“Certainly, this is not distinction we can take pride in. We can also reasonably say that our disregard for the truth —worse, our indifference to getting to the bottom of things—stems from the proliferation of misleading or downright false articles we see on social media every day.
“This means, too, that parents, mentors and educators have their work cut out for them. We will be for the worse raising a generation of uncritical, unquestioning young people who take everything they see at face value. And as we advise the young to be discerning, let us also set a good example by being, ourselves, more diligent in receiving and passing on information. Then, our confidence would be founded.” [The perils of perception, Editorial, Manila Standard, 10th Feb 2018]
“Are Filipino perceptions sometimes far removed from the reality? Absolutely. Are Filipinos overconfident about the accuracy of their perceptions? Obviously. Perhaps, though, this has more to do with 100 million Filipinos of huge disparity of wealth, education and access to reliable information spread over thousands of islands, rather than ‘stupid’ as the Filipino bashers want us to believe.” [Ignorant Filipinos(?), Editorial, BusinessMirror, 8th Feb 2018]
“It is also clear from our 'Misperceptions Index' that the countries who tend to do worst have relatively low internet penetrations: given this is an online study, this will reflect the fact that this more middle class and connected population think the rest of their countries are more like them than they really are,” said Ipsos Public Affairs Managing Director Bobby Duffy.
“It is this population – that tends to have wrong perceptions, and assumes it is representative of most of the country – that is also online and engages in social media conversations.” [Why worry about Filipinos online being 'most ignorant'(?), Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler.com, 8th Feb 2018]
Do we in the elite class and the chattering classes represent the “middle class and connected population”? Do we also “think the rest of the country are more like us than they really are”? To look at it objectively, let’s think of the approval ratings of Donald Trump, the most recent being 40% (the average for his term is 38%, one year as of 20th Jan.) Trump should not surprise given he plays to his base, even when they don’t represent the rest of the country.
For example, do we recognize that we can talk about self-actualization because we don’t have to worry about our physiological needs? But Juan de la Cruz does. Recall Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.
Should we talk about happiness instead of our income per person as a nation? Or the environment? What has our lack of foresight done to Boracay? Boracay may be a teeny tiny island. But what about the tragedies attributable to our denuded forests?
Can we align perception with reality? Let’s establish a handful of predicates: We are the regional laggard. Our poverty is higher than our neighbors especially the Asian Tigers, including China. Vietnam has overtaken us in FDIs and exports given their focus on FDIs and industrialization.
We know that it is better to teach Juan de la Cruz how to fish instead of giving him fish? Yet we are driving livelihood initiatives instead of industry and exports? Calling our economists to clarify the distinction given the multiplier effect of investment.
Recall Arangkada. It is so yesterday? That is where we must align perception with reality if we want to move this nation forward, and be like the Asian Tigers.
Now we are debating whether we should be pro-China or the West? So, a decades-old issue (kicking out the US military) has come home to roost? Recall the sense of foresight that makes man superior to the rest of creation. And history says Lee, Mahathir and Deng demonstrated the foresight that our string of leaderships has yet to manifest? More to the point, do we recall how Deng stepped up to address China’s poverty?
But we confuse the symptoms from the cause, and don’t truly appreciate the efforts behind China’s rise to power, reflective of our underdeveloped foresight. And our caste system where destiny and permanence rules not opportunity and social mobility.
What is missing in our effort to align perception with reality? That we are helpless and need one or the other superpowers? Yet we like to add fuel to the fire?
Do we remember that respect is earned not demanded? Now think of the 39 nations that condemned EJKs, including those that lived through tyrannical rule. From the frying pan and into the fire, is what they sense Juan de la Cruz is up to. In other words, what planet are we from?
And consider: Every nation started out poor. Where is the disconnect? Why have we not stepped up to the plate? To traverse the journey from poverty to prosperity, Lee, Mahathir and Deng begged for Western money and technology.
What happened to cause-and-effect? Is critical thinking dead because of RHIP? Rank has its privileges translates to our deference to hierarchy while expecting paternalism in return? We deferred to the West but they’re not obliging on the paternalism front? They are not respectful of our sovereignty?
Think of the despots that galvanized the community of nations to stand up and be counted. Or have we forgotten? We’re not being singled out. We embrace and love tyranny – that’s why we’ve become the pariah.
Recall how much penalty the EU will impose on the U.K. for Brexit. And something else the writer witnessed: The EU once suspended the infrastructure facility against Bulgaria when it was ascertained that the government looted the treasury and why the people staged daily protests until the government stepped down.
The rule of law governs the community of nations despite ours being a culture of impunity! Sadly, we’re oblivious of its import even when it has in fact sunk us to the depths – of regional laggard.
Let’s embrace China and Russia? Because we are rebelling against the West? How infantile do we wish to be? Where is the disconnect? Permanence is not of this world. Empires come and go. Think Rome and all the way to the Soviet empire.
Nations seek friends to be part of the community of nations despite the latter’s imperfection. And there will always be despot – like Satan was right there in Eden.
Singapore is respected by the community of nations – for their role in moving civilization forward. And do we want to rank Du30 ahead of Lee? Because we question the community of nations in defense of tyranny? Why have we not debated Rizal and be geared to align perspective with reality?
Where is the rub? We are underdeveloped and the regional laggard. That is what we must step up to. But we won’t ever if we continue to take our “culture” for granted: We are parochial and insular. We defer to hierarchy and expect paternalism in return. We value and rely on patronage and political dynasties and oligarchy.
What is our solution? Be pro-China and Russia and change our system of government to federalism. Where is the rub? Where is the disconnect?
That we in the elite class and the chattering classes represent the rest of the country? Do we realize that we’ve wasted two generations? If that is our currency, where is the omnipotence?
“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]
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