"Local Products are better than Imported Products"

As years goes by, the freewill and willingness of the people to purchase and patronize their own products slowly decreases due to some reasons. Based on researches and on what is commonly seen today, the main reason of this upcoming problem would be the people who are fond of buying international products rather than their own. Some are after the quality of the product but most of them are after the name and what is the trend as of today’s generation.

Patronizing our local products is one simple way that every Filipino could do and it is an act of showing love for the country. We should prefer our local products over the imported ones. We should not be easily fascinated by the big brand names of the imported products at present. We have to believe that our local products are globally competitive and have endless possibilities for success.

Here are three reasons why we should choose local over imported: First, local products are more affordable compared to imported products. As Filipinos, we prefer buying products that have cheaper prices. According to Human Nature (2014), most Filipinos haven't quite outgrown the mentality that imported products are better than local products or that local products are all-low quality, inferior goods. But, it's not true. Our local products have cheaper prices yet it maintains good quality. Second, by patronizing local products we are promoting our own culture. As Filipinos, we are naturally artistic when it comes in making our own products. For example, Weaving is a cherished tradition in the Philippines. It is an artistic expression that the artisans use in sharing the world, the beauty of its culture. The Filipino creativity and ingenuity should be shared to different parts of the world.  When we buy local products such as handicrafts and woven products, we promote how rich and beautiful our culture is, because it shows the creativity of the Filipinos who made it. As Filipinos, we should be proud of our own unique talents and show the world that the Filipino products can also compete with imported products. Lastly, we help our economy by patronizing local products. Mrs. Cecilla Ramos of Buy Pinoy Movement Foundation Inc. (BPMFI), once said that “In patronizing our own products, you are creating jobs”, our problem with unemployment will diminish. When all of us, are patronizing locally made products, many innovative entrepreneurs will be encouraged to put up small businesses that will sell local products. As a result, greater job opportunities for every Filipino will arise. We are also helping the Filipino manufacturers who worked hard to produce local products. We help them to earn and save more money by constantly buying from them. Through these simple ways, we are helping the economy of our country to improve and lessen the poverty we are experiencing.

Therefore, we should always patronize locally-made products. Being affordable, promotes our own culture, and it helps the economy are just few of the many reasons why we should patronize local. We need to take away the belief that imported products are better than our local products from the minds of our fellow Filipinos. We should be aware of the progressive benefits that we and our country could get by choosing our own.  President Manuel Quezon issued an Executive Order No. 217 on August. 19, 1939, a Code of Citizenship and Ethics.  One of the values that he strongly encouraged on this was to “Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines. Patronize the products and trades of your countrymen,” It means patronizing local products should be a responsibility and duty of every Filipino. We have to be proud of what our beloved country has to offer. We need to start patronizing and loving local.