting as a bully.
Fellow columnist Mags Maglana pointed out two things to watch out: China’s record as foreign investor/donor, and China’s record in environment pollution. The Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines pointed out that Duterte must play out his independent foreign policy by “protecting national interests, protecting the environment and national patrimony, a portion of investments be allotted to basic industries.”
In other words, when we talk of bilateral deals, we ask: development for whom?
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