My Miniature World

My Miniature World

It is surprisingly difficult to write about something that you are passionate about. It is like writing about your first love. You think of things that only you can understand. You remember images that only you can relate with.

I guess, that's how I feel right now. I would like to write about my miniature world; a world that has been, for almost four years provided me a venue to dream and spread my wings. Yes, I live in a miniature world; a world wherein meeting people from random countries such as Turkey, Lithuania, Bangladesh, and Colombia is an everyday thing. In my world, time zones matter a lot, issues in the world, even from far place such as Ghana affect my organization's everyday operations.

This miniature world of mine is called AIESEC- the organization I passionately work for. We partner with companies/NGOs who hire young foreign trainees (18-30 years old) through us. We also send out young Filipino graduates to any of our 91 countries for maximum of 18 months- all for the sake of developing change agents.
With this type of job, it is already considered routine to wait at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) extension area under the letter "A". Normal scenario is that around 5-7 people with happy smiling faces clad with our org banner, Sampaguita garland with a prepared shot of Tanduay Rhum wait for another foreigner whose first time to set foot in my beloved Philippines.

This international community of ours, taught me to be appreciative of what I have. We always talk about very diverse topics such as the different potato dishes in the world, how gays are being treated in their society, the MRT, our gigantic billboards, Red horse versus the beers from the rest of the world, among others. These foreigners also, always ask about politics and poverty. It is at all times hard to explain the chaos, our circus-like politics and weak institutions of a nation that was never built. Aside from participating in heated debates usually about abortion, divorce and circumcision, I have also started my quest towards discovering Wow Philippines through traveling around with our foreign friends.

I have been to Banaue, Sagada, Chocolate Hills among others, with my quest to show off what my country has to offer. It is, also very entertaining to make fun of our foreign trainees by literally forcing them to eat balut, bringing them to UP Diliman’s isawan and fishball-an, tuknenehan to taste some of our delicacies. Debating and conversing with these people has challenged my worldview in so many ways. An Indian trainee has said, “we don’t do that in my republic” when we talked about sensitive gender issues. My Lithuanian friend, one time, while we were debating about the different dishes in our country said that, “We have so much diversity in our country too! We cook potatoes and vegetables in so many ways!”. And of course, being naturally mean that I am, I told him, “Oh right, like the rest of Europe does not.”

My miniature world also brought me to a lot of places through the different international conferences. In conferences, wherein Tanduay is always a box office during parties, we are envied by other countries, because the Filipino men in our delegation carry our things for us. They find it unusually pleasant that our men are often quiet and the women are given unlimited freedom to express themselves. Delegates from Africa and some Muslim countries are always amazed with how women are being treated in our society. People are usually fascinated whenever I tell them that our president is a woman.

I have also figured out that, in the eyes of the foreigners we definitely look different. I really don’t know how to react sometimes but it is so funny to receive casual marriage proposals in the streets of Germany and Netherlands- you Filipina? marry me? .. to be pinched on the cheek by a passerby in Hanover and be photographed randomly in the streets of Vilnius Lithuania. It gives me an idea on how the rest of the world sees my country. Hmmm… adorable? Maybe.
Now I would like to share my airport adventures/misadventures. In so many airports; Schipol, Bucarest, Changi and Frankfurt I have been mistaken as a nurse, caregiver, teacher and some other random jobs after foreigners and kababayans see my green “Pilipinas” passport. It made me realize so many things. Just like what my teacher in college used to say- Filipinos are servants of the world- Dr. Romero. What if the Philippine islands suddenly disappear? For sure, a lot of Italian wives will lose their jobs if there will be shortage of Pinay nannies in Italy. A lot of hospitals in the world will lose the care and compassion of a Filipina nurse. A lot of households will miss the good cooking of a Pinay maid. A lot of Multi national corporations will falter if there are no Pinoy technical support representatives. A lot of first class hotels will lose the loving voice of a Pinoy singer. Pinoys, make the world a better place.

Whenever I go out of the country to represent my organization, I always take the Philippine pride with me. I am definitely proud of the OFWs who have sacrificed to be away from home just to put food on the table of their respective families the same way as I feel so proud representing my country in different international meetings.

My organization has also taught me to become competitive. I always look for something that I can be proud of whenever I interact with people from other countries. Whenever asked about Philippines, I do not dwell on the politics or the weak institutions, but I always take pride in the natural wonders of our country- the beaches, the mountains, the people. For sure we cannot change Philippine politics overnight, but I still envision for my country's leadership and performance to be respected and looked up to. We can be the best country. We can be a source of inspiration….At least in my miniature world.. At least in my AIESEC world.

This little world of mine allows me to dream big for my country and organization. Above all, it builds my deeper love for my country not only during conferences, but inside my homeland too. Whenever I go to conferences, or talk with foreigners, I do not only bring a brochure of DOT's wow Philippines, dried mangoes and Tanduay, but above all, I bring the pride and the natural warmth of a Filipino.

We are a nation filled with top talents. May it be in singing, in nursing, in homemaking, in Sea Games or in usual student organizations- we excel because we are naturally gifted.

We should not underestimate what we are made of. We have lots of things to be proud of. As talented people, we need to aim higher. Think bigger. I think it is still advisable for the youth to be idealistic. I have learned to be one, through my miniature world.