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INTERNATIONAL
research, we are also working
on establishing more coopera-
tion in the fields of culture,
health and migration in order
to broaden our exchanges.
This increase in people-to-
people exchanges is a positive
one, especially since it is driven
by th e youth. Attachments
and impressions formed at a
young age often stay with a
person for the rest their life
and we are happy that there is
a generation of young French
and Filipinos who are discove-
ring the wealth and diversity
in each other’s cultures and
are laying the foundation for a
strong and lasting bond
between the two countries.
majority of our population –
whose average age is 23.5
years old – enter their most
productive years thereby fue-
ling economic growth. Accor-
ding to the Governor of the
Philippine Central Bank, the
Philippines is the last major
economy in Asia to enter this
so-called sweet spot.
This is why President Aquino
is making huge investments in
human capital – in health,
education and training – in
order to empower the Filipino
people and be part of the
country’s economic takeoff.
All over the world, the Fili-
pino worker is recognized as
competent, adaptable and de-
dicated. Filipinos can work in
different environments, parti-
cularly multi-cultural working
environments, given their faci-
lity with the English language.
Their professional competence
has earned for them the res-
pect of their Asian and Wes-
tern counterparts, making
them much sought after in
today’s dynamic business.
Ms. Sevrine Miailhe, who
worked for ten years in one of
the Philippines’ most presti-
gious retail stores, describes
the Filipino worker in her ar-
ticle very well (see article in
previous page).
The importance of
people-to-people
exchanges in bringing
the two countries
together
France is becoming a more
active partner in developing the
country’s human capital. To-
day, there are over 60 academic
partnerships which exist
between Philippine and French
universities, and every year,
there are more and more Fili-
pino and French students which
go in exchange programs.
For the Fall semester of
2015, France welcomed over
150 Filipino students in va-
rious universities all over the
countr y. The number of
French volunteers and interns
has also increased. According
to France Volontaires, there
are currently 75 French vo-
lunteers in the Philippines
who went through their
agency. There are certainly
more who went on their own.
Aside from education and
From 2010 to 2014, the Philippines had
an average growth rate of 6.2%.
This represented the fastest-growing period
the country has seen in the past 40 years.
The Philippines has entered its
“demographic sweet spot”. This is when the
majority of our population – whose average
age is 23.5 years old – enter their most
productive years, propelling the country to
greater heights.
IAFEI Quarterly | Issue 31 | 63