This is the fourth installment in my series highlighting this truly valuable little book. Like the old saying, “Good Things Come In Small Packages”, this book impressed me as a great value for not only the intended Filipino audience but also for foreigners like me who live the Philippines, or are “married into” the Philippines, or both.

Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.

It has been really eye opening to me to work my way through these 12 little things.  At first glance this one seems so obvious one on the outside looking in would wonder why the author even included it.

But then I thought about every time I visit a store here in the Philippines to buy something.   Almost invariably  the clerk will rush up and say, “Oh sir, buy this product, it’s made in USA” (or sometimes made in a European country).  It seems to me as if every Filipino truly believes that only crap products are made in the Philippines.  sad,

No doubt there are crap products built here.  But there are quality as well as crap products made in every country … and certainly as an American, I can attest there are plenty crap products made in the USA … especially those made in China, shipped to the USA and then shipped back to the Philippines, masquerading as a ‘real’ US product.

One thing that amazes me, as an example, are the huge numbers of Ford SUV’s and small pickups sold here in the Philippines.  Now don’t get me wrong, Ford is an OK product in moist cases, I have owned my share, but for sure you are never going to catch me “running after” a Ford just because it has a US brand name.  In point of fact, most Ford trucks and SUV’s are built in Mexico anyway … only the name is American, so I certainly wouldn’t pay extra for the “prestige” of a Fiord.  Silly.

Just a few days ago I was talking to a Filipino businessman friend of mine who is involved in the GPS business in the Philippines.  I mentioned to him that he should touch base with another Filipino friend of mine who manufactures GPS equipment here in Metro manila … 100% Filipino designed, built, sold and serviced.  My business friend couldn’t believe it.  Selling a Chinese GPS product himself he was totally convinced I had it wrong and that my manufacturing buddy was really selling Chinese products too.  I finally convinced him that this was not the case, although it was a tough sell.

If you’re a foreigner, don’t be afraid to call out “crap” for what it is, but don’t label something as “crap” purely because of the country it is made in.

And if you are Filipino?  Have a little faith and loyalty to your own country.  How can the Philippines build world class products if the Filipino himself rejects the product without even evaluating it.  So far as international trade goes, from what I can see, the Philippines doesn’t need any enemies to drag down the reputation of its products, the average Filipino is tearing down the reputation of his country very well on his own.  think twice.

Makes good sense to me … what do you think?

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