What started as an embracing of foreign guests and their culture has gone to be a noticeable phenomena with a growing and increasingly noticeable presence of a Korean "diaspora" in the Philippines. To date there is an estimated 100, 000 Koreans living in the country while tourists (most are students) who visits every year has been steadily increasing for almost 5 years now.
In 2005, according to the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education, Koreans comprise 25% of the total number of foreign students enrolled in that year, in fact the highest number foreign nationals entering colleges and universities here. And with the increasing numbers of English learning school for Koreans in Baguio, Pasay City, Makati and Davao, the number of students not only exchange students have been steadily increasing.
The Department of Tourism reported that for the first half of 2008 a total of 380,000 Korean residents visited the Philippine compared to 375,000 for the same period last year. Making Koreans the largest group of tourists in the Philippines, surpassing the Americans and Japanese, with a steady average annual growth of 1.5% since 2005.
Koreatowns in Makati, Paranaque, Baguio City and even in Davao in Mindanao Islands are starting to be as prominent as the Chinatown in Binondo Manila. With Korean restaurants, Christian churches, salons, and spas sprouting here and there although Philippine law prohibits foreign nationals to engage on retail trade as well as purchasing of properties under their name. They do so by marrying Filipinas and / or making Filipino workers "owners" of their businesses.
The Philippines' low cost of living as well as its good reputation in English education, are just two of the many factors why this Southeast Asian country of 85 million people has been one of the favorite destinations of Koreans since the Korean wave hit Asia in the 1990s. "Korean wave" refers to the recent surge of popularity of South Korean popular culture in other countries, especially in Asian countries.
With this fast and at first unnoticed influx of Korean community, where existing barriers are now slowly disappearing, Korean community remained as a closed group compared to the Chinese and Indians residing in the country. Korean restaurants and stores cater mostly to Koreans alone compared to Chinese restaurants where everyone can eat and enjoy their menu. Though there is no big issue of discrimination , Koreans have been critised for keeping to themselves and by seemingly bringing Korea to the Philippines.
There are also reports of growing concerns on how Koreans behave themselves in hotels, clubs, resorts and other public places. This results to some hearsay that Koreans were banned in some private establishments. Some say this is alarming, others say that this is a big help to the country's struggling economy. Whatever the pros and cons, it is inevitable that the Korean diaspora has definitely made a mark and will continue to thrive just like the Chinese and Indian did many years ago.
About the author: Edwin Padillo is Manila-based correspondent for Business Trends Asia. This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bangkok demonstrations just tip of iceberg
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
The demonstrations in Bangkok of Saturday, 10 April, 2010, during which 25 people died, caught the attention of the global media. The violence made international headlines but has not put a stop to the demonstrations nor have the Red Shirts (Thaksin supporters) left the capital. But the Bangkok demonstrations form just the tip of the iceberg of the power shift taking place in the country.
All over the Central, North and Northeast part of the country have the supporters of Thaksin, united under the UDD-banner (United front of Democracy against Dictatorship) and characterized by their red shirt outfits, taken control of provincial and municipal institutions, blocking any communication from the Thai government and effectively taken power from the central government who has lost control of the country outside Bangkok and the South.
Rumours about HM the King fuel further unrest. He remains in Siriraj hospital in Bangkok since fallen ill late-2009 and is completely shielded from the public. Prime-Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is rumoured to have asked the King to leave for the royal residence in Hua Hin where the king has lived for the past years. HM the King has supposedly refused to leave the Bangkok hospital as he feels this would lead to his immediate death. However the actual status of his health remains a closely guarded secret of which the public at large has no knowledge. Should the King still be alive and able to communicate he could reassume his mediating role.
On the other hand many UDD supporters believe the monarchy is not on their side but part of the "other camp", the so-called Yellow Shirts (yellow is the colour of the Thai monarchy), and would no longer accept HM the King as a non-partisan mediator nor accept his judgement anymore. The feeling that the King and the royal family have actively taken sides against them creates a feeling of "nothing left to lose" among the UDD supporters, diminishing the stabilizing capabilities of the king during times of turmoil.
Another rumoured twist sees the "devious" genius of Privy Councillor, and close friend of the king, Prem Tinsulanonda, as a master puppet player despite his well advanced age. Apparently Prem is supposed to have obtained documents signed by HM the King and foreseen with the Royal Garuda seal in which all the king's powers have been assigned to him and that he is now in full control of the monarchy.
The Bangkok demonstrations are just the outer symptoms of a massive power struggle among Thailand's elite whereby the winner will be awarded with the ultimate price i.e. full control of the country.
It still remains possible that Thailand will turn into another Burma !
The demonstrations in Bangkok of Saturday, 10 April, 2010, during which 25 people died, caught the attention of the global media. The violence made international headlines but has not put a stop to the demonstrations nor have the Red Shirts (Thaksin supporters) left the capital. But the Bangkok demonstrations form just the tip of the iceberg of the power shift taking place in the country.
All over the Central, North and Northeast part of the country have the supporters of Thaksin, united under the UDD-banner (United front of Democracy against Dictatorship) and characterized by their red shirt outfits, taken control of provincial and municipal institutions, blocking any communication from the Thai government and effectively taken power from the central government who has lost control of the country outside Bangkok and the South.
Rumours about HM the King fuel further unrest. He remains in Siriraj hospital in Bangkok since fallen ill late-2009 and is completely shielded from the public. Prime-Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is rumoured to have asked the King to leave for the royal residence in Hua Hin where the king has lived for the past years. HM the King has supposedly refused to leave the Bangkok hospital as he feels this would lead to his immediate death. However the actual status of his health remains a closely guarded secret of which the public at large has no knowledge. Should the King still be alive and able to communicate he could reassume his mediating role.
On the other hand many UDD supporters believe the monarchy is not on their side but part of the "other camp", the so-called Yellow Shirts (yellow is the colour of the Thai monarchy), and would no longer accept HM the King as a non-partisan mediator nor accept his judgement anymore. The feeling that the King and the royal family have actively taken sides against them creates a feeling of "nothing left to lose" among the UDD supporters, diminishing the stabilizing capabilities of the king during times of turmoil.
Another rumoured twist sees the "devious" genius of Privy Councillor, and close friend of the king, Prem Tinsulanonda, as a master puppet player despite his well advanced age. Apparently Prem is supposed to have obtained documents signed by HM the King and foreseen with the Royal Garuda seal in which all the king's powers have been assigned to him and that he is now in full control of the monarchy.
The Bangkok demonstrations are just the outer symptoms of a massive power struggle among Thailand's elite whereby the winner will be awarded with the ultimate price i.e. full control of the country.
It still remains possible that Thailand will turn into another Burma !
The Indonesian woman: a century after Kartini
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Every 21 April, Indonesia celebrates Kartini Day. Born in Central Java on 21 April 1879, Kartini is Indonesia's foremost woman pioneer. It was through her aspirations which she so poignantly wrote in her letters to friends in Holland, and who later published them in the book entitled "Door Duisternis tot Licht" ("Through Darkness into Light"), opened the gates for Indonesian women to break free from the restrainings shackles of tradition, and demand equal education for daughters as for sons.
Living in the latter of part of 19th Century, Kartini was the daugther of the regent of Rembang in Central Java. Although living a life of comparative luxury for the time, yet following tradition, she was, nonetheless, confined to her home and was only allowed to play with her sisters in the backyard. Seeing Kartini's strong desire to learn more, however, her father hired a private Dutch tutor to teach the sisters reading and writing, embroidery and western cooking. Through the tutor, Kartini received and read women's magazines and newspapers from Holland, which opened up her horizon. Reading about women's emancipation in far off Europe, Kartini dreamt of the day when Javanese girls would also be allowed top enjoy equal education and freedom to pursue their dreams as enjoyed by boys. Kartini yearned for independence, if not for herself, at least for other girls. "I dream of the Javanese girl, who holding her head high, will step lightly and confidently out into the world", writes Kartini, at the young age of 24.
Tragically, though, and still true to tradition and obeying her parent's wishes, Kartini was married off to a neighbouring regent as his fourth wife, albeit his chief wife. But even during this time, Kartini never lost sight of her dreams, founding a school for girls. She also promoted the establishment of more Kartini schools around the region. But, at the tender of 25 Kartini died, four days after giving birth to a son.
Today, in the first decade of the 21st Century, more than a hundred years after her death, much of Kartini's dreams have been realized. Indonesian women today enjoy much by way of freedom and equal opportunities in education. The Indonesian Consitution guarantees equal education and opportunities for all regardless of gender, race or religion. Indonesia had a first woman president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of the country's first president, Soekarno.
Today, President's Yudhoyono's cabinet includes four women Ministers holding important and strategic portfolios. These are the Minister for Finance, Sri Mulyani, the Minister for Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister for Health, Siti Supari, and Minister for Women Empowerment, Meutia Hatta. While, in Indonesia's Central Bank, the second in command in the position of Senior Deputy Governor is a woman, Miranda Gultom.
In local government, Indonesia today has a popularly elected woman Governor in the province of Banten, Ratu Atun. and the most recently appointed Mayor of Central Jakarta, as well as a number of popularly directly elected district heads.
In the private sector, outstanding industrialists include Martha Tilaar and Mrs. Mooryati Soedibyo, who have both built themselves empires in herbal cosmetics and traditional court beauty treatment. There are also oustanding women CEOs in banking, telecommunicatiosn, sports fashion, and other areas. Indonesia now also has a woman Police Officer with the rank of Brigadier General and even has a female trained astronaut, although she has not had actually had the opportunity to be launched into space !
Dress-wise Indonesian women are also free to choose their own dress code. Those wishing to wear the Muslim dress, wear headscarves to cover the hair. While other women wear western dress daily, office attire or tight-fitting jeans, or local or national costumes on official occasions.
Nonetheless, despite this progress, Indonesian women still face substantial challenges which include access to education (mostly held back by poverty), and protection from domestic violence. In regard to marriage law, Indonesian women may now also refuse to accept polygamy when her husband insists on taking a second wife. The wife is allowed to file for divorce. Such cases have been widely published especially involving TV idols or well-known public figures.
In society today, with the enforcement of regional autonomy in Indonesia, women activitists observe with concern the increasing number of bylawas that are issued by regional legislators citing "public morality" and "religious considerations", that in effect aim to seriously restict women's freedom from reaching her utmost possibilities. Prof. Saparinah Sadli, former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, added that, while the state has issued 29 new policies at national, regional and local level to readicate violence against women, yet on the other hand, regions have issued 27 new bylaws that discriminate women, regulating women's dress, behaviour and mobility.
In this regard, Director for Executive Reform Insitute, Yudi Latif, explains that in Indonesia today, following the Reform movement, which since decade ago transformed Indonesia from a highly authoritarian regime to the present-day democracy, civil society now finds itself no longer facing the state but instead now faces fantaticsm that is anti-equality.
About the author: Wuryastuti Sunario is the Managing Director of Indonesia-based TBSC-Strategic Communication, which publishes news bulletin Indonesia Digest
Every 21 April, Indonesia celebrates Kartini Day. Born in Central Java on 21 April 1879, Kartini is Indonesia's foremost woman pioneer. It was through her aspirations which she so poignantly wrote in her letters to friends in Holland, and who later published them in the book entitled "Door Duisternis tot Licht" ("Through Darkness into Light"), opened the gates for Indonesian women to break free from the restrainings shackles of tradition, and demand equal education for daughters as for sons.
Living in the latter of part of 19th Century, Kartini was the daugther of the regent of Rembang in Central Java. Although living a life of comparative luxury for the time, yet following tradition, she was, nonetheless, confined to her home and was only allowed to play with her sisters in the backyard. Seeing Kartini's strong desire to learn more, however, her father hired a private Dutch tutor to teach the sisters reading and writing, embroidery and western cooking. Through the tutor, Kartini received and read women's magazines and newspapers from Holland, which opened up her horizon. Reading about women's emancipation in far off Europe, Kartini dreamt of the day when Javanese girls would also be allowed top enjoy equal education and freedom to pursue their dreams as enjoyed by boys. Kartini yearned for independence, if not for herself, at least for other girls. "I dream of the Javanese girl, who holding her head high, will step lightly and confidently out into the world", writes Kartini, at the young age of 24.
Tragically, though, and still true to tradition and obeying her parent's wishes, Kartini was married off to a neighbouring regent as his fourth wife, albeit his chief wife. But even during this time, Kartini never lost sight of her dreams, founding a school for girls. She also promoted the establishment of more Kartini schools around the region. But, at the tender of 25 Kartini died, four days after giving birth to a son.
Today, in the first decade of the 21st Century, more than a hundred years after her death, much of Kartini's dreams have been realized. Indonesian women today enjoy much by way of freedom and equal opportunities in education. The Indonesian Consitution guarantees equal education and opportunities for all regardless of gender, race or religion. Indonesia had a first woman president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of the country's first president, Soekarno.
Today, President's Yudhoyono's cabinet includes four women Ministers holding important and strategic portfolios. These are the Minister for Finance, Sri Mulyani, the Minister for Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister for Health, Siti Supari, and Minister for Women Empowerment, Meutia Hatta. While, in Indonesia's Central Bank, the second in command in the position of Senior Deputy Governor is a woman, Miranda Gultom.
In local government, Indonesia today has a popularly elected woman Governor in the province of Banten, Ratu Atun. and the most recently appointed Mayor of Central Jakarta, as well as a number of popularly directly elected district heads.
In the private sector, outstanding industrialists include Martha Tilaar and Mrs. Mooryati Soedibyo, who have both built themselves empires in herbal cosmetics and traditional court beauty treatment. There are also oustanding women CEOs in banking, telecommunicatiosn, sports fashion, and other areas. Indonesia now also has a woman Police Officer with the rank of Brigadier General and even has a female trained astronaut, although she has not had actually had the opportunity to be launched into space !
Dress-wise Indonesian women are also free to choose their own dress code. Those wishing to wear the Muslim dress, wear headscarves to cover the hair. While other women wear western dress daily, office attire or tight-fitting jeans, or local or national costumes on official occasions.
Nonetheless, despite this progress, Indonesian women still face substantial challenges which include access to education (mostly held back by poverty), and protection from domestic violence. In regard to marriage law, Indonesian women may now also refuse to accept polygamy when her husband insists on taking a second wife. The wife is allowed to file for divorce. Such cases have been widely published especially involving TV idols or well-known public figures.
In society today, with the enforcement of regional autonomy in Indonesia, women activitists observe with concern the increasing number of bylawas that are issued by regional legislators citing "public morality" and "religious considerations", that in effect aim to seriously restict women's freedom from reaching her utmost possibilities. Prof. Saparinah Sadli, former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, added that, while the state has issued 29 new policies at national, regional and local level to readicate violence against women, yet on the other hand, regions have issued 27 new bylaws that discriminate women, regulating women's dress, behaviour and mobility.
In this regard, Director for Executive Reform Insitute, Yudi Latif, explains that in Indonesia today, following the Reform movement, which since decade ago transformed Indonesia from a highly authoritarian regime to the present-day democracy, civil society now finds itself no longer facing the state but instead now faces fantaticsm that is anti-equality.
About the author: Wuryastuti Sunario is the Managing Director of Indonesia-based TBSC-Strategic Communication, which publishes news bulletin Indonesia Digest
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