PH to move forward needs more than a knee-jerk

Poverty, politics and patriotism. When we especially in the chattering classes are asked about PH, chances are, we would name a couple of these or similar interests or concerns. But would quickly add, “but we’re moving forward.”

More than a few would have advocacies to address poverty and many look up to the leadership and the role of politics to address them. Take federalism, for instance. There are those that believe we must move from the unitary system to a federal system as though it’s a magic wand. [See below re model thinking.]

The writer is winding down their annual homecoming where with the wife they visit with friends and family and see places, meet friends of friends and new acquaintances. It can be a jaded world, i.e., traveling on the Skyway to Makati is liberating, or relying on Uber. But the writer would choose to drive to visit parents’ resting place in Loyola Marikina. And even on a Sunday, Edsa would make one wish that it’s the Skyway . . . and reality hits home . . . “DOJ chief falls victim to ‘fake ambush,’ screams a news report. 

But PH is moving forward. The glass is half-full. It is more than half-full going by what wife and writer would feel – whenever they’re home – in Palawan, the Hacienda Sta. Elena [with its tasteful and green-inspired clubhouse] and the surrounding community (they watched an Oscar-nominated movie in a world-class cinema), Tagaytay High/Midlands, Lian (in Batangas in a beach house) and, of course, the dining and shopping experience – be it Greenbelt, Filinvest or Solenad, among others.

Reality. A friend would assure the wife that “we don’t just party among ourselves, we have advocacies to help, feed and educate the poor.” What version of the iPhone do you have, the writer asked a group of friends as the conversation drifted to what we really mean when we say we’re moving forward. And more to the point, what is it like to be forward-looking?

A recent posting discussed how we can move up the value-chain in tourism. Because to be forward-looking is to be dynamic, not static – not to settle for “pwede na ‘yan.”

Consider: There is no sacred cow, no hierarchy in brainstorming. If we are to move forward, we must recognize that today’s excellence is tomorrow’s commonplace. Not surprisingly, globalization and technology, that have brought us the iPhone, have become fodder for the waves of nationalism and isolationism confronting nations.

Does leadership know best? Let’s take Trump, does he have a good handle on his agenda? Is that manifested by retreating to his “base” – and his comfort zone – campaigning instead of governing? Because his approval rating is at a low 40%, the lowest, compared to his predecessors? Not surprisingly, “Quinnipiac’s survey found that 52% of voters trust the media more than they trust Trump, while only 37% said they trusted Trump more.”

What about Du30? Edward de Bono, the creator of “Lateral Thinking,” developed the “6 Thinking Hats.” That hierarchy does not necessarily grant a franchise to one individual – including the boss – to be all-knowing. And in a brainstorming session, to generate the best ideas, de Bono postulates leveraging the six thinking hats: (1) fact-based; (2) brightness and optimism; (3) judgmental; (4) feelings, hunches, intuition; (5) creativity; and (6) manage the process.

In other words, “[G]roups that display a range of perspectives outperform groups of like-minded experts. Diversity yields superior outcomes, and Scott Page proves it using his own cutting-edge research. Moving beyond the politics that often clouds standard debates about diversity, Page explains why difference beats out homogeneity. And he examines practical ways to apply diversity's logic to a host of problems.” [The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies, Scott E. Page, Princeton University Press, 2007; Page is professor of Complex Systems, Political Science and Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]

And “[M]ost social scientists sensibly thought that interdisciplinary knowledge was better than knowledge obtained by a single discipline.” [The major blind spots in macroeconomics, John Lanchester, The New York Times, 7th Feb 2017]

“The difficulty with the 4Cs (critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity) is that you cannot just teach them in a purely classroom setting. These are skills [students acquire] as they grow and learn, interact with their environment, and how that environment is supportive to the development of these skills. Proper parenting is very important in developing the 4Cs.

“Most families are ruled by an autocratic parent or both who do not allow open and honest conversations. The same with the dominant religion that purports to have all the answers and does not allow dissent or open discussions.

“In its 2011 report titled ‘Crosswalk of 21st Century Skills,’ Hanover Research based in Washington, DC, analyzed the list of 21st-century skill sets . . . The six frameworks listed a total of 13 themes, with four skill sets common to all. Not surprisingly, these are: 1) collaboration and teamwork, 2) creativity and imagination, 3) critical thinking, and 4) problem solving.

“The report likewise saw a definite trend toward emphasizing the global community, from civic literacy and citizenship and global and cultural awareness to social responsibility. Another up and coming skill is the ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability—an outcome of living in a fast-paced, digital environment in which information and situations change rapidly. [The] aim is to teach students to not only recognize the fast pace of the digital world but also to take it upon themselves to seek out the new and innovative.” [More on 21st-century skill sets, Butch Hernandez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11th Feb 2017]

Translation: there is no place for “pwede na ‘yan” in the 21st century. Nor even in addressing poverty.

“There are no precise estimates of rural poverty incidence today, but it would be in the region of 33% as compared to about 10% urban incidence. Low productivity and narrow diversity of agricultural raw materials limit the scale of agri-food processing industries that create steady jobs.

“Development analysts agree about the need for agriculture to grow at 3.5% to 5% over long periods to reduce poverty, especially rural poverty. Rural poverty in the medium term cannot be reduced by lower income taxes, employment in BPOs (business process outsourcing) and the 4Ps (conditional cash transfers).

“Where to? Growth must be broad-based. Growth and poverty reduction should not rely on two or three products. There are markets and market constraints to consider. Reality checks are paramount why investments in agriculture have not taken off.

“Land reform, NPA taxation, and poor infrastructure, among others, have been flagged by the private sector. Investments require economies of scale to attract investors. The five-hectare retention limit is way below investors’ threshold, like it or not. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand had no comprehensive land reform but managed to dramatically reduce poverty. Sobering lessons.

“Strategy guru Richard Rumelt once said: ‘The kernel of a strategy contains three elements: a diagnosis, a guiding policy, and coherent action.’ [And] Unilever CEO Paul Polman said in World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012: ‘Investing in agriculture brings one of the highest returns you can have.’” [Growing agriculture to reduce poverty: The simple math, Rolando T. Dy, MAP Insights, Business World, 21st Feb 2017]

PH needs more than a knee-jerk. Whether it is to overcome poverty or our concerns about politics or the war on drugs or federalism and patriotism. [Let’s reprise the 21st century skill sets: 1) collaboration and teamwork, 2) creativity and imagination, 3) critical thinking, and 4) problem solving.]

The blog recently discussed model thinking, which is a methodology to oblige collaboration and teamwork. That is, teams would harmonize into an ecosystem different frameworks from different disciplines and perspectives.

For example, whether it is services, agriculture or industry, there is a product or service that must find a wide base of consumers or market. And why innovation must be second nature to the enterprise. And a fundamental framework is what marketers call the marketing mix (product, pricing, placement, promotion). And another one is the resource mix (men/women, machine, materials, money, method) and also the execution mix (who will do what, when, where and how.)

Of course, it takes practice and experience to move away from linear and logical thinking to model thinking. And from individual work to collaboration and teamwork. Or for a PH to imagine and become a competitive, developed and wealthy nation. That presupposes we want to reinvent Juan de la Cruz. Otherwise we can be well on the way to a failed state if we aren’t there yet. Are we in fact better off today that when we pulled off People Power?

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.” [We are ruled by Rizal’s ‘tyrants of tomorrow,’ Editorial, The Manila Times, 29th Dec 2015]

“As a major component for the education and reorientation of our people, mainstream media – their reporters, writers, photographers, columnists and editors – have an obligation to this country . . .” [Era of documented irrelevance: Mainstream media, critics and protesters, Homobono A. Adaza, The Manila Times, 25th Nov 2015]

“National prosperity is created, not inherited. It does not grow out of a country’s natural endowments, its labor pool, its interest rates, or its currency’s value, as classical economics insists . . . A nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade.” [The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1990]

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” [William Pollard, 1911-1989, physicist-priest, Manhattan Project]

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]

Why our worldview matters

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]

The quote is among those that conclude every posting and (as explained before) they are like the North Star – a guide to stay true to the object of the blog. They’re not about an ideology but a journey, a forward-looking tool. They aren’t about one singular discipline. Development is indeed much more complex and demands a far broader perspective. And yet it is consistent with model thinking. Which is not static but designed for iteration and to be built upon. Not in a linear fashion but lateral – and facilitate connecting the dots, which is how Steve Jobs defines creativity.

But how does that relate to PH reality – like poverty, politics and our culture of impunity? Consider: “This is perhaps the best argument why plunder should be included in the bill re-imposing capital punishment—if ever this benighted measure gets passed. Contrary to Rep. Reynaldo Umali’s argument that ‘it’s only money,’ thieves on a grand scale steal more than wealth and resources: They make off with an entire generation’s only chance to rise above their meager circumstances. . .

“The Supreme Court’s ruling is a timely reminder of the former first family’s excesses, more so now that the anniversary of the Edsa revolution is approaching. As former PCGG chair Richard Amurao, who once thought of exhibiting the confiscated jewelry to the public, remarked: ‘The collection is a critical part of the past. We believe that the exhibit of these ill-gotten jewels will be a great vehicle to raise awareness, especially [among] the younger generation and those who have forgotten [the evils of martial law], to remind the Filipino people of the perils of the two-decade regime of corruption that was under the Marcoses.’” [Ill-gotten ‘baubles,’ Editorial, Inquirer.net, 16th Feb 2017]

But that is not all. Consider: “Malacañang has belied rumors that former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is being groomed as the next secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). ‘Frankly, I don’t have any knowledge of that,’ presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters.

“‘As far as I’m concerned, I have not received anything [about the supposed appointment of Marcos as DILG head],’ the Palace official added. There have been speculations that President Rodrigo Duterte would invite Marcos to the Cabinet after the one-year ban on appointing losing candidates in the May 2016 elections expires.” [Bongbong to DILG? ‘No idea’ – Malacañang, Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, 16th Feb 2017]

What is our worldview? Why is Marcos still in the news? “There had been no process of purification, no trials for the butchers, and no destruction of the . . . machine . . . Jump forward to the beginning of 2015 and Putin is still in the Kremlin. Russian Forces have attacked Ukraine and annexed Crimea, six years after invading another neighbor, the Republic of Georgia . . .. The desire of men to exploit and to rule over others by diktat, and by force, did not disappear when the Wall fell.” [Winter is coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the enemies of the free world must be stopped; Introduction, Garry Kasparov, Public Affairs, New York, 2015]

We Pinoys are a forgiving lot. Should we pursue the process of purification in order to put our culture of impunity behind us? “In the decision written by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the high court said the jewelry collection—valued up to $153,089 by appraisers from international auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s, or about P7.5 million at current exchange rates—is ill-gotten, and denied the petition filed by Marcos and her daughter Irene to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s earlier ruling.” [Editorial, op. cit.]

Are we a prisoner of our own mindset?  And it is not confined to politics. “PHL manufacturing sector tops 2013 moneymakers’ list-PSA,” Cai Ordinario, Business Mirror, 15th Feb 2017.

Two years ago, the writer attended two economic briefings, one sponsored by Eagle Watch (Ateneo) and the other, co-sponsored by UP. And in both briefings, the takeaway is consistent with this recent article. And supported by another article, “The story behind PH’s 6.8 GDP growth,” Andrew James Masigan, Manila Bulletin, 12th Feb 2017, “that the Manufacturing Resurgence Program is beginning to gain traction and that our industrial base is now widening after decades of contraction.”

If the story started four years ago, in 2013, where are we today? Indeed, this subset of a bigger data point is trending in the right direction. To simplify visualization, let’s establish that there is a local playing field, a regional playing field and a global playing field.

In the local playing field, we created more billionaires in the last few years than the past several decades. Indeed, to this handful of people, PH is trending in the right direction. Of course, even our GDP per capita is trending up.

And it should not be a surprise. It is common knowledge that our consumption-driven economy is a function of OFW remittances and the BPO industry. And with over 100 million of us, manufacturing of local products has to go up. And so the question must be, how do we change the dynamic of our economy?

What is reality? The blog has raised the JFC’s 7 industry winners, for example. And through and after the Aquino administration and now into the Duterte administration, a period of over 6 years, where are we in our industrialization efforts? What is ground zero of industrialization? Take electricity production, for instance. Where do we stand versus our neighbors? Based on available information, on an absolute and per capita bases, we are lagging behind. Indonesia, despite a population of more than 2.5 times ours does better at 1.2 times more electricity production per capita. And it explains our inability to attract FDI to the levels our neighbors do. And why we’re not an investment-driven economy.

And as the blog has argued, we are the only ones that import more than export. What will it take to reverse that trend? Without a purposeful energy or power initiative and a floundering industrialization effort, how do we expect to move from a consumption-driven economy to one that is investment-driven? For example, Thailand, the closest one to pursue, has industry delivering 36% of GDP against our 31%. Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia are well ahead. 

Given where we are in electricity production and how uncertain we are on the optimum energy mix to pursue, why aren’t we tapping the best brains the world has to offer and get edified? We need a master plan for total PH electrification!!! But do we have the political will???

In any case, we need to spell out the brief of the initiative in simple terms to attract the right parties to step forward and work with us. Here’s an example in broad strokes: “We are a fast-growing (6-7% range) $300-B consumption-driven economy of 103 million people, generating 30% of GDP from remittances, the BPO industry and tourism. We need a total-country electrification game plan that will sustain growth: (a) via both supply reliability and competitive costs, recognizing that we must bite the bullet during the transition; and (b) by raising the share of industry (of GDP) from 31% to 38% to match our neighbors. We are looking at 7 strategic industries to pursue aggressively, and consequently attract FDI.”

Of course, key players in government and the industry may write a better brief but the thinking process is crucial. Simple is better . . . before we get lost in translation as Boo Changco pointed out in his column, “Airport options, strategies.” Defining where we are and where we want to be in layman’s terms will help Juan de la Cruz crystallize how we can formulate a worldview.

Sadly, we have a built-in barrier a.k.a. an oligarchic economy: “BMI analysts . . . pointed out that only four major conglomerates have been bagging PPP contracts, with constitutional limits on foreign ownership standing in the way of a more ‘diverse’ pool of bidders. Currently, foreign firms need to pair up with local companies through a joint venture agreement in order to take on a local infrastructure project.

‘[D]espite the Philippines’ strong PPP regulations, the country’s subpar business environment continues to hold back key infrastructure projects,’ the Fitch unit said in a report released yesterday as it cited lapses in the rollout of big-ticket PPP deals.

“Although the World Bank ranks the Philippines’ PPP regulations as among the best in the world as it has clear and well-defined laws, transparency requirements and an independent dedicated agency, our Project Risk Index shows that the operating environment for infrastructure projects is still far behind.

“We believe that good PPP regulations are important in bringing private finance and expertise to the infrastructure sector, but the case of the Philippines shows that improvements in a country’s fundamental operating environment are also essential.” [BMI flags poor PPP environment, Melissa Luz T. Lopez, Business World, 3rd Feb 2017]

We may take our worldview for granted yet given how it informs our culture and instincts, we better step up to the plate.

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.” [We are ruled by Rizal’s ‘tyrants of tomorrow,’ Editorial, The Manila Times, 29th Dec 2015]

“As a major component for the education and reorientation of our people, mainstream media – their reporters, writers, photographers, columnists and editors – have an obligation to this country . . .” [Era of documented irrelevance: Mainstream media, critics and protesters, Homobono A. Adaza, The Manila Times, 25th Nov 2015]

“National prosperity is created, not inherited. It does not grow out of a country’s natural endowments, its labor pool, its interest rates, or its currency’s value, as classical economics insists . . . A nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade.” [The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1990]

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” [William Pollard, 1911-1989, physicist-priest, Manhattan Project]

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]

Tourism: moving up the value chain

“Tourism contributes P1.4T to GDP,” Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 23rd Mar 2016. “The Philippine travel and tourism industry contributed a total of P1.43 trillion to the local economy in 2015, equivalent to about 10.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the latest report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

“Money spent by foreign visitors, or what WTTC termed as visitor exports, was deemed a key component of the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the local economy. In 2015, the Philippines generated P294.4 billion in visitor exports, a figure expected to grow by 3.6 percent this year, during which the country is expected to attract some 5.5 million international tourists.”

For 2016 that would mean US$ 6.1-B in “visitor exports” (from the writer’s back of the envelope arithmetic.) While the total tourism contribution will approximate what we generate from OFW remittances or the BPO industry, granted that the net margin income from the industry may be lower.

The subject arose when the wife and writer (and relatives) were recently in Palawan – El Nido and Puerto Princesa. And foreign visitors were indeed teeming. It was the first time for the writer although wife and daughter were in Coron four years ago; and the wife ensured that this time the writer went – especially after friends back in the US recounted stories from their visits in Coron.

Since the blog is about economics, let’s put some numbers to build on the premise of the title, how tourism can move up the value chain. And since tourism is a global industry, the mindset must be geared for global competitiveness – and why we started with the $6.1-B in visitor exports, expressed in foreign currency.

And Trip Advisor is handy to enumerate the top 30 attractions in PH. Assume that these attractions generate 80% of visitor exports, that equates to $4.9-B in revenues. Twelve of the 30 or 40% are in Palawan. Assume that in the provinces tourists spend a third of what they would in Metro Manila. That means in Palawan we are generating $645-million in visitor exports.

The rest of the top 30 attractions break out as follows: 7-Visayas, 5-Northern Luzon, 1-Southern Luzon, 5-Metro Manila. Applying the same ratio of spending to all those in the provinces across the board, and the balance allocated as the share Metro Manila, that means the latter generates $3.5-B in visitor exports.

Not surprising given hotel rates in Manila are higher as well as recreation, entertainment and other related expenses. The number may be overstated which represents 73% of total, and may be a few points off Metro Manila’s actual share of the economy. (The calculations are solely for visualization purposes.)

But back to Palawan. How does Palawan tourism move up the value chain? As the blog has discussed before, innovation is the key. And innovation must identify a human need that must be addressed to raise man’s wellbeing. 

Let’s imagine how the top attractions in other countries would deliver that. And here Steve Jobs’ definition of creativity would be helpful, i.e., it is simply connecting the dots.

And since we Pinoys love to travel, we know that the dots start and end at our home airport. [And why a world-class airport in Metro Manila is imperative as well as the requisite infrastructure system that will allow visitors to easily move about while in PH.] And to appreciate the thinking process, let’s look at the El Nido Resorts as a benchmark.

To get to the domestic terminal, a relative drove wife and writer through SLEX; it was a Sunday and the drive was a breeze. At the airport, after check-in, they were ushered to the lounge of Air Swift. So far so good . . . and on the return . . . “wow” – the arrival area is head-and-shoulders above the departure area.

Here is what a Canadian posted on the web describing his own experience: “The lounge at both airports had snacks and refreshments. The Manila lounge was nice with reserved seats for passengers with name tags, TVs, Air-Con, toilets, the El-Nido airport didn't have Air-con but they did have fans all over and toilets as well and was nice enough.” A French couple and another one from Spain chatting with the wife and writer marveled at the unspoiled rural scenery – yet with the amenities described by the Canadian.

There is no wading in the water. Here’s how the dots connect reading from the resort’s website: “Travel time is approximately 55-minutes using a 50-seater ATR aircraft. From Lio airport in El Nido, there will be or a 10-15 min van ride to El Nido Town Pier followed by a 30 to 45-minute boat ride to Lagen Island depending on tide and weather conditions.”

And on the return, the brother-in-law punched the Uber App and in no time Ram, the owner-driver, was by the terminal building. And another “wow” – the access road from the domestic terminal to the Skyway was traffic-free, it was a Saturday, early evening.

From Lagen the party stayed in El Nido town, in a hotel owned by Pinoy friends from New York. Groups from Spain and Germany and Denmark became acquaintances and they were unanimous in saying the hotel more than met their expectations. The same can be said of the hotel where the family stayed in Puerto Princesa.

El Nido, a small town of 41,000, looks very dense with foreigners moving around and about as though they were in their hometowns. And aboard the outrigger – even before it reached the pier – the writer already saw the outdoor cafes and bars, and by happy-hour time the group was enjoying the sunset amongst foreigner-drinking parties. For dinner, it was the seafood “ihawan” place that was also by the water.

But let’s see how the dots connect: Note “toilets” figured in the Canadian review referenced above.

Given Palawan captures 40% of the top PH attractions, it must be a focus. [Translation: let’s get over “crab mentality” and prioritize where we get the biggest bang for the buck. It’s about the greater good for the greater number, including employment. It is beyond the rhetoric of rural development.] And to move up the value chain simply means addressing this particular dot (“toilets”) in the outdoor cafes and bars/restaurants.

This is where different concerned groups and advocates (akin to a cross-disciplinary partnership in the pursuit of innovation) can be called upon. For example, if the business establishments need financial assistance to get their facilities up to international standards, the mayor, the Dept. of Tourism and major industries that benefit from tourism can join hands to move PH tourism up to world-class levels. [Sadly, politics always rears its ugly head. The mayor of Puerto Princesa is reported to have been dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, and the DILG has stopped recognizing him as mayor.]

For example, in Eastern Europe, along the highways, gas stations have become traveler-friendly. Yet not that long ago, the writer would have his own toilet paper whenever he was on the road. These facilities have become truly world-class. [The writer recalls that over 3 decades ago when the family drove through California, even in the rural areas, “Clean Restroom” really meant a clean restroom.]

Which brings us to two road trips that are popular in Palawan. The drive from El Nido to Puerto Princesa or vice versa (a 5-hour trip) and the one from Puerto Princesa to Sabang (1.5 hours) to get to the Underground River. Again, the toilets. If we map out the drive to the top attractions of PH, how many of them would require international-standard toilets along each of the routes? And there can be several ways to achieve the desired outcome.

For example, sponsors can be tapped to build and maintain these facilities. Should the Dept. of Tourism be involved? What about the Dept. of Trade & Industries? From the private sectors, the telcos and the beverage firms, instead of simply putting up billboards, can be tapped as well? And the oil companies too?

The wifi connections in the hotel in El Nido and the one in Puerto Princesa would confirm why we always complain about the telcos. Surprisingly, on Lagen Island, it was efficient.

Connecting the dots. What are the needs of tourists that we must respond to? Innovation as the blog has argued, does not have to be earthshaking.

In fairness to El Nido town, the writer’s party enjoyed dinner in a restaurant they understood was owned by a Frenchman.

But the highlight of the story is the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Indeed, it has the ability to get the writer to intone “Wow!” Like it did the foreign tourists. But to keep to our global perspective, we Pinoys must know that there are easily 10, if not more, underground rivers elsewhere in different countries per Google. Which only means we better raise our sights higher because if tourism is indeed to be a major industry, we must be truly globally competitive.

And as the blog constantly brings up, we need to appreciably raise the shares of industry and agriculture of GDP in order to progress from an underdeveloped to a developed nation. And in the case of tourism, given the global imperatives of competition, we must constantly raise the bar and move up the value chain. And that means concerned groups and advocates must collaborate and work together in pursuit of innovation and the common good. It is called nation building. 

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.” [We are ruled by Rizal’s ‘tyrants of tomorrow,’ Editorial, The Manila Times, 29th Dec 2015]

“As a major component for the education and reorientation of our people, mainstream media – their reporters, writers, photographers, columnists and editors – have an obligation to this country . . .” [Era of documented irrelevance: Mainstream media, critics and protesters, Homobono A. Adaza, The Manila Times, 25th Nov 2015]

“National prosperity is created, not inherited. It does not grow out of a country’s natural endowments, its labor pool, its interest rates, or its currency’s value, as classical economics insists . . . A nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade.” [The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1990]

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” [William Pollard, 1911-1989, physicist-priest, Manhattan Project]

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]