Do it once, you’re a fool … but twice makes me a fool

If we cannot take that premise, then this posting must be destined for the trash bin.

The Marcos killing fields made him a fool. To celebrate EJKs – the second killing fields for this proud Christian nation from the hands of its leader – makes us a fool. And there is a word for it, uncivilized. To quote from an earlier posting, civilization means development – or evolution, progress, refinement, sophistication, advancement … of people, society, nation, culture, polity. [Thesaurus]

And it explains why progress – growth and development – has eluded Juan de la Cruz. We the elite class that Juan de la Cruz looks up to – as models and thought leaders to advance PH civilization – bear the burden if democracy dies again in the Philippines, to paraphrase Prof. Edilberto C. De Jesus [of the Asian Institute of Management.]

We can rationalize our failings yet we must recognize when enough is enough. President Ramos rallied us behind the slogan “Global Philippines” but it appears we can’t undo parochialism and insularity. And to celebrate EJKs confirms our deference to hierarchy that has promised prosperity. But that is so patronizing to even be credible. Why? Prosperity comes with civilization. And we run the risk that beyond failed institutions we are inching closer to a failed nation – if we’re not there yet. Recall the pronouncement of the late Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Many postings ago the writer shared the experience of a visit to Papua New Guinea. Consumer-product companies have a terminology for such visits, i.e., trade visits or store checks. And they are not confined to developed economies given competition means winning in the global arena. But even more intrusive is the pursuit of global household penetration and pantry checks.

They are examples of how to go full circle and connect the dots to drive innovation and competitiveness: to validate the hypothesis of the undertaking – from product concept … all the way to the pantry of the consumer, to confirm that the product serves the purpose and addresses a human need.

The thinking model applies to agribusiness and more precisely, how we can reform Philippine agriculture. And that is, we must start with the coconut industry since it accounts for roughly half of agriculture exports. Sadly, the industry, which impacts the most number of rural poor families, is not a world-class enterprise [even when political patronage has appropriated its spoils.]

The question to answer is not: how do we innovate? Because innovation is not innovation for innovation’s sake. It must be: what human needs can coconut-derived products serve? And that is where innovation and competitiveness begins. In short, it is not about consumerism but how to raise man’s well-being.

Coconut is a great gift to mankind because of its varied by-products, both consumer and industrial. It is here where our scientists must demonstrate their expertise. We are constantly talking of making finance accessible to farmers yet there is no equal energy and drive to ascertain what portfolio of products we must produce and market – and win on the global stage … and generate the greatest revenues.

To conquer poverty, we must think wealth – sustainable wealth generation – not subsistence farming and paternalism nor charity and subservience. Recall the distinction between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. From the coconut industry, we must do a similar exercise for the rest of Philippine agriculture. But there is a BIG caveat: Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize. Toss “crab mentality” from the get-go before it drops us into the blackhole. 

But let’s get back to PNG. The village elder must know the unspoken questions from visitors that straightway he addresses the subject of civilization. “Senseless killings are a thing of the past. And back in the day, it was about the instinct of survival. We would hunt for food which is not like going to the store today to pick up stuff. So, if a family keeps livestock in the backyard and an intruder dared to steal what is precious, a fight will ensue. And there is no guarantee that life won’t be lost.”

If we’re uncertain how to wrap our head around the idiocy of EJKs, we probably need a national cleansing. We can’t resent being referenced as tree people or people living in trees when we celebrate EJKs – which the whole world views as uncivilized. Yes, EJK is uncivilized, if we still don’t appreciate it. It explains why the community of nations called out our inanity.

The bottom line: The community of nations is committed to advance civilization, saved for the handful of despots. And we can’t be stuck in our parochial and insular instincts – that unwittingly we brought Marcos and Duterte upon ourselves. And God forbid, Bongbong is waiting in the wings. The kleptocracy of the family still revolts the world. Think of why the Romanians won’t have a Ceausescu again, ever.

And to be engaged in the war on poverty and the war on drugs speaks volumes. As the blog has argued, they are not the path to progress, growth and development – and prosperity.

There is a wealth of knowledge that we can tap to guide us in the pursuit of prosperity. But does naiveté get in the way and add insult to injury? In other words, our parochial and insular posture makes us rationalize our desire to stand apart from the community of nations, including the West.

Consider: We define independence as the freedom from foreign meddling – and more precisely, kicking out the US military and shutting the door to FDIs. And look at other nations, wealthier than we are, that demonstrated pragmatism. China led by Deng is one as well as Singapore and Malaysia. While Trump is cajoling Europeans – including very wealthy Germany – to spend for defense instead of relying on the US.

Which brings us full circle to our value of and reliance on hierarchy aka political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy. Because we recognize that rank has its privileges, do we confuse it with submission to tyranny as Rizal noted? Unsurprisingly, we are unable to internalize the egalitarian ethos – which we unfortunately share with uncivilized societies.

Egalitarian? Think why Francis chose to stay in the guesthouse with other Vatican guests instead of the Papal apartment.

More to the point, Marcos was a fool, and to let Duterte reprise a Marcos makes us fools. If we have a hard time internalizing check-and-balance, do we need to ask the question: are we ready, mature enough for freedom and democracy? [See above re Prof. De Jesus]

And why the blog keeps challenging our deference to hierarchy ... which likewise undermines innovation. Docility will not bring out creativity … nor the best in people. And why a Rizal quote leads the conclusion of every posting …

“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]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“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]

More of the same except for EJKs …

It can’t be how we expect to move forward as a nation? Until we redraw our playing field – and reframe our thinking model – we can only expect more of the same. Einstein calls it insanity, which we in the chattering classes never fail to quote. Yet we continue with our merry ways – que sera, sera.

Of course, manufacturing is growing. In an economic briefing the writer attended a couple of years ago, he expressed disagreement. Our view of the uptick is no different from the short-term thinking of Wall Street. Again, OFW remittances and the BPO industry, mainly, are driving our consumption economy. And given our population of over a hundred million, there is a local market for manufacturing.

But that is not what will eradicate poverty. Even at 7% GDP growth, it will take us a generation to lift Juan de la Cruz up. That is classic logical, linear and incremental thinking. Not the way the Asian Tigers journeyed from poverty to prosperity.

Consider: We’re an OFW economy instead of an industrialized economy. And it explains much of our underdevelopment – and why poverty persists in PH. And where our logical yet linear and incremental thinking all along assumed the war on poverty is the answer.

Unfortunately, MSMEs geared as livelihood undertakings – and that we like to headline – aren’t the answer either. The American model is different in a major way. And that is, it had moved the industrial revolution – started by the UK – up the next level. And their MSMEs found a home in this much broader industrialized base. And as important, Uncle Sam – like our Chinoys – is more entrepreneurial than Juan de la Cruz. And that is, he is truly self-reliant.

We’re into subsistence farming – institutionalized by land reform – instead of large-scale agribusiness geared to produce and market a product portfolio that will win in the global market. It explains why our neighbors run rings around us – in agriculture exports.

And we assume that federalism is the silver bullet when, more likely than not, it will institutionalize “crab mentality” – and undermine the common good. While insurgents believe that communism will be our saving grace. As some would know, ex-socialists that were under Soviet rule, have found a mentor in the writer. Because firsthand experience told them otherwise.

What we need is to step up to the plate and dismantle political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy. Why? Ours is a culture of impunity brought about by our deference to hierarchy while expecting paternalism in return. Indeed, a vicious circle.

Of course, we’ve done loads to support our OFWs, our commitment to the poor hasn’t ceased – we even want to protect them from the drug menace that we vote with both hands to support EJKs [see below re civilization] – and beyond the “party-list” system and the LGUs, we want more direct participation by Juan de le Cruz in government.

And there is where the problem lies. “Crab mentality” not the common good is the creed. And unsurprisingly, self and family rules over community. There is a word for it, civilization – or development, evolution, progress, refinement, sophistication, advancement … of people, society, nation, culture, polity.

And it explains why we’re the regional laggard. Leadership is subsumed in the vicious circle of “Pinoy kasi.” We proudly embrace our “culture” and instincts: We are parochial and insular. We defer to hierarchy and expect paternalism in return. We value and rely on political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy.

The bottom line: We are a disaster waiting to happen. In fact, disaster has defined us (a) over the last 70 years or (b) for over a hundred years, according to Rizal. Take your pick.

“If democracy again dies in the Philippines, critics will likely blame the ignorant masses for failing either to elect leaders of proven competence and unquestioned integrity or to hold them accountable when they betray public trust. But the leadership elite—in politics and the professions, in the church and civil society, in the bureaucracy and business—will bear the heavier burden for its death.” [Development, democracy, dictatorship and RevGov, Edilberto C. de Jesus, BUSINESS MATTERS, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2nd Dec 2017; de Jesus is professor emeritus at the Asian Institute of Management]

Because we in the elite class believe we are superior given where we sit in PH hierarchy? Whatever happened to Hitler’s superior race? Or what happened to aristocracy? See above re civilization. As the blog has argued, organisms that fail to adapt go extinct. And being the regional laggard, we are too close [to extinction] for comfort?

To be sure, the world has been going through a rough patch yet history tells us mankind is indeed adaptable. Not surprising if we go by the theology of creation.

Sadly, Juan de la Cruz hasn’t moved beyond underdevelopment and understandably to be forward-looking and forward-thinking isn’t his instinct. “Crab mentality” is nourished by our state of underdevelopment, i.e., we perceive our plight as destiny, a state of helplessness.

But let’s test that. Where are we on the openness of the economy? On innovation and competitiveness? And on community and the common good? They are all man-made. They are available to all nations, rich and poor alike. Consider: All nations started out poor.

Why are the Asian Tigers head and shoulders above us in innovation and competitiveness? Because they are more open economies, FDIs and technologies are pouring like rain. Sadly, given our state of underdevelopment, we turn inward not outward. For example, instead of netting out (i.e., net worth) the assets minus liabilities of our neighbors, we like to focus on their weaknesses. That China does not give up land to attract FDIs; that the Asian Tigers, including China, are not true democracies like ours.

On the other hand, we focus on our strengths not our “net worth.” We also do it when we speak of the West. They’re a bunch of hypocrites – forgetting that Lee, Mahathir and Deng were in bed with them while we’re left holding the bag. There is a word for it, naiveté. What we fail to realize is pointing a finger at another is pointing two at us. It is called underdevelopment. We all went through adolescence and we know what that means. It is why Trump is called narcissistic by majority of Americans.

As the blog has repeatedly said, until we truly open the economy, we can kiss FDIs goodbye. Until we toss our deference to hierarchy while expecting paternalism in return, until we discard our value of and reliance on political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy, we can kiss good governance goodbye.

And until we grow up we can kiss innovation and competitiveness goodbye as well.

Innovation and competitiveness is beyond consumerism that we like to blame for the problems of the world. Adam and Eve realized that they had to employ their God-given gifts if they were to survive outside Eden. And as they moved forward in civilization they realized there is more to life than survival.

The bottom line: We must wake up to the reality that our “culture” and instincts won’t advance civilization. Or to even move the nation forward. Development is beyond the war on poverty and the war on drugs. These distractions will sink us deeper into the abyss.

And precisely why we must pay heed and embrace the latest UN SDGs (sustainable development goals): (1) rapid infrastructure development; (2) industrialization; and (3) innovation and competitiveness.

It will not be a cakewalk given our inability to embrace change and reform. It will take some doing yet we must redraw our playing field – beyond our borders – and reframe our thinking model – beyond “Pinoy abilidad” and logical, linear and incremental thinking. Or simply, outside the box.

And that is the wish of the writer and his family, who joins him in wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

“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]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“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]

The power of focus …

And why “crab mentality” is our albatross. Which explains the title of the blog, Philippine economy: reinventing ourselves.

It has repeatedly discussed Pareto, the imperative to prioritize and focus and not to reinvent the wheel – but ourselves – and to learn from the Asian Tigers. And to embrace the UN SDGs (sustainable development goals) and focus on the building blocks of development: rapid infrastructure development, industrialization, and innovation and competitiveness.

And here is another Steve Jobs story, a recurring feature of the blog. “The power of focus” from Justin Bariso, Founder, Insight,www.inc.com, 27 Nov 2017. “Without it, you’re doomed to a life of distraction. A life in which others’ priorities dictate on what you spend your time. As you move from one shiny object to another, you may get lots of things done – but few things ever get done well.

“Or, you may find your life ruled by procrastination, where doing great work is derailed … 20 years ago, Steve Jobs answered that question. In 1997, Steve Jobs had just returned to Apple, the company he had been ousted from over a decade before. He was answering questions from developers at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference when someone raised the topic of “OpenDoc,” a software engineering framework that Jobs decided to kill upon his return.

“In addressing the question about OpenDoc, Jobs took opportunity to drop some major wisdom. ‘I know some of you spend a lot of time working on stuff that we put a bullet in the head of ... I feel your pain.

‘But Apple suffered for several years from lousy engineering management. And there were people that were going off in 18 different directions – doing arguably interesting things in each one of them. Good engineers. Lousy management.’”

Let’s stop there. Chances are we can relate with Jobs given what is happening to PH. Remember (1) OFW remittances over the pursuit of industrialization; (2) Land reform and subsistence farming versus large-scale cooperative agribusiness (producing a portfolio of products that are global winners); (3) Federalism instead of dismantling political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy – being the epitome of our culture of impunity, the rule of law be damned?

We Pinoys can come up with at least 18 different directions that derailed PH development. It is a universal phenomenon. Yet, the experience of the writer says people can overcome “crab mentality.” [And we know about China and the Asian Tigers.] Consider: his old-MNC company, a 200-year old Fortune-500 company, changed its budget process to a goal-alignment exercise; his Eastern European friends, then an 8-year old losing enterprise, became a giant killer and was recognized as one of the best enterprises in the EU, in a relatively short-period. But let’s get back to Steve Jobs.

“‘And what happened was, you look at the farm that’s been created, with all these different animals going in different directions, and it doesn’t add up. The total is less than the sum of the parts. And so we had to decide. What are the fundamental directions we’re going in? And what makes sense and what doesn’t? And there were a bunch of things that didn’t. And microcosmically they might have made sense; macrocosmically they made no sense. [Translation: PH “crab mentality” created the “party-list” system, undermining focus aka as the common good. And beyond LGUs we want “federalism” to institutionalize crab mentality?]

‘When you think about focusing, you think, well, focusing is about saying yes. No. Focusing is about saying no.’”

As some would know, the blog has discussed what sets humans apart, a relatively recent finding from the social sciences, and that is, the ability to look ahead – or foresight. Which explains why man can advance civilization. Jobs clearly has the ability. And scholars, including of late, Bill Gates, have concluded he is a genius.

On the other hand, Western higher education is founded on logic [recall the construct of the course syllabus] with its own limitations, and that is, it is linear and incremental. And neuroscience has determined that the region of the brain that can be honed to develop forward-thinking is not as developed as the one responsible for logical thinking.

Which brings us to why PH has turned into the regional laggard. We can’t seem to foresee that the future shall be one of prosperity. Our PH caste system seems to have nailed us down our respective rungs – which we call destiny. And at the highest rungs we are endowed with absolute power that corrupts us absolutely.

Recall how after the Marcos overthrow we coined the terminology, weather-weather. There is a season for everything, including turning pious folk to cronies – to whom enough is enough is non-existent.

Do we wonder why we can’t be focused on the building blocks of development as the new UN SDGs have articulated, to be sure for PH, rather belatedly?

As the blog has argued, the war on poverty and the war on drugs have been a major distraction to PH development. Let’s not confuse poverty in the developed world to the poverty of third-world PH. And that we’re blind to the examples of the Asian Tigers speaks volumes.

Du30 is from Davao. He knows about the coconut industry. It is one of our top exports, impacts the greatest number of rural poor families and yet delivers roughly half of agriculture exports. This industry is where our collective wisdom must be brought to bear. And the goal must simply be to make it world-class.

And that means to go full circle and connect the dots, including responding to the needs of the global market. We seldom drill down to figure out what a market economy is about. We are drawn by monetary and fiscal policies or what we expect from Big Brother. But a market economy is dictated by the products and services that humans need – or want – to raise man’s well-being. It is a lesson we learned from Adam and Eve, that being driven out of Eden did not mean the end of mankind. It was the beginning. And in the 21st century, we call it innovation and competitiveness. Yet it is not innovation for innovation’s sake.

But let’s get back to the coconut industry. The object of the exercise is to come out with a product portfolio that spells synergy and competitive advantage, from industrial to consumer products, across the value chain, generating healthy margins that benefit industry contributors – from the farmers … all the way to manufacturers that require coconut-derived raw materials … to the stores selling coconut juice, in the West, for example.

But that presupposes we can imagine and visualize this full circle, not to confine ourselves to rent-seeking oligarchy courtesy of political patronage. And our deference is driven by patriotism given oligarchy to us is manna from heaven? That they are behind Build! Build! Build! See above re foresight.

Consider: Did any of the Asian Tigers celebrate oligarchy for the modern airports they’ve had for decades? [Translation: Until we truly open the economy, we can kiss FDIs goodbye.] Singapore did their homework by benchmarking – and asking the Taiwanese to show them how they built the Taipei airport. And how many airport terminals has Singapore built since?

It is critical to score one success story for PH. It will give us the confidence to move on to the rest of our top exports ... and beyond. And in the end, we would have attained industrialization ... and be defined by innovation and competitiveness. Saying no to crab mentality is what focus is about.

In other words, as the latest findings in education reform have confirmed, beyond teacher-directed learning is the learner’s involvement – establishing her own hypotheses and experiments. It won’t be easy for this writer’s generation to internalize that. Just do it – and you learn in the process. As his Eastern European friends have realized after lots of frustrations, there are no rules – a carryover from the Soviet era – only principles.

What can we learn from Steve Jobs? To put a bullet in the head of the war on drugs and focus on rapid infrastructure development, industrialization and innovation and competitiveness. And we must make the top exports our priority because they have momentum, mass and weight and thus energy and power to propel industrialization, innovation and competitiveness.

We read the likes of Procter & Gamble and General Electric in the news and if there is one word to describe these companies, it is smart. These are very smart people. Yet their logical, linear and incremental thinking have brought them down to earth. Even IBM wasn’t spared despite owning the most number of patents in the world.

Sadly, the future of Juan de la Cruz could be worse if we don’t step up to the plate. With apologies to Solita-Collas Monsod, let’s “Get Real.”

“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]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“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]

Common good. Good governance. Forward-looking

“If democracy again dies in the Philippines, critics will likely blame the ignorant masses for failing either to elect leaders of proven competence and unquestioned integrity or to hold them accountable when they betray public trust. But the leadership elite—in politics and the professions, in the church and civil society, in the bureaucracy and business—will bear the heavier burden for its death.” [Development, democracy, dictatorship and RevGov, Edilberto C. de Jesus, BUSINESS MATTERS, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2nd Dec 2017; de Jesus is professor emeritus at the Asian Institute of Management]

The writer couldn’t say it better than that. Surprisingly, we appear to be in good company. “The world looks on in fear and astonishment, with the overpowering sense that America has become a danger to itself and the world, shortsighted, deeply divided and unwilling to consider the common good.

“The analyses by the Congressional Budget Office, the Joint Tax Committee and almost all independent experts come to the same conclusion. The tax cuts will have large effects on the budget deficit and negative effects for low-income Americans. The CBO has found that healthcare measures in the bill would reduce health coverage by 13 million Americans in 2027. The Joint Tax Committee has found that the growth effects are tiny and perhaps negative in the long term, once various short-term tax incentives are phased out and the public debt increases over time.

“I am writing from Beijing, China, where forward-looking policies in infrastructure, technology and diplomacy have fueled rapid economic growth and even more remarkable technological advancement. By the mid-2020s, China will most likely lead the world in key technologies for low-carbon energy, robotics and advanced transportation, among other areas targeted in China's long-term development strategy.

“In this context, the vacuity of US economic policy is especially poignant. President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders are rushing to spend a trillion dollars or more on unaffordable tax cuts for the richest Americans in a stunning monument to brainlessness.” [The GOP's rush to tax cuts was brainless, Jeffrey Sachs, CNN, 3rd Dec 2017; Sachs is a professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University]

Being a Fil-Am, the writer can’t complain that he isn’t learning – in spades – about the common good, and about good governance and what it means to be forward-thinking and forward-looking. And especially since he covered China – and Asia and witnessed the Asian Tigers – including experiencing firsthand how the Chinese translated Deng’s mantra, “I don’t care if the cat is black of white, so long as it catches mice,” undoing Mao’s Great Leap Forward.

“The great pragmatist” is how The Guardian called Deng back in December 2008. “Though he stood at about 5ft (152cm), Deng Xiaoping was a towering figure who ended China's isolation and built an economic powerhouse.

“He opened the country to the outside world, building diplomatic ties and backing economic reforms – from the break-up of communes to the creation of special economic zones – which often seized on local initiatives.

“In 1992, Deng launched what was to be his last major initiative, embarking on his ‘southern tour’ of China to promote economic reform and entrepreneurship … He died five years later, aged 92, with the country set firmly on its capitalist course.”

The Philippines can’t change because it is proud of its culture? If China, one of the oldest civilizations can shift courses, what are we to do? Christianity and the common good and good governance shouldn’t be incompatible? Nor is to be forward-looking anathema to our faith given we believe in the afterlife?

Culture and faith have defined us. And that is why the blog does not shy away from dissecting them. And development is the law of nature. Did we not stand up against RH claiming that it goes against the law of nature? How could we rationalize the underdevelopment of Juan de la Cruz?

What gives? Sadly, we have no track record in development that we can only intellectualize what it’s about. Consider: we are playing catch up big time.

Yet … “When the senators realized that their pet insertions had reduced the expected revenues of the tax reform, they scrambled to add more revenue-raising provisions. And so you had a doubling of the documentary stamps tax, a doubling of the minerals excise tax, a tax on coal 10 to 30 times its present rate. Is that good? No. No one bothered to check what the overall impact would be. As a colleague described it: all whimsical or arbitrary, all without the benefit of complete staff work.” [‘Papa Bear,’ ‘Mama Bear,’ ‘Ice Queen,’ Solita Collas-Monsod, Get Real, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2nd Dec 2017]

See above re we're in good company. America is a danger to itself and the world, is shortsighted, deeply divided and unwilling to consider the common good.

On the other hand, given our instincts … We remain parochial and insular. We defer to hierarchy and expect paternalism in return. We very much value and rely on political patronage and dynasties, and oligarchy. More to the point, our instincts go against development, against the law of nature.

At the end of the day, we don’t want to personify Darwin’s treatise – i.e., organisms that fail to adapt go extinct. We’re the regional laggard, if no longer the sick man of Asia. And that is no comfort.

For example, can we be like China, shift courses and embrace economic reform and entrepreneurship? Not if we hold our instincts sacred? It explains why “economic reform” to Juan de la Cruz is but a broken record.

But what about entrepreneurship? Why do the Chinoys control the economy? Think deference to hierarchy and expectation of paternalism. Think value and reliance on political patronage and dynasties, and oligarchy.

Of course, over 95% of PH registered enterprises are MSMEs. But they are more livelihood undertakings that they don’t make a dent on total national income. The writer just completed his critique of the planning and budget process of his Eastern European friends.

Over the 14 years he has guided them, they have developed 9 multimillion-dollar brands and have a dozen more that are in the pipeline. Not all will be homeruns but they’re likely to have a handful of hundred-million-dollar brands on top of the multimillion-dollar ones. Their market is not local but regional, if not global. Talk about innovation and competitiveness. The latest manufacturing facility is being automated as in robotics. Yet because of constant product development and expanding global market, they have more facilities and more employees today.

They are more like our Chinoys with their entrepreneurial mindset. What is an entrepreneur anyway? “Someone who exercises initiative by organizing a venture to take benefit of an opportunity and, as the decision maker, decides what, how, and how much of a good or service will be produced … An entrepreneur supplies risk capital as a risk taker, and monitors and controls the business activities.

“The economist Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883-1950) discovered that entrepreneurs: (1) greatly value self-reliance; (2) strive for distinction through excellence; (3) are highly optimistic (otherwise nothing would be undertaken) and (4) always favor challenges of medium risk (neither too easy, nor ruinous).” [Business Dictionary]

Think of our MSMEs and our oligarchy too. The latter thrives on rent-seeking and the former are inward-looking. Do we realize why the Chinoys control PH economy?

Think the common good … good governance … forward-thinking and forward-looking.

But think building-blocks first and not conflate the problems of the world with our inability to accelerate infrastructure development. Focus on infrastructure development not EJKs. Learn from Portugal.

On industrialization, don’t reinvent the wheel, build on the JFC’s efforts. For example, given agribusiness is critical, with the coconut industry affecting the greatest number and contributes roughly half of agriculture exports, we must make it world-class – and overcome its dark past, served political patronage not the farmers and the nation.

On innovation and competitiveness, get a handful of industries, like the top exports, turned into models ... not bite more than we can chew.

Unwittingly, our definition of “inclusive” perpetuates “crab mentality.” Prioritize. Prioritize. Prioritize. The “vital few” over the “trivial many.” Or simply, Pareto!

“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]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“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]