The Future of Filipino Professionals

By: Joe Mauricio

 

NURSES:The demands for Filipino nurses, both at the Philippines and U.S. and other countries, may have declined in the last few years, but the Philippine Nurses Association believes that the future is still bright for the graduating nurses.

The PNA considers Filipino nurses as globally competent, making them a step ahead over their counterparts from other Asian countries.

ENGINEERS: Get licensed as an engineer is an absolute requirement to advance a career in any fields of engineering. Gone are the days when unlicensed engineer can become a manager or go up to higher engineering position. Focus on engineering specialization, and be disciplined. Engineering work can stressful, especially you are just starting. Joining engineering associations and finding a mentor in your disciplines, will help you advance in your career.

LAWYERS: One way to describe the future of lawyers is to list some key challenges that confront them, and identify their skills set to enact them….(1) Defending the Rule of Law- this is democracy’s foundation and for its institutions. Lawyers are always the first responders and the last defenders. The Rule of Law is under siege around the world. Lawyers, present and future, must respond to these challenges.; (2) Insuring access to justice – The Rule of Law is undermined when significant portion of society lacks meaningful access to legal representation.; (3) Insuring diversity in legal profession – the world is more interconnected than ever before. A more diverse legal profession is essential to enhance public confi dence in the Rule of Laws.

PHYSICIANS & HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: The future, compiled from the observation of more than 3,400 doctors, has uncovered a complex picture of the attitude of physicians nationwide toward the important issues facing the industry. Survey comments clearly show that doctors are disheartened by changes to the practice of medicine. Though most of the positive comments came with caveats, doctors say those difficulties are outweighed by rewards of being a doctor and the need for medical care. A number of doctors are considering retirement as they feel the pressure of declining reimbursements, increased administrative burdens, and industry consolidation. The increasing bureaucratic and regulatory demands are leading toward dissatisfaction among doctors and health care professionals. While many are staying put in their current medical positions, many have expressed concerns about how the industry changes and impacts the future of individuals and small group practices.

TEACHERS: Remember the wave of Filipino teachers who were starting to settle in Chicago in the 1970’s? They were young, vibrant and enthusiastic to share their chosen profession: to teach young people. Dealing with other people’s kids is hard, especially the difficult ones who hate school and everything associated with it. These teachers have a mindset that every student will learn and sit quietly and do as they are told. Sadly, it does not happen all the time, which causes regret, frustration, and stress to everyone. Too much frustration and stress lead to burnout. Emotional exhaustion can result in being emotionally over-extended, drained, and used up, without any source of replenishment. They soon retired and joined the community organizations and dance clubs for replenishment, and sometimes bully the club memberships during meetings, still thinking they are still inside a classroom when they talk.

Kidding aside, there is now a wave of professional teachers from third-world countries to teach children with special needs. So many Filipino teachers back home have joined the bandwagon to share their passion and expertise in this country.