Habit. Paradigm. Mindset.

We can add static thinking, as opposed to dynamic thinking, also perceptive judgment to explain why habits, paradigms, and mindsets are hard to break. Take Juan de la Cruz and why the Philippines remains underdeveloped and the regional laggard.

Throw in sovereignty and colonialism too. Because “sovereignty” is a given, we must reject colonialism. It is one or the other, as in dualism. Then consider: At the other end of the spectrum or continuum is relativism. A continuum connotes dynamic thinking, not static thinking – as in inside the box thinking.

The bottom-line? To be able to sift through these instincts presupposes one’s perceptive judgment is informed by experience, in development, for instance. In the absence of experience, what do we do?

“How does a nation deal with crisis? Why do some nations recover from the trauma and other nations are unable to cope?

“Over the years, crisis therapists have learned why people do (or don’t) navigate crisis successfully. For example: they acknowledge they have a problem and take responsibility for dealing with it; they separate core values that won’t change from bad habits that need to change; they seek help from those who have dealt with similar difficulties. But it isn’t strange at all; it’s revealing.

“[Nations are like] individuals in confronting crisis. [The] first step in resolving a crisis, for a nation or an individual, is the acknowledgment that a crisis exists. Denial is a frequent excuse. Nations and individuals accept national and individual responsibility to take action to solve problems, or else deny responsibility by self-pity, blaming others and assuming the role of victim.” [Nations in crisis, Elfren S. Cruz, BREAKTHROUGH, The Philippine Star, 23rd May 2019]

The characteristics of self-pity, blaming others, and victimhood had been well-articulated in the West as an excuse, especially in America given decades of prosperity that defined it as a middle-class nation. Then came the 2008 Great Recession. People pinned it on Wall Street for its role in the financial crisis. Fittingly, the Occupy Wall Street protest movement was born: To raise the issues of social and economic inequality, greed, corruption, and the undue influence of corporations – particularly the financial services sector – on government. [Wikipedia]

Let’s get back to the Philippines. We haven’t established ourselves as a middle-class nation. Granted we are a very young country. On the other hand, the Asian Tigers, and even China were able to leapfrog development. Sovereignty and colonialism, for example, never figured in their respective journeys – from poverty to prosperity.

“Seek help from those who have dealt with similar difficulties. [It] isn't strange at all; it's revealing.” [Cruz, op. cit.] Over the lifetime of the blog, it has discussed the Asian Tigers countless times and how Lee and Mahathir shared their collective development experience with Deng: Beg for Western money and technology.

Which of our neighbors lost sovereignty or subjected to colonial rule while begging for Western money and technology? See above re denial. Then consider: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day, ours is a culture of impunity.

Have we unwittingly embraced a culture of impunity given our concerns re sovereignty and colonialism? See above re perceptive judgment – i.e., an experience-based capacity to navigate the continuum across the extremes of dualism and relativism.

If we try to trace where the Asian Tigers and China were in the continuum as they traversed the journey from poverty to prosperity, most likely they were farther away from dualism than we are. China demonstrated it by pursuing capitalism without giving up communism, for example.

In other words, they were not ideologues.

Then consider: “Fascist leaders were the 20th-century manifestations of what classical Greeks called ‘demagogues.’ [As] Plato observed, demagogues are the product of a process of ‘political decay,’ specifically when an oligarchy corrupts the best values of a city-state and besmirches the aspirations of a democratic polity.

“[Today’s] strongmen populists are waging a war against no less than the Enlightenment values. This new breed of demagogues [is] contemptuous of liberal democratic ideals and practices, while enthusiastically espousing the use of force to resolve deep-seated social conflicts. At the most fundamental level, they skillfully and unabashedly tap into the darkest instincts of the electorate. [Alt-populists: How to beat demagogues, Richard Heydarian, HORIZONS, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 28th May 2019]

Are our aspirations indeed besmirched that foresight to us equates to the war on poverty instead of the pursuit of development, i.e., to traverse the road from poverty to prosperity?

How do we move from static thinking to dynamic thinking? For instance, we view China as an economic and military power that must be our friends. Nothing wrong with that, but why haven't we considered learning from them? See above, i.e., seek help from those who have dealt with similar difficulties. It comes down to the same old paradigm, which explains why we have not learned from the Asian Tigers. In contrast, the Vietnamese are going by their playbook.

If dynamic thinking is outside our instincts, how can we keep up with technology, for example? “Technology is changing the way people live in our world today whether we are ready for change or not. Countries resistant to change or simply not ready for change, will find it very difficult to compete against nimbler economic and political rivals.” [Keeping up with technology, Boo Chanco, DEMAND AND SUPPLY, The Philippine Star, 27th May 2019]

What have we created for ourselves? Is the following the answer? “A chance to boost inclusive lending after banks reserve cut,” EDITORIAL, The Manila Times, 25th May 2019.

“MSMEs make up 99 percent of all business establishments in the country. The agriculture sector comprises more than 30 percent of the country’s total workforce. That combined P210 billion in newly available loanable funds would generate several times that level in agricultural and small business productivity, new jobs and personal incomes, and increased business and consumer spending if that amount was applied correctly to these areas.

“To ensure that it is, the BSP should perhaps consider more aggressive tactics to ensure banks’ compliance with the lending mandates, which, after all, are not mere banking regulations but spelled out in law.

“For example, instead of levying fixed penalties on banks that miss the targets, the central bank could adjust the RRR on an individual basis, increasing an erring bank’s RRR by an amount equal to its deviation from the mandated lending percentage. Other means to encourage banks to comply with the standards may also be available.

“In this way, the BSP can better support the strategy of the country’s economic policymakers and help to achieve financial inclusion in a substantial way.”

As the blog has discussed often, interventions like this from the Central Bank as well as other monetary and fiscal policies will not make a dent because we are still operating within a very limited pie.

Specifically, PH GDP per capita at $8,400 pales in comparison to these neighbors: Indonesia = $12,400; Malaysia = $29,100; Thailand = $17,900. 

We are ahead of Vietnam’s $6,900, yet their poverty rate is much lower than ours: 8% vs. 21.6%. Why? Because of the more significant multiplier effect of exports, where they lead us by a mile: $214.1-B vs. $48.2-B. Vietnam’s exports engine is on a tear. 

Bloomberg reports (28th May) that its economy is poised to be bigger than Singapore. Consider how we have long conceded that we can’t be a Singapore. In the meantime, (a) US orders from Vietnam surged 40% in the first quarter; (b) global investors have been lining up to be a part of the Vietnam narrative; (c) strong FDI from China and Hong Kong in the first four months of this year may well mark the beginning of a new trend.

Still, it does not mean Singapore is giving ground. From Bloomberg (28th May) as well, “Singapore dethrones US to top World Competitiveness Rankings.”

Do we appreciate the extent of our handicap? Consider too the Ps210 billion in newly available loanable funds from the banks’ reserve cut, for example, and hold them up against the FDIs (foreign direct investments) held by these countries: Indonesia = $251.5-B; Malaysia = $139.5-B; Thailand = $227.8-B; Vietnam = $129.5-B. What about PH? $78.79-B. Gising bayan!

Likewise, the blog has repeatedly discussed the efforts of these neighbors in pursuit of rapid industrialization, including Vietnam, and why they can deal with poverty beyond our penchant for rhetoric and wishful thinking.

Let’s hear from our economic managers: “THE government needs to spend P1 trillion on infrastructure if it is to meet a growth target of 6% in 2019, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said, as he detailed ‘catch-up' measures to facilitate spending delayed by the stalled 2019 budget." [₱1 trillion in public works needed to hit GDP goal, Charmaine A. Tadalan, BusinessWorld, 27th May 2019]

Granted this is all we can aspire for in 2019, we need to hear from our economic managers how we are going to traverse the road from poverty to prosperity. Indeed, we are playing catch-up, but it is not limited to 2019. We are playing catch-up big time. See above re GDP, exports, poverty, and FDIs.

Habit. Paradigm. Mindset. Static thinking. Dynamic thinking. Sovereignty. Colonialism.

To be able to sift through these instincts presupposes one's perceptive judgment is informed by experience, in development, for instance. In its absence, what do we do?

“Seek help from those who have dealt with similar difficulties. But it isn’t strange at all; it’s revealing.” [Cruz, op. cit.]

“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]

Poor governance, corruption, and misguided policies

No, not the Philippines but Venezuela. “Venezuela, at one-point Latin America’s wealthiest country, has not been shattered by armed conflict. Instead, economists say, the poor governance, corruption and misguided policies of President Nicolás Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, have fueled runaway inflation, shuttered businesses and brought the country to its knees. And in recent months, the Trump administration has imposed stiff sanctions to try to cripple it further.” [Venezuela’s Collapse Is the Worst Outside of War in Decades, Economists Say, Anatoly Kurmanaev, The New York Times 17th May 2019]

On second thought, in our heart of hearts, can we be talking about the Philippines too?

Consider: “What we see during elections is an accumulation of the collective resentment, frustration, and even anger of many Filipinos from past years or even decades. It stems from the failure of society’s political and economic elite to uplift the lives of the wide majority left further behind as they did their own. After decades of seeing little improvement in their lives, it’s natural for the common people to embrace leaders who break out of the familiar mold—as with a number of the new victorious candidates for the Senate and local positions.” [Reversing voter education, Cielito F. Habito, No Free Lunch, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17th May 2019]

“[T]he last elections were generally peaceful and orderly. However, the exercise was still infected with numerous plagues, the most insidious being vote-buying, automation glitches and overvoting.” [‘Huwag kang gunggong,’ Artemio V. Panganiban, WITH DUE RESPECT, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19th May 2019]

“It is difficult to love this country, so we leave,” F. Sionil Jose, HINDSIGHT, The Philippine Star, 18th May 2019. “[L]ooking closely at this country and us Filipinos, how can anyone love this country? Look at the result of the senatorial elections last week, how unthinking Filipinos elected nincompoops. Look at how Filipinos themselves are their own worst enemies, look at them despoil their country, and betray and kill one another. Indeed, there are many good reasons why Filipinos today are leaving; it is not just for economic reasons for there are comfortable middle-class Filipinos who have joined this diaspora.”

Before we get too far, let’s restate the title of this posting: Poor governance, corruption, and misguided policies.

Consider: “The problem is that NAIA only has two runways to accommodate the entire load of aircraft movements while other airports have a third and fourth runway to serve as back-up.

“Fact is, the over-stressed NAIA is already operating at 45% above its true capacity having processed 293,981 movements last year carrying 45.3 million passengers. The only solution is an entirely new airport to relieve the stress on NAIA. That is why San Miguel’s airport in Bulacan cannot come soon enough. But this is another story.

“If disgruntled passengers must really lay blame, they should fault the Arroyo and Aquino administrations for not building an alternative airport soon enough to absorb Manila’s ever-increasing air traffic. Both administrations have committed a sin of omission and we must suffer the consequence as a result of it. [The real reasons behind NAIA’s runway congestion, Andrew J. Masigan, Numbers Don’t Lie, BusinessWorld, 19th May 2019]

Is NAIA about poor governance, corruption, and misguided policies? One can only commiserate with Philippine tourism. "The NTDP 2016-2022 aims to realize 12 million tourist arrivals and generate P3.9 trillion tourism revenue, contributing a Gross Value Added of P2.4 trillion to the country’s GDP and employing 6.5 million Filipinos by 2022.

“DOT prioritizes the programs that are concerned with: (1) developing adequate infrastructure, (2) facilitating travel, (3) providing safety and security, and (4) developing tourism areas.

“To ensure that we get these done, the DOT is implementing a convergence approach where the department works in partnership with other national government agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways.” ['More Fun For Everyone': A Philippine tourism industry grown by Filipinos for Filipinos, The Philippine Star, 18th May 2019]

In other words, the left-hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Which in and of itself does not explain why we are what we are – underdeveloped with the worst poverty among neighbors in the region, that arguably, ours is a country that is difficult to love.

There is no perfect country. Look at America and the West in general. Even Singapore can't claim perfection. As some would know, the writer worked with folks from different nations and inefficiency, for example, is not a rare commodity. As he would always remind his Eastern European friends, whenever you recognize weakness in other people, take it as a free pass – that you can be as good if not better than the best the world has to offer.

Let’s get back to the Philippines.

Here’s an op-ed piece that made the writer ask: has our country indeed gone to the dogs? “Dysfunctional priorities: the new Senate building,” Rex D. Lores, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19th May 2019. “The construction of a new Senate building in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a high-end commercial and residential enclave now prone to rapid traffic congestion, reflects the growing dysfunction of our national priorities. It turns a myopic eye to history and to the future, raising concerns about the probity and intellectual reach of this august body.”

The above article is well-thought-out that presents several arguments to define dysfunctional. If as Ninoy Aquino famously intoned – “The Philippines is worth dying for” – shouldn’t our honorable senators at the very least live up to the measure of this august body?

Can we claim, like Venezuela once was, the wealthiest country in the region?

“Zimbabwe’s collapse under Robert Mugabe. The fall of the Soviet Union. Cuba’s disastrous unraveling in the 1990s.

“The crumbling of Venezuela’s economy has now outpaced them all.

“Venezuela’s fall is the single largest economic collapse outside of war in at least 45 years, economists say.

‘It’s really hard to think of a human tragedy of this scale outside civil war,’ said Kenneth Rogoff, an economics professor at Harvard University and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. This will be a touchstone of disastrous policies for decades to come.

“To find similar levels of economic devastation, economists at the I.M.F. pointed to countries that were ripped apart by war, like Libya earlier this decade or Lebanon in the 1970s.” [Kurmanaev, op. cit.]

What are we especially those of us from the elite class willing to do to make our country loveable? Poor governance, corruption, and misguided policies that afflicted Venezuela are no different from why ours is culture of impunity.

For example, it is common knowledge that we succumbed to our own "Dutch disease" by relying on OFW remittances to prop up the Philippine economy – instead of the pursuit of industrialization via an open economy. Beyond NAIA, we likewise failed to demonstrate the wherewithal to pursue rapid infrastructure development.

In other words, we haven't overcome old habits of relying on supposed silver bullets, including legislations re fiscal and monetary interventions while absent the requisite foresight to traverse the journey from poverty to prosperity. Think ecosystem that creates a virtuous circle. In other words, "community and the common good." It is not rocket science as the Asian Tigers, and China demonstrated.

Why can’t we? Because we are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day, ours is a culture of impunity.

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]

Beyond learned helplessness

Recall learned helplessness from a recent posting speaking to us Pinoys: Regardless of what we do nothing really will change, so why even put in any effort to change.

The writer is in Eastern Europe, so let's take a little detour. "Scale-up Europe. Tell me what I need to do to help startups in Europe, and together, we will do it." That's from Gunther Oettinger, European commissioner for digital economy and society.

That was said to an audience of top entrepreneurs and startup-association leaders in 2016. The outcome? Six months later, a hard-hitting manifesto of 49 recommendations emerged – the first of its kind in Europe.

The Economist [13th Oct 2018] offers its prognosis: Europe’s history explains the lag. In the 18th century, its lack of standardization made it the cradle of the industrial revolution. Rules and markets varied. Entrepreneurs who did not find support or luck in one country, like Cockerill, could find it in another. All this created competition and variety. Today, however, Europe’s patchwork is a disadvantage. New technologies require vast lakes of data, skilled labor and capital.

“True, there is progress. European universities are working more closely together, and in 2015 the EU adopted a new digital strategy that has simplified tax rules, ended roaming charges and removed barriers to cross-border online content sales. But about half of its measures—like smoother flows of data—remain mere proposals.”

Let’s get back to the Philippines. “Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia noted that ‘the economy should have grown by as much as 6.6 percent this first quarter if we were operating under the 2019 fiscal program.’

“The first-quarter GDP figures told the story. Government expenditures rose just 7.4 percent in the first quarter, slower than 13.6 percent a year ago, while public construction contracted 8.6 percent because of the constraints under the reenacted budget.” [Lethargic GDP growth, Editorial,manilastandard.net, 10th May 2019]

The economic planning secretary is expected to speak like one. However, to Juan de la Cruz, his reality goes beyond. For example, “The traffic decongestion plan of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is the stupidest traffic alleviation plan in our contemporary history. It seeks to ban provincial buses, so far, the only efficient carriers of people going to Metro Manila from many points in the country — given the rail service being inadequate — from entering the metropolis.” [Suspending stupidity, MARLEN V. RONQUILLO, The Manila Times, 12th May 2019]

Consider another PH reality: "Agribusiness: Pathways to prosperity," Dr. Emil Q. Javier, Manila Bulletin, 4th May 2019. "[This] book [by Rolando T. Dy] is about investments, institutions, good governance and increased attention to food and beverage manufacturing as ways of bringing prosperity to the countryside, and the economy.

"Its recurring theme is how more attention and innovations in agribusiness can help achieve the overarching national goal of reducing the incidence of poverty as stated in the Philippine Development Plan (2017–2022) of the current administration which now stands at 21.6%. This level of poverty is embarrassingly high compared with the poverty incidences of 0.6%, 10.5%, 11.3%, and 13.5% for Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, respectively."

What else is new? “We humans suffer from an advanced case of self-delusion. [We] like to see ourselves as free-willed, conscious beings, self-governing and set apart from other animals by our capacity for reasoning. Yet watch people closely [and] you find that we are more instinctual and a lot more like other creatures than we care to think.

"At the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [they] are doing just that. [What] they have revealed is that a good 90 percent of what most people do in any day follows routines so complete that their behavior can be predicted with just a few mathematical equations.

“It's difficult for people to accept [but] most of a person's everyday life is determined not by their conscious intentions and deliberate choices, but by mental processes put into motion by the environment.” [Why we are all creatures of habit, Mark Buchanan, newscientist.com, 4th Jul 2007]

Should we Pinoys then wonder why we can’t overcome our instincts that are the recurring themes of the blog? We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day, ours is a culture of impunity.

What to do? Here’s something refreshing: “I seem to have lost the fire that burned in my early years. I am despondent when I witness today how this nation has lost its moorings if not its very soul. My generation has fallen short of our promise to build for you a country that you could be proud of.

“We have become numb to the sufferings of our fellow citizens. We have succumbed to a new narrative that only the righteous has a right to live. We have allowed false promises to lure us to surrender our freedoms. We have tolerated crassness and cheered those who unleash venomous threats.

“Many democratic institutions as well as the Church have chosen to be like political turncoats who act as enablers or stay safe in deafening silence. I could simply say ‘lesson learned’; unfortunately, it was at your expense.” [A letter from De La Salle president, Elfren S. Cruz,BREAKTHROUGH, The Philippine Star, 12th May 2019]

Will we Pinoys ever learn community and the common good and commit accordingly? Here's a quote on commitment from the recent posting on learned helplessness: "When commitment is present, individuals have a sense of purpose and meaning for why they are doing what they are doing. When we have a purpose, when we are guided by a vision, when we never lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing, energy and passion are triggered that give meaning to our lives and lessen the impact of stress.”

It is a leadership challenge. As Rizal admonished, we Pinoys submit to tyranny because we love it. We need "leadership," not tyranny. However, we can't be enablers either. See above re letter from De La Salle president.

Leadership need not be perfect. Consider: “There’s a lot to dislike about the founding fathers and the war they and others fought for American independence.

“The stirring assertion that ‘all men are created equal’ did not, of course, apply to 500,000 black slaves — one in five of all souls occupying the 13 colonies when those words were written in 1776. Nor was it valid for Native Americans, women or indigents.

‘Democracy is never a thing done,’ wrote Archibald MacLeish, the poet and librarian of Congress. ‘Democracy is always something that a nation must be doing.’ The American Revolution lasted 3,089 days, and the result was epochal and enduring — the creation of the American Republic, among mankind’s most remarkable achievements. Nearly 90,000 more days have elapsed since those horsefly-swatting men asserted a human birthright of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Keeping faith with those who fought, suffered and died for the principles we profess to still cherish requires more than a nodding acquaintance with them, more than a perfunctory acknowledgment of their struggles.

“For better and for worse, their story is our story. Their fight remains our fight.” [Why We Still Care About America’s Founders, Rick Atkinson, The New York Times, 11th May 2019]

The writer doesn't research per se but writes about personal and profound experiences. He spent the first 20 years of his professional life in his hometown, Metro Manila, and he has been a US resident for over 30 years while spent a big chunk of the last 16 years in Europe.

They gave him a ringside view of how the world has unfolded. The rise of the Asian Tigers as well as China, the Asean economic community, NAFTA, and the EU on the economic front, punctuated the decades. They also saw the end of the cold war and the collapse of the Soviet empire that in turn accelerated globalization. Today we are witnessing the backlash not only of globalization but democracy too. 

His presence in Eastern Europe – once comprised of Soviet satellite states – is a representation of American exceptionalism: No one can impose on him to be a volunteer development worker. His heart is Filipino, and it explains why the blog is on its tenth year and counting.

“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]

“Learned helplessness”

That’s lifted from a posting in February 2015, with the title, “Developing a hardy mindset.” It appears the blog is left to recycle the same message if not old news repeatedly. Because it’s same old, same old instincts we demonstrate that, unsurprisingly, are captured in the media.

“As I have listened to individuals who feel trapped and stressed, unable to muster the energy to facilitate change, I think about Martin Seligman's research related to the concept of ‘learned helplessness,’ a concept which basically captures the belief that ‘regardless of what I do nothing really will change, so why even put in any effort to change.’ Once a feeling of learned helplessness begins to dominate one's mindset, most difficult situations elicit feelings of resignation, defeatism, and stress.” [Stressed Out or Stress Hardy (?), Robert Brooks, Ph.D.,http://www.drrobertbrooks.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/1999/04/Stressed-Out-or-Stress-Hardy-Part-1.pdf]

Are we Pinoys in a state of “learned helplessness”?

Consider: “Too many delays in infrastructure building, law-making, and most especially in the delivery of justice will be the country’s unraveling.” [Deadly sin of delays, Rey Gamboa, The Philippine Star, BIZLINKS, 2nd May 2019]

“The numbers tell us this crisis didn’t just happen now. [Those] numbers, however, do not tell the whole miserable story. [I] don’t know if we can assume DOE planners had those numbers because with DOE, we cannot assume competence. If they did, why didn’t they do something? 

“Given that the solutions are long term, it takes five to six years to build a power plant, they could have warned the public by January to start an energy conservation habit.” [Numbers behind power crisis, Boo Chanco, DEMAND AND SUPPLY, The Philippine Star, 3rd May 2019]

"Without increasing our exports, the current pattern of rising deficits as we increase our integration with other economies will persist. A carefully crafted industry support scheme that is time-bound, targeted, transparent, and performance-based is necessary. Moreover, there is the need to attract investments that will bring in new technologies – such as artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, 3D printing, etc. – and incentivize firms to upgrade; and move up the value chain, reskill and upskill their workforce; invest more in R&D; and promote start-up development.” [Trade deficits and industry competitiveness, Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Yellow Pad, BusinessWorld, 28th Apr 2019]

“Schools should focus on teaching the ‘four Cs’ – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Aside from technical skills, students should be taught general purpose life skills. Students must learn to deal with change, learn new things throughout their entire life, and be able to reinvent themselves again and again. 

"All these suggestions are based on a foundation that has been called ‘liberal education.’ One clear evidence is that the most highly recommended business books by top CEOs are not business textbooks. 

“As we get more and more deluged by data – real and fake – we can only survive and flourish in the future world if we have a clear world view partly derived from an education that has taught us the critical need to learn history, philosophy, and the humanities.” [Education for the future,Elfren S. Cruz, BREAKTHROUGH, The Philippine Star, 5th May 2019]

The blog is on its tenth year yet we Pinoys seem unable to move beyond square one, a century if we go by Rizal’s admonition, to wit: “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.”

In other words, there must be an underlying cause – or causes – to explain our learned helplessness. The things we see and can talk about – from infrastructure building to law-making to the delivery of justice to the rising deficit to the need to attract investments to learning critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity to a clear world view – are symptoms of a more significant problem. Also, even our love for tyranny falls under this humongous challenge, this umbrella.

Consider: “In contrast, there are other individuals, faced with seemingly similar situations, who remain more optimistic and more positive and as a result are able to solve problems with greater effectiveness. [One] approach [is] based on the research of Suzanne Kobasa and her colleagues. Kobasa defined three characteristics of what she called the ‘hardy personality.’ Individuals who possessed these characteristics experienced and responded to stressful events in a much healthier and more effective way. [I] prefer to refer to these characteristics of a ‘stress hardy’ person as features of a mindset, a mindset that defines the way in which we understand and approach all aspects of our life.

“Why cast this concept of ‘stress hardiness’ in the framework of a mindset? The reason [is] that mindsets can be changed, that they do not have to remain fixed ideas that are cast in stone. I realize that many people have held on to certain self-defeating ideas for years, but with insight, courage, and support these ideas can be changed. I call the components of ‘stress hardiness’ as outlined by Kobasa the ‘3 C's’ since the first letter of each of the words of the mindset begins with the letter C.

“Commitment. Challenge. Control. Kobasa described commitment as being involved rather than alienated from aspects of one's life. When commitment is present, individuals have a sense of purpose and meaning for why they are doing what they are doing. When we have a purpose, when we are guided by a vision, when we never lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing, energy and passion are triggered that give meaning to our lives and lessen the impact of stress.

“Challenge is based on the belief that change is a constant in one’s life. Successful people tend to see change as challenges to confront and master rather than as stress to avoid. They do not deny problems, but instead appreciate that change is an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. It is interesting to note that in the Chinese language, the same word symbolizes both ‘crisis’ and ‘opportunity.’ While opportunity is housed in many difficult situations, in my consultation and therapy activities, I have witnessed countless individuals who react to these situations with dread, who would rather remain frozen in a ‘comfort zone’ even if that zone brings them little satisfaction or joy.

“Since the word ‘control’ may be incorrectly interpreted as ‘controlling’ others, I typically refer to this third ‘C’ as ‘personal control.’ The feeling of control or ownership is at the root of almost every theory of effectiveness and motivation. When individuals possess this third ‘C’ they tend to focus their energy on those events that they have control over rather than on situations beyond their control. They believe that they are active participants in plotting the course of their own destiny, of solving problems and making decisions about their own life, of wasting little time worrying about things that are beyond their influence. People become more stressed when they attempt to alter uncontrollable circumstances, often feeling that they are hitting their heads against the wall. When individuals delineate a clear plan of reasonable action for situations that they can alter, their stress lessens. Even when their actions do not lead to success, they at least feel a sense of accomplishment in knowing that they have not passively sat back and, in addition, they are likely to adopt the view that they can learn from what went wrong.” [Brooks, op. cit.]

We in the elite class better internalize this challenge of Juan de la Cruz. Because we are the group of people that can touch the bases – that constitute the Pinoy instincts; see below – and are equipped to turn this nation around. However, we must first turn ourselves around – from being the problem to be the solution.

Consider: “A long time ago, when we were young and foolish, Malou Mangahas and I were booted out of The Manila Chronicle for standing up for Bobi Tiglao.

“We had wanted Bobi to succeed Amando Doronila as editor of the newspaper. We thought he had the chops to lead the Chronicle, a paper shuttered by martial law, but which had reopened months after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos.

“How wrong we were.           

“Since then, Bobi has morphed from being a fact-based journalist to an intellectual apologist for a clampdown on our hard-won freedoms. As a columnist for The Manila Times, he wants us shut down or in jail, based on spurious claims that we are somehow violating the Constitution and are ‘tools to advance US hegemony over Filipino consciousness.’

“This is really more than just a story of a friendship gone sour. It is an assault on the idea of an independent press and on the role of journalists as watchdogs of society.  Bobi’s attack on us, since echoed by Yen Makabenta, another Times columnist, is straight from the playbook of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It softens the ground for a clampdown on the press and civil society.” [Just the facts: Foreign funding isn't the problem, Sheila S. Coronel, Philstar.com, 2nd May 2019]

The writer knows neither Coronel nor Tiglao. Moreover, those familiar with the blog may recognize its common themes around our instincts: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day ours is a culture of impunity.

Indeed, we in the elite class are the ones that can demonstrate how to overcome these instincts. That we can talk about our challenges and offer solutions put us in good stead.

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]