Critical thinking is beyond linear and logical

That is why one plus one is beyond two; it is three to critical, lateral, and creative thinkers. It explains why despite our claim to creativity as in the jeepney – and proud of “Pinoy abilidad” – we are the regional laggard.

Add to that our instincts, and they illuminate why FDI and technology don’t find a home in the Philippines, crucial to innovation and global competitiveness: 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.

Should we take a pause and then ask: Have our neighbors, if not the world, left us behind? How come they figured out that FDI and technology will propel them forward, from the third world to the first world?

We rail against our culture of impunity yet rely on political patronage and oligarchy – as in we are sleeping with the enemy? We continue to pay lip service to liberalize the economy.

Consider: First, where the Asian Tigers and then China. Now its Vietnam’s turn: “Note Samsung’s revenue of $58bn, almost a quarter of Vietnam’s total exports of $214bn, against the combined sales, $43.1bn, of the 8 Philippine-listed companies that made it to the Forbes list (the sales figure per the latest list is lower, $34.8bn.) Samsung has invested a cumulative $17bn in the country.”

Then consider: JICA has been supporting the Philippines for 60 years and the USAID for 50. Yet, despite outside help, we are unable to move forward as a nation. [Disclosure: USAID arranged the writer’s presence in Eastern Europe, but their support lasted only a few years and ended in 2008. As some would know, the company he has guided for 16 years and counting has long left their micro-enterprise status and set their sight to the Forbes list. The big difference with our major enterprises is that their platform is innovation and global competitiveness, not rent-seeking.]

The assistance to the Philippines came to mind because of (a) “The crisis in our streets,” Randy David, PUBLIC LIVES, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13th Oct 2019, and (b) “The Liveable Cities Challenge,” Guillermo M. Luz, BUSINESS MATTERS, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19th Oct 2019.

“[A] crisis indicates an acute functional disorder in a system, a breaking point, or a difficult or dangerous situation demanding close attention.

“We should be careful not to think that every crisis demands the unilateral use of emergency powers.

“Much of this nihilism, writes the literary critic Michiko Kakutani, mirrors a ‘growing loss of faith in institutions and a loss of respect for both the rule of law and everyday norms and traditions. It’s a symptom of our loss of civility, our growing inability to have respectful debates with people who have opinions different from our own, and our growing unwillingness to give others the benefit of the doubt, room for an honest mistake, the courtesy of a hearing.’ We can’t hope to reverse this civic decline by hiring a despot to discipline us.” [David, op. cit.]

“The Duterte government has an excellent reason to ask for the reinstitution of the death penalty. But given the many deaths by impunity in this drug war, the death penalty may not be necessary – if the drug lords, above all, are meted the penalty that they deserve. I do not see this coming, however – not until the entire government itself, particularly the justice system, is rendered incorruptible, and justice finally prevails.” [Why the drug war failed, F. Sionil Jose, HINDSIGHT, The Philippine Star, 21st Oct 2019]

Let’s then get to “The Liveable Cities Challenge. The Liveable Cities project reinforces that trend to improve cities by concentrating initially on better plans and projects across four fronts: Mobility, Resilience, GovTech, and Basic Services. These four aspects and challenges are common to virtually all cities in the country.

“Part of our strategy in this project is to get cities to be as data-driven as possible. Data and analysis are essential ingredients of both policymaking and planning at the city and national levels.

“[In] partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the League of Cities of the Philippines and a host of other partners, we held the ‘Sustainable Cities Summit: Building Liveable Cities’ and launched the Liveable Cities Dashboard and Challenge. As the world continues to urbanize rapidly, there is increasing pressure on mayors to plan their cities better to take advantage of the gains of urbanization, while at the same time addressing or avoiding the pitfalls and challenges associated with ‘big city’ development.

“[Cities] are the economic engines of countries. They are hubs for employment, businesses, creativity, productivity, and economic growth. But they are also faced with multiple challenges, from traffic and congestion to environmental and sanitation issues, pollution, crime, and poverty. Well-planned and well-managed cities will resolve these challenges.” [Luz, op. cit.]

In other words, we are embarking on something that makes sense and most welcome. With due respect, haven’t we heard all this before? “The World Bank-funded Metro Manila Transport, Land Use, and Development Planning Project (or the MMetroplan) was published in 1976.

“Metro Manila: What went wrong? [ARCHITECT FELINO A. PALAFOX, JR., The Manila Times, 10th Oct 2019.] MANILA has the third-lowest quality of life among 56 cities. Is this even surprising? Deutsche Bank (DB) recently released its eighth annual survey of living standards and global prices in more than 50 cities around the world. Manila’s score was deficient — only surpassing Beijing, China, and Lagos, Nigeria.”

Consider: “America's Poorest States in 2019,” Adam Barone, Investopedia, 5th May 2019. “Wealthy states, such as Maryland, Connecticut, and New Jersey, tend to have high educational attainment among citizens and are near major economic hubs, such as New York City and Boston.

“Poorer states almost invariably have a less-educated populace and offer less in the way of economic opportunity.”

What insight must we draw? What we call reforms don’t measure when benchmarked against regional peers.

Recall a recent posting on the blog: “[Given] Vietnam’s exports are over four times PH’s they will take in more tax revenues, i.e., 24.8%. Except for Vietnam and Indonesia – which is at 13%, but the poverty rate is less than half ours – PH taxes/other revenues as a percentage of GDP are within the 15%-16% range, comparable to Malaysia and Thailand’s.

“Lower rates will benefit our largest enterprises but will not generate FDI to the level of Vietnam, for example. 

“Vietnam [is] liberalizing its economy to welcome foreign industry. In 2015 the government opened 50 sectors to foreign competition and slashed regulation in hundreds more. ‘Vietnam’s enthusiasm for free-trade deals has made it especially alluring to foreign investors,’ not taxes per se.” 

Sadly, ours is a protectionist economy, which explains why we can’t attract foreign investment and technology as our neighbors do. Yet, we must industrialize to create better quality employment, raise tax revenues, and overcome poverty.

Critical thinking is beyond linear and logical.

“With critical thinking ranking among the most in-demand skills for job candidates, you would think that educational institutions would prepare candidates well to be exceptional thinkers, and employers would be adept at developing such skills in existing employees. Unfortunately, both are mostly untrue.

“To demystify what critical thinking is and how to develop it, our team turned to three research-backed models: The Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment, Pearson’s RED Critical Thinking Model, and Bloom’s Taxonomy.

“Using these models, we developed the Critical Thinking Roadmap, a framework that breaks critical thinking down into four measurable phases: (1) the ability to execute, (2) synthesize, (3) recommend, and (4) generate.

“Execute. Converting instructions into action requires several of the skills Halpern describes as critical thinking: verbal reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving.

“Synthesize. Sort through a range of information and figure out what is essential. Synthesis is a skill that, like any other, grows with practice.

“Recommend. Move from identifying what is vital to what is a must.

“Generate. Able to create something out of nothing” – as in one plus one is three. [A Short Guide to Building Your Team’s Critical Thinking Skills, Matt Plummer, Harvard Business Review, 11th Oct 2019]

In other words, critical thinking is not instinctive to most people. For example, Steve Jobs defined creativity as connecting the dots. It sounds simple, yet Jobs is considered a genius, in the company of Einstein, Beethoven, Rembrandt, among others.

Here’s another quote from a recent posting: “Europe still looks like a series of mid-sized economies patched together, not a single rival to China and America. It risks becoming a business backwater.

“The single market matters – look at the mess Britain finds itself. A policy initially devised to break down trade barriers has not adapted fast enough.

“Europe’s banks have retrenched to their home markets, and its firms have shifted their energies to expanding outside the EU.

“A decade ago, ten of the world’s 40 largest listed firms, by market value, were based in the EU; now only two are – in 32nd and 36th place. Few of the world’s leading startups are European.” [Europe single market at risk, The Economist, 12th Sep 2019]

Should we toss our instincts [see above] and take the lead so that Juan de la Cruz can then traverse the road from poverty to prosperity?

Gising bayan!

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? Moreover, 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]