IT’S TIME: PHILIPPINE CURRENCY REFORM

Mr. Muriel, I don’t know about you, so I may return your question addressed to Pading Rod as why are you in other country and who do you work for? But for me, it is not the question of money and we are not exporting humans but mere manpower, because the world needs us. Other races cannot do without us, they trust and believe in what Filipinos can do. And we are glad to make our every efforts and services available to the world – well that’s a positive sign rather than to think about the downfall of Peso. So please do not compare us to the slaves because we Filipinos are not slaves, we enjoy the freedom we inherited from our ancestors. In the olden times, we don’t have standard money, but we have natural resources as currency and as a means of barter trade. So why not focus on our natural resources instead of changing currency? We better of selling and distributing our own resources to our fellow Filipinos, so our products may not be too high priced. If we change our monetary currency now, it is the poor Filipinos in slum areas and in the streets who will suffer and will have a hard time adjusting to the new one. Correct me if I’m wrong, the new Philippine currency you are proposing will just be immediately available to the rich and those who can afford, because they already have the means to embrace the new system. But the poor Filipinos will remain penniless, only to have their valued old peso coin in their pockets that they couldn’t exchange for the new higher valued currency. The end-result: the poor Pinoys cannot buy food because their old peso coin are invalid. So who really would benefit?It’s not all about money, because money can be easily consumed and wasted. Once it’s gone, it could be replenished if you are skilled and hardworking. But our freedom dignity and pride, once it’s gone, it may be lost forever, or may take another hundred of years to regain. And in some circumstances, I see money as the root of evil – of greed and malevolent power. So it is better to die for country’s dignity rather than die for money.  Because you cannot bring money to the grave. I believe that if I die now with nothing, it would be much easier to be with our Creator in heaven.

Yes, the Philippine Peso have changed through generations, but it is not like changing clothes. The peso reflects the era and type of Government. Our peso from colonial days of the American Regime was different from what we have today, but still it remains a “peso”. Many have fought their way and died to attain the freedom that we enjoy today, now you want us to be colonized again and dominated by other countries?

Ok Mr. Muriel, let’s break down your idea of changing currency, step-by-step. How would you do that without getting the attention or hurting our Filipino pride? Do you suppose that the Philippine Peso will equal U.S. Dollar or Japanese yen in an instant once we change to Philippine Dollar? Can you give example of any country that change currency and their lives improve dramatically overtime? It takes years to do that I suppose. It’s like killing million of Filipinos advocacy while waiting for unverifiable change. Look at the past GMA Administration’s proposal to change our form of Government into Parliamentary type – does it happen? The thing that you are proposing might be shelved like that if you couldn’t justify the benefit over what we have to give. Give your steps one-by-one and show how good it is. Prove that the Philippine Peso is the one to blame and not the system or domination and abuses. For all we know, we Filipinos may have something to do with our economic downfall, and not the currency. Our Peso suffer because the world suffer, that is. I remember when I was a kid during the Marcos regime and the Peso was strong. Now who’s to blame, the coin that has Jose Rizal’s head in it, or those people who’s wasting and consuming it?

If you are an OFW, we have high respect on you as we call you “Mga Bagong Bayani”, and we count on you to assist us in easing poverty in our country by your remittances. Now if you insist on killing our culture by succumbing to world domination and selling our freedom and legacy, then “Pinoy’s Pride” will be no more. Sorry, just my opinion. Be considerate to those Filipinos who shout’s “Proud to be Pinoy” from the bottom of their hearts. Those Filipinos overseas who are strong enough to hold and organize local cooperatives for our fellas. Those were worthy to be called truly “Pinoy by Heart” and doesn’t complain of being one. They doesn’t even think of selling currencies, they only want to bring home the bacon for the Filipino people.

As I have said Mr. Muriel, what you are proposing is a big issue for us – practicality versus legacy. What you are giving up is the freedom that our ancestors once fought and died for, the legacy that was handed down by generation through generation, and our cultural identity – “Tatak Pinoy”. Bring this topic on TV and I’m sure this would be controversial and will be opposed by many politicians and society groups such as Gabriella, Kilusang Mayo Uno, etc. Remember, so many people had died fighting for our Peso, now all you are suggesting is to change them into world currency? Well, I guess that would not be easy.

There’s no such thing as Cinderella Fairy Tale in the Philippine Economy setting where we earn what we worked for. Changing currencies will not change anything, the money value will be the same. It may just make things worse and may be abused by some capitalists. Unless you are predicting that we may erase our worldwide debt to IMF if we succumbed to US Dollars and be under the U.S. Territory, that would show we Filipinos are too weak and are prone to much greater abuses. Pera ba ang katapat ng dignidad ng Pinoy?

Are we talking about national progress and development or the integrity of our society?Simply currency exchange will result to better prospects if we are in a dollar system who control or dominates the world currency.But still we need total Commercialization and total Industrialization of our nation to raise the GDP, more resources of taxes for government projects and for basic social services.I guess we also need to change our flag and our currency while we plan and talk about industrialization…products…projects…. employments…taxes and social guarantees or social justice.

Hmmmm….let me see if I’m hearing you correctly. You mean by just merely changing the name of our currency to something else would drastically change/alter the economic outlook of our country for the better? Really? And what do you propose we should name our “new” monetary moniker? Cuarta? Datong? Atik? or maybe “Sensilyo/Barya” to those of us who are poor? Keep in mind that major currencies of the world have struggled mightily prior to achieving global economic status. The Japanese Yen was worthless after WWII, so was Korean Won, German Marks. Italian LIra, Look where they are now. Japan still uses Yen, Korea has WON. Granted Germany and Italy joined the EU and switched to Euro in the 90’s but that is not the reason why they are prosperous. Do you know why the Euro currency was established?Sorry but I failed to grasp the reality of your proposal.

Hmmm.. Nice argument debate Mr. Muriel. Suppose we get better by changing currency. But in exchange of what, our patriotism, cultural heritage, or historical identity? Please do remember, in this world that we knew today, everything is made out of barter. You’ve got to sacrifice a lot in exchange of a good currency. Maybe we have to give more by these changes. Ang nakakatakot nyan ay yung consequences. Baka mas marami tayong mai-give-up kaysa sa makuha dyan. Can you give an example ng Countries na nagpalit ng currency from their traditional to foreign currency. Siguro meron Countries na ganun, pero colonized country like Hongkong. Kailangan na ba talaga nating magpasakop sa ibang bansa para lang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mammayan? Eh kung magpalit na rin kaya tayong lahat ng Nationality at tatawagin ang ating bansa na United States of the Philippines? Hahaha! Jowk only.

There are several people already bringing banners to the worldwide scene like Manny Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda and most recently Maria Aragon. These top performers are enough to say “I’m proud to be a Filipino”. So contrary to what you said about “maltreatment”, it is us Pinoys who make our image and not the Peso currency. If we love our jobs and are serious about it, we will surely bring home a lot of money. The problem is, if we got no job. So first things first, provide better employment opportunity and soon our people will sustain their needs.

You’re like changing Visa to Mastercard, LoL! The only difference is that these two are high valued.No matter how you change Philippine Peso to Philippine Dollar or PNoy Dinar, the value will be the same – that’s only a name and will never equal a 40 peso value of a U.S Dollar unless there’s a considerable boost in our economy. Remember the time when U.S. Dollar plunked down when their economy takes a blow? The Philippine Peso steps up. Therefore, our Philippine Peso just follow the trend in the world market – it depends on world currency to be strong, and we are just among the key player countries in the world market. Maybe if we patronize just our own “made-in-the-Philippines” products and doesn’t depend much on imported goods and materials, then I bet our Philippine Peso will be strong and can stand on it’s own.

Kung magpapalit ng currency ang Pilipinas, sino ang inaasahan nating magiging mukha ng coins, si Obama o si Bin Laden? Hahaha! Sorry, but I go for the traditional Peso coins na dugo’t pawis ng Pinoy ang nakatatak. You ain’t get rich by changing currency, you’ll just enslave yourself more to other rich nation.