There were many things that I liked about Canada. I saw the Canadian Rockies from afar, and they were majestic! I liked it that Winnipeg had the conveniences of North America’s biggest cities while being more laid-back. I really enjoyed hanging out at The Forks Market and at the Millennium Public Library. Winnipeg also had a relatively low cost of living. Manitoba’s countryside was quite pretty too. I’ll also never forget that it was in Winnipeg that I saw the most magnificent animals ever: the polar bears!
Canada is prosperous because Canadians have many traits that are worth emulating. I particularly admire their independence from their families. And I think the prevailing culture of integrity among ordinary Canadians makes Canada the great country that it is.
The True North definitely has its bad eggs. Otherwise, Justin Trudeau wouldn’t have won, and some sketchy Canadian schools would not have fooled international students into getting useless degrees. Overall though, I observed as a former immigrant that Canadians strove to do what’s right even when there was no threat of punishment.
Integrity in the Little Things
When I first came to Winnipeg, one of the things that stood out to me was how Canadians crossed only where they were allowed to cross when the sign said, “Walk”. When it said, “Don’t Walk”, everybody stopped until they’re allowed to cross even if the police were out of sight.
It seems so simple. Yet it’s taking the Philippines forever to learn that! Filipinos cross wherever they want whenever they can. Several years ago, the MMDA even had to put up these giant fences with enormous signs right in the middle of Quezon Avenue that said “BAWAL TUMAWID, NAKAMAMATAY” (“Don’t cross, lest you die”). It was like a classroom rule for first graders!
When I was in a government office in Winnipeg, it also struck me that one of the local ministers had to wait in line just like everyone else to get important documents. It’s so different from the Philippines, where politicians and celebrities can manipulate or bully their way into getting accommodated first even if other people came before them. Many ordinary Filipinos also bribe state employees to give them all sorts of special treatment.
“As the people are, so is their government” — Jose Rizal
Dishonesty is not confined only among the Philippines’ local authorities. It is rampant across all Filipino industries. From cutting corners to tax evasion to employee abuse, Philippine work establishments are mired in corruption according to our own SWS survey. The inefficiency and lack of safety that result from deceitful practices are stifling Filipinos’ capacity to excel.
What’s funny is that in the last national elections, I saw on my timeline a lot of Filipino netizens canceling their loved ones for choosing allegedly corrupt politicians even if those netizens themselves are notorious for questionable business practices.
My message to these woke social climbers is: make sure to submit those reports on time, not 6 months after they’re due! And if you fail to do so, can you please find a way to make amends to your clients?
Someone You Can Trust
I’m sure that other immigrants have more stories of how reliable their Canadian colleagues are. After all, Canada barely has any corruption scandals that are of Enron or Bernie Madoff proportions. It’s a peaceful, orderly nation because its locals do what’s right even without the Royal Canadian Mounted Police breathing down their necks. And even if Manitoba’s crime rate is one of the worst in Canada, it’s still safer compared to a lot of places in the Philippines or even the United States.
I’m frank about comparing the trustworthiness of Filipinos and Canadians because I know that Filipinos have the capacity to improve significantly. Throughout history, we’ve proven that the Philippines is capable of great moral courage. It’s just that we need other nationalities to teach us integrity, because we’re acting like a bunch of preschoolers!
In fact, I’ll seriously consider working in Canada as an occupational therapist to learn better work ethic if I’ll be given a chance. I almost did have that opportunity. I had to return to the Philippines for my grandparents though. And honestly, there’s something about Canada that made it easier for me to go back to my home country. I’ll write about that in another post.
(Photo by Mahesh Gupta)
" the MMDA even had to put up these giant fences with enormous signs right in the middle of Quezon Avenue that said “BAWAL TUMAWID, NAKAMAMATAY” I do remember this sign! It is in a huge sign board made of aluminum I guess. But after a year or so, someone pulled it down. I won't be surprised if I see it on someone's house as a makeshift roof! haha. Very Funny article and so true!
🤣 Ironically Filipinos are ardent church goers , while in Canada ( when I lived there ) the pews are not as filled up as the ones in the Philippines. This should make an interesting thesis.