We can learn from the Aussies

by Vic A

Australia’s humble beginnings as a modern country started when the first British naval fleet arrived in this land inhabited by the aborigines for thousands of years.  The then British government used this newfound land as the new destination for the so-called ‘undesirables and scoundrels’ of British society.  At the time, the British jails were brimming with notorious residents that there was not enough space for everyone.  Australia then became the alternative destination.  In those days, being sent to Australia was punishment in itself – it was a far-away land with harsh natural conditions.

This is Bondi Beach, the most famous beach in Australia where it's open to the public - no membership required to have a dip in this beautiful shoreline

That was the latter part of the 18th century.  Two centuries on, Australia has grown to become one of the most-desired places to go to, either to visit or to live in.  In Australia’s short modern history, it has made major contributions to science, sports, international affairs and other human endeavours.
And being a migrant to this great nation, I keep wondering how it managed to do that in this short span of time.  With a population just over that of Metro Manila’s, the question in my head is, “How did they manage to get to where they are now in such a short time and with such small population”?  For sure, there must be lessons that we can learn from them. 

And having lived here for over 10 years now, I can see that one of the major reasons for their success as a nation is their egalitarian views and attitudes.  I didn’t truly understand the meaning of the word egalitarian until I came to Australia.  Sure I have come across it in the past as a word but I haven’t understood the real essence of it. 

Egalitarian is a word that people in Australia use in everyday conversations.  This fascinates me because this is not an everyday word in the Philippines.  We probably want to think that we are egalitarian too but think again.  If you haven’t already observed, we use words that promote prejudices toward certain people or groups of people, and we use them so openly that we don’t view them anymore as something derogatory.  And this is prevalent even in our small town.  We have an unwritten class system that perpetuates division and hierarchy. 

For example, we use words such as promdi, pugot, taga-udong, taga-ili, de adal, taga-abroad, balikbayan, etc, as if to say that they deserve a worse or better treatment than the rest if they fall under that classification.  We love putting labels and classifications on people – ensuring that hierarchy is honoured, advantages are exploited and privileges are ostentatiously displayed.  We secretly like the labels given to us especially if these connote superiority over others.  We don’t say them out loud but we could feel them – they are real.

I remember when I used to live in Manila, the marketers of products and services unashamedly promote and encourage the class system.  You would have heard malls, shops and restaurants promoting themselves as catering to the A/B or C/D crowd.   I am sure that there is such a market segmentation here in Australia as well.  The difference is the magnitude in which it is apparent and the degree that it has been ingrained in people’s consciousness.  In fact when my nephew and sister came to visit us a few years ago, my nephew made a good observation.  He said, “I can’t believe that professionals in their suits don’t mind taking the bus”.   And it’s true.  I used to work for a company director who takes the bus and train to work, just like most people do.  In the Philippines, I have yet to find someone in a position of power who would be big enough to take public transport.

And what about those people who live in gated villages in Manila and the ones who live in the “gillage” (that reads, gilid ng village).  These gated villages have guards in the gate whose main purpose in life is to check your identification and lift the boom gate before you can drive in to their posh villages.  Whereas here, even the most exclusive homes hardly have guards.  The only house I know who has a guard in Australia is the Prime Minister’s House, the counterpart of our Malacanang. 

I was once walking along the beach here and coming from the opposite direction was the State Premier (equivalent to a state governor).  He was on his own, enjoying his walk just like everyone else.  I was amazed at how people here don’t give much fuss about well-known personalities.  They treat them just like everyone else.  This State Premier had no exclusive entourage who would shield him from the throng of masses and who would attend to his needs at every beck and call.

And do you remember the blatant discrimination that Philippine companies display when recruiting would-be employees?  They are not shy to put out in their ads the specific schools they want their candidates to come from.  You would have seen ads like this, “Only graduates of the following universities need apply:  University A, University B and University C”.  If you are not a graduate of these elite universities and colleges then you have no chance to compete with the others for the best jobs.  In contrast, when I applied for jobs here in Australia, they never even asked which university I got my degree from.  To them, it’s not where you graduated from and it’s not how well-off your family background is that determine your hire-ability.  We are quick to point our fingers on discriminatory issues when we are overseas but we tend to forget how strong it is even with our own people, in our own country.

In the Philippines, we address our superiors at work and anyone in a position of power as Ma’am or Sir and we use denigrating words for our helpers and associates such as katulong, katalunan. We can really tell who the boss is just by the way we address them and correspondingly, by the way they act out their authority.  In Australia, at least in the organisations where I have been to, we call even the company CEO on a first name basis.  For example, we don’t even say, “Hi Mr. Smith”, we just say, “Hi Allan”.  But to the person in power, this doesn’t diminish his/her authority in any way.  I was shocked at first when I saw my boss photocopying and faxing his own stuff at work.  That is something I would never see in the Philippines.

Egalitarianism, the Aussie way, means having a fair go.  You are not defined by the family you are born to, the school that you went or the people that you associate with.  It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, be proud of what you do.  If you are a plumber, it doesn’t mean that you are lower as a person than a company director.  The gap in the status of these two different people maybe real but is not played out the way that we do it in the Philippines. 

That’s Aussie egalitarianism for you.  Let’s learn from it.