Looking back on the past, from 1964 to 1967, Canada has become the biggest "importer" of professionals in the world in proportion to population. Canada admited 5,288 Filipino professionals and technical workers, of this figure, 3,237 were engineers, 221 doctors, 1,902 nurses and 434 natural and social scientiests. Total Filipino immigrants admitted to the U.S.A. for the said period, including those without occupation, was 30,149. (Taiwan ranks as the top exporter of professionals and skilled workers to the U.S.A. with a total of 51,218.)

Physicians seem to scale a great number in this brain drain crisis. Present reports made by Dr. Cuyegkeng, executive director of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, presented that some 40 per cent or 9,320 of the Philippines' 23,420 practicing physicians are currently out of the country. From 1965 to 1969 alone, 3,776 have migrated to the United States as interns, residents or fellows. Dr. Cuyegkeng also pointed out that a substantial number of Philippine medical graduates not accounted for, are in the U.S.A., delivering some form of medical care either unofficially or doing odd jobs due to lack of qualifications.

It costs, 7,000 pesos to produce one MD in the Philippines. The Filipino medical graduate knows this fully well and his real intent in offering his skills to the highest bidder in the market is foremost in his mind.

The question is, could the Filipino medical graduate, who migrates to the U.S.A. or Canada, be then considered less nationalistic?

Reasons for a Filipino medical graduate's migration might be the desire for further training after licensure, which is not available in the Philippines in terms of number of positions, quality of training and financial benefits; and possibly the lack of opportunities for professional satisfaction upon return.

Filipinos who migrated to the U.S.A. or Canada are criticized because of this "brain drain" problem. However, they disagree with their countrymen at home for they feel that they are also doing the Philippines a lot of good for lessening the burden of unemployment here, aside from sending home much-needed dollars. Many unabashedly agree that they are one of the Philippines' best exports, after all, they may still be in the ranks of the unemployed were they to stay at home.

The exodus of professionals to the United States and Canada is a natural result of how they are paid in our country, especially when you consider the advantages of job practices in America and Canada, most especially to the doctors and nurses. Most of our professionals, after qualifying in the exams, find it extremely difficult to find employments. Those who are lucky to land employment are paid embarrassingly low salaries. So why should anyone prevent those who want to better their status? If the individual can make a better living abroad, why should he be prevented from going there? If his country cannot give him the just recognition for his talents and skills, why should his countrymen force him to forego a comfortable living abroad? Whether our professionals go abroad for further training under the Exchange Visitors Program or are offered jobs as mere hospital attendants or medical aides for instance, does not matter to most of them since the pay is very much higher than that which our country can offer. Besides the good pay, there is also the spirit of adventure to thrill them. Facilities are excellent abroad. The opposite is true in our country.