EDITORIAL - "Usapa na"

The riots now sweeping across London and other cities in Britain are most unfortunate, coming at a time when the global economy can hardly afford any disruptions affecting any of its major players.

Aside from the economy, London in particular got a particularly rude jolting from the riots. It is hosting the next Olympics Games in 2012, now just a year away. That the riots make for good security practice does not detract from the fact that they can also spook visitors away.

But these are just the obvious concerns that promptly surfaced because of the riots. One thing that, based on ongoing reporting of events, seems to have eluded notice is the fact that immigration polices may lie at the root of the recent disastrous events.

Consider this: The initial riots, and the large urban areas to which they quickly spread, happen to involve places where there are to be found large concentrations of immigrants, most of them unemployed.

These are the same jobless immigrants that are now swamping not just London and other British cities but virtually all of Europe, as well. Europe seems to be welcoming these immigrants with wide open arms, unmindful of the consequences.

And this is saddening, especially to Filipinos. Filipinos may also be swamping the world, but almost never do they go to any country as an unemployed immigrant. In virtually all cases, they go there as professionals or skilled workers looking for work.

Yet, despite being armed with degrees and skills, years of experience, boundless energy and enthusiasm for work, plus an uncanny capacity for orderly and obedient assimilation to their host countries, it would seem that there is a discrimination against Filipino migrants.

It seems that it is much harder for a Filipino, even if he possesses the above qualities, to get into other countries than for other nationals, even if many of them, as recent events have shown, happen to be among the rioters that are now giving Britain such a hard time.

It is not like us to wish ill on others. But looking at the facts and finding that not one Filipino joined the riots, it would not be surprising if some compatriots of ours would say: “Naay gusto motrabaho, dili pasudlon. Naay manggubot lang, pasudlon. Hala usapa na.”