The Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare - 1325 Words

Death is the Key One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. This saying means that one awful person or event can infect others and cause them to change also. This can be seen in Hamlet, when King Hamlet dies in the beginning of the play. Hamlet, like any other Shakespearean tradgedy, contains a series betrayal and death. Hamlet seeks revenge when his deceased father’s ghost tells him that his uncle, Claudius, murdered him. Since Hamlet’s grief for his father was expressed more than any other character, the strong bond between Hamlet and his father is clearly seen. Along the way, death finds other characters and corruption follows. Throughout Hamlet, death becomes a catalyst to the corruption of sane characters, but death is also necessary for the elimination of all the corrupt souls for the sake of Denmark. Not only does Hamlet’s dead father’s mission for him affect Hamlet’s mindset but his corrupt state affects Ophelia’s fate. In act 1, Hamlet mourns over his father’s death in the beginning of the play, but when the ghost of his father appears, his mourning soon changes into a desire for revenge for his father. With his mindset on avenging his father’s death, Hamlet easily falls into a state of doubt within himself and others. It can be seen when Hamlet says to himself, â€Å"[...] The spirit that I have seen May be the devil, and the devil hath power, T assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps, Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits,Show MoreRelatedThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1427 Words   |  6 Pagesa ghost, Denmark is on the verge of damage. Directly following King Hamlet s death, the widowed Queen, Gertrude, remarried Claudius, the King s brother. Prince Hamlet optically discerns the joining together of his mother and uncle as a hasty and incestuous act (Charles Boyce, 232). He then ascertains that Claudius is responsible for his father s perfidious murder. His father s ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death and Hamlet concurs. He plans very punctiliously, ascertaining that he doesn tRead MoreThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare Essay2134 Words   |  9 Pagesin return for a wrong; returning evil for evil, vengeance† (Webster Dictionary). This play introduces Hamlet, a prince who goes on the quest to take revenge on his uncle who killed his father and Hamlet won’t rest on until he gives his uncle the punishment for killing the king. But this quest for him to get his revenges has some consequences that could lead to many deaths including himself. Hamlet thirst for revenge clouds his judgements, which leads to drastic consequences. The feeling of revengeRead MoreThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1522 Words   |  7 PagesThere are only a handful of experiences that everyone must practice, and one of the most provocative is death. For some, death is fearfully avoided, but for others, it is constantly sought after. Suicide is a topic that impacts all kinds of people, so much so that it is often addressed in literature. For real people and fictional characters such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, prince of Denmark, thoughts of self-harm are brought about by overwhelming emotions that became almost too heavy to handle aloneRead MoreThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1494 Words   |  6 Pageshappen to them. A prime example of this ideology is found in the play Hamlet. Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, was composed in 1601 following the death of Shakespeare’s son, Hamlet. The play focuses on the prince of Denmark, Hamlet, as he discovers the truth about his father s death and the ev ents that follow. Shortly after the death of Hamlet’s father, Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, marries Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. Hamlet does not agree with the marriage of his mother and his uncle and he frequentlyRead More Death and Suicide in Hamlet by William Shakespeare1100 Words   |  5 Pages is one of the top leading causes of death worldwide. Every year, more than a million people commit suicide, successfully ending whatever feelings of despair, pressure, or suffering they felt when alive. Yet statistics show that the number of nonfatal suicide attempts exceeds that of actual completed suicides. Failed attempts of taking one’s own life reveal the deep, undermining uncertainties humans have about death. Such inquiries as to whether life or death is better stream into human perceptionRead MoreDeath Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1114 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the theme of death is thoroughly expressed through symboli sm. Death, a primary element in Hamlet, taunts and dances around the characters preceding the death of Hamlet’s father. The symbols representing death become increasingly more prominent as the play progresses, they appear in both ironic and bold forms. The enigma that death poses drives key points in the plot of the play. Collectively, the symbols of death in Hamlet provoke and foreshadow this essential tragicRead MoreThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare906 Words   |  4 PagesThe protagonist, Hamlet, his mother Queen Gertrude and her husband King Claudius, along with Hamlet’s love interest Ophelia are all affected by human sin through the evocation of sickness and rot. Sin, the driving force of the play, impacts each character, decaying his or her mind, resulting in the emotional and physical demise of each character and the decay of the state of Denmark, which has become â€Å"rotten† after Claudius poisons his own brother and weds his sister-in-law. W illiam Shakespeare’s tragicRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Hamlet s Death1177 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Hamlet has a multitude of not only characters, but also many different character scenarios going on as well. The play begins with us learning of the death of Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, and the marriage of Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, to her now ex brother-in-law Claudius. We later discover that the now king, Claudius, killed his brother and are left to question if he and Gertrude had been having an affair the entire time and whether Gertrude had a hand in King Hamlet’s deathRead MoreDeath in William Shakespeare ´s Hamlet Essay585 Words   |  3 PagesIn the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet struggles with the abrupt death of his father at the hands of his uncle. It is in the very beginning of the play that Hamlet voices his opinion that death would be a peaceful release. But as the play progresses his attitu de begins to slowly doubt the serenity in death. Hamlet had been surrounded by death but had yet to come face to face with it, escaping the lessons the world was trying to teach him. It is within Act 5 scene 1 that Hamlet has a directRead MoreThe Theme Of Death In Hamlet By William Shakespeare925 Words   |  4 PagesDeath can be defined as; the permanent and irreversible cessation of the vital functions that result in the end of one’s life. Death itself can have many different causes such as disease, old age or even something as gruesome as murder. In the Elizabethan era, it seems as though murder was commonly used to solve problems as in several of William Shakespeares plays, characters are killed so that more dominant characters can obtain what they truly desire. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet death

Influence of Culture in Marketing Free Essays

string(108) " need to be completed, who has access to specific goods and knowledge, what ranking strategy is being used\." How to define culture? Culture is a system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors and artifacts that the members of society use to interact with their world and with one another. It is a combination of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior pattern that are shared by racial, religious, ethnic or social group of people. Anthropologist James Spradley believes culture to be :†the acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior†. We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Culture in Marketing or any similar topic only for you Order Now Culture can relate to a country (national culture), a part of a community (sub-culture) or an organization (corporate culture). It is widely known that a person is not born with a culture, and that culture is learned throughout a person’s life. Culture includes all that a person has learned regarding values and norms , customs and traditions, beliefs and religion, rituals and artefacts (tangible symbols representing culture such as Tokyo Tower or The Eiffel Tower).Usually people make assumptions about a person’s beliefs or behavior based on a single cultural indicator, especially race or ethnicity, when in reality, a person’s cultural identity is a complex interlace of all the cultural groups he/she belongs to, groups that influence his/her values, beliefs, and behaviors. Often culture is thought of as the food, the music, clothing and holidays a groups of people share, but it is much larger actually than just the visible traditions. I. Material and Imaterial culture Material culture refers to the actual cultural objects that are made by man whereas imaterial culture refers to cultural i deas, myths, stories, cultural attitudes and behaviors. „A difference in the speed of development of material culture might lead to a cultural lag where two parts of culture no longer correspond. † Material culture has two important components: technology and economy. Technology includes the techniques used in order to create material goods.The technological level varies and the society that belongs to a certain culture has a level of technological knowledge that manifests itself differently. Economics represents the manner in which people use their capacities in order to obtain benefits. Economics include the production of goods and services, distribution, consumption, exchange tools and the income obtained due to public services. The way in which people work and consumption, is mostly determined by technology. I. 3 Culture and NationA nation or even a certain country represents a political unit whereas culture refers first and foremost to groups of people united in common history, social life and ideas not necessarily organized in a national political unit. There can be different cultures in one nation. I. 4 Cultural identity All people are members of a cultural group, and develop cultural identities based on those memberships and influences. There is a strong and well-defined culturally sustaining connection between geographical place and cultural experience.This connections constituted one’s and one’s community’s cultural identity. Cultural identity development is an ongoing process, as we are exposed to more and different sets of beliefs and values, and may choose to adopt ones that were not part of our original upbringing. Cultural identity is built within the individual, but it is constantly influenced by the interactions among and between people in society. Cultural identity is formed by socio-cultural and historical perspectives that interact with psychological and intrapersonal characteristics so that all are present in learning.Culture is part of the external influences that have a great impact on the consumer. That means that culture is represented by the influences that are inflicted on the consumer by other individuals. Culture is a complex whole which includes the following elements: knowledge, belief, art, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a person, member of a society. I. 5 Dealing with culture Culture is a problematic issue for many marketers since it is inherently unclear and very often culture is difficult to understand. One may break the cultural norms of another country without being informed, and people from different cultures might feel uncomfortable in each other’s presence without knowing exactly why (for example, two speakers may unconsciously refer to one another with different honorifics). When observing a culture, an important issue to be careful about is not to over-generalize about traits that one observes in the respective culture. There are often significant individual differences between cultures. There is a tendency for people to stereotype cultures in a way or another (e. g. individualistic rather than collectivistic). I. Characteristics of culture Culture being a complex and important phenomena we can point out several characteristics of culture: †¢Culture is a human achievement (not of a single individual but of the whole social group) Social: it is a social heritage that an individual receives and at his turn must transmit. Things that are private are not part of culture. Laborious: culture is intricate and rich in detail therefore it has to be possessed with much personal effort. One has to learn the language, support the present type of government and understand and reinterpret the scientific method for every generation. †¢Culture is comprehensiveAll parts must fit together, having a certain logic. For example, bowing and the strong desire to avoid embarrassment (Japan) are unified in their manifestation of the importance of respect †¢Regarding its form, culture is sensible, dynamic and creative Culture is sensible because all the manifestations even the most spiritual is percepti ble to the senses, as poetry and music, it is dynamic since it is in continuous development and transformation, following the nature of the social groups that may be in process of expansion or contradiction, and it is creative because it represents an authentic product of a person’s mind and thoughts.I. 7 Elements of culture The elements of culture are represented by the things that all cultures have in common. †¢Social Organization Social Organization means organizing a culture’s members into smaller groups such as: families, friends, religious groups, social classes, occupation, interest groups, etc. Social organization of a group includes how people interact, the kinship systems they use, marriage residency patterns, how they divide up the various tasks that need to be completed, who has access to specific goods and knowledge, what ranking strategy is being used. You read "Influence of Culture in Marketing" in category "Papers" Customs and traditions The customs and traditions of a culture are represented by the rules of behavior, written or unwritten. Groups have their own traditions . They are a specific practice of long standing or an inherited pattern of thought or action. †¢Language Language is a system of signs that is seen as having itself a cultural valu e. Speakers identify themselves and others through their use of language; they view their language as a symbol of their social identity.The prohibition of its use is often perceived by its speakers as a rejection of their social group and their culture. Language symbolizes cultural reality. Language is the main feature of a culture or a society. Language reflects the nature and the values of a culture. Learning the language of a society contributes to understanding the respective society. †¢Law and Politics As with many aspects of Terpstra and Sarathy’s Cultural Framework, the underpinning social culture will drive the political and legal landscape. The political ideology on which the society is based will impact upon your decision to market there. For example, the United Kingdom has a largely market-driven, democratic society with laws based upon precedent and legislation, whilst Iran has a political and legal system based upon the teachings and principles Islam and a Sharia tradition. †¢Arts and literature. Aesthetics Aesthetics represents the ideas of a certain culture regarding beauty and taste the way these are represented in art, folklore, music, drama, dance, and the specific appreciation of shape and color.The international trader must have a special interest in aesthetics due to its role in interpreting the meaning of certain symbols, distinct methods of artistic expressions, of colors and beauty standards, regarding each culture. Art is a process of product of deliberately arranging elements in a way they affect the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities including: music, film, lite rature, photography, sculpture and painting. Teaching art is equal to teaching about culture’s values, it helps promoting cultural pride and unity. Religion Religion is one of the most sensible elements of culture. Religion defines the lifetime ideals reflected through attitudes and society values. Religion is at the base of the cultural similarities between cultures that share the same religion. Religion like culture, consists of systematic patterns of beliefs, values, and behavior, acquired by people as a member if their society. These patterns are systematic because their manifestations are regular in occurrence and expression: they are shared by member of a group. Norms Norms are rules that recomand or forbid certain behaviours in specific situations. For example the way people dress in diferent conjunctures. †¢Values The values of a culture represent the beliefs and opinions regarding what is â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad† in human behaviour. Esencial values of a culture are the ones common in all its individuals. In marketing, the esencial values of a culture define the way in which products are seen, used and it represents the way in which relations are established on the market.Understanding cultural differences is critical to international business success. Dimensional models of culture try to explain the impact of different value systems on people’s perceptions of, and reactions towards certain events. Dimensional models of culture such as Hofstede’s (1980, 2005) five dimensional model and Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner’s (1997) seven dimensional model represent guidelines for expectations and behaviours during intercultural encounters. Hofstede’s (1980) model of national culture is widely used to identify such differences.The cultural dimensions identified in Hofstede’s model, however, are not gender-specific, with one exception, masculinity/femininity. Hofstede’s data were gathered in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Considerable change has taken place since that time, particularly in the areas of education, legislation, and workforce composition. It is proposed that these changes, among others, may have resulted in gender differences in dimensions of national culture. Hofstede’s research demonstrates a wide range between the most individualistic and collectivistic countries.I. 8 Hofstede’s dimensions. Gert Hofstede , a Dutch researcher, has conducted a research by interviewing a large number of IBM executives in various countries, and found out that cultural differences tended to center around five key dimensions: 1. Power Distance Index (PDI) The PDI represents the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below not from above.It indicates that a society’s level of inequality is supported by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, are fundamental facts of any society, all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others. 2. Individualism (IDV) IDV represents the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. On the individualist side there are societies in which the bond between individuals is loose: everyone is expected to take care of him/herself and his/her immediate family.On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people are integrated into strong cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) from birth on. These in-groups continue to protect the individual in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. 3. Masculinity(MAS) Masculinity refers to the distribution of roles between genders which represents another fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. IBM studies revealed that women’s values differ less among societies than men’s values. Men values from one country to another contain a dimension from very assertive and competitive and maximally different from women’s value on the other side, to modest and caring and similar to women’s value on the other. The assertive pole has been called â€Å"masculine† and the modest caring pole â€Å"feminine†. The women in feminine countries have the same modest, caring values as the men whereas in the masculine countries they are somewhat assertive and competitive, but not as much as the men, so that these countries show a gap between men’s values and women’s values. 4.Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) UAI refers to a society’s tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. It shows to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are new, unknown, surprising, and they differ from the usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures, try to minimize the possibility of such situations by imposing strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in the absolute Truth; â€Å"there can be only one Truth, and we have it†.People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of opinions that are different from what they are used to. There are as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. People within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their environment to express emotion 5. Long Term Orientation (LTO)LTO versus short-term orientation: this dimension was found in a study among students in 23 countries around the world, using a questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars. Value s associated with LTO are thrift and perseverance; values associated with Short Term Orientation are respect and tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one’s â€Å"face†. Trompenaar’s five cultural dimensions derive from different angles such as the attitude towards both time and environment, Trompenaars employed these five cultural dimensions relating them to the question of inter-personal relationships and work relates values. . Universalism versus Particularism In cultures with high universalism there is an emphasis on formal rules and contracts and to their application regardless of individual circumstances. In high particularism cultures the emphasis is on relationships and trust: rules may be bent to help a friend. 2. Communitarism versus Individualism In strongly communitarian cultures people regard themselves as belonging to a group, whereas in cultures with strong individualism people regard themselves as individuals. 3. Neutral versus emotionalA high neutral culture is one in which emotions are not readily expressed in interpersonal communication. In contrast, a high emotional culture is characterized by the free expression of emotions even in a business situation. 4. Specific versus Diffuse A specific culture is one in which a distinction is made between work and private life. In difuse cultures work and private life are closely linked and great deal of formality is maintained across a wide-range of social situations. 5. Achievement versus ascriptionAll societies accord some of their members more status than others, but the principle for doing so varies, An achievement oriented culture is one in which status is given to people on the basis of how well they have performed their tasks recently, their level of education and experience. In an ascription-oriented culture status is conferred on the basis of durable characteristics such as age, kiship, and gender therefore status differences are more pronounced. According to Trompenaars, these five value orientations greatly influence people’s ways of doing business.The following two tables represent an example of Hofstede’s and Trompenaar’s cultural dimensions. The first table, Table I, show Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s cultural dimensions for Anglo Nations, and the second table, Table II shows Hofstede’s country cultural dimensions. I. 9 Values and culture For some time it has been understood that different value orientations cause variations in preferences for products and brands. The values of the consumer and the marketer are defined by the culture they are from, despite the importance of understanding the value concept and culture. II. International market places II. 1 Globalization of markets and competition: Trade is becoming an increasingly global phenomena today. Many elements affect globalization and its impact on countries organizations and people. There are several reasons for this. The first primal reason for this is technological because of the improvement in transportation and communication opportunities today, and because of this, trade has become more practical. Thus, consumers and businesses now have access to the very best products from many different countries. Increasingly rapid technology lifecycles also increases competition among countries regarding the most innovative methods of production. In order to accommodate these realities, countries have taken increasing steps to promote global trade through agreements such as The General Treaty on Trade and Tariffs, and trade organizations such as World Trade Organization (WTO), North American Fee Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the European Union (EU) and The Agreement on the South Free Trade Area.The competitiveness of people and companies depend more and more on their ability to create new assets, attraction for foreign investment and the new trend in international migration as people seek a better life. These factors, when combined with a political capacity to adapt and change, are supplementary elements to be considered in the globalization debate. Beside these aspects there is a need to establish and promote international organizations which provide the necessary framework for globalization of business to take place.II. 2 Assessing Foreign Markets In general, when considering international/global marketing, an organization faces five major types of decision making. 1. Before expanding the organization’s operations in an international environment, one must determine whether the organization’s resources are compatible with the foreign market opportunities. 2. The second consideration that must be taken in account is the market selection decision, that is, which foreign market or markets to enter. 3.The third decision concerns the ways in which the organization decides to penetrate the selected market/markets and also the operational consideration in the attractive markets. 4. The fourth, the marketing mix decision, considers the appropriate product, promotion, price and distribution programs for the selected markets. 5. Finally the marketing organization decision determines the most suitable way for the organization to achieve and maintain control over its international business operations. Once a suitable market has been chosen to enter, the difficult task is to collect data related to the market otential and environmental forces of each culture. II. 3 International marketing strategies An organization working on an international market operates in an environment of opportunities and threats in which developing appropriate international marketing strategies is a necessity in order to be able to compete with other organizations while providing value to customers. In such circumstances the organization usually responds by developing new products or by adapting existing products to the needs of the customers and the international markets. International marketing means deciding which markets to enter and develop and the sequence and timing of enter international markets†. A very important issue is for the organization to decide on how to enter the international markets. Some businesses do not bother formulating strategies, they prefer to respond to situations as they arise. There are many real and significant advantages to having coherent and well-prepared strategies. Activities can be better coordinated, the resources are allocated efficiently, activities can be monitored and controlled.The clearer the strategy, the more obvious are the objectives that need to be reached for successful implementation. It is particularly important not to neglect strategy matters until forced to do so by an unexpected problem (loss of major customers, failure to penetrate the new market, etc) that indicates that the company’s current activities and approaches are inadequate. A company without a strategy is not well prepared to adapt its activities to meet the demands of rapid international environmental change. The process of formulating and implementing strategies can viewed as a continuous cycle.It begins with a statement of the mission of the business, its fundamental purpose, why it exists, and what it wishes to do. Resource planning is also important in setting up a strategy, the examination of available resources and the determination of additional resources necessary to attain the company’s objectives. Another important element that needs to be taken in consideration is risk assessment, relating the probabilities of the success of various courses of action to the company’s overall objectives and activities.An essential component of such an assessment is an analysis of the company’s assumptions about the stability and prospects of the markets in which it plans to operate. Risk assessment is important in order to minimize and p revent the risks of several projects failing at the same time. Budgeting is also an element to take in consideration, including both expenses and incomes for all of the markets the company expects to be involved in. Also operational plans for each component of the marketing mix should be drawn up. II. 4 International marketing environmentThe international marketing environment is a mix of demands and constrains which an organization faces as it tries to compete and grow. All marketing activities occur with legal, economic, cultural, political and other environments to which strategies and policies must relate. Marketers need to operate within the constrains of such an environment, and in the case of international marketing there will exist more than one environment constraining the company at a time. Identifying customer’s values in international markets requires a profound understanding of customer needs, many of which are influenced by culture. In the international marketing environment the organization might have a number of goals (for example the organization might attempt to position itself as a leader in the targeted market). Regarding objectives and targets the organization might want to set three or five year objectives which it considers achievable. Types of objectives to consider: †¢Maximizing the organization’s efficiency by removing internal and external impediments to international product-market development; †¢Standing out from existing and future competitors in selected international markets; †¢Long-term financial balanceAfter establishing opportunities on different markets, there are a few questions that should be asked: how to penetrate the respective markets? How to upgrade the position on the market? II. 5 Consumer behavior and culture Studying consumer behavior helps organizations and firms improve their marketing strategies by understanding problems such as: †¢The psychology of how consumers think, feel, reason and select between different alternatives †¢The psychology of how the consumer is influenced by his/her environment (culture, media, family, friends, education etc. †¢The behavior of consumers while shopping or making other marketing decisions †¢How consumers motivation and decision strategies differ between products that differ in their level of importance or interest that they entail for the consumer †¢How marketers can adapt and improve their marketing campaigns and marketing strategies to more effectively reach the consumer. Consumer behavior also represent â€Å"The study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society†.Consumer behavior occurs either for an individual or it can occur in the context of a group (e. g. entourage can influence the type of clothes one wears) or an organization (people on the job make decisions as to which products the firm should use). The use of marketing research in cross-cultural context is necessary in order to assist a marketer in reducing potential errors, especially those problems that might appear in cross-cultural research when testing the role that certain sociological constructs play in consumer behavior.Culture affects what people buy (local tastes, historical traditions, etc) when they buy (spending booms around national holidays), who does the purchasing (based on gender men or women), and the overall pattern of consumer buying behavior. According to Bennet and Blythe, culture affects consumer behavior in relation to: †¢Which consumer needs are felt more intensively †¢Which family member take which purchasing decisions †¢Attitudes towards foreign supplied products †¢The number of people who will purchase an item during the introd uctory phase of its life cycle †¢The segmentation of national marketsOn a larger level, cultural influences are evident in some aspects of a country’s demographic make-up and in authority and status system that emerge from management styles of companies. II. 6 International Marketing Mix When launching a product into a foreign market there is always the question one must ask: should the product/ service be standardized or adapted. A company can adopt to use a standardized marketing mix around the world or can choose an adapted marketing mix in each country. Basic marketing concepts explain that a company will sell more products if the company aims to meet the needs of the targeted market.In international markets, a company has to take in consideration the consumer’s cultural background, buying habits, levels of personal income, etc, in order to conceive a marketing mix program to suit the specific consumer’s needs. When it comes to standardization arguments suggest that if the company goes through the process of adapting the product to the local markets, the results will add to the overall cost of producing the product and this will result in weakening the brand on the global scale.In today’s world, consumers have more access to the international world, consumers communicate and shop internationally over the internet, this resulting in the world becoming a much smaller place. Taking this in consideration, there is no need to adapt products to local markets. Brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, Levis, are all successful brands where they have a standardized approach to their marketing mix, all these products are targeted at similar groups globally. There are many circumstances where a company will have to adapt its products and marketing mix to the local market and local consumer’s needs. McDonald’s is an international player however their burgers are adapted to local needs. In India where the cow is a sacred animal McDonald’s burgers are made from chicken or fish. In Japan burgers come with wasabi sauce and in Mexico burgers come with chilli sauce. Another example is of Coca-Cola, in some countries it tastes sweeter then in others because of costumers demands (Canada).Standardization is said to be better for a company because it reduces costs, however many companies will have to â€Å"think global but act local† if they want to successfully establish themselves in foreign markets. II. 6. 1 Influence of culture on product strategy There are a large variation of decisions regarding the product, the brand, the wrapping, the tag, bails and services offered and positioning. Regarding the product itself the most important characteristics influenced by culture are the ones regarding product proportions, shape, the content of the roduct, quality, methods of usage, colors. The size, the capacity or volume of the product is influenced by the market and the economic environment and usually it needs distinct solutions for each market. Choosing the metric system is one of the most important factors (e. g. Japanese have small hands and feet whereas Europeans have larger hands and feet, producers need to take such facts into consideration). Even though in certain countries there are many similarities in the consumer’s preferences, there are significant differences regarding size and capacity of products (e. . regarding the European Union, there are big differences regarding the preferences in the acquisition of washing machines: Italians prefer washing machines with a capacity of 4 kg, British prefer washing machines with a capacity of 5 kg and German and Swedish prefer washing machines with a capacity of 6 kg) Another important element of the product decision making is represented by its shape. Regarding this, symbolism is a key factor in the product decision making. Symbols have their origin in traditions and rituals.If the symbolic attribute of a product is perceived as being negative, then the product must be changed (e. g. In the Middle East round or square shapes are accepted but six pointed stars are being avoided). The actual content of the product is also influenced by culture (e. g. Muslims don’t consume alcohol or pork therefore in Islamic cultures animal fat is replaced with vegetal fat ; if there is a large rate of illiteracy then products must be simplified). A product can have various utilizations on other markets by adapting the original product to local cultures (e. g. he American company Dunkin’s Donut was unsuccessful in Brazil because locals usually don’t have breakfast, therefore the company adapted its products to the markets needs). Another important feature of a product is the colors used. The colors used can be a distinctive element of the product (e. g. Rolls Royce uses shimmery silver in order to create a luxurious image; Pepsi Cola encountered problems when changing the colors of the wending machines, in South-East Asia, from dark blue to bright blue; in south east Asian countries bright blue can symbolize mourning or death).The products offered on a certain market must correspond with the legal, social and religious laws of the respective culture (e. g. In Japan, products that contain formaldehyde are strictly forbidden whereas in other countries they aren’t). The brand is influenced by the following cultural elements: language, aesthetics and cultural values. The brand’s name is influenced by the language of the country the brand is being marketed to. If the name of the brand isn’t translated appropriately, its meaning can have a negative connotation (e. g. the expression â€Å"no va† in Spanish means it doesn’t work whereas in Italian â€Å"nova† means new).The same word in a language can have a totally different meaning in another language. In countries with high nationalism level, one must use local brands in order to have access to the local market (e. g. Vietnam imposed that all brand names used are to be local names). The image of a country can vary regarding its cultural values (e. g. Germany is known for its car industry, SUA for fast-foods, cigarettes, chewing gum, Switzerland for chocolate or clocks, France for fashion and perfumes). In certain cultures, the image of the country is associated with high level of quality, seriousness and professionalism.The decisions regarding wrapping are decisions regarding packaging shape, structure, color and size (e. g. Americans and Japanese prefer canned beer whereas Europeans prefer bottled beer). Packaging size varies depending on market conditions and consumer buying patterns. In countries where people have a low income, goods are sold per piece and not in packages with more than one product. Regarding color, African countries prefer vivid colors although the color red is associated with witchcraft and death. The color white isn’t a preferred color in developed countries because of the possibility of confusion regarding generic products.Black is color that has been increasingly been used because it suggests quality, excellence and â€Å"class†. Material culture influences packaging decisions due to existing packaging technologies, materials available, infrastructure or the usage of tougher wrapping. The writing used on the tags of the product must be in the language of the country where the product is marketed especially if the tag contains important information for the consumer. Also the symbols used on tags and packaging usually have origins in the traditions and the culture of the country where the product is to be marketed (e. g. n India elephants, tigers and sparrows are used as a commercial brand for product tags). In countries where illiteracy is at a high level, tags must be created accordingly. After sale service and guarantees are established depending on the countries cultural values and material culture. In countries where people believe in fate, using after sale service and guarantees as a way of reducing risk associated with luck (Japan), is less efficient than in countries where people believe that the future can be controlled (Germany). Brand positioning is made depending on the cultural values of each society (e. g. n France Renault is underlining the pleasure of driving a car whereas in Germany, where the acquisitioning of a car is a serious matter, Renault highlights safety, modern technological features and comfort). II. 6. 2 Influence of culture on price strategy Pricing on an international scale is difficult. Traditional price consideration must be taken in account as well as competition, company objectives, fixed and variable costs, target group and willingness to pay. The company needs to consider transportation costs, any import taxes that may be put on their product, currency to be paid in and exchange rate fluctuation.Other factors that must be taken in consideration when considering price strategy include local incomes, the general economic situation of the respective country and how the economic situation influences pricing. Today internet is making pricing more and more transparent for the consumer because goods can be purchased online from any overseas company at local currency prices, a good example for this would be amazon or ebay which deliver internationally. There are certain aspects regarding pricing that can be influenced by culture such as: price-quality relationship, credit policy, price wars, price negotiations and price margins.Price-quality relationship can be interp reted differently in different cultural environments. Peterson and Jolibert identified a very powerful correlation between price and quality in France and the United States. In certain countries, the unethical behavior of certain organizations price is not always perceived as quality (e. g. Eastern Europe, countries from Latin America). Cultural values influences the way in which consumers perceive the price as an indicator of quality. Credit Policy is influenced in many countries by religion.In the Islamic world, usury is forbidden therefore using credit as a marketing instrument is replaced with cutting down prices in cash. In Eastern Europe, a small price concession made by an important person in the final stages of a negotiation may lead to closing a contract. In the United States, price concessions are offered on a limited period of time and they take a price margin in order to cover certain contract risks. The effects of the country of origin can influence the price decision.In a study made by Cattin and some collaborators, it is shown that managers associate manufactured products with the collocation â€Å"Made in†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Higher prices can be used in the situation in which the image of the product is a positive one. Certain norms influence intermediate’s inclination towards price wars. Price wars can create economically devastating situations, that take an extraordinary toll on an individual, a company, and industry profitability (e. g. San Diego based PC maker Gateway versus competitors like Compaq Computers, Dell Computers, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sony or Toshiba).Establishing prices can be a pretext for negotiation. In the Islamic world, lack of bargaining is considered an insult. In Africa, negotiators that try to quicken the negotiation pace are looked at with suspicion, because rashness gives the impression of cheating. II. 6. 3 The influence of culture on distribution strategy The decisions regarding distribution channels cover domains such as distribution channel structure, distribution channel relationship management and sharing sales turf. Distribution channel structure is influenced by buying habits and material culture.In the United States Avon uses direct sales channels because this allows consumers to take decisions at home or at the work place. In other cultures like Asian or European, this method is an attempt to the consumer’s privacy. Internet represents another direct sales possibility. Sales on the internet aren’t very high because customers need to convey personal information when making the acquisition (in Germany only a third of the internet users shop online) . In Japan for example there are approximately five different types of wholesaler a product goes through before the product reaches the final consumer.It is important for the company to find out first whether the international market is dominated by major retailers or is it the retail sector made up of small independent retailers. Also it is important to find out whether internet could represent a possible distribution channel. A country’s infrastructure represents a big influences regarding distribution. The way and the number of whole sale traders, the existent warehouses, transportation systems, determine the selection of proper distribution channels. If local distribution facilities aren’t sufficient, the company will have to attain direct distribution or it ill have to use special wrapping for extra protection. Managing distribution channel relations is influenced by values, traditions, customs and education. Rosson and Ford show us that these relations are characterized by formalities, standardization, reciprocity, contact and conflict intensity; the quality of the relations is influenced by cultural distance. They say that cultural distance can be overcome by growing the intensity of contacts and reciprocity. People treat other in the same way they are treated by others.Japanese have a long term orientation that makes the quick change of intermediates difficult even if superior products or convenient prices are offered. Intermediate functions are influenced by cultural values and social organization. Wadinambiaratchi describes the distribution systems in 6 different cultures (Venezuela, Turkey, Egypt, Japan, India and tropical Africa) and shows that intermediate functions are influenced by cultural values and social organization. The behavior of the channel members can be determined by the feelings of pride they feel towards their own culture and local traditions. II. 6. The influence of culture on Promotion strategy Culture has the biggest impact on promotion policy, because culture is in the middle of all social interaction processes. Regarding the international product decisions, a company can either adapt or standardize their promotion strategy and message. Advertising in foreign countries may have to be adapted because of language barriers or the current message used in the national market may be offensive to consumers. The use of certain color may also need to be thought about. In India red is the color worn by brides in weddings, white is the color of mourning in Japan.The level of media development has to be taken in consideration as well. When it comes to promotion strategies, a company must take in consideration the following elements: to what extent the local television established in the host country, the level of television penetration, the control of the government on advertising on TV and radio, whether print media is more popular tha n television. Advertising environment can be influenced by material culture, which limits the available sustentation. In developed countries the entire media scope is available from TV to radio and press, cinema or advertising panels.Regarding developing countries some of these media channels might be missing such as press or television, especially in rural areas. In some countries, even though all the advertising channels exist, sometimes these channels aren’t available to use (in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Swiss and Saudi Arabia, advertising through radio isn’t allowed. Also advertising by using television is prohibited in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Saudi Arabia). The content of advertising is strongly influenced by material culture, language, religion, education, traditions, customs and norms.Material culture can restrain the advertisement’s content. Therefore, among the restriction imposed on the press and on the printed press we mention: editing differences, paper dimensions, size of posters, measurement scales, technical level of the printing machines, quality of printing and techniques used when printing. Colgate-Palmolive had to give up Eastern Europe when it came to prints because of bad paper quality. Language is one of the most important cultural obstacles when it comes to advertising. The most common problem is the misinterpretation and the mistranslation of the messages.Parker Pen used the literal translation of its slogan used in the Unites States for promoting its fountain pens in Latin America and it resulted in the misinterpretation of the message. Another example would be that of Bacardi which concocted a fruity drink with the name ‘Pavian’ to suggest French chic .. . but ‘Pavian’ means ‘baboon’ in German. Misinterpretations or mistakes can appear even though using the same language. For example Canadian French is different from the French used in France, or British English is different form American English. Religion plays a big role in the advert’s message.Some cultures are more religiously oriented than other. In the United States, Pepsi Cola’s Like a Prayer commercial featuring Madonna was banned because people were offended and because they confused the commercial with the song’s video clip. Most European countries didn’t feel offended because of the commercial and in Europe the commercial wasn’t banned. In many Islamic countries companies must take the fundamental Muslim concepts in consideration when doing a commercial. Amongst these concepts are human life supremacy (pet food commercial has less importance), high human values and sacred obligation towards parents.Education represents a big factor when it comes to influences on advertising. High illiteracy in many countries create serious communication problems and it demands more creativity and presence on audio advertising channels (radio, podcasts). Habits and preferences for certain advertising channels represent a big factor when deciding the main channels to use for communicating a message. Television is preferred in countries like Peru, Mexico, Venezuela. Prints are preferred in the following countries: Kuwait, Norway, Sweden. Radio is the main advertising channel used in countries like: Trinidad and Tobago, Nepal, Honduras.Open air advertisements are preferred in countries such as: Japan, Bolivia, South Korea. In India and Argentina where cinema is very popular, cinema commercials are used by companies. Cultural norms make a difference in the humor used in a commercial. What can be taken as humor in one culture, in another culture it can be offensive. In some countries like Great Britain, humor is often used in advertising, whereas in other countries like the United States or Canada, advertisements tend to be more serious. Tradition and habit based perceptions are difficult to overcome.In Japan commercials where a man and a woman take a shower together are rejected whereas in the United States it is accepted and isn’t considered a taboo. Advertising budget is influenced by material culture. In some countries limits regarding the expenses are imposed. In India for example, commercials that cost over 10,000 dollars aren’t allowed. Great Britain accused the companies Protecter Gamble Co and Unilever for creating a duopoly situation when the spent approximately ? of their incomes on advertising. Some countries perceive taxes on advertising. In Austria for example, radio commercials are taxed. The client agency relationship is influenced by the cultural values and by language. Some countries have restriction regarding an advertising agency’s property rights. Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan don’t allow foreign involvement. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru allow a minor foreign involvement of maximum 19% regarding advertising agencies. Using local advertising agencies has some local specific advantages. These agencies know the local environment and can adapt the commercials to local demands also language barriers are easier to overcome. Regarding direct sales, these type of sales are influenced by culture especially regarding workforce, training of personnel, motivation and performance evaluation. Managing workforce is influenced by language, religion, education, norms, values and social organization. Overcoming language barrier is a difficult task of the international salesman. Business is definitely going to improve if the business man speaks the customer’s language. The image the working personnel has, can vary from a culture to another.In the United States for example, sales personnel project a positive image therefore, recruitment is made form universities. On the other hand, in Europe, in many countries it is very difficult to recruit sales personnel directly from universities because the occupation projects a negative image. When an occupation is seen in a negative way, the quality of workforce might decrease. Training business personnel is influenced by norms and cultural values. American cultural values that affect the training process are: competition, personnel achievement, self confidence and time.Japanese cultural values that affect the training process are: group harmony, achievement and importance of relationships. Islamic cultural values include: personal achievement, reputation and age. In the international environment no person is motivated by the same factors. The motivation process is directly linked to cultural values. In the American culture, competition, assuming risks, material possessions, self confidence and freedom represent motivational values. In the Japanese culture, group harmony, appearance and achievements are extremely important.Reputation, authority, and social status are motivational values in Islamic cultures. The evaluation process of performance depends on culture, because performance is assessed differently in every culture. Regarding the American evaluation process, open communication between manager and employee is emphasized. In Japan, group harmony and relationships are important cultural values that are taken in consideration during the evaluation process. Performances are evaluated regarding the group’s results. The Islamic performance evaluation model emphasizes authority and age. How to cite Influence of Culture in Marketing, Papers

Adverbial Clauses and Phrases - Examples free essay sample

This can be to define something (a defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (a non-defining clause). For example: * The car that is parked in front of the gates will be towed away. (Defining relative clause. ) Information contained in the defining relative clause is absolutely essential in order for us to be able to identify the car in question. * My dog, who is grey and white, chased the postman. ( Non-defining relative clause) A non-defining relative clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. If you take away the non-defining clause the basic meaning of the sentence remains intact. For example: * My dog chased the postman. Adjective clauses answer questions like which? or what kind of? Summary An adjective clause functions as an adjective (modifies a noun or pronoun); an adverb clause functions as an adverb (describes a verb, adjective or other adverb); a noun clause is used as a noun (subject of a verb, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative or object of the preposition). We will write a custom essay sample on Adverbial Clauses and Phrases Examples or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Recognize an adjective clause when you see one. Here are some examples: Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie Whose = relative pronoun; eyes = subject; pleaded = verb. Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie Why = relative adverb; Fred = subject; can stand = verb [not, an adverb, is not officially part of the verb]. That bounced across the kitchen floor That = relative pronoun functioning as subject; bounced = verb. Who hiccupped for seven hours afterward Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject; hiccupped = verb. Adjective Clauses In Action Adjective clauses do not change the basic meaning of the sentence. In some cases, when they provide more information into a sentence, they need to be set off with commas. There are many such subordination conjunctions including the following: The Adverb Clause Recognize an adverb clause when you see one. Read these examples: Tommy scrubbed the bathroom tile until his arms ached. How did Tommy scrub? Until his arms ached, an adverb clause. Josephines three cats bolted from the driveway once they saw her car turn the corner. When did the cats bolt? Once they saw her car turn the corner, an adverb clause. After her appointment at the orthodontist, Danielle cooked eggs for dinner because she could easily chew an omelet. Why did Danielle cook eggs? Because she could easily chew an omelet, an adverb clause. Adverbial Clauses and Phrases Adverbial clause (adverb clause) is a word or expression in the sentence that functions as an adverb; that is, it tells you something about how the action in the verb was done. An adverbial clause is separated from the other clauses by any of the following subordinating conjunctions: after | although | as | because | before | if | since | that | though | till | unless | until | when | where | while Quite often, an adverb in a sentence comprises several words. These types of adverbs are called adverbial phrases or adverbial clauses An adverb clause will meet three requirements: * First, it will contain a subject and verb. * You will also find a subordinate conjunction that keeps the clause from expressing a complete thought. * Finally, you will notice that the clause answers one of these three adverb questions: How? When? or Why? Adverbs of Time A crow attacked your cat while I was waiting for the bus. Every time he cracked a joke, the punters roared with laughter. (Note the comma. This is explained in the hot tip to the right. ) Adverbs of Place It is colder and wetter in the north of Germany. Put the sign where the students can read it. Adverbs of Manner That dog is walking around like he owns the place. She is acting as if she has stolen something. Adverbs of Degree * You are not as clever as you think you are. He is as modest as is he is brilliant. Adverbs of Condition If I have the time, I will show you the cellar after the shift. I will come with you provided my suit is back from the dry cleaners. Adverbs of Concession Although only four years old, Oliver can do long multiplication. I will cover for you although I may lose my job. Adverbs of Reason * We were forced to abandon the match because the skies opened up. Since it is your birthday, you can sit in the front. Adjective clause * An adjective clause functions as an adjective (modifies a noun or pronoun); * An adjectival clause (adjective clause or relative clause) does the work of an adjective and describes a noun, its usually introduced by a relative pronoun: who | whom | whose | that | which An adjective clause—also called an adjectival or relative clause—will meet three requirements

The Sisa Syndrome and the Filipino Colonial Mentality Essay Example For Students

The Sisa Syndrome and the Filipino Colonial Mentality Essay The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression by Ricky Rivera Dr. Jose Rizal in his novel Noli me Tangere tells of Sisa, a woman who fell into a very deep depression when she lost her two sons. Sisa went around town looking for them. She knows that a priest killed her two sons but she never saw how and never resolved to herself why. Many think that this is something of a fictionalized narrative of the status of our country during Rizal’s time. If you read and study why Rizal included this scene in his novel, you will definitely think that Sisa alludes to our country, an image he conjured to reflect the Motherland. We will write a custom essay on The Sisa Syndrome and the Filipino Colonial Mentality specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now And she was. Rizal really meant Sisa to be the true image of our country under colonization. It is worth remembering though that Sisa’s quest for her two sons continued until today. Later, in this short story, I will tell you why I think Rizal wrote about Sisa and its significance in our present situation. I often ask myself why some Filipinos find it extremely hard to stay in our country. According to the Bureau of Immigration, at least 3,000 Filipinos leave the Philippines every single day. That’s 90,000 month, a million a year, and 10 million in ten. Most of these Filipinos leave due to economic reasons. And every Filipino who leaves his homeland is one less Filipino who can help rebuild this country. A report says that â€Å"this country holds a snap election every day. Men and women vote with their feet daily to search for better futures abroad. † The Filipino diaspora is not a recent phenomenon. A study by the Philippine Migrant Society of Canada says that Filipinos started leaving the country for â€Å"greener pastures† in the early 1900s. A larger number of Filipino professionals moved to other countries in the 1950’s and continued to balloon up until the 1960’s. During Martial law, the Overseas Filipino Worker phenomenon started to increase, attracting not just Filipino professionals but skilled and unskilled workers. â€Å"The history of Filipino migration†, says the PMSC, â€Å".. is a product of extreme poverty, underdevelopment and joblessness in the country. † Labor migration is a socio-economic reality, one that even prosperous countries suffer from. What I am concerned here is the rising numbers of Filipinos who migrate and uproot every single member of their family to permanently live in other countries. A national survey by Pulse Asia in 2006, says three out of ten Filipinos dream of living abroad†¦permanently. Interest in living abroad is not just confined with adults. Filipino children surveyed by Pulse Asia shows 47% of Filipino children with ages ranging from 10 to 12 say they wished to work abroad someday. Sixty percent of children of overseas foreign workers said they had plans to work abroad. As of December 2004, some 3. 2 million Filipinos reside in different countries as permanent settlers while 3. 6 million as temporary labor migrants. Another 1. 3 million migrants are in different countries, mostly in unauthorized situation in the United States and Malaysia. A study shows an increasing trend of Filipinos, about 28%, leaving for abroad to marry. This explains why our Potential Net Migration Index (PNMI) is a negative 22%, similar with Iran and just a tad lower than Yemen (-23%) and El Salvador (-45), countries which are more politically distressed than us. What is it that attracts Filipinos to go someplace else to live? Why is it that Filipinos feel that their future lays elsewhere? What’s so different with the Philippines than, say, the United States? Many things, someone would definitely say. The United States is more prosperous than the Philippines. Americans have equal economic rights that allow the individual to live in prosperity and relative peace. Other countries have better laws, another Filipino says. Some would even say that governments in other countries are better than ours. Is this the truth? Are these really the true reasons why Filipinos leave? Compare our country with others, and you’ll find that the Philippines ranks far better than those countries. Ask a German or a Canadian where he likes to retire and he would definitely say, â€Å"Philippines! † without battling an eyelash. Those Ricky Rivera is a former lecturer at the University of the Philippines and Dela Salle University. He is a prolific plogger or a political blogger. This article is an excerpt from his the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History†. He lectures every so often on Communications, Public Relations and Marketing. He wrote this after learning that one of his friends, a former great student leader, is now living abroad. The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression ho already lived in Europe, particularly in London, would relish living in a hut somewhere here than suffer from the harsh weather of that cosmopolitan city. Our country lies in the tropics. Our weather is far better than the bitter, cold and icy Canadian weather. And how do our lands fare in the natural aesthetics department? We are definitely among th e most beautiful in the world. We have wonderful coastlines full of pristine immaculate sand. Nothing compares with our Boracays, our Palawans and our Guimaras. Wonderful mountains adorn our countrysides, filled with beautiful sights, such as rivers, lakes and streams. We probably are not included in Yahoo! s 10 Most beautiful countries in the world, but we sure are one of the world’s best twenty. Yes, we are sited in one of the world’s most dangerous quake belts but our 6 or 7 magnitude quakes pale in comparison with those that strike Indonesia every single year or those in Mexico and even in the United States. Our typhoons are wimps compared with those cyclones and hurricanes which inflict harm upon Americans every single year. The only difference is that other nationalities enjoy a far excellent governmental service than what we have. Despite this, Filipinos, according to a study, are happy with what they have. According to the 2009 Happy Planet Index (HPI) published by the New Economics Foundation, the Philippines is the 14th happiest place in the world, up 3 places from 2008’s 17th place ranking. The HPI index measures happiness combining life satisfaction, life expectancy and environmental footprint — the amount of land required to sustain the population and absorb its energy consumption. Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, followed by Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala, Vietnam, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Brazil and Honduras. In 2010, Forbes conducted another survey. Gallup poll shows the Philippines ranked 94th happiest place in the world, still far better than India or China. Malaysia, where most Filipinos go to work, is just a spot higher than us. The survey is a telling one. Only 18% of Filipinos suffer from unhappiness. And the same number of people, about 68% struggles, the same case with Saudi Arabia, a country with most Overseas Filipino Workers. Singapore, despite being three spots higher than us, have a huge number of people struggling, with 75% of their people saying they are struggling in their daily lives to be appy. In terms of having a very good â€Å"subjective well-being†, the Philippines ranks a good 30th standing. Most Filipinos go to Taiwan, which ranks 31 and Japan a poor 39th. Italy, where many Filipinos aspire to work and live, is ranked 35th. Our former colonizer, Spain, is three ranks lower than us. Compared with other countries, we, Filipinos, are happier than them and liv e in relative good life and have better well-being. This is what I really don’t understand. If we say we are happy where we are, and our well-being is far better than other countries, then, why do we still leave? Why do many of us still think that a better future lies elsewhere than here? The Enigma Is it an enigma that we feel so bad when the fact of the matter is, we really are blessed with so many wonderful things around us? That grayish and decaying landscape that is Manila, is not the entire country. No. Go out and explore Luzon, just this island, and you’ll find that there are more extremely wonderful things here than, say, Singapore. Singapore does not have a range of mountains we call Sierra Madre, nor do Singaporeans enjoy paradise-like islands such as Puerto Galera. Yes, they have their Sentosa, but as everyone knows, that reclaimed island is not real. Those rocks which you see there are all concrete and those sands are exports from, tadah, the Philippines. Everyone knows that we are a blessed people. But, why is it that most of us want to leave and even consider this precious pearl in the orient as a hellish nightmare? Some scholars think that what we are feeling, the state of our condition, lies in our inability to appreciate the finer things in our lives. We always feel inferior to others. We always look at other countries’ situation as something better than ours. These are indications of depression. What is the root of our depression? Scholars say we suffer from this malady called â€Å"Colonial mentality. † The Root Cause of our Depression Colonial mentality is not just a predilection in thing foreign. No. Colonial mentality refers to what analysts say as â€Å"institutionalized or systematic feelings of inferiority within some societies or peoples who have been subjected to colonialism. â€Å" The concept, according to scholars, refers to the acceptance by the colonized of the culture or mores or even doctrine of he colonizer, as intrinsically more worthy or superior than theirs. â€Å" The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression Colonial mentality is the chain that enslaves us Filipinos. It is not imperialism that gnaws our self-image. No. It is this mental state or condition called colonial mentality that continually oppresses us and makes us feel far inferior from other nationalities or races. David and Okazaki (2006a) conceptualized colonial mentality as a form of internalized oppression, characterized by a perception of ethnic or cultural inferiority, believed to be a consequence of centuries of colonization under Spain and the United States. Their study among Filipino-Americans is telling. It shows that this involves an automatic and uncritical rejection of anything Filipino and an automatic and uncritical preference to anything foreign. The study also shows this mental condition, affects every single Filipino’s self-image and self-esteem. It manifests in how Filipinos denigrate his own self, his culture and body, discriminates against less Americanized Filipinos and tolerance and acceptance of historical and contemporary oppression of Filipinos and Filipino Americans (David and Okazaki, 2006). A survey of over 600 Filipino Americans shows that one out of three or about 30% exhibit some form of Colonial mentality. David and Okazaki found that these Filipinos feel either inferior of their ethnicity and culture, feel ashamed and embarrassed of their ethnicity or culture or tend to feel indebted toward their part and present colonizers or oppressors. Empirical research shows that those who have Colonial mentality have significantly lower personal self-esteem than those without. Those who have colonial mentality have higher depression levels than Filipinos without colonial mentality. Is there something to be ashamed about our country? Those who show indications of CM says that they feel ashamed of some of the things that happened or is happening in their countries. A trans-national study however shows that Filipinos are sixth from the bottom of those with something in the country to feel ashamed about. Social Weather Stations (SWS) found that only 42% of Filipinos agree that there is something to be ashamed of their country, compared with 28% who either agreed or disagreed and a far less number (27%) says nothing is shameful about the Philippines. SWS discovered that the huge bulk of those who feel ashamed about our country resides in Metro Manila (52%) and the Visayas (50%) than in the rest of Luzon (39%) and Mindanao (35%). Most Filipinos who belonged to the middle to upper ABC (58%) feel ashamed compared with the masa (40%) and the very poor (42%). .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .postImageUrl , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:hover , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:visited , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:active { border:0!important; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:active , .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3a7ff294ced82745778e5c74509c18fe:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: To Build a Fire: Theme EssayCuriously, the more educated you are, the more you feel ashamed of yourself as a Filipino. Fifty three percent of college graduates say they are ashamed of their country, compared with 33% among elementary dropouts, 35% among high school dropouts and 46% among high school graduates. This, however, contradicts with a 2003 ISSP survey on national identity. Eighty three percent of Filipinos felt very proud of their race, and only one percent feels not proud at all. Our pride as a Filipino was second highest among 33 countries, topped only by Venezuela’s 92, and three percent higher than the United States (80%) and others. We Filipinos are proud about our achievements in sports (84%), history (82%), arts and literature (78%), armed forces (57%), scientific and technological achievements (80%), the way democracy works (54%) and the fair and equal treatment of all groups in society (51%). On the other hand, we feel less proud on our economic achievements (47%), social security system (45%) and our political influence in the world (36%). So if eighty percent of us are proud of being Pinoys, with some, 40 plus percent feeling ashamed of some of the things which happens to us, why is it that there is still a big proportion of our population who dreams of living and staying permanently in some other country? Colonial Mentality: Social-wide Stockholm syndrome One possible explanation is the effects education and media has to us, as Filipinos. Look at the SWS study—the more educated a Filipino is, the more he shows or feels ashamed of his racial roots. The reason is obvious. His education is patterned after Western models. Obviously, his standards of everything are based also on Western ones. Media also shows images of prosperous countries, of cosmopolitan cities and of the perceived relative stability and progress other countries, particularly those in the West. These images are imbedded into our sub-conscious minds. These affects our preferences, our choices. These images create a sub-conscious and often, emotional link (Poiesz, 1989, p. 461). As we continually expose ourselves to these images, we then form an opinion or a perception that our situation is worse than others. When certain situations such as a bungled police operation or when government acts contrary to popular perception, we feel ashamed and angry with our government. We often perceive that our governmental system is much more inferior to others. Memmi (1965), Fanon (1965) and Freire (1970) theorized that a salient effect of colonization is the internalization of the inferior perception imposed on the colonized by the colonizer. Such in- â€Å" The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression ternalization may lead to feelings of inferiority about oneself and one’s ethnic or cultural group. Feelings of shame, embarrassment or resentment normally follow; then outright rejection of one’s self. This explains Filipino preference to products from the United States, Europe and even, Asian. It extends even to Filipino perceptions on his own skin, being brown than white. Colonial mentality-driven preferences apply, but are not limited to, culture or lifestyle, physical characteristics, socio-economic opportunities, language, material products and leadership or government. Bergano Bergano-Kinney, 1997, p. 202). Even the use of language exhibits signs of colonial mentality. Strobel (1997) says that some colonized peoples ridicule or resent others who belong in their ethnic group who does not know how to speak, read and write English which they perceive as the â€Å"universal norm and marker of intelligence. † An individual who already assimilated or encultured himself with the colonizer’s cultural norms, and is already convinced or programmed to think that the colonizer’s is superior to his, the colonized begins to view the colonizer in a positive light. Memmi and Rimonte referred to this as â€Å"colonial debt†. Such a belief might lead to the normalization of the maltreatments such as discrimination from the dominant group, since such maltreatments might be perceived as the natural costs for progress or civilization, a perceived price one has to pay in order to become as much as like the dominant group as possible (Memmi, 1965). Why Rizal did used Sisa as someone representative of the Motherland? For a good reason, I think. Sisa represents every single Filipino who believes in the superiority of the colonizer’s system, particularly of education. Rizal pictured Sisa as the Motherland who sent her sons to learn more about the colonizer’s culture and education, only to get killed in the process. Like two of Sisa’s sons, most of us, Filipinos go to different lands in search of greener pastures. We assume different personalities when we are abroad. Like programmed robots, we think that everything foreign is good, and life is better in some country than in our own. We are lost in enculturation, that we believe everything is better there than here. Our minds have been programmed to accept everything foreign as something good, benevolent and better than ours. Just like Basilio and Crispin, we think that education is the best answer to our poverty. A diploma from a university or college is something of a dream since we hope to transform this diploma into a visa someday. From that very minute that Sisa gave his two sons to that priest, she already lost them. The priest maltreated and eventually killed one of her sons. This is an allusion to how colonial mentality kills some of us. Desirous for a better life, we succumb to the wiles of our colonizer, suffering even maltreatment, yet thinking that this is just a consequence, a â€Å"price to pay† so to speak, of a better life. We accept the norms and culture and lifestyle of our colonizer, only to pay for our life in exchange. Like Sisa’s sons, we also lost our identities, our â€Å"who we are†. We sacrificed our self-worth, our self-image, just to become at par with our colonizers. We tried to assimilate ourselves with our colonizer’s systems, only to realize later that doing so, we gave not just our minds, but our very souls to the colonizer. This â€Å"Sisa Syndrome† infects every Filipina mother who allows her sons to dream of working and living abroad. Fact is, this syndrome affects every single one of us who thinks that we are an inferior race. That we fare far worse than others. That everything here is worthless. Sisa reflects our collective sigh, our collective depression caused by colonial mentality. We think that Malaysians live far better than us that’s why many of us migrate there. We think Saudis live far better lives than us that’s why despite the insufferable heat, most of us desire to work there. We believe Americans have far better lives than us, that’s why despite some Americans going here to work, most of us scamper to the nearest U. S. embassy just The Allusion of Sisa Going back to what I wrote at the start of this paper. I used Sisa as a vehicle for us to further understand our present situation. I told you that Rizal used Sisa to show the colonized status of our country during the Spanish times. If you still remember your Noli me Tangere, Sisa was once a sane woman. She was mother to two fine sons and an unfortunate wife of a brute. Like a lady of those times, Sisa suffered while she was with her husband. She was being maltreated. Despite her sorry state, Sisa never thought of leaving her husband, for fear of being cursed by God. Divorce was never an option back in 18th century Philippines. Catholicism has taken a decisive root in Philippine society that divorce is a sin and domestic violence is to be taken as part of married life. Anyway, to make the story short, Sisa sent her two sons to a priest to study. Being poor, Sisa thought that her sons would make good acolytes. Acolytes enjoy food and education from the church. It was only when she learned of the deaths of her sons that she lost all her faith and all her confidence not just to her religion but to life as well. The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression to get that visa. from Philippine forests and mountains. Filipino hands made those excellent cuisines now being enjoyed by the world’s rich and uber famous. Some of the world’s greatest chefs are Pinoys, while mo st of the hotel staff of top 5 and 6-star hotels around the world are Pinoys. The world is slowly warming up with the Filipino’s version of the adobo and chicken tinola. Filipino cuisines are starting to dominate the world’s kitchens, with uniquely Pinoy creations being served at millions of homes around the globe. We eat potato chips and pizzas uniquely modified to suit Filipino tastes. We salivate at Filipino fruits, like mangos and durians. We lavish ourselves from the products from our seas and oceans. We enjoy every morsel of rice which came from our fields. When the world goes to work, they ride on modern cars powered by Filipino minds and ingenuity. Filipino hands and intellect power the world’s greatest cars. Pinoy engineers now design the most sophisticated machines inside our Ferraris, BMWs, Chryslers and Mercedes Benz. From the headlights down to the suspensions and wheels, there is some speck of Filipino there for the entire world to appreciate. Fact is, those modern designs we now see in our cars, even if it’s a Toyota or a Mitsubishi, are mostly inventions by Filipino car designers. Whatever the world sees in classrooms or in their work stations, chances are, there is at least one made or invented by a Filipino. You’ll find a Filipino in the top universities in the world, pitting his brains against some of the world’s best. Nowadays, it’s entirely common to hear a Filipino graduate from Harvard or Oxford. Ivy League schools in the United States are full of Filipinos; same goes to the top European institutions. We have some Filipinos graduating at the top of their classes in the US military academy and commanding battalions as officers of the world’s greatest army. And we have great Filipino academicians teaching the world’s business titans how to run their companies. We have Filipinos at NASA and Pinoy scientists over at BERN. We see Filipinos tinkering with sophisticated technologies in Japan, the United States and Europe. Filipinos are also working as inventors of newer technologies. Those who don’t know must know that Filipinos are also active in the fields of bio-technology, neuroscience, and information technology. We have bio-engineers who are now involved in developing creative and useful technologies for the rest of the world to use and enjoy. Those laptops we now currently enjoy have Filipino intellect invested into it. The very chips that power those personal computers, IPods and IPods are proudly Filipino made. From the sands of this great country comes silica, the prime component of elec- The antidote for our colonial mentality There is a cure from this Sisa syndrome, and that is, the acceptance of our present situation. Accepting who we really are, and why we are economically underdeveloped than others is the first definitive step. History is also another vehicle for us to further understand our situation and to allow ourselves to accept our present condition. We start by recognizing that we are descendants of a proud race. That we were once a glorious people who once conquered the ancient world with our talents, our trade, and our goods. We continually conquer the world with our excellent personal traits, our inventions, our discoveries and our intelligence. As what Atty. Alex Lacson wrote in his piece, â€Å" The Filipino Today†, the Filipino mind is the greatest asset in the world today. This is not something invented purely by a nationalistic mind. This is a fact recognized even by the international community. We, Filipinos, are the World’s Greatest Assets. Look around you, and you’ll realize that everything you see are wondrous works of Filipino creation. Travel abroad, and expect to find at least one Filipino bravely holding himself up before the rest of the world. .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .postImageUrl , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:hover , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:visited , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:active { border:0!important; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:active , .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u60fb7706a02eb3ae91bdcb93358eaf9c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Lessons in an inspector Calls EssayLook at the tee-shirts you’re wearing, and you’ll find that even its threads are probably Pinoy and even if its â€Å"Made in China† or â€Å"Made in the USA†, chances are one of those who sewed it and made it the best tee-shirt in the world is a Filipino. When the world wakes up every morning, they use a product that is Filipino made. The bed they lie on, the soft and nice pillows they rest their heads on and even those comforters they wrap their bodies to keep warm, at least one Filipino invested his time and skills to make it. When the world rise from their beds, and put on those slippers, at least a billion wears those made from the Philippines. They go to their comfort rooms and brush their teeth and probably not just a billion feels great using toothpaste and a toothbrush made by Filipinos. They clean themselves up using soaps which probably came from a factory somewhere in Laguna or in Subic. And they wash their hair using shampoos promoted by top Filipino marketing managers and professionals. They go to their dinner tables and chances are, they’ll find at least one Pinoy product there. They use cutlery which material probably comes from the ore mines of the Philippines. The very wood or steel that makes up their dinner tables are materials harvested The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression tronic chips. And from the ore mines of Zambales and Mindanao comes forth copper and other minerals which the world uses in manufacturing electronic ga dgets and wires. What’s important is we Filipinos invest our minds in transforming those tiny sands into chips that power human civilization. We have young Pinoys like Brian Quebengco who spearheads Inovent, a young startup company that invented the world’s first interactive television. Despite working with meager resources, Quebengco and his gang of Innoventors are on the verge of unveiling this television which will revolutionize the way the world watches TV. We build great ships that sail the world’s oceans and seas. Our Filipino brothers and sisters are captains in some of the world’s biggest oil tankers. Filipinos also dominate the world’s skies as the most sought-after commercial and training pilots in some of the top airlines in the world. When the world’s businessmen enter hotels, they are welcomed by Pinoys. When they rest in those comfy beds, a Filipino attends to their needs. When someone enjoys a cool daiquiri in an Ibizainspired pool in some resort, a Filipino probably made it for him. Those warm meals served are Filipino made. When they leave their hotels or resorts, a Filipino gives them his most precious and warm smile to enliven them. Surely, millions of them when they arrive home, a Filipino will be there to arrange their meals and iron their clothes. Some Filipinos command great armies of workers around the world. They serve as managers, supervisors and field commanders in some of the world’s top manufacturing companies. In the Middle East, most of those who work to harvest that black gold are Filipino engineers. While those fields of gold in the United States, South America, Asia and Europe are being attended to by hardworking Filipino workers. Even our oceans are populated by Filipinos either as sailors or captains, or in some places, Filipinos are themselves commercial fishermen. The world listens to Pinoy music millions of times in a day. Charice Pempengco tops the pop charts in the US every single week. Pinoy crooners spread the message of love in most of the world’s radios and video karaoke bars. Pinoy bands enliven the club scene not just in Asia, but even in Las Vegas, the world’s premier entertainment site. We are in the top opera houses, the top orchestras, the top rock bands and even in carnivals and festivals around the world. Our dancers enchant the world every single day in most of the world’s great stages. We see Pinoy art bringing joy to millions, and Pinoy writers weaving words into art in advertising copies around the world. We enjoy a Mickey Mouse drawn by a Filipino animator and an almost realistic Spider-man or a Superman flying over rooftops and skyscrapers made by a Filipino computer animator. Some of the world’s top comic’s characters came alive from a Filipino sketch book, while the creepiest villains and admirable heroes spring forth from the mind of another Pinoy. Those games we enjoy in our PS3’s, Nintendo and PC games are most likely produced and inspired by Filipino game creators and animators. Even some cell phone games are Pinoy inventions. Pinoys even dominate the martial arts world, what with Pinoys competing in URCC and in wrestling matches. We see a Pinoy making history as the most multi-titled pugilist in world boxing history. We have a Pinoy legend in billiards, another one in professional bowling. Someday, Filipinos will dominate fencing, wushu, amateur wrestling, swimming, even football. Even at the world political scene, Filipino diplomats stand toeto-toe with the world’s greatest minds. We are considered the world’s best in diplomatic circles. The first United Nations head is a Pinoy. The first ever Asian to head the International Labor Organization is a Bulakeno. And most staffers of the United Nations are Filipinos. It is most unfortunate though that despite all of these, we have a government that is as corrupt, as chaotic and as direction-less as an African or South American government. Yes, we are critical players in stabilizing the world, yet, we are as destabilized in our own country. We give order in the world, yet, in our own soil, we are as disorderly and disorganized as some petty state in an obscure place in the world. Our compatriots abroad distinguished themselves as the best law-abiding citizens, yet, in our own country, most of us distinguish ourselves as one of the world’s dirtiest and the most despicable thrashers in history. We spread and give light to human civilization, yet, our country is still under a state of extreme darkness. It is time for Filipinos to serve and be assets in their own birthplace. It is time for Filipinos to share their talents and transform this country and make it the best in the world. There is nothing, oh, nothing that can prevent us from achieving what we want. We have proven time and again that if we only pool our acts together, and use these bountiful resources in our midst, we can achieve what others thought impossible. Our country stands at the crossroads. One road leads to greatness while the other, perdition. That road to greatness is fraught with dangers and sufferings. While the other, is as easy as crossing the street, yet the end of it, damnation. The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author The Sisa Syndrome and the Antidote to Our Depression As we usher a new day under a new administration, let us seize the moment and make a new page in our history. Let us erase those painful memories of an evil past and try to create a bet ter one through unity of our minds. There is nothing, oh nothing that can prevent a united Nation from achieving greatness. If we all work together and think that greatness is just an arm’s length away, nothing is impossible. Blot out all negative thoughts and focus at the great task at hand— rebuild this country from the ground up and establish a Nation that is the best in the world. We are the creators of our future. We are the creators of our own greatness. We are great when we think and believe that we are great. When 90 million Filipinos think great every single day, we will achieve what no other country ever didpropel this nation to First World status by six years. We can do it. We can achieve what we want—a better quality of life for all Filipinos. Let us all be engineers of our great future. Let us all be part of this great enterprise of nation-building. Let us share this vision to everyone who wants nothing but a better future for himself, for his family and for his successors. Look around you, and you’ll see a very promising landscape. Just go to Makati and Pasay, and you’ll see the Marriott group of hotels near one of our international airports. Try to go to Ayala and you’ll find a Raffles hotel being built beside Landmark. Go out of Metro Manila and you’ll find great resorts and hotels being established. Check out our new airports, and bridges and roads. These are infrastructures of our future. Even look at yourself in the mirror and you’ll find that there is something new, something dynamic, something promising in you that is worth sharing with other Filipinos. Find that new thing within you and spread it around. Instead of just being a passive observer, be an intellectual entrepreneur. Spread that new thinking, your intellectual invention with other Filipinos and within a short period of time, you’ll be the leader of a great enterprise. Look around you, and you’ll see a silent revolution, the entrepreneurial revolt, spreading in every direction, in every nook and ranny of the Metropolis and even in the remotest barangays throughout this great nation. From thinking of just being laborers and employees, a great majority of Filipinos are transforming themselves into entrepreneurs. Yes, we are emerging into an entrepreneur’s hub in Asia. What’s great, I sense that a great social infrastructure is slowly emerging from the loins of the Filipin o masses. This infrastructure is Pinoy bayanihan, the realization that every one is a patriot in his own right, and the recognition that, as a Patriot, he is a substantive part in that human infrastructure. The Sisa Sydrome and the Root of Our Depression† an excerpt from the book, â€Å" Bagong Istorya: Great Stories in Philippine History† by the same author We are slowly transcending the old philosophical world-view of individual-centric, into mass or social-centric. This is made possible by an infusion of new thinking. This new thinking is slowly permeating the public sphere and infecting every one! The new thinking is information-driven, and being exchanged every second. This is the new promise, the new Hope, the new Future! Let the new administration nurture this and serve as a guide. Guide us towards greatness. Be an example of greatness and the rest of the country will rise up and follow. Rise up, o Motherland! Rise up from centuries of lethargy and be inspired by the work of your Patriotic sons and daughters! There is a great enterprise rising over the horizon of despair. A new Sun has taken over the darkness. A new race of Filipinos are taking over. Let the millions of Filipino patriots seize this moment, create a new page in History and build a great Nation from the ashes of disbelief and despair. Time to re-build this Nation from the ground up! Time to create a Golden age where Filipinos are once again proud of their heritage and of their race! We are Filipinos and we are great. Notes 1. http://opinion. inquirer. net/inquireropinion/columns/ view/20100820-287921/Policy-lockjaw 2. http://www. bworldonline. com/Research/populareconomics. php? id=0102 3. http://www. migrationinformation. org/USFocus/display. cfm? ID=364 4. http://www. forbes. com/2010/07/14/world-happiest-countrieslifestyle-realestate-gallup-table. html 5. Ronald Inglehart et al. (eds. ) HUMAN BELIEFS AND