BusinessMirror
  • News
    • News
    • Top News
    • Regions
    • Nation
    • World
    • Asia Today
  • Business
    • Business
    • Agri-Commodities
    • Asean Economic Community
    • Banking & Finance
    • Companies
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneur
    • Executive Views
    • Export Unlimited
    • Harvard Management Update
    • Monday Morning
    • Mutual Funds
    • Stock Market Outlook
    • The Integrity Initiative
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Editorial cartoon
  • Life
    • Life
    • Art
    • Design&Space
    • Digital Life
    • Journey
    • Motoring
    • 360° Review
    • Property
    • Show
    • Tech
    • Tourism
    • Y2Z
  • Features
    • Biodiversity
    • Education
    • Envoys & Expats
    • Explainer
    • Faith
    • Green
    • Health & Fitness
    • Mission: PHL
    • Our Time
    • Perspective
    • Photo Gallery
    • Science
    • Today in History
    • Tony&Nick
    • When I Was 25
    • Wine & Dine
  • BMPlus
    • BMPlus
    • SoundStrip
    • Live & In Quarantine
    • Bulletin Board
    • Marketing
    • Public Service
    • CSR
  • The Broader Look
Subscribe
BusinessMirror
BusinessMirror
  • News
    • News
    • Top News
    • Regions
    • Nation
    • World
    • Asia Today
  • Business
    • Business
    • Agri-Commodities
    • Asean Economic Community
    • Banking & Finance
    • Companies
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneur
    • Executive Views
    • Export Unlimited
    • Harvard Management Update
    • Monday Morning
    • Mutual Funds
    • Stock Market Outlook
    • The Integrity Initiative
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Editorial cartoon
  • Life
    • Life
    • Art
    • Design&Space
    • Digital Life
    • Journey
    • Motoring
    • 360° Review
    • Property
    • Show
    • Tech
    • Tourism
    • Y2Z
  • Features
    • Biodiversity
    • Education
    • Envoys & Expats
    • Explainer
    • Faith
    • Green
    • Health & Fitness
    • Mission: PHL
    • Our Time
    • Perspective
    • Photo Gallery
    • Science
    • Today in History
    • Tony&Nick
    • When I Was 25
    • Wine & Dine
  • BMPlus
    • BMPlus
    • SoundStrip
    • Live & In Quarantine
    • Bulletin Board
    • Marketing
    • Public Service
    • CSR
  • The Broader Look
  • Column
  • Envoys & Expats

The greatest enemy of the Filipino 

  • Mike Grogan
  • October 15, 2016
  • 40 views
  • 3 minute read
Total
0
Shares

envoys03a-101616THERE are so many similarities between my native country Ireland and the Philippines. Both of our nations were colonized, both of us are predominantly Roman Catholic, and both of us have a history of mass emigration.

While watching the epic movie Heneral Luna, I could not help myself from reflecting that there is another commonality that we share. A study of Irish history will reveal that the greatest enemy of the Irish is the Irish themselves. And today a study of any Irish newspaper will also reveal that the greatest critic of Ireland is the Irish themselves. We are our own worst enemies. I believe that this is the same here in the Philippines. In the words of the great Antonio Luna; “Brothers, our greatest enemy is ourselves”. The greatest enemy of the Filipino, is the Filipino. The greatest critic of the Philippines is the Filipino themselves. So, why are we both so self-critical?

envoys03b-101616The answer lies in how our human brains are programmed. Our brains are 2 million years old. Back then our ancestor’s primarily need was survival. We were constantly looking for what is wrong, what is missing so that we could quickly detect any immediate threat to our lives. Our ancestors’ brains were wired for survival.

Today, however, for the majority of the people reading this—daily survival is not our greatest need. It is very unlikely that you or I will be killed by a wild animal or an enemy from a rival tribe. Yet, our brains are still wired the same. While our brains are on this default mode, just like our ancestors’, we will be constantly focusing on what is wrong or what is missing.

The greatest evidence of this today is the world’s news media. The vast majority of today’s national and international newspaper headlines are all focusing on something negative (corruption, murder, terrorism, natural disasters, celebrity scandal, etc.). Not that I am saying that negative news should not be brought to our attention, but the continuous consumption of negative news will give us a very unbalanced and unfair view of the world. This is what I see is happening in the Philippines.

envoys03c-101616I believe that for every one negative story written about the Philippines, there are 100 positive stories that do not get talked about. This really is the greatest time in history to be in the Philippines. Whether I am speaking to 7,000 students, 250 young professionals or 30 business executives, I share with the audience the extraordinary positive things I see every day happening in this country.

Living in the Philippines has made me a better person. There is something about the character of the Filipino that I have not seen in any other country in the world. I have not seen another nationality that models the values of care, empathy and compassion like a Filipino. As a result, I have become a better man from calling Filipinos my friends.

As my team and I travel across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao sharing our inspirational message, the majority of the audiences are still surprised that a foreigner has so much belief in their country, where so many Filipinos do not. I explain that this self-doubt is normal. The story of the Filipino is like the story of the butterfly, it cannot see how beautiful its wings are. Sometimes it takes an outsider to remind them of that beauty.

My job is not to preach but to remind the Filipino of the extraordinary greatness of this country.  I am convinced that the more people we inspire to see this new perspective, then the more people will start to believe in the Filipino dream, then the more people will start to take action for the greater good. As this mind-set shift starts to grow, then we really will see a First World Philippines in our lifetime. The greatest days of this nation are ahead of us! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

* * *

For comments, suggestions and reactions, contact Mike@mikegrogan.ph.

Mike Grogan is an international speaker and best-selling author who believes in the Genius of the Pinoy. As a leadership coach, Irish native Mike has traveled to 39 countries around the world but he believes that there is something very special about the Filipino. Today he works as a consultant for People Dynamics, where he travels across the Philippines inspiring, empowering and motivating Pinoys every week to become World-Class and believe in the Filipino Dream.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Previous Article
  • Envoys & Expats

Endless harmony

  • Rodel Alzona
  • October 15, 2016
Know more
Next Article
  • Column
  • Opinion

No cure

  • Teddy Locsin Jr.
  • October 15, 2016
Know more

Know more

Philippines fintech tech technology
Know more
  • 445
  • 3 min
  • Banking & Finance
  • Column
  • Tech

Expanding the Philippine fintech and IT sectors

  • Joseph Araneta Gamboa
  • June 7, 2023
Know more
  • 34
  • 4 min
  • Column
  • Life

Preventing factions at work

  • Carlo Atienza
  • June 7, 2023
Column box-Al Mendoza-That’s All
Know more
  • 37
  • 2 min
  • Column
  • Sports

Denver coach a conundrum

  • Al S. Mendoza
  • June 6, 2023
Know more
  • 408
  • 2 min
  • Envoys & Expats
  • Tourism
  • World

France’s spectacular abbey Mont-Saint-Michel celebrates 1,000th birthday

  • The Associated Press
  • June 6, 2023
Column box-Karlo Biglang-awa-RFP
Know more
  • 99
  • 3 min
  • Banking & Finance
  • Column

Should I avail a credit card or not?

  • Karlo Biglang-awa
  • June 6, 2023
Column box-Integrity Initiative
Know more
  • 83
  • 2 min
  • Column
  • Economy

The purpose of business in society

  • Henry J. Schumacher
  • June 6, 2023
Know more
  • 107
  • 2 min
  • Column
  • Life

Appreciating the wonders that fly over our heads

  • JT Nisay
  • June 6, 2023
Know more
  • 175
  • 4 min
  • Column
  • Life

The gorgeous and gifted men of Ibarra

  • Ricky Gallardo
  • June 6, 2023
Column box-Atty. Jomel N. Manaig-Tax Law for Business
Know more
  • 57
  • 3 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

Official receipts: Never ‘fake it until you make it’

  • Atty. Jomel N. Manaig
  • June 6, 2023
Column box-John Mangun-Outside the Box
Know more
  • 251
  • 3 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

The Maharlika: I’m on board

  • John Mangun
  • June 6, 2023
Know more
  • 62
  • 3 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

Good housekeeping

  • Manny B. Villar
  • June 6, 2023
Know more
  • 107
  • 4 min
  • Column
  • Marketing

How to make meetings matter today

  • Millie F. Dizon
  • June 5, 2023
KPMG Perspectives
Know more
  • 133
  • 3 min
  • Banking & Finance
  • Column

The potential impact of ChatGPT and the new AI on business

  • KPMG Perspectives
  • June 5, 2023
Know more
  • 100
  • 4 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

Tele-tax-novela

  • Joel L. Tan-Torres
  • June 5, 2023
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Know more
  • 98
  • 2 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

June destinations

  • Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
  • June 5, 2023
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
Know more
  • 103
  • 4 min
  • Column
  • Opinion

Extending the extension

  • Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
  • June 5, 2023
Know more
  • 115
  • 3 min
  • Column
  • Life

This beauty brand lets you make your own skin-care smoothies

  • Dinna Chan Vasquez
  • June 5, 2023
Know more
  • 148
  • 3 min
  • Column
  • Life

Levi’s 501 is 150

  • Miss Charlize
  • June 5, 2023
Column box-Rick Olivares - Bleachers' Brew
Know more
  • 111
  • 2 min
  • Column
  • Sports

When politics creeps into sports

  • Rick Olivares
  • June 4, 2023
Know more
  • 154
  • 5 min
  • Column
  • Our Time

A prisoner of time no more

  • Nick Tayag
  • June 3, 2023

15 comments

  1. islasorientales says:
    October 16, 2016 at 2:00 am

    “Indians, Filipinos earn most income among California immigrants”
    Sacramento Bee, June 4, 2015

    Median Household Income of California’s Foreign-Born by Country of Birth

    India $110,000
    Philippines $85,000
    China $68,000
    Vietnam $61,000
    Mexico $40,000

    Read more:
    http :// www. sacbee. com /site-services/databases/article23142744.html

    Reply
    1. gla says:
      October 16, 2016 at 8:41 am

      your point?

      Reply
  2. D. Smith says:
    October 23, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Thank you for your beautiful message!

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 24, 2016 at 7:59 pm

      you are most welcome D. Smith…

      Reply
  3. kevs46 says:
    October 24, 2016 at 11:58 am

    As a fellow Irishman and long time resident of the Philippines, I too was struck by the similarities in our culture during my very first trip here in 1979!

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 24, 2016 at 8:03 pm

      Hi Kevs46 – thank you so much for the kind words .. We Irish are the Filipinos of Europe 🙂 Perhaps why I feel so at home here …

      Reply
  4. Art Cruz says:
    October 24, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    Thank you Mike for helping us Filipinos appreciate who we are, what we are and for inspiring, empowering and motivating us. More power to you and your group. God bless you more.

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 24, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you Art Cruz.. your words really meant a lot to me … I really meant what I said … the greatest days of the Philippines are ahead

      Reply
  5. Yves Boquet says:
    October 24, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    You are right. Filipinos are great people and they do not know it.

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 24, 2016 at 8:02 pm

      thank you Yves … I really believe that – false limiting beliefs are the only thing holding back this country .. so many of my Filipino friends are so so talented (far more than me) … i feel blessed to call this country my home

      Reply
  6. rey duque says:
    October 25, 2016 at 10:16 am

    This is the right way of seeing things….. positively… : )

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 26, 2016 at 1:07 pm

      thank you Rey.. I 100% agree … everyday we must always start by looking at the positive .. there is so much good things happening in the Philippines .. I remain very excited about the future

      Reply
  7. Rick Jay says:
    October 25, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    hey, how come I never heard about your group!!! but you’re damn right. Thank you, sir!!!

    Reply
    1. Mike Grogan says:
      October 26, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Rick .. thank you for your comment. My team and I travel across the Philippines sharing this message (I am currently writing this from Iloilo – we are here for a series of speaking engagements) .. Feeling so excited about what this young Filipinos will achieve in the next 10 years .. The greatest days are ahead

      Reply
  8. Emma Sanchez Sabando says:
    May 22, 2017 at 3:11 am

    thank you Sir Mike Grogan for motivating and inspiring the Filipinos may the God bless you more…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe

BusinessMirror
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Podcast
  • Text-Only Homepage

Input your search keywords and press Enter.