There’s an email circulating that’s calling for more balance in perception of the Philippines, and lists fifteen facts that Filipinos can be proud about. All supposedly written by Robin Martin, the Intel General Manager for the Philippines. I’ve edited and listed them down for your consumption. Keep in mind that this was written in 2005, around two years ago (see #14):

1. 1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million, and a 11 million line capacity.
2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue flyover), the Skyway, Rockwell and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.
3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so frequently traveled road was of very good quality.
4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.
5. Intel has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The Philippines plant is where Intel’s most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002, Philippine operations became Intel’s biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.
6. Texas Instruments has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI’s Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100% of all Nokia cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the world.
7. Toshiba laptops are produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
8. If you drive a Benz, BMW, or Volvo, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.
9. Trend Micro, makers of one of the top anti virus software PCCillin develops its “cures” for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes.
10. Today a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms in the U.S. have set up operations in the Philippines. This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.
11. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark (a former US airbase turned into a special economic zone) answering 90% of AOL’s global e-mail inquiries.
12. Proctor & Gamble has over 400 people right here in Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, Human Resources and payments process.
13. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila, Citibank also does its global ATM programming locally.
14. The Philippines exports cars in quantity courtesy of Ford Philippines. (I have an idea this article was written between 2001-2002, so this operation should have been on-going for the last 3 years or so)
15. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.

I blindly believe in these points, and I hope the links to supporting articles help. But I know anecdotal evidence won’t hold. Even actual proof has a hard time convincing people. Nevertheless, if you know of any source that conclusively backs up the points here, let us know. Together, we can build a strong case for the Philippines as a productive and progressive company.

Edit: Great idea Juned, focusing on the people. The pseudo-facts listed above would be definitely without the Filipinos behind them.