Is “dynamism” in our DNA?

Here’s the predicate that we keep reinforcing – i.e., our instincts: We Filipinos are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.

In other words, our caste system has put “dynamism” beyond reach.

And this is the other predicate that we’ve put beyond the reach of Juan de la Cruz: The character of this universe is that of dynamism and interdependence. 

Aren’t we proud of our worldview?

Consider: “2050 take me there,” Bernardo M. Villegas, Human Side Of Economics, BusinessWorld, 12th Oct 2021.

“Following the experience of South Korea, the Philippines has the potential of becoming a First World or advanced economy in the year 2050. That is consistent with the long-term projection that Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. made in 2012 that the Philippines will be the 16th largest economy in the world in 2050.”

Nice try, Bernie. 

Here’s where we stand in industrialization efforts, against our neighbors: Philippines = 30.6%; Vietnam = 33.3%; Thailand = 36.2%; Malaysia = 37.6%; Indonesia = 41%.

Is that a half-full glass to Juan de la Cruz? Or does it confirm that we’re the regional laggard, if not a disaster? 

Translation: That gap between us and Vietnam spells the failings of all our poverty efforts put together. See below; we must “design” and pursue Philippine agriculture to be a commercial success, not a poverty or livelihood program.

And that is why the blog keeps raising the distinctions between analysis and analytics. There are two sides to an equation; that focusing on activity as inputs and productivity will miss the outcome as in competitiveness and marketability. And they come from logical yet linear and incremental thinking.

Whatever happened to Arangkada? The blog had high hopes for the Philippines when PNoy became president, and the JFC presented “Arangkada” on a silver platter. In other words, by the end of Duterte’s term, we would have wasted two presidencies and a dozen years, and here we are still beating our chests for what will become of the Philippines?

Is dynamism in our DNA?

“Arangkada Philippines 2010: A Business Perspective is about creating a bright future for the Philippines, the 12th most populous country and probably the 10th or 9th by 2030.

“Arangkada is a guidebook to a better Philippines, with the Per Capita Income (PCI) of a middle-income economy, robust investment levels, better infrastructure, and higher government revenues to pay for social services like education and health care.

“Absolute poverty would recede via inclusive growth with less malnutrition, crime, and insurgency. With more rewarding opportunities at home, Filipinos would have less reason to work abroad.

“Catching up and keeping up is an imperative, not a choice. The Philippines has lagged for too long, losing competitiveness, despite its immense potential and location in the fastest-growing region with 60% of the global population. More than ever, opportunities abound for the Philippines to improve trade and investment ties in Asia and elsewhere and advance towards high-income status.

“Despite a dynamic population and a land blessed with natural resources, economic progress has been slow. In most international ranking surveys, the Philippines is slipping.

“The country has not improved its competitiveness as much as others and continues to slide despite recent GDP growth and rising PCI. The country should strive to move twice as fast – ‘Arangkada’ – which means ‘to accelerate.’

By now, those familiar with the blog are sick and tired of hearing that our eight top companies – collectively – can’t even match either (a) the $60 billion from OFW remittances and the BPO industry or (b) the contribution of one entity, Samsung Vietnam, to the Vietnamese economy. [Translation: We are lionizing the reality that these companies aren’t propelling this nation forward? They represent “pwede na ‘yan” to a T. How much insanity are we going to take? Calling our economists: To keep dishing out our meager tax revenues and digging deeper into LGUs is the guarantee that the Philippines has zero chance to be the next Asian Tiger. CREATE plus SIPP are akin to schoolwork but toothless in the real world. Conversely, it will be a windfall for these eight top companies. But they will still not deliver $60 billion, collectively.]

Then came AirPods Vietnam.

Surprise. Surprise.

What comes next?

“Vietnam carmaker Vinfast eyes start of U.S. deliveries in late 2022, CEO says,” Ben Klayman, Reuters, Yahoo, 14th Oct 2021.

“Vietnamese automaker Vinfast will begin taking pre-orders in the U.S. market for its VF e35 and e36 electric SUVs in the first half of 2022 and expects to begin delivering them by the end of the year, global Chief Executive Michael Lohscheller said.

‘It’s early to make any sales predictions, but VinFast will unveil two of our latest EV models at the 2021 Los Angeles auto show this November, thus marking our official introduction to the American market,’ he said in an email to Reuters.

“The company expects to begin delivering its first EVs in Vietnam starting in December, said Lohscheller, a former Volkswagen and Opel executive, named to his position at Vinfast in July.

“The automobile arm of Vietnam’s largest conglomerate, Vingroup, Vinfast has an office in California and expects to inaugurate 60 U.S. showrooms next year, he said.

“Vinfast has grand ambitions to launch EV sales in the U.S. and European markets, taking on Tesla and other automakers. Funding that plan is Vingroup, which was founded as an instant noodle business in post-Soviet Ukraine and now has interests spanning real estate, resorts, schools, hospitals, and smartphones.

“Founded in 2017, Vinfast is aiming to compete on vehicle size and price. The carmaker’s vehicles will also come with a battery leasing scheme that means the cost of the battery, one of the most expensive components of an EV, will not be included in the final price.

“VinFast, with an assembly plant in Vietnam, is planning to conduct most of its U.S. sales online. Lohscheller said the company will ‘keep an eye on the possibility of a manufacturing facility in the U.S.’

“The company has targeted global EV sales next year of 15,000 vehicles, down from its prior goal of 56,000 due to the worldwide semiconductor chip shortage.

“To fund its growth, Vinfast has said it is eyeing a public listing in the United States.”

Can we pause — and ponder? 

Recall that the blog never fails to stress that “cognitive development” is a function of experience. And isn’t that what Vietnam demonstrates?

Here’s a quote from an earlier posting: “The next president must preside over Philippine Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation and be a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.

“And innovation borrows from the instincts of Steve Jobs, and he defined creativity as simply connecting the dots. And it presupposes forward- and lateral thinking.

Thanks to a friend, I watched VP Robredo at the Manila Rotary meeting, including the Q&A.

Consider: At my old MNC-company, succession planning was a dominant agenda item. And myself needed to do the homework diligently to be equipped to pass judgment on people’s career — and call the shots to run businesses in over 200 countries and territories successfully.

But perfection is not of this world; even I can’t guarantee my decisions. And it comes back to the character of this universe, i.e., dynamism and interdependence. [Translation: The great Babe Ruth had a batting average of 0.342. In the private sector, if that’s how measly they deliver against plans, they’re gone.]

We always had a plan B. Even more, because for certain positions, we had several people lined up. And we kept giving them development assignments that would prepare them when their time came.

What’s the verdict on Candidate Robredo? I will quote Tony Lopez, one of the three that posed the questions: You are super good. 

She has a clear-thinking head. And it comes from her principles. Yet, she’s above giving a populist response. The best way to describe her leadership would be principled but not dogmatic.

In other words, she scores high in “cognitive development.” She can navigate the continuum of binary and relative thinking.

Her leadership presence was on display: She articulated how she ran the OVP, including how they executed plans and recognized gaps to fill. In other words, she knows how to weave together the elements of a solution or initiative. That comes from being principled but not dogmatic, and she instinctively demonstrates dynamism and interdependence.

She is more articulate than Biden and will be more inspiring because she can be steps ahead of her people or whomever she is leading. 

Let’s hold it there.

What else would I wish to figure if I were face-to-face with VP Robredo? For example, how will she weave the following? How forward-thinking is she? How much lateral thinking does she employ?

“Education, health care, the 4Ps, MSMEs, among others, are all critical. 

“But we are GDP-starved — as in, we are oxygen-starved and need it first and foremost.

“Can she assemble a task force comprised of Bill Gates, the CEO of Apple, the CEO of Samsung, and Warren Buffett?

“Why?

“Beg for foreign money and technology — and cover our deficits measured against our neighbors!

“That’s what Lee and Mahathir said to Deng – and even Vietnam followed suit.

“That is how our neighbors left us one after the other.

“And so, we need a quantum leap of $200 billion in GDP to leapfrog the economic output of these neighbors! 

“And give that much-needed oxygen boost to Juan de la Cruz.

“Can we shift paradigms, imagine the Philippines as Philippine Inc.?

“How will that translate to the challenges we face in agribusiness? 

“We must redefine the DA’s reason for being? “Design” and pursue Philippine agriculture to be a commercial success, i.e., it is beyond a livelihood or poverty program. Even Steve Jobs did his homework by figuring out how innovative companies can create a continual portfolio of winning products globally.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Learning and innovation go hand in hand, and the arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. Think Philippine Inc., not the Philippine economy.

“In other words, we have been bragging about our manufacturing uptick and the 6%-7% GDP growth rate. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking, and what we did yesterday will not be sufficient for tomorrow.

“Don’t expect me as president to recycle economic managers from the past. We are the laughingstock of the region. And for economists that are not present at this conference, I invite you to apply to my administration.

“You know what I want. I want what is best for our country.”

Let’s get back to the premise of this posting:

Here’s the predicate that we keep reinforcing – i.e., our instincts: We Filipinos are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.

In other words, our caste system has put “dynamism” beyond reach.

And this is the other predicate that we’ve put beyond the reach of Juan de la Cruz: The character of this universe is that of dynamism and interdependence.

It used to be that “dynamism” was associated with the Americans. But the Asian Tigers, China, and most recently, Vietnam, have coopted the distinction.

Whatever happened to “Arangkada”?

Is the year 2050 the soonest we can aspire for greatness? Does that mirror the 6%-7% GDP growth rate that made us proud for several years yet has remained the regional laggard?

“Cognitive development is a function of experience. For example, Singapore’s fantastic adventure in traversing poverty to prosperity explains why they can keep their advantage even when competing against well-developed Western nations. But that is too far advanced for Juan de la Cruz to internalize. Conversely, laggards like Latin American or African countries keep falling farther behind.”

How do we break out from the group of laggards?

Gising bayan!

“What is best for our country?”

That’s a direct quote from the “Declaration of candidacy for the presidential elections of 2022, Leni Robredo.”

“I made it clear: I am ready to give way and to help. If they succeeded, they also offered to join forces as candidates or as part of their administration. My reply: This is not about positions; this is not a mere transaction. The important thing is to unite – align principles, our shared dreams for the country, and the path we must take to achieve these.”

But let’s stop right there. And recall what I said to my Eastern European friends when the wife and I came the first time: Freedom and the free market are not about rules but principles. Translation: Candidate Robredo is starting on the right foot.

This posting then is to dissect if President Robredo will follow through.

Recall that at my old MNC-company, we were constantly doing leadership development because of the enormous challenge of doing business in over 200 countries and territories.

And remember the country manager who asked if I was firing him; he knew that I had fired managers – even on the spot. Leadership in a democracy is a crucial element in self-government – as in the commitment to personal responsibility and the egalitarian ethos.

In an earlier posting, I shared the wife’s reaction before Robredo filed her candidacy, “Do we need another Cory at this time?”

Consider: “I have known her for two decades, and she has always appeared to be extraordinarily poised, even under enormous stress – a trait she attributes to her fatalism. Now, however, her composure seems to mask a certain uneasiness. She recoils when I seek to steer the conversation toward the problems facing her presidency – as if an admission of troubles is a sign of weakness. But she is indeed beleaguered by daunting difficulties.” [“Cory Aquino’s Downhill Slide,” Stanley Karnow, The New York Times Magazine, 19th Aug 1990]

Let’s continue with Karnow: “Dissident army groups haunted Aquino, which have already tried six times to oust her. Not a week passes without fresh rumors of a new coup.

“For all her achievements, however, Aquino has lost the luster she enjoyed after toppling Marcos when the world exalted her as the devout housewife who had exorcised evil. Her approval ratings in the Philippines, once astronomic, have dropped to below 50 percent.

“Yet her critics sound sorrowful rather than angry, disappointed rather than hostile. ‘We like Cory personally, but nothing has changed,’ is a refrain I heard more and more in towns and villages. Though they hector her relentlessly, Manila’s flamboyant politicians and newspaper columnists temper their derision with deference.

“A noted commentator, Luis Beltran, said a few months ago, ‘She is sincere, moral and honest, but the presidency is obviously beyond her, beyond her capabilities, beyond her experience.’

“President Bush is reported to be distressed by Aquino’s lack of direction. ‘We’re committed to her, and we hope that she’ll muddle through,’ says a senior State Department official, ‘but she simply doesn’t know how to govern.’

“Armando Doronila, the editor of The Manila Chronicle, imputes Aquino’s ‘clumsy and arthritic reflexes’ to her unwillingness to exercise power. ‘Her vision of the presidency is that of a figurehead,’ he has written, contending that she operates on the theory that the political institutions she restored would ‘create their magic and dynamism.’

“Conspicuously absent from her approach is an imaginative vision for the country. John J. Carroll, an American Jesuit who has lived in the Philippines for many years, says, ‘She is not a conceptual thinker.’

Recall this quote from an earlier posting: “The next president must preside over Philippine Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation and be a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.

“We need a leadership that can grasp that we are GDP-starved. The ‘leadership’ must synthesize and pull out what matters, given our instincts of the crab mentality.

“Education, health care, the 4Ps, MSMEs, among others, are all critical. 

“But we are GDP-starved — as in, we are oxygen-starved and need it first and foremost.

“Recall that the blog spoke to Mayor Isko, creating a task force comprised of Bill Gates, the CEO of Apple, the CEO of Samsung, and Warren Buffett.

“Why?

“Beg for foreign money and technology — and cover our deficits measured against our neighbors!

“That’s what Lee and Mahathir said to Deng – and even Vietnam followed suit.

“That is how our neighbors left us one after the other.

“And so, we need a quantum leap of $200 billion in GDP to leapfrog the economic output of these neighbors! 

“And give that much-needed oxygen boost to Juan de la Cruz.

“Can we shift paradigms, imagine the Philippines as Philippine Inc.?

“What’s the difference? In the private sector – especially in today’s highly competitive world where innovation is dizzying – the imperative of personal responsibility and the egalitarian ethos is pronounced. Translation: Rank has no privileges; miscreants pay the price.

“Even in the public sector, it happens. Think of now, former New York Governor Cuomo.

“Of course, Trump has been getting away with murder. But that’s another story. Translation: That’s why I have no respect for US politics – i.e., I visualized the future when the family transferred to New York. In other words, the 6th Jan insurrection in the Capitol was visible even as early as decades ago, if not earlier.

“How? Because Freedom and democracy are beyond merely winning – and beyond party, and it is about the common good, stupid!”

Let’s pause once more – and ponder.

“Robredo’s decision to run not as a Liberal Party standard-bearer but as an independent candidate, and her adoption of a new color, are important signals to voters who are tired of the prevailing (or festering) partisan divisions. It could also signify how serious she is in her quest to form a broad opposition alliance with other non-administration or anti-administration candidates, parties, and personalities.” [“Our search for new leaders,” Tonyo Cruz, Manila Bulletin, 9th Oct 2021]

That’s a welcome ring!

As the blog keeps stressing, “Freedom and democracy are beyond merely winning – and beyond party. It is about the common good, stupid!” [How does that apply to the Philippines?]

“Here’s where the science of ‘thinking’ comes into play. We are glossing over what’s at the heart of our caste system, the value of hierarchy and paternalism.

“The hierarchy must lead the war on poverty. Even Duterte said the same thing but differently, i.e., fight poverty via the war on drugs.

"Recall that there are two sides to an equation, and there is populism on one side and leadership on the other. And leadership is not one-dimensional even when it must demonstrate the ability to synthesize.

“We need a leadership that can grasp that we are GDP-starved. The ‘leadership’ must synthesize and pull out what matters, given our instincts of the crab mentality.”

Question: Will Leni Robredo not be another Cory?

How can she move her candidacy forward beyond that beautiful speech?

It appears she can synthesize – evidenced by a terse 15-minute declaration. Bravo!

But then, it’s worth repeating, “The next president must preside over Philippine Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation and be a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.”

“Whoever is the next occupant of Malacañang will face enormous challenges. As highly respected NEDA chief Karl Chua said, it will take ten years for the economy of the Philippines to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and return to pre-pandemic growth. While the economy is slowly recovering and will expand by up to five percent this year and up to nine percent next year as growth prospects remain promising – the losses will be felt up to the next 10 to 40 years, Secretary Karl warned.

“Our next president will need a good economic team to boost economic recovery efforts and navigate the challenges that the country will be facing in the coming years.

“For our part, we continue the work we have been doing with Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and the Department of Trade and Industry to attract American companies that are planning to relocate to the ASEAN region as part of their diversification efforts from China.” [“Enormous challenges face our next president,” Ambassador B. Romualdez, BABE’S EYE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON DC, The Philippine Star, 10th Oct 2021]

With due respect to the ambassador, given the enormity of the challenges we face, we can be more proactive in begging for foreign money and technology: “Recall that the blog spoke to Mayor Isko, creating a task force comprised of Bill Gates, the CEO of Apple, the CEO of Samsung, and Warren Buffett. Why? Beg for foreign money and technology — and cover our deficits measured against our neighbors!”

That will be the fastest route for Philippine Inc. to be a commercial success.

And that is why we cannot have Marcos or Duterte as president because they have no credibility to attract foreign money and technology.

But we, the people, must share the blame too because we can’t accept – despite being well into the 21st century – that foreign money and technology are not treason. If we still cannot wrap our heads around the magic behind the Asian Tigers, indeed, we are doomed as a people, economy, and nation.

“The next president must preside over Philippines Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation and be a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.”

“And ‘innovation,’ as the blog has repeatedly stressed, borrows from the instincts of Steve Jobs. He defined creativity as simply connecting the dots. And that presupposes forward- and lateral thinking.”

Let’s come down to earth.

How can Leni Robredo power up her candidacy – and signal how she would lead and govern this regional laggard?

And assuming she becomes president, every government office must have this Robredo quote: “There was no room for ego or self-interest in this process. The presidency is an enormous responsibility, and deciding whether to run for president or not, can’t be based on ambition or outside prodding. When it comes to leadership, there should only be one consideration: What is best for our country?”

And she should be prepared to fire people on the spot if they cross her pledge.

In the meantime, she can line up a few critical events to demonstrate that she has synthesized the demands of the presidency.

For example, she will invite Transparency International for a live conference. What media will not cover that?

And then, she will reiterate her pledge: “We should all know by now: There is much hunger, suffering, and death because those in power have prioritized self-interest over the welfare of the Filipino. The lack of good governance lies at the root of our many problems, and this needs to end.”

“I invited you folks from Transparency International given your ‘mission is to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability, and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society.’

“We Filipinos are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.

“We have three branches in the government. And we have the public sector and the private sector, too.

"But collectively, we can’t even keep pace with Vietnam, where the US military dropped the most bombs than all the wars combined.

“Where do we start. How can you help us?

“For example, how do we get public officials to commit to uprightness?

“What can we do with the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue? What can we do with the drug problem?

“What about corruption in the military? How do we preempt coups if we dig into sin within the ranks?

“I know you cannot solve all these problems. But please tell us what you need so that we can do our part.

“For example, should we ask media to cover your efforts so that daily they can report to the people how we are progressing?”

Do we get the drift?

That is leadership, not getting a firing squad to kill a drug dealer at the Luneta. Or killing mayors and young kids among those suspected in the drug network, if not tossing them out of a helicopter.

Let’s see how to wrap our heads around leadership.

Leadership is developed and nurtured in a democracy. Why and how? It comes back to its very nature of self-government – that demands personal responsibility and an egalitarian ethos.

Conversely, parochialism and insularity – because of the value of hierarchy and paternalism – breed tyranny.

Do we wonder why Rizal called us out for our submission to tyranny – i.e., that we love it?

Let’s get back to Robredo: She must follow up with another live conference. And this time with the economic managers, legislators, and economists.

And in front of the media, she will look them in the eye: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Learning and innovation go hand in hand, and the arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. Think Philippine Inc., not the Philippine economy.

“In other words, we have been bragging about our manufacturing uptick and the 6%-7% GDP growth rate. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking, and what we did yesterday will not be sufficient for tomorrow.

“And so, we need a quantum leap of $200 billion in GDP to leapfrog the economic output of these neighbors! 

“And give that much-needed oxygen boost to Juan de la Cruz.

“Can we shift paradigms, imagine the Philippines as Philippine Inc.?”

When she has done these two live conferences, she will connect with Bill Gates, the CEO of Apple, the CEO of Samsung, and Warren Buffett.

“The Philippines is now open for business. And my first question to you is: How can we get businesses the size of Samsung Vietnam and Apple AirPods Vietnam into the Philippines. What must we do and do fast?”

But that presupposes that she will put the right economic managers in her administration.

She will have a third live conference – with the current economic managers.

“Don’t expect me to recycle economic managers from the past. We are the laughingstock of the region. And for economists that are not present at this conference, I invite you to apply to my administration.

“You know what I want. I want what is best for our country.

“For example, why can’t our top eight companies deliver at least $60 billion to the economy? Yet, Samsung Vietnam, by its lonesome self, does it. And not to forget, our OFWs and the BPO industry deliver as much.

“Our top eight companies will not have credibility with Juan de la Cruz until they do so. In the meantime, they must do their homework.

"Also, our BPO industry must not mirror the rent-seeking character of oligarchy. The industry must move higher in the value chain for the Philippines to be globally competitive, including software development.

“What is the best for the country? We cannot keep dishing out our limited tax revenues and expect the Philippines to be the next Asian Tiger and put poverty in the rearview mirror.”

“I come from my province. We cannot get what we want even if I want to, without driving our national income aggressively.”

Question: What is best for our country?

If we cannot wrap our heads around that, Candidate Robredo and her team have lots of homework to do.

But the one thing they must immediately demonstrate is leadership – so that people do not think we are doing a rerun of the Marcos to Cory movie.

Gising bayan!

Look in the mirror.

Let’s hold it right there.

This posting offers to “manage” the “automatic” operating system of our brains and explore how the “conscious” one can be our handrail. Those familiar with the blog will recall the treatise of the Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman.

The conscious side can be a vast expanse of knowledge from our experiences, including those in the subconscious. That is why cognitive development is a function of experience. For example, Singapore’s fantastic adventure in traversing poverty to prosperity explains why they can keep their advantage even when competing against well-developed Western nations. But that is too far advanced for Juan de la Cruz to internalize. Conversely, laggards like Latin American or African countries keep falling farther behind.

Or think of why we can’t make agribusiness a pillar of the Philippine economy. 

Consider: Have we been recycling the same tired, shortsighted programs despite such glaring failings as the inability to cover our own rice needs? In other words, when will a poverty cum livelihood program for farmers ever win in today’s globalized and highly competitive world? It has nothing to do with East versus West, and think of the successes of Vietnam and Thailand.

Question: How can we leverage our conscious mind to overcome the automatic side? Should we “design” Philippine agribusiness to be a successful commercial enterprise instead? How about “food security”? Nice try, but a commercial “bulldozer” will readily overrun that!

Let’s pause and shift gears: “Have you ever noticed that when you’re under stress, it’s so much harder to resist temptation? Or make any change in your daily routine, like starting an exercise program or kicking a late-night TV habit?

“That’s because stress primes the brain to take automatic action. Any impulse will be harder to control, whether craving Krispy Kremes or procrastinating on a project.

“Neuroscientists sometimes say that we have one brain, but two minds: a mind that makes conscious choices, based on self-reflection and awareness; and a mind that makes automatic responses based on instinct and habit.

“Each of these ‘minds’ is supported by different neural circuits—different systems of the brain in command of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Stress selectively inhibits the circuitry of self-awareness and self-control and activates the circuitry of habit and impulse. Neuroscientists describe it like flicking a switch: stress hormones turn off the reflection mode and turn on the reflex mode.

“The result: When we’re under stress at work or home, we find ourselves feeling stuck and out of control.” [“Managing Two Minds: the conscious vs. automatic,” Kelly McGonigal, www.mindful.org, 23rd Dec 2011]

Once more, we need to pause:

Given that the conscious mind can be a vast expanse of knowledge to manage the “automatic” side, the posting covers an array of subjects. But we will keep them tied together – as in connecting the dots. And pause every so often to give us breathing room.

Here’s a good starting point:

We can’t be the laughingstock of the region and take it sitting down, and we can’t be Juan Tamad, Bondying, and Padre Damaso rolled into one; and represent a “perfect storm.”

Let’s do a bit of “unfreezing” [mental] exercise and take that as the hypothesis. In other words, is it time to do our collective examination of conscience as we did individually for our first communion? 

Enough of the ego trip – for us in the Philippine elite and chattering classes? [Yes, it comes from the “automatic” mind.]

Recall the following from a prior posting:

And imagine President Robredo speaking: “I invited you folks from Transparency International given your ‘mission is to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability, and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society.’

And the challenge?

1. Our instincts: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.
2. We have three branches in the government. And we have the public sector and the private sector, too.
3. But collectively, we can’t even keep pace with Vietnam, where the US military dropped the most bombs than all the wars combined.
4. Where do we start? How can you help us?"

The bottom line: We need help, big time!

And we need help from ourselves.

Why?

1. We can’t wrap our heads around our instincts; see above
2. How can we even synthesize our instincts into a much simple hypothesis when we are Juan Tamad, Bondying, and Padre Damaso rolled into one?
3. The truth always hurts.

Enter: Franciscan theology.

How do we reconcile the good and the bad? How can there be Heaven and Hell?

Neither is a place but a state of mind.

And New Yorkers come to mind, i.e., the New York state of mind – as in, “can-do” attitude.

For example, New York has survived bankruptcy (the 1970s) and 9/11 (2001). And so, despite the fallouts from the pandemic, it’s risky to count the Big Apple out. For example, the New York property market, which was on a decline because of the pandemic – as people deserted the city for the safer, less populated suburbs – saw the market reversed in a significant way. News item: “New York’s thriving real estate market shows no signs of slowing in the third quarter of 2021.”

What’s the point?

It comes back to “cognitive development” – that beyond binary or dualistic thinking is relativism.

And it brings Fr. George Gorospe, SJ, to the fore: “No human formulation of ‘reality,’ no philosophical explanation of human experience can say: ‘I have grasped its entirety and meaning.’ Reality is too rich and is continuously changing; it can’t fall under a set of categories.

“Hence, there is a need today of a more dynamic and more existential philosophy inspired by the Neo-Thomist revival of the authentic thought of St. Thomas, i.e., it is not a ‘closed system’ but remains ‘open’ to the valid insights of other philosophies. For example, to the contribution of contemporary phenomenology and existentialism.” [“Christian Renewal of Filipino Values,” Vitaliano R. Gorospe; Philippine Studies vol. 14, no. 2, 1966; Ateneo de Manila University]

Let’s push the theology envelope.

Of course, Padre Damaso does not agree that Hell is a state of mind because he saw Juan de la Cruz as inferior. 

Yet, the Jesuits preach discernment. And just like cognitive development, it demands practice and experience—ditto for innovation.

Jesuit discernment goes by its buzzword, “examen,” but a layman version from AA is called the 12-steps. The common denominator appears to be a paraphrase attributed from St. Ignatius: God helps those who help themselves.

Enter: Innovation.

Why is “innovation” foreign to us Pinoys? We don’t respect and respond to the hierarchy of human needs, which is the heart of innovation?

Translation: We’re stuck “serving the bottom of the pyramid” because we saw a kindred spirit in the guru that preached it. Unsurprisingly, our eight top companies can’t collectively deliver $60 billion to the Philippine economy. On the other hand, Samsung Vietnam, singly, does it.

Disclosure: Over 30 years ago, the top managers at my old MNC-company listened to this guru expound on the value chain model. What he missed in his subsequent treatise is that beyond income class, there is the more abstract hierarchy of human needs.

And they are dynamic; while in a caste system, people take income class as static. In other words, the poor are free to aspire and dream. Yet, we give a stern look at squatters that have TV antennas above their shanties. That is from our caste system, i.e., instincts.

And these squatters suffer from abject poverty. In Vietnam, they are middle class. Why? Their leadership knew what the common good was. Except for Singapore, they now have the most FDIs in the region.

To add insult to injury, did they attract Samsung while we blew the chance? Why? So we can protect our top companies that can’t collectively match what Samsung Vietnam brings to their economy?

Sadly, Padre Damaso is an expansive undertaking. Think of the US political parties, for example, or the conservative wing in the Vatican.

Then consider: Which has been around longer, the Vatican or the US political parties?

In other words, the Vatican has moved from the Crusades (1096 was the start of the first; the fifth and final one ended in 1271) to the Inquisition (it had its beginning in 12th-century France) to Ecumenism (the Catholic Church started to engage other faiths under Vatican II, 1962-65).

Translation: Even the Vatican is a human construct; it is its faith that is central. That Pope Francis warned the US Bishops not to deprive politicians of the Sacrament of Eucharist even if they support abortion rights. And that is consistent with what Christ demonstrated in his battles against the scribes and Pharisees.

Recall that I have no respect for US politics – and chose not to exercise the right to vote. “Freedom and democracy are beyond merely winning – and beyond party, and it is about the common good, stupid!”

It was not the personal transgressions of the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and other sinners that Christ confronted, and he embraced the sinners but denounced those who trampled on the common good – as in tyranny.

How do we reconcile these many contradictions?

Enter: Christ synthesized the over 600 Jewish laws into the two great commandments.

Let’s stop right there – and drill down on the two great commandments:

Those familiar with the blog may recall using the same example to my Eastern European friends to introduce the Pareto principle. 

But not only:

(1) The challenge to synthesize is akin to the struggle with cognitive development and creativity  — as in connecting the dots. And even Steve Jobs acknowledged that in the absence of experience, you can’t “connect the dots.” And that’s why at Silicon Valley, they embraced “Design Thinking,” which entails rapid prototyping and testing. The operative word is “rapid” because innovation and speed are crucial in today’s globalized and highly competitive world.

(2) Our lack of experience in development as Pinoys puts us at a more significant disadvantage to our neighbors — their lead in traversing poverty to prosperity means we will keep falling behind.

(3) For example, big data poses the challenge of analytics, else we can’t separate the wheat from the chaff. And again, our neighbors have the lesser hurdle.

(4) The ability to synthesize is also critical in innovation — developing product concepts that measure and respond to human needs. See above; why innovation is foreign to us, Pinoys — we don’t respect and respond to the hierarchy of human needs, especially those in the lower caste.

(5) Even worse, because of the crab mentality, we are all over the board — aka “sabog.”

(6) And pits the academic and the real world, especially when there is no clarity on the value to the latter.

(7) And explains the distinctions between linear versus forward- and lateral thinking.

The bottom line is that we are deep in the abyss; we did not turn into the regional laggard overnight, and we kept taking the wrong turn at every fork.

Should we pause and ponder?

But let’s get back to the US political parties:

Can we learn something from them? Conversely, can they be saved – from running over the cliff?

“We Are Republicans With a Plea: Elect Democrats in 2022,” Miles Taylor and Christine Todd Whitman, The New York Times, 11th Oct 2021. [Mr. Taylor served at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as chief of staff, and was the anonymous author of a 2018 guest essay for The Times criticizing President Donald Trump’s leadership. Ms. Whitman was the Republican governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001.]

“Rational Republicans are losing the GOP civil war. And the only near-term way to battle pro-Trump extremists is for all of us to team up on crucial races and overarching political goals with our longtime political opponents: the Democratic Party.

“Earlier this year, we joined more than 150 conservatives — including former governors, senators, congressmen, cabinet secretaries, and party leaders — in calling for the Republican Party to divorce itself from Trumpism or else lose our support, perhaps by forming a new political party. Rather than return to founding ideals, GOP leaders in the House and many states have now turned belief in conspiracy theories and lies about stolen elections into a litmus test for membership and running for office.

“Many of us have spent years battling the left – over government’s role in society – and we will continue to have disagreements on fundamental issues like infrastructure spending, taxes, and national security. Similarly, some Democrats will be wary of any pact with the political right.

“But we agree on something more foundational — democracy. We cannot tolerate the continued hijacking of a major U.S. political party by those who seek to tear down our Republic’s guardrails or who are willing to put one man’s interests ahead of the country. We cannot tolerate the leaders of the GOP — in 2022 or the presidential election in 2024 — refusing to accept the results of elections or undermining the certification of those results should they lose.

“To that end, concerned conservatives must join forces with Democrats on the most essential near-term imperative: blocking Republican leaders from regaining control of the US House of Representatives.”

Here’s the refrain in the lingo of the blog:

“Freedom and democracy are beyond merely winning – and beyond party. It is about the common good, stupid!”

And that brings us back to Leni Robredo: “I made it clear: I am ready to give way and to help. If they succeeded, they also offered to join forces as candidates or as part of their administration. My reply: This is not about positions; this is not a mere transaction. The important thing is to unite – align principles, our shared dreams for the country, and the path we must take to achieve these.”

How?

1. Don’t expect me to recycle economic managers from the past. We are the laughingstock of the region. And for economists that are not present at this conference, I invite you to apply to my administration.
2. You know I want what is best for our country.
3. What is the best for the country? We cannot keep dishing out our limited tax revenues and expect the Philippines to be the next Asian Tiger and put poverty in the rearview mirror.
4. Can we shift paradigms, imagine the Philippines as Philippine Inc.?

What’s the difference?

1. In the private sector – especially in today’s highly competitive world where innovation is dizzying – the imperative of personal responsibility and the egalitarian ethos is pronounced. Translation: Rank has no privileges; miscreants pay the price.
2. And that is why we cannot have Marcos or Duterte as president because they have no credibility to attract foreign money and technology.
3. But we, the people, must share the blame too because we can’t accept – despite being well into the 21st century – that foreign money and technology are not treason. If we still cannot wrap our heads around the magic behind the Asian Tigers, indeed, we are doomed as a people, economy, and nation.

So, who must be the next president?

“The next president must preside over Philippines Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation, and being a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.

Why?

1. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Learning and innovation go hand in hand, and the arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. Think Philippine Inc., not the Philippine economy.
2. “You know what I want. I want what is best for our country.”

What then is our responsibility in this election?

1. The blog has spoken to the candidacies of Mayor Isko and VP Robredo. That whomever we support, we better figure out what it is we are supporting.
2. For example, have we internalized the distinctions between leadership and tyranny? 
3. Have we defined the job of the president? The next president must preside over Philippine Inc. by doggedly pursuing commercial success, innovation, and being a paragon of good governance, not a culture of impunity.
4. And innovation borrows from the instincts of Steve Jobs. He defined creativity as simply connecting the dots. And it presupposes forward- and lateral thinking.

The bottom line:

1. We can’t be the laughingstock of the region and take it sitting down, and we can’t be Juan Tamad, Bondying, and Padre Damaso rolled into one; and represent a “perfect storm.”
2. Let’s do a bit of “unfreezing” [mental] exercise and take that as the hypothesis. In other words, is it time to do our collective examination of conscience as we did individually for our first communion? 
3. Enough of the ego trip – for us in the Philippine elite and chattering classes? Yes, it comes from the “automatic” mind.

Gising bayan!