Call centers in the Philippines and the Obama presidency
Filipinos working in the call center industry are concerned with the election of Barack Obama.
There are speculations that the Obama administration might convince US call centers here in the Philippines to return to the US for more jobs for Americans as one way of preserving the falling US economy.
But US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney thinks otherwise. She said American call center companies that have branched out in the Philippines would probably maintain their business here.
“If you heard him [Obama's speech] yesterday, growing global prosperity. Call centers continue to be strong. Their successful because the Philippine work force is so talented,” Kenney said.
“The economists will tell you a good call center industry helps with jobs in America as well because it’s the services provided that grow the businesses. If you bought a US product and are dealing with a service center in the Philippines you get good service and you say I might buy another one of their products, so you actually create jobs by having these good call centers,” she added.
“And the Filipino employees there are tremendous. They are amazing and talented, they are natural customer representatives,” Kenney noted.
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November 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
ngaun mag react ang mga wlang paki alam sa botohan ng US nung isang araw… wla palang epekto kahit sino manalo ha! ang alam lang ng iba kc dyan mga artistang sikat saka tsismis na kala mo pinapalamon o kumikita sila sa ginagawa nila…
November 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
O ayan na sinasabi ko… i’m sure madaming mawawalang trabaho sa Pinas pag pinauwi na ang mga American companies lalo na ang call center sectors sa bansa nila… E alam mo naman ang mga Kano very patriotic… Tapos yong iba jan ala daw paki hindi naman daw sila Amerikano…
November 6th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Hala…Sabi ni kenney hindi e panu nga kung tupakin si Obama? Biglang pabalikin nga yung mga call center company…tsk tsk tsk.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
yun na nga sinasabi ko, sa news pa lang nadadala na tayong mga pilipino. bakit US ba bumubuhay sa atin? kung me sarili tayong diskarte hindi na natin kelangan umasa sa US o ibang bansa para sa ikakaunlad natin. hirap kasi sa iba porket nakadinig ng US puro pera ang nasa utak. sana wag tayong umasa masyado ke Obama at US brad..
ayusin nyo buhay nyo
November 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
kung yan ang gusto nila wala na tayo magagawa. it’s about time na magbigay ng matino at totoong mga trabaho ang gobyerno natin sa ating mga pilipino.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Face it, where the US economy goes, so goes the rest of the world. Ika nga, when America sneezes, the whole world catches the cold. Where does Obama’s interest lie, the US’s or the rest of the world. Go figure.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
O come on….paggising mo pa lang sa umaga, US product na ang gamit mo hanggang sa pagtulog US product pa rin. Lets face it we can’t make without them. kahambugan ang nagsasabi na hindi natin kelangan ang US.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
where the economy grows, so goes the rest of the world?????? hahaha, mali ka brad baka pilipinas lang yun. madaming bansa na maunlad na nde umaasa sa kanila. gusto mo ng example? research ka nalng
paggising ko sa umaga nasa pilipinas ako brad, baka nasa US ka?
November 6th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
* where the US economy goes
November 6th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
naknang, ang sinasabi mo malabo… ang sinasabi mong mga bansa bka hindi 3rd world.. ang pilipinas ay 3rd world country… malayo pa yang sinasabi mo para sa pinas na puno ng corruption… ang pinag uusapan di2 hindi kung mabubuhay tau kung wla sila, ang usapan di2 kung MAY epekto ba?? wag taung stubborn… kelangan natin ang isat isa para umunlad katulad ng kelangan ng mga bansa ang ibang bansa…
November 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Sinong nagsasabing wag tayong umasa sa US? Bakit mayaman na ba ang Pinas para wag tayong umasa… Bigating US investors ang nandirito sa ating bansa na namumuhunan. Malaki ang kanilang naitutulong sa paglago ng ekonomiya.. E kung i-pull-out ni Obama yan I’m sure dami na namang magugutom… Idagdag mo pa ang kurakot na pulitiko..
Kaya ngayon pa lang magtulungan ang mga Pinoy at wag ng tatamad-tamad hindi yong puro chizmiz ang ina-atupag…
November 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I think they can’t convince private companies to go back and settle call center jobs in the US, first reason is that they were private companies and the government of America have no control to them. Americans can’t handle their fellow Americans to support them over the phone, well, if they can, they can’t handle it very well like the way Filipino customer rep were doing.
Let’s see what happens.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am
si Obama man prexy o hindi, hindi mawawala sa eksena ang US. laging nakabuntot ang Pinas dun.sa mga ayw umamin, sige sarilinin nyo na lang. hehe.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
says, kaya nga ngiging 3rd world tayo kasi nagpapauto at bumubuntot tayo sa mga kano. tsaka sure ka 3rd world ba ng pilipinas?
ang point ko dito simulan mo sa sarili mo para umunlad ka at bansa natin, wag kang aasa sa mga corrupt na binoto mo dahil hindi mo na mababago yan.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
those who dwells on flalse impression about the impact of the US to our country are hard to convince. we cannot please everyone and lahat tayo may kanya kanyang opinyon tungkol dito.ang akin lang wag tayong mag over react. sorry po ah pero hindi ata magandang pakingan ung ibang statements dito like we’re really into american stuffs blah blah blah. hello, we are all mature and professionals ( i suppose ) kaya ung mga ganung negativity eh wag na sanang e-bring up. the topic here is about obama’s statements regarding the outsourced services.
on my opinion, if ever obama will ask the companies to pull out their investments, i don’t think they will agree on that.hello, magkano na ang nilabas nilang pera para sa trainings, supplies etc. saka as if naman makakakayang kausapin ng mga kano ang kapwa nila kano. susko, malamang magbubulyawan lang sila ng magbubulyawan sa telepono. good luck nlng sa kanila kung sakali. economically, kawalan natin pero no one can stop Filipino’s in finding ways to earn money.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
*false
November 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
basta ang alam ko maitim si obama…… at mag papauti dahil nanalo sya…
hahaha
November 7th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
lahat kau may kanya knyang kuro kuro…sana lahat ng inaasahan nating magyari..
from US. ang mangyari nga.. pro wag prin tayo umasa masyado…. SARILING SIKAP. PO MUNA TAYO.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I have high regards for the current US ambassador to the Philippines. But I couldn’t believe she’s looking the other way when the issue is about the plight of Filipinos working for american call centers in the Philippines. It’s either she’s lying or she doesn’t care.
I’d like too point out that OBAMA made it clear during the primaries, campaigns and debates that he will remove the tax breaks from US companies who shipped their jobs outside the US and that includes call center companies. Weeks before the election, newspapers in the US stated the case of the Philippines taking away the americans’ jobs (because of the tax breaks given by the BUSH administration). Which is obviously ridiculous, because one CEO (from a call center company) said the reason for shipping out the job wasn’t really about the tax but rather the skills, right attitude and low pay rate that Filipinos (and Indians) are offering. But since OBAMA is threatening companies with this tax break removal, they might have to consider lessening or even shutting down overseas offices because it would bring them plateau-ing income with the combination of operation costs overseas plus the company tax in the US.
Pro activeness in issues based on facts isn’t negativity. We (as Filipinos) must be aware of global issues happening around us. Especially about the US since it has a major role in the state of our global economy. We can’t just shut our eyes and be deaf. I for one, even when I’m living in the US now, is still concerned about the impacts that OBAMA’s presidency will have for my beloved country-the Philippines.
November 8th, 2008 at 3:01 am
sana maging state din ng america ang pinas para umunlad na at magkaroon ng disiplina. wag na kasing magmayabang. puro lang yabang meron ang mga pinoy pero wala naman kayang patunayan kung hindi aasa sa ibang bansa. sa mga nagsasabing simulan muna sa sarili ang pagbabago, nagawa ko na kaya nga lumayas na ko jan. pero kayo hindi pa at wala na kayong pag-asa. pinoy pa.
November 8th, 2008 at 3:04 am
i just hate your country folks. you are the great immitator of united states. and i’ve also learned that you’re one of the top countries with a wiiiiide corruption. what a ****.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:22 am
to former filipino:
I DONT AGREE TO EVERY F*CKING WORDS YOU SAY.
A MODERN DAY MAKAPILI! SHAME ON YOU!
November 8th, 2008 at 9:25 am
TO ASUS;
Correction ngayon paggising mo CHINA PRODUCTS!
Pagtulog CHINA PRODUCTS pa rin. and thats a fact hindi yung US na sinasabi mo pwe!
November 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
kung ganon nga ang mangyayari na ipupull- out ang call center dito sa Pinas… maraming mawawalan ng trabaho… admit it, marami ang umaasa sa call center industry kasi alang age limit, di kailangan ng experience at malaki and kita…
November 8th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
@former filipino:
uu…that’s better naman kase…
November 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I am actually working in a call center and i am affected on what obama said.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
@HENYO
i dont care if u dont agree. rality really bites and i didnt mean to hurt u. hehe. SHAME on u more kasi isa ka sa mga b*lok na alam ko takot sa change.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
typo error:
“reality” not “rality”
November 10th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
sa totoo lng po…d pa kaya mag-isa ng pilipinas…kakaawa nga eh…^^
November 10th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
nakita ko na to eh….
yan na nga ba sinasabe ko eh
pag si obama ang nanalo, malamang sa hinde eh mag pull out ang mga callcenters
hirap tau jan
November 17th, 2008 at 3:04 am
i understand your point mr/ms “former filipino”. am just curious, if your posting that you are a “former filipino”eh bakit ka nagtatagalog? uhm.. former filipino multi ligual who can speak Filipino? wow.. i guess you are really talented. the US should give you a remarkable award for your loyalty to them, note lang po, if you’ll post something, make sure na pure english at wag kang magtatagalog kase po nakakalito eh.
change? uhm.. maybe there are people who don’t like change. however, it’s inevitable. correct me po if i’m wrong pero if you’re suggesting na sumangayon kame sa pagbabago at maging katulad mo.. uhm.. i don’t think i would agree on that. count my name on your own list or maybe may mga stats ka pa pong nalalaman. i dont know lang ah seems like you’ve contributed enough to forget that no matter where you go, you’re still a filipino. *smile*.
we might have corruption and i must also admit that it’s way beyond the limit. it’s very unforgivable but i guess the only person who can throw that stone to the philippines is someone who came from a country which doesnt have any, not even a tiny bit of a, record of corruption.
pasintabi na po pero medyo babalik lang ako sa nakaraan. uhm.. diba we have heroes who fought wars against conquerors. they died fighting for for our land. ( naks.. nationality award nga jan.. hehe joke ) . madedema ung pinaghirapan nila kung lahat, i mean lahat ng pinoy eh magbabago, clinging to another nation. i must agree that we are on a rough road finding who we really are as filipinos but let us just put it this way… we have parent/s who grew up here or somewhere. wether they speak tagalog, cebuano, kapangpangan, chabakano or what ever. pilipinas po ang tinubuang lupa nila/natin kaya kahit papano, konting respeto. sa mga namayapa para sa ating nasa kasalukuyan. sa mga pilipinong nagtratrabaho para mabuhay, sa labas ng bansa( engineers, programmers, domestic heplers, nurses, teachers.performers etc.) at maging sa loob (clerks, doctors, models, lawyers, dancers, call center agents etc ). siguro naman hndi na kailangang ituro pa sa atin hanggang sa ngayon ng ating mga magulang ang pag galang? joke time na un kung sakali. hehe.
grabe, ung pagpupull out lang ng call center ang issue dito, umabot na ang kumento ko sa kung saan. dami kong sinabi noh? hehe. epal po ba?hehe keri lng. *wink*.
basta wag lang sanang magkatotoo ang pagtanggal ng mga call center sa pinas dahil katulad nyo o ng mga anak/pamilya nyo, this is our bread and butter.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:09 am
*madededma (madedema)
January 10th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
grabe astig nmn ng chikkahan d2!!!! natuwa nmn ako sa pagbasa ng mga mssge nyo!!! para sayo tosch ang galing mo magdeliver ng chukaran praktisado ka ah para namiss mo makipag usap “jokes”!! salamat nrin sa mga info ha ngaun ko lang nalaman yan!! sobra busy kc ako sa work eh kaya ndi ako updated!!! call center agent din ako!!! Lmao!!!! sana wag matuloy ang pag alis ng mga kano d2!!! pag nagkataon pala wala na ko work!!! ahahahaha!!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
wow laglagan hahaha ganto madalas ang nakikita ko sa kapwa pinoy. bkt nga ba kapit ang pinas sa kano? sabi nila magaling daw pinoy pero bkt ganyan? ano ba meron ang mga kano na wala sa mga pinoy? o dapat ata ganto ano nga ba ang pinagagawa ng pinoy bkt hndi kayang umunlad ng pinas sa sariling paa? bkt ang mga kano nakaya nila? bumagsak nga lang ngayun hehehe sencya na po sa mga tanong bata lang hs student napadaan lang
January 26th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
yeah..you’re right TOSCH! for those who are now considering them as ‘EX-FILIPINOs’: come on! i think you need to undergo a dialysis! remove all the remaining filipino-blood in your veins! you don’t deserve it.
FORMER FILIPINO is such a big LOSER. you yourself proved to everyone here how LOSER you are! come on! you left your hometown. why? ‘coz you’re damn afraid of what could have happened in your life if you stayed. you couldn’t even give a bit of a try. all you’ve wanted is an instant security. instant security? haha! ‘coz you’ve admitted you couldn’t do it on your own. i pity you.. you’re such a blood-sucker animal! what if america’s economy goes down below zero? i’m sure you’ll be running out again to some other safer place..i’ll bet!
February 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
hello po. naku sorry ang tagal ko bago makareply. busy sa trabahao. hehe parang ako lang ung owner nung thread. anyway, thanks po jed ( na kapangalan mo pa ung ex boyfriend ko na sa call center din nagtratrabaho lolz ) i also appreciate your response sonreir. just reality. factual. no dramas or what ever tsorbas hehe.
kakapit sa kano? uhm.. sige nga sa tingin mo ba kaya na ng pinas na magsolo. eh kaya nga uso ang corruption sa astin diba nga. sa tingin nyo ba may magagawa ako? may magagawa kayo? eh hello thread lang ito. lam nyo kase, kahit anu pang maging sentimyento natin dito eh kung hndi naman disiplinado ung mga gumagawa ng kalokohan eh d sana may nangyare na tlgang makakabute. pero lam nyo, krisis eh. kahit amerika may problema. saka nga pla ikumpara ba ang US sa pinas. nak ng boogie oh ahaha are you kidding me? labo nun tol. ang usapan dito ang pag pull out ng call center sa pinas. panu nga yan naelect na si obama at sa totoo lang nararamdaman ko ang “some what” effect neto. maraming company na ang nagpupull out saka maraming center na rin ang nagtitipid.
lam nyo, wala namang magagawa kung magsisisihan tayo eh. we don’t have anymore choice. tingnan nyo ah.. as in isipin nyo lang. ilan lang sa pinas ang may pinag aralan or shall i say may astang may pinagaralan na hndi lulugmok sa negativity na nararamdaman. ilang beses na tayong sumigaw. napaos na ba ung iba. pero ala pa rin eh. may iba iba tayong paniniwala pero ang masama neto, ung iba dinadala sa kalsada, parang walang delikadesa. tama na ung mga ganung drama. rally rally. whu! tigilan ako. eh kung mga taga call center ang magraly? nampu… english ang banner! yahoo! nosebleed ito!! hehe but kidding aside, we’ve been working hard to earn. like every employee does. however, we are trained to be the front liners of the company. ako.. aminado akong parang kiss ass ang ginagwa kong paghimok sa mga kano. pero tol, d ko ito kinakahiya. kase eto ang linya ng trabaho ko. dito ako kumukuha ng pangkain ko. d naman sana lalaki ang issue na ito kung magfofocus lang tayo sa positive side. though this thread was made for the plan of obama to retrack call centers in out country. chill lang mga tol.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Hmmm!!!! wow dibdiban talaga and usapan d2!! hehe!! shet la ko masabe!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 8:54 am
lolz @ jed
February 6th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
walla talaga ako masabe d2 kasi nmn i dont even know whats going on d2 sa pinas since i started to work!!! hehe! kaya tosch bigay mo nlng sakin number mo para txt nlng tayo!!! or add mo ko sa FS mo jedds_01@yahoo.com or email me!!
ah may naisip na ko sabihin!! Hmmmm!! teka!! panu ba!!
makaahon nmn talaga ang pinas kung gugustuhin eh!! kahit pa mawala yang mga Call centres na yan!! simple lang!! tangkilikin lng natin yung mga gawan pinoy!! wag tayo umangkat ng kahit n ano dahil kaya nmn natin gumawa nun eh ! we can even plant a own food kaya ndi magugutom si juan de la cruz!! getz nyo ba?? ahahahaha
February 6th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
oh yan!! naki join ndin ako!! hehehe!!!
February 13th, 2009 at 8:23 am
hehe.. lalim nung makakaahon ah. tsong pano natin tatangkilikin ( naks dumugo daliri ko dun sa pagttype ah nyahaha ) kung wla tayong pang tangkilik. kase admit it tol. as of the moment, maraming umaasa sa call center ( paulit ulit lang eh hehe ) gaya ko.