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RANTING ABOUT BEING THIRD WORLD
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
According to conservapedia.com, globalism is an advocacy that structures or defines commercial or external schemes in
accordance to what occurs or what circumstances develop all over the planet. In contrast to statism, globalism supports the
steady growth and development of factors such as the economy, based on a uniform policy that all nations around the
world subscribe to. Globalism advocates “one world”, or the concept that less-developed countries should grow and reap
rewards in parallel manner to first world ones. The example cited at conservadia.com is of a farmer in Ghana who is able to
demand the same market price for whatever he produces, in the same trade figures accepted in Chicago. If we look at
globalism on this scale, then it seems that it would be a much better option than the set-up we have always been exposed
to and accepted. Currently, capitalists, corporate-oriented countries and first world countries are the only ones who can rise
to superpower status. This is why we have elite groups such as the G8, G5, G8+5, G20, OPEC. There could be more, but
those will suffice for the purpose of this essay.
My country belongs to the UN and ASEAN, and I guess that’s still a blessing. At least, although my country does not belong
to any specific powerful economic group in existence today, it still is a member of recognized multinational organizations.
Call me a bit envious, if you must. But being from a third world country can sometimes have its disadvantages. Citizens from
my country have a hard time getting visas to enter first world countries. Everything is scrutinized, from the properties that a
visa applicant owns to his source of income and on to the number of children he has. We have to show proof that we do
not intend to enter a foreign country and become undocumented aliens. Sad to say, but this specific stringent screening
that citizens from my country have to undergo happens because of the foolish acts of many. Sadly, many have proven time
and again that citizens from our country just cannot be trusted enough to not overstay their welcome and disappear into
goodness-knows-where once they reach their destinations.
How many of our countrymen have attempted (and succeeded) at entering countries through backdoor channels, braving
the seas and risking being caught? Many of us have believed in shortcuts to attaining the dreams we so desperately reach
for, only to find out in the end that those dreams shatter readily into nightmares.
Yes, the Filipino is resilient and thrives on challenging environments. But for how long should we continue risking
everything, including our attaining leadership status hopefully, just to be able to enjoy the good life? Does becoming a
global citizen have no attraction any longer?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Would you enter a highly-developed country under false pretenses and illegal documentation? Why or why not?
2.
What is your opinion of economic groupings like the G8 and others? Who do they benefit, eventually?
3.
Why do third world countries fail to reach the status of first world ones? What are most likely the contributing factors?
4.
Can third world countries ever become globalists? How?
5.
If you could give advice to the leader of a less developed country, what country would that be? What advice would you
give?