Polygamous Worker

In the Philippines, once upon a time, a steady employment life meant everything to someone. For decades, many Pinoys, like Tito Ramil, sacrificed their lives for one company. He punched in at 8 a.m., punched out at 5 p.m., paid dues, retired with a small pension, and with a few plaques of appreciation. Thirty years ago, climbing that corporate ladder was the dream.

But now? That shaky ladder looks broken.

With AI taking jobs, inflation raises the cost of living before salaries do, and companies are off-shoring and firing workers to cut cost, the steady career path that used to be the golden ticket is deemed worthless. Application opens and closes for UP and Ateneo graduates working within their respective fields, if they get the job, it's payday is barely enough to survive much less to thrive".

Thus arose the concept of "the polygamous worker," the modern-day Filipino who is juggling multiple income streams. Enter Ate Maricel. The full-time BPO agent during the night, an online seller of pre-loved clothes on Carousel during daytime, and an occasional plantita and TikTok content creator on weekends. Having full-time work isn't the norm for most millennials and Gen-Z anymore, and many perceive career loyalty to be a gamble.

While "passive income" is gaining traction as the holy grail if you have any semblance of this standard of life in the Philippines.