Will we ever recognize and challenge our paradigm?

Not until we accept that to be parochial and insular is like wearing blinders. In other words, why aren’t we synonymous with innovation? Or high-value added products? Or why do we remain underdeveloped – that in the region we’re the only ones that can’t proudly say that we have drastically reduced poverty?

Of course it is more complicated than that. Which is why the blog speaks to our instincts in an effort to connect the dots – of the vicious circle that shackles us: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism. We rely on political patronage and oligarchy. That at the end of the day ours is a culture of impunity.

The blog never tires of raising the imperative of benchmarking. Which presupposes seeking insights – in an effort to learn from others – not projecting our values, instincts and biases.

But is it even in our bag of tricks to want to learn from others? That there is a Pinoy way to development and therefore we will figure this out ourselves? It will come when it comes?

In the meantime, for this posting, let’s quote a few articles that we wrote ourselves and put them side by side with what an American school teacher that has traveled the world wrote about Mahathir (in his blog: http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4a/entry-3627.html.)

Mahathir keeps coming to the writer ever since the Du30 administration introduced Build, Build, Build. In the early 80s when Mahathir just came to power, a team from our employers’ group visited Malaysia and reported back to Marcos their impressions – that Mahathir appeared to be a man on a mission going by how rapidly he was pushing infrastructure development … and that their new highways will be a model for the world. Because they were rubberized, it would be kind to tires and vehicles and comfortable for travelers. That’s almost four decades ago while we’re still talking about how to deal with ROW cases.

But not only. Here’s a sampling of what we read in local media. And let’s start with the topic of water: “Enough is being said about the ongoing water crisis, so this short column will not belabor the continuing exchange all over the place about who is to blame. Instead, I want to remind everyone just how tough life was before Manila Water and Maynilad. The crisis you see today is nothing. In those days, numerous barangays simply had no water. Definitely, areas for informal settlers would only have illegal taps or manual deep wells built by some politician that people had to queue for; at times, they even had to pay some person in charge to have access to the water source.” [Business beyond job generation, Peter Angelo V. Perfecto, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 23rd Mar 2019]

And here’s something that others are doing right, and wish we do likewise: “The prohibitive provisions relating to foreign investment of the 1987 Constitution, expensive power cost, inferior infrastructure and difficulty in doing business is one set of ugly reasons. All these have caused foreign manufacturers to invest in more hospitable countries like Vietnam. By doing so, it deprived us from much needed technology transfer and recurring income through exports and tax revenues.

“The second reason is government’s lack of spending on research and development (R&D). As we are all aware, R&D is the path to innovation and innovation is what drives the manufacturing sector. Innovation can come in the form of improved products, processes, marketing methods or even business practices. In other words, innovation is all about making products better, faster, safer and/or cheaper.

“A UNESCO study shows a direct relation between R&D spending and economic and social development. The higher the R&D budget, the more rapidly industrialization takes place and consequently, the faster social development goals are met. The reverse is true. UNESCO recommends a minimum R&D expenditure of one percent of GDP.” [Is the Philippine Industrial Revolution forthcoming (?), Andrew J. Masigan; Numbers Don’t Lie, BusinessWorld]

And what can we do right versus what we do wrong? Consider: “To be fair, our national planners have always looked far ahead in planning our future. But all too often, it is politicians and inept bureaucrats who lack the sense of urgency and anticipatory action that has earned us the description of being great in planning, but miserable failures in execution.” [Urgency and proactive governance, Cielito F. Habito; No Free Lunch, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 22nd Mar 2019]

What else are we missing? “The day after Magsaysay died, corruption was back. The clean government that was ushered in by Magsaysay had not been institutionalized. It would have been very easy for his successor, President Carlos Garcia, to have continued his legacy, but he did not. This is an important lesson for us, and particularly for our political elite.” [The legacy of Ramon Magsaysay, F. Sionil Jose; HINDSIGHT, The Philippine Star, 23rd Mar 2019]

And finally, here’s how an American teacher described the leadership of Mahathir. He gave a balanced view – positive and negative – but in search of insights, the posting is highlighting how Mahathir led Malaysia in their journey from poverty to prosperity: “Mahathir came to power in 1981 and was the first non-aristocratic leader of Malaysia.

“He is credited with replacing colonial subservience with national pride, and raising a country from the Third World to developed world status at an astounding pace.

“Mahathir also ambitiously pursued economic reforms, such as orienting the economy toward the production of export goods, promoting joint ventures with Asian firms, and privatizing many state industries …

“Mahathir bin Mohamad was the leading force in making Malaysia into a major industrial power. He is credited with turning Kuala Lumpur into a modern city with (for a while) the world’s tallest building and high-tech industrial areas but criticized for ignoring the villages and provinces. Even, his home province of Kedah seems undeveloped and stuck in a time warp.

“Mahathir developed the ‘Malaysia Can’ slogan in 1993 and developed the Vision 2020 program in which he planned to make Malaysia a fully developed country with 70 million people (compared to 20 million in 1998) by the year 2020.

“Mahathir put a lot of money into expansive infrastructure projects … and high-tech development even when Malaysia was suffering an economic crisis. Mahathir once called himself as ‘cyber addict.’ He was one of the first world leaders to have his own blog and website and said he wanted to create a paperless government in Malaysia.

“Vision 2020. The aim … is to turn Malaysia into a fully industrialized country and to quadruple per capita income by the year 2020. This will require the country to continue ascending the technological ‘ladder’ from low- to high-tech types of industrial production, with a corresponding increase in the intensity of capital investment and greater retention of value-added (i.e. the value added to raw materials in the production process) by Malaysian producers.

“One of Dr Mahathir’s ambitions was to make Malaysia into an Asian Silicon Valley. Foreign companies were invited to invest in a ‘Multimedia Super Corridor’ between the new international airport and the twin Petronas Towers, which rise like gigantic pewter cocktail shakers in the center of Kuala Lumpur. An international committee of experts, including Bill Gates, advised Dr Mahathir that, if he wished to attract foreign investment, censoring the Internet would be unwise.

“Mahathir sought to shake the colonial past, to remake his county and people much as he has transformed the natural landscape of Malaysia. Omar bin Sidek, a 91-year-old with a wispy white beard, remembers the long years when his town of Dengkil in Selangor state was a modest jungle outpost in the midst of vast oil palm plantations, long a mainstay of the Malaysian economy. ‘Ooh, I'm speechless to describe the change,’ said Omar, squinting to recall life before Mahathir's major public works came to this area 25 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital.

“While the export of raw material remained an important part of the Malaysian economy, manufacturing became more of a focus under Mahathir. Important manufactured goods have included rubber gloves, catheters, rubber-threads, room air conditioners, semiconductors and audio-visual equipment.

“By the 1990s Malaysia had become the world's largest exporter of semiconductors, an industry that dates back to the mid-1970s when many U.S. and Japanese companies set up factories in Malaysia. At that time there was also a trend to produce more assembled products like cameras and VCRs from semiconductors in Malaysia.

“Malaysia's rapid development has been attributed to the transparency of government policies, its educated and skilled workforce, well-developed infrastructure, good communications facilities and efficient bureaucracy.

“High tech industries developed in Malaysia in the 1990s and 2000s included advanced electronics, scientific instruments, biotechnology, automated manufacturing systems, electro-optics and non-linear optics, advanced composite materials, optoelectronics, software engineering, alternative energy sources and aerospace.

“Malaysia in the 1990s was reminiscent of South Korea in the 1980s and Japan in the 1960s and 1970s, when people are intoxicated with their new affluence and happy to leave their poverty behind them.

“Over these three decades Malaysia accomplished a transition from a primary product-dependent economy to one in which manufacturing industry had emerged as the leading growth sector. Rubber and tin, which accounted for 54.3 percent of Malaysian export value in 1970, declined sharply in relative terms to a mere 4.9 percent in 1990.” [http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4a/entry-3627.html]

But let’s repeat the following line from above: But is it even in our bag of tricks to want to learn from others? That there is a Pinoy way to development and therefore we will figure this out ourselves? It will come when it comes?

The blog often speaks to benchmarking. But it presupposes a desire to learn from others. Many years ago the wife and writer were driven around Tokyo by the then country manager of his MNC-company, who was Japanese. And he related how they learned to build submarines. “We simply disassembled a British submarine and put it back together again. Of course, we studied every detail.” The writer responded in jest that all he had done in his lifetime was disassemble a rifle and put it back together again as part of his ROTC course in college. 

Fast-forward to the time Toyota decided to enter the premium car segment. Lo and behold, they disassembled several German premium cars and put them back together again. Of course, they studied every detail. The writer read as much of the story as he could.

Then one day he asked the wife to join him to the appointment he made with the Lexus dealer in their neighborhood, in suburban New York. The wife never likes buying cars, not even bringing them for maintenance checks. She thinks car salesmen and car dealers are crooks. And that was precisely why the writer wanted her to come. He wanted to test for himself if what he read about the Lexus story was true. And the first question the wife asked, “I thought you’d only buy a German car after all these years? And aren’t you looking for an SUV?”

Wow! That was their first reaction. They thought they were walking into the First-Class lounge of British Airways. The details of the conversation with the salesman have escaped the memory being 14-15 years ago. But buying “an experience” was something one will not forget. “If you want to check out a blue SUV I can call for one and it will be right here in a few minutes.”

But we were on the second floor or at least not on the ground floor. And yes as we stood up from a lounge-like room, there was a sparkling blue SUV in front of us. To cut a long story short, after the husband and wife team did the test drive accompanied by the salesman, they were back in the lounge. And without further ado, the writer said, “We are buying this blue SUV. When can we get it.”

Then the salesman explained. “We will get you a truly brand-new unit, but you don’t have to come. We will deliver it to your house.”

Benchmark. Benchmark. Benchmark. Is it even in our bag of tricks? Will we ever recognize and challenge our paradigm?

And to us in the employers’ group, if we still want to toot our horn instead of accepting that we blew it, shame on us! The following lines from Rizal are meant for us!

“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]

“You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan, focus, work hard and be very determined to achieve your goals.” [Henry Sy Sr., Chairman Emeritus and Founder, SM Group (1924 - 2019)]

“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]

In a funk …

But because we’re a bunch of optimists, have we fallen into the trap of que sera, sera? Or are we ensconced in the belief that we are “in the moment” – why worry be happy – which, in fact, is healthy?

What if we’re heading over the cliff? Consider how much incremental thinking has seeped into our instincts … forgetting that: (a) we’re the regional laggard and (b) while poverty remains front and center. And because we strongly believe our faith demands that we care for the poor, we have long concluded that we’re on the right path.

And it explains our version of retail politics and populism. In many parts of the world, the 2008 Great Recession brought about a rethink of globalization – and capitalism and democracy even. But we’re not even part of this story. Our exports are flat versus 10 years ago, for example. And while we like to point to the uptick in the share of manufacturing (of GDP), we don’t have a true industrial economy that can be characterized as innovation-driven and globally competitive.

Because we opted to focus on the local economy especially after we saw that our OFWs were pumping free money into the economy – which to us is what globalization ought to be. Then add to that the BPO industry. And lo and behold … we created more Forbes billionaires.

Which explains why we’re in a funk. We have a make-do economic model that will not lift us: (a) from being the regional laggard nor (b) drastically reduce poverty like everyone has done.

The model is not sustainable and competitive – and keeping to incremental and linear thinking will ensure we stay in a rot – in a funk, in the shackles of a vicious circle.

Think of an economic model as akin to a business model, the common denominator being the imperative to constantly figure out where the income stream is coming from. And as important, how a dynamic universe that is a 24/7 phenomenon can adversely affect their sustainability. Recall a prior post: Oil and water don’t mix – nor do a dynamic universe and a passive people.

And why the blog often points to the folly of our reliance on OFW remittances and the BPO industry. That they have turned into our own “Dutch” disease – that we like to sweep under the rug.

Those of us that are into sports will appreciate that when playing catch up one must play double time – as in Arangkada.

Consider:

We can’t relate good governance as an imperative to traverse the journey from poverty to prosperity. For example, we accept that our legislators are being bought. Unsurprisingly we keep to the same names to lead us: Marcos, Estrada, Arroyo, Revilla, Duterte, etc., etc.

The kasambahay of the sister-in-law, every election time, will journey to her hometown to ensure she gets a piece of the action. “I spend Ps2000-3000 for the journey but at the end of the day I am ahead with the Ps5000 that is meant for me.”

In other words, the system is rotten from the bottom up. And as the writer’s Eastern European friends would remark every time they saw a politician with their security escorts, “wang-wang” and all, “A rotten fish smells from the head down.”

In the meantime in the Philippines we are celebrating the new CB governor. Because he is committed to keep the pace of spending.

That’s precisely the point – we keep to incremental and linear thinking. And MSMEs and tourism come to mind.

It is not that MSMEs and tourism aren’t good. But because of incremental and linear thinking we can’t see beyond the horizon – that foresight does not come into our consciousness.

For example, we can’t prioritize … and when push comes to shove we fall into the trap of crab mentality. Because we like retail politics – aka populism – being relevant to the war on poverty and inclusion.

In the meantime we applaud every time we hear Build, Build, Build even when Arangkada has been orphaned. Where does the confusion lie? On one hand we have 42 industry road maps – dating back to the PNoy administration – that we want to pursue. On the other, Arangkada is no longer in the national consciousness.

Say again, what is our priority in tourism?

If our best islands are the priority, then let’s make infrastructure development behind these islands the priority.

And on the 42 industry road maps, let’s prioritize the two that will give us: (a) the biggest bang for the buck and (b) the quickest wins. And transform our psyche or habit from losing, i.e., regional laggard, to winning, And if that means opening them to foreign investors then let’s prioritize these industries and update the negative list (of our restrictive economy.)

And we can likewise prioritize which MSMEs will support: (a) these priority tourism initiatives and (b) the two industry road maps.

But let’s stay with MSMEs for a moment. See above re an economic model is akin to a business model.

Whether an MSME benefits from the knock-on effect of a large enterprise being in a subindustry or is a standalone, sustainability is never a guarantee. Which is what free enterprise is in the first place. There is no free lunch. And the barriers to success are multifaceted.

And the export and restaurant businesses are good examples, both being very competitive businesses with high mortality rates. And especially in the 21st century which has been defined by innovation and global competition, i.e., if a business at inception is acknowledged as an innovation, then it can be competitive.

Yet the universe never stops, i.e., innovation and competitiveness at the outset does not guarantee the future. Because of man’s ever-changing needs. Which is the starting point of innovation and foresight. And great innovators are great in understanding human nature; and Steve Jobs is a classic example. 

See below re where we excel instead, i.e., the mechanics of analysis. It explains why despite the running battle between politicians and technocrats we’re in a funk. It is not how to win in the 21st century. It is not how innovation and global competitiveness is attained.

And not to forget the Pinoy hierarchical and paternalistic bent. They undermine innovation … and foresight.

And ... our inward-looking bias, including family, adds fuel to the fire. As someone from the DTI told the writer, when a Filipino exporter gets the first big order, the next thing you know the family is on a grand European holiday.

We can go on ... For example, given Central Luzon delivers two-thirds of GDP, and given we are the regional laggard, how do we benchmark our initiatives? Not by making Makati and BGC as the models. But by shamelessly stealing from China: make the Pearl River Delta economic development initiative as the benchmark.

Foresight. Foresight. Foresight.

Unfortunately, the ability to foresee is not the same as the ability to analyze. And why there is such a thing as “analysis-paralysis.” But because we: (a) can confuse the two yet (b) believe we excel in the mechanics of analysis, we take it that we don’t need to learn from others. 

Techniques or mechanics are one thing and the ability to figure out where one is going is another. This was dissected by the consultancy, McKinsey, to explain how to leverage big data and analytics.

It is what foresight is and isn’t.

And the reality did not spare major global enterprises like GE – i.e., its business model no longer meets the demands of the 21st century – and P&G – where it costs the jobs of three CEOs, the unloading of over 100 brands and the forced entry into the board of an activist investor. The good news is the more dynamic mindset the latter brought with him is today reflected in P&G’s better performance.

But foresight will not come to Pinoy consciousness if we keep to our inward-looking bias.

Why are we in a funk?

We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism. We rely on political patronage and oligarchy. That at the end of the day ours is a culture of impunity. The blog has been saying it for ten years now ... And over that period Vietnam has overtaken us in more ways than one.

But to wrap up the posting, let’s hear from the World Bank: “The fact that better economic performance has failed to generate enough jobs and has not translated to better services can be partially linked to limited competition in key areas ... 

“In manufacturing, where the contribution to GDP has decreased in recent decades [contrary to what we claim], Philippine markets appear to be more concentrated than those of regional peers, with a higher proportion of monopoly, duopoly or oligopoly markets, which are typically more prone to collusion and abuse of market power, and a recent increase in the number of monopolies and duopolies.” [Fostering Competition in the Philippines: The Challenge of Restrictive Regulations; November 2018]

Gising bayan!

“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]

“You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan, focus, work hard and be very determined to achieve your goals.” [Henry Sy Sr., Chairman Emeritus and Founder, SM Group (1924 - 2019)]

“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 existing state of affairs

True or false: We have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo?

What if instead of a true or false answer we do a multiple choice, courtesy of Google? Is it (a)  Vicious circle - a sequence of reciprocal cause and effect in which two or more elements intensify and aggravate each other, leading inexorably to a worsening of the situation; or (b)  Perfect storm -  a particularly bad or critical state of affairs, arising from a number of negative and unpredictable factors; or (c)  Have a tiger by the tail - the act of having 'embarked on a course of action that proves unexpectedly difficult but that can not easily or safely be abandoned'; or (d) Paradigm -  the institutional arrangements (model, pattern, standard, prototype, archetype, ideal, gauge, criterion, paragon, exemplar) of a particular society; or (e) All the above.

Have not we all been talking about our inability to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs)? Yet the status quo persists. Because we have a vested interest in maintaining it? In our heart of hearts this is our pot of soil and we must own it, no ifs and buts. Better Pinoy oligarchy than foreigners. As in: We prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos than a government run like heaven by foreigners.

Where are we coming from? We are consistently projecting our values, instincts and biases. And it explains why we can not see beyond the horizon ... that has robbed us of valuable insights that we must learn from our neighbors. The bottom line: Juan de la Cruz suffers from a lack of foresight?

Consider: 

(A) Do foreigners own Singapore given their FDIs are at $ 1.285-T. Yes, that is a T, for trillion. While ours are a measly $ 78.79-B. What about the rest of the region? Do foreigners own them? Here are their FDIs: Vietnam = $ 129.5-B; Malaysia = $ 139.5-B; Thailand = $ 227.8-B; Indonesia = $ 251.5-B.

(B) A couple of years after we kicked out the US military bases - because we must not be beholden to colonial powers, etc., etc. - "The Chinese began their aggressive actions in Mischief Reef - not an armed attack but it was aggression just the same. The US did not stop it. "[Lorenzana contradicts Locsin on US-Philippines treaty review,  philstar.com , 5th Mar 2019]

(C) "Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, the United States and NATO have buttressed the alliance's defenses along potential hot spots, such as the Baltic states and Poland. Four NATO battle groups now operate in the region, and a US Army brigade is on full-time rotation ... 

"Historically the US goes into areas and uses temporary facilities that [are torn] down at the end ... Here [there is] the opportunity to provide long term support to (rotational US soldiers) as well as ensure that [US] allies have the right permanent facilities to train with. "[ https://www.stripes.com/news/us-troops-building-up-polish-romanian-bases-1.539358 ]

The moral of the story? How do we learn to look beyond the horizon? Not if we see independence as absolute. Then think Rizal: "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]

And here's Google elaborating on the word: Tyranny - cruel and oppressive government or rule, ie,  despotism, absolutism, absolute power, autocracy, dictatorship, undemocratic rule, reign of terror, totalitarianism, Fascism.

In other words, with tyranny justice and the rule of law are not guaranteed. Surprise, surprise: " Philippine rule of law among the weakest despite improved global ranking - report,"  Ian Nicolas Cigaral ,  philstar.com , 2nd Mar 2019.

"Effective rule of law reduces corruption, combats poverty and disease, and protects people from injustices large and small ... It is the foundation for communities of justice, opportunity, and peace-underpinning development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights.

"Human rights watchdogs at home and abroad say most of the fatalities in the government's anti-narcotic drive are extrajudicial killings committed by cops, accusing Duterte of inciting violence and steamrolling the rule of law."

In the meantime, we continue to hedge our relationships - are we pitting China against the US? - instead of being friends with all nations? What about China's aggressive actions in Mischief Reef? 

At the end of the day, as a people and as a nation, we must seriously learn foresight and look beyond the horizon. The reason we remain underdeveloped and the regional laggard is because we've acted like ideologues. See above re FDIs, ie, beyond independence is interdependence. [Is that a curve ball? What about unfettered capitalism? Or unrestrained independence?]

Interdependence? Recall WW I & II and how the US - through FDR - became the hegemon to pull the community of nations together and embrace peace. And decades later the Brexiteers realized breaking the community is not as easy as changing one's clothes. 

As some would know, the writer lived through AEC, NAFTA and EU - where he continues to be a participant. These communities all did their respective shares in moving civilization forward, including drastically reducing poverty. Yet the universe is a dynamic 24/7 phenomenon that perfection is not of this world. The good news is progress and technology are similarly dynamic. He can be anywhere in the world yet is able to actively perform his role as team member with his Eastern European friends. 

And there is no team member that can match his experience industry-wise. Recall they were born and raised socialists under communist rule. Still, innovation and global competitiveness can not be tyrannical nor skewed discipline-wise. Yes, that is meant to be a mirror for us Pinoys to see the folly of our hierarchical and paternalistic bent. Add ideological if you will. And why the region has left us behind. Oil and water do not mix - nor can a dynamic universe and a passive people.

And think Padre Damaso too as far as we Pinoys are concerned.

And recall the Franciscan theology the blog has raised. That the God we call God can not be a small god. That goes by either / or as in dualism. Or ideology. Think how Christ battled with the scribes and the Pharisees. 

And it applies to a people's ability to manage its affairs and solve its problems too. 

Consider: "The whole idea was part of the plan to stop the estimated 15,000 provincial buses from entering Metro Manila every day and contribute to the traffic mess ... having bus terminals ... at the entrance to Metro Manila was a solution.

"It is terrible how government works. It took them years to get a project done and when it is delivered, it becomes an expensive white elephant because other things have not been attended to. Such a criminal waste of money.

"Duterte must get truly qualified people to run his flagship projects and not just his friends. What happened to PITX should embarrass the President. It is such a horrible waste. 

"With DOTr responsible for most of the Build, Build, Build projects, expect similar incompetence that will bring President Duterte shame." [DOTr project a flop (?),  Boo Chanco , DEMAND AND SUPPLY, The Philippine Star, 17th Dec 2018]

Where is the ideology? Is it our "paki system" where whoever is in charge can not say no and instead gives a wink and a nod and undermines our ability to manage our affairs and solve problems? And it happens all the time: vested interests turn on political patronage and perpetuate our culture of impunity.

What else is new?

"Would it make the Philippines a better God-fearing country with consequential values ​​for nation-building and a better life for the now and forthcoming generations if there would be a name change?

"Name change for the Philippines, whatever the arguments are, given the enormous problems that continue to pester the Filipinos every day, is no crash project." [No crash project, Editorial, Manila Standard, 24th Feb 2019]

Do we have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo? Or is it reflective of our underdevelopment and thus our inexperience in the pursuit of growth and development? As in: poor perceptive judgment? 

Inexperience connotes an either / or perspective as in dualism; while wisdom which comes from experience translates to relativism. See above re our inexperience in development. It squares the circle.

We all went through adolescence and are intimately aware of youthful indiscretion. For example, we feel very strongly about MSMEs - because they're good livelihood undertakings, that is, they address unemployment and arrest poverty to boot.

Yet if we care to figure out how the Asian Tigers and more recently Vietnam pursued development, they aggressively drove large-scale enterprises: (a) given economies of scale; and (b) to rapidly attain an industrial economy.

And indeed because of what economists call the multiplier effect of investment, these large-scale enterprises spawned subindustries that in turn paved the way for MSMEs. Japan's automotive power, for example, gave birth to a network of parts suppliers that were initially small scale and later became big themselves. 

In the Philippines we do not have this industrial base to spawn such subindustries. [Add to that the reality, which is a function of scale, that indeed the system is ... "Stacked against small business," Cielito F. Habito, NO FREE LUNCH, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8th Mar 2019.]

In sum, there is no free lunch: See above re Juan de la Cruz suffers from a lack of foresight. But let's pause for a moment because (a) lack of foresight explains (b) why we take time and space for granted and (c) why connecting the dots is not instinctive to us. And the resulting perfect storm is our failure to attain efficient coexistence and order. That in turn puts us in the shackles of a vicious circle.

How come? Because in both large scale (ie, PH exports are flat compared to 10 years ago; with Vietnam doing 4.5 times more) and small enterprises we generate less economic output than our neighbors ... and we are left to wonder why we are the economy laggard.

And this sad state of affairs can be dissected from another perspective: (a) lack of foresight explains (b) why Pareto, ie, the imperative to prioritize, is not instinctive to us and (c) why we consistently fall into the trap of crab mentality.

Either way we are forfeiting whatever chance we have to pursue community and the common good.

The bottom line? Juan de la Cruz is paying a hefty price, ie, how can every one of our neighbors drastically reduce poverty and we can not? 

Hint: We are two generations behind: one, in infrastructure development and industrialization; and two, in innovation and global competitiveness. And so we do not have the platform of a sustainable and competitive economy. What to do?

Consider: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism. We rely on political patronage and oligarchy. That at the end of the day, ours is a culture of impunity. Translation: We have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. 

"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]

"You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan, focus, work hard and be very determined to achieve your goals. "[Henry Sy Sr., Chairman Emeritus and Founder, SM Group (1924 - 2019)]

"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]