Plain vanilla insanity

That is how to explain this line: “The country cannot expect new results if the same policy directions continue.” Recall Einstein.

“The Philippines cannot be competitive by enhancing the rice production system alone. Parallel efforts should be made to improve its marketing system to be able to compete globally.

“For the past 20 years, protectionism did not lead to an improvement in the competitiveness of the Philippine industry; it was rather lulled into complacency. The country cannot expect new results if the same policy directions continue. It must face the challenge of liberalization head-on and take the necessary steps to improve competitiveness because it is now a matter of survival.” [Competitiveness of Philippine Rice in Asia; Bordey FH, Moya PF, Beltran JC, Dawe DC, editors. 2016. City of Muñoz (Philippines): Philippine Rice Research Institute and Manila (Philippines): International Rice; Research Institute. 172 p.]

For a rice-eating nation that went to the extent of calling the challenge “food security,” we surely know how to shoot ourselves in the foot. Yet, we pride ourselves in (a) education and (b) being the only Christian nation in the region. Simply, we’re smarter … and holier-than-thou to boot.

But … who are we and what are we really? In the first place, our education system is today a mere shadow of its old self. And in the second place, ours is a culture of impunity. What redeeming value do we stand for? Our institutions have failed us – and we are careening over the cliff, if we’re not a failed state yet.

And unsurprisingly, we are clinging to Du30? But let’s take an objective and dispassionate posture, and look at another country that likewise appears to cling to a flawed leadership. Consider: “They were bad. He may be the worse,” Sean Wilentz, The New York Times, 20th Jan 2018; [Wilentz is professor of history at Princeton.]

“Historians have long looked to a few key criteria in evaluating the beginning of a president’s administration. First and foremost, any new president should execute public duties with a commanding civility and poise befitting the nation’s chief executive, but without appearing aloof of haughty. As George Washington observed at the outset of his presidency in 1789, the president cannot in any way ‘demean himself in his public character’ and must act ‘in such a manner as to maintain the dignity of office.’

“New presidents also try to avoid partisan and factional rancor, and endeavor to unite the country in a great purpose. In line with their oath of office, they dedicate themselves to safeguarding and even advancing democratic rights and to protecting the nation against foreign enemies. They avoid even the slightest imputation of corruption, of course, political but above all financial.

“Donald Trump, in each area, has been a colossal failure. The truest measure of his performance comes from comparing his first year not with those of the best – Washington, Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt – but with those of the worst.

“Over the decades, historians’ ratings of presidents have consistently consigned a dozen or so presidents to the bottom of the heap, including James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce and, in recent evaluations, George W. Bush.

“Yet the first years of these failed presidencies were not always so bad, and in nearly every case not as bad as Mr. Trump’s.

“Most important, he is the first president to fail to defend the nation from an attack of our democracy by a hostile foreign power – and to resist the investigation of that attack. He is the first to enrich his private interests, and those of his family, directly and openly.

“He is the first president to denounce the press not simply as unfair but as ‘the enemy of the American people.’

“If history is any guide – especially in light of the examples closest to his, of Buchanan and Andrew Johnson – Mr. Trump’s first year portends a very unhappy ending.”

Let’s get back to PH. With our failed institutions, how do we move the nation forward? Recall the blog’s discussion re the attribute that makes man superior, i.e., foresight. We have everything going for us as far as the rice industry is concerned, including the presence of IRRI in our backyard. 

The same can be said of the education system. But bureaucracy appears to be a weak spot in Juan de la Cruz as historians remind us. Community and the common good is not in our bag of tricks. And as Rizal laments, we submit to tyranny because we love it.

And there is where the problem lies. Recall the blog’s discussion re “civilization – or development, evolution, progress, refinement, sophistication, advancement … of people, society, nation, culture, polity.” Civilization won’t win over Juan de la Cruz until we overcome … parochialism and insularity … deference to hierarchy and the expectation of paternalism … value and reliance on political patronage and dynasties and oligarchy.

We don’t like FDIs because the MNCs will own us. We forget about foresight – while the Asian Tigers were laughing their way to the bank. Whether it is Darwin’s evolution or the march of western civilization or quantum logic, nothing is static.

We can’t move beyond binary logic and confuse fascism with nationalism, for example. Binary reminds us of the scribes and the Pharisees. And why they crucified Christ who defied such narrow-mindedness. And history repeats, as in Dirty Harry. [The good news is notwithstanding our being self-esteem challenged, a Tacloban or a Marawi will always bring help.]

Unfortunately, Pinoy “abilidad” makes us complacent and focused on the low-hanging fruit – of OFW cum consumption economy as well as the BPO industry. Of late, we’re talking up tourism. Indeed, we created a sizeable local economy yet our export products can’t compete beyond our shores unlike our neighbors. To add insult to injury, they attract greater and greater FDIs while developing their competencies in innovation and global competition.

In the meantime, we sink deeper as the regional laggard because complacency kills critical thinking.

Greece, Italy and Spain are favored by tourists the world over. The lesson we must draw is tourism (i.e., a service industry like the hospitality sector in general) while opportunistic does not match the ecosystem of an industrialized economy. In other words, the low-hanging fruit isn’t the driver of a nation’s economy. Think value chain instead.

And why the latest UN SDGs (sustainable development goals) speak to the building blocks of: (a) rapid infrastructure development, (b) industrialization and (c) innovation and competitiveness. Think ... Foresight. Foresight. Foresight.

Which explains why we keep barking at the wrong tree. What nation pulled these building blocks together by moving from a unitary system to a federal system, for example? [See below re St. Paul.]

Consider: We are a unitary system and an underdeveloped economy. We must therefore be a federal system to be a developed economy. Even as a nursery rhythm that won’t pass muster. Good governance – i.e., the rule of law – is what fortifies a government system. Corruption is universal … except ours is a culture of impunity. Trump, Sarkozy, Chirac and Netanyahu share something in common. They come from different systems … yet all were placed under the microscope by the rule of law that undergirds their respective governments. Simply, hierarchy is accountability ... not tyranny as we love it.

Not surprising … If we can’t do it with the rice industry where we had a leg up being in the business for the longest time – and with the IRRI in our backyard …

If we can’t traverse the journey from poverty to prosperity like the Asian Tigers did … despite the crutches provided by friendly nations and NGOs … and the presence of the ADB in our backyard and … all the credit facilities provided by the international institutions (recall the president of the WB even touted his support for the CCT) … etc., etc.

You can make your own suppositions … The bottom line is: We are deep down the abyss.

And so, our institutions must stand up and be counted! Du30 can’t be head and shoulders above these institutions – unless we’re a banana republic. Consider: “Trump ordered Mueller fired, but backed off when WH counsel threatened to quit.” [The New York Times, 25th Jan 2018]

But of course, Marcos then and Du30 today knew it ... that Juan de la Cruz must get the leadership we deserve.

“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]

“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]