Showing posts with label
Things I Can Do For the Philippines.
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Showing posts with label
Things I Can Do For the Philippines.
Show all posts
Every year, I spend around 150K pesos (US$3400) on concerts and around 20K (US$460) on CDs - and unfortunately, almost 95% of those - goes to foreign artists. In 2010, the only concert of a local artist that I went to was Sherwin Marquez's. However for CDs, almost 50% of the total that I bought this year is OPM. So definitely, I have made inroads there.
So for 2011, I'll try to watch more shows from local artists that I like - and actively seek out where they perform. I'll try to make it up to 50% of what I spend, should go to local artists.
Like most people, I am notoriously brand-conscious, and like most Filipinos, I am still struggling to get out of that mentality where I think foreign made goods are better than locally made ones. In this globalized world where almost everything made is actually made in China, but only stamped as made in Italy or the USA, when those goods are repackaged, I am already a bit wise to the ways of foreign companies.
I found out this year that the tennis balls I buy in Wimbledon at such exorbitant prices were actually made in Cavite!! Imagine that!
So this year, I will continue to vigilantly support locally made goods, as much as I can. This year, I have included Mental and Mint into my local wardrobe. In 2011, I'm planning to include Viktor and Tyler - both very stylish local brands - because now, I think I can fit their clothes! I have also stopped buying foreign soaps and shampoos since the truth is, coconut, which is used for these things, are actually sourced from here! I think an even balance in the buying purchases of Filipinos would definitely help many local companies.
Yes, the recession abroad hit our businesses bad in '09 and this year, but the last few months of this year have been promising - so as early as this month, we have been slowly giving back to charity. The truth is, there is a never-ending list of kids getting sick so it's pretty easy to find someone to help if that's the cause you want to support. The truth is, our local health system sucks big time, so you really have to have money when you get sick!
Our local church is also a beneficiary as well as an organization who spreads the Good News of God. Vic and I are not very religious since for me, most of those stuff are just ceremonies and rituals anyway, but I still have deep respect for people who spread God's word by preaching love and tolerance - so we try to help them in the small way we can.
