Our instinct is not to forward-think because the future is never guaranteed.
That is the static world view of a “bean counter.” And, also, of Juan de la Cruz?
The view gained adherence during the heyday of Japan Inc. with the efficiency, productivity, and quality mantra. And in the West, the first impulse was to cut costs. For example, the first round of restructuring efforts meant cutting everything by ten percent.
But that was the analog world, not the digital.
And as the world turned more prosperous than before and the baby boomers reached middle age and beyond, “change” came even faster, as in warp speed. Unsurprisingly, with the millennials, “buying experience” instead of “buying things,” define their lifestyle.
In other words, humankind – and its ever-changing needs – is at the core of “change” and why innovation is merely the expression of our world’s dynamism. Innovation is not a matter of choice but a response to the spirit of creation – as in human development.
And human development comes from experience, and we should be in awe that the millennials instinctively are responding to its demands.
In fairness, our elders expressed their insights through the characters of Juan Tamad and Bondying.
In the meantime, what happened to the bean counter?
Consider: “For a sense of scale, it took Amazon more than 14 years—58 quarters after its May 1997 initial public offering—cumulatively making as much profit as it produced in the latest quarter alone.
“Keep in mind that Amazon consistently lost money for its first several years as a public company. It first reported a quarterly profit in the fourth quarter of 2001 and, at $5 million, it barely counted. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has long maintained that investing in future growth is more important than hitting quarterly earnings targets, much to Wall Street’s chagrin.
“Amazon, so long light on profits, reported a whopping $1.86 billion in net income in the fourth quarter of 2017.” [https://qz.com/1196256/it-took-amazon-amzn-14-years-to-make-as-much-net-profit-as-it-did-in-the-fourth-quarter-of-2017/]
Then consider: Do we suffer from fixation, and that is, of preconceived ideas? Recall Padre Damaso. An absolutist is a little mind.
Let’s call a spade a spade. If we can’t toss our static world view, we can then guarantee our future – confined as the regional laggard.
We in the chattering classes have written about the 4Cs of 21st-century skills: (1) Critical thinking, (2); Creativity; (3) Collaboration; (4) Communication.
“Critical thinking teaches students to question claims and seek the truth, while Creativity teaches students to think uniquely. What about Collaboration? It teaches students that groups can create something bigger and better than you can on your own. And Communication teaches students how to convey ideas efficiently.
“Combined, the four C’s empower students to become one-person think tanks. Then, when those students get together, they can achieve almost anything!
“Critical Thinking. It is the practice of solving problems, among other qualities. In addition to working through “problems,” solving puzzles, and similar activities, critical thinking also includes skepticism.
“This is important in the 21st century because it’s harder than ever to verify accurate information (mostly thanks to the Internet). It empowers students to discover the truth in assertions, especially when it comes to separating fact from opinion.
“With critical thinking, students don’t just learn a set of facts or figures. Instead, they learn how to discover the facts and figures for themselves. They ask questions. They become engaged in the world around them. They help others think critically, too.
“That might be the most crucial part of Critical thinking. Once one student has it mastered, it quickly spreads to their peers.
“Whether they learn how to think critically from spending time online or simply asking ‘Why?’ in everyday life, this skill prepares students for a life of independence and purposeful thought.
“Still, Critical thinking is just one of the four C’s in 21st Century skills. It works just fine when students use it alone. But when students combine it with the following competence, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
“Creativity. It is the practice of thinking outside the box.
“While Creativity generally connotes either you-have-it-or-you-don’t quality, students can learn how to be creative by solving problems, creating systems, or just trying something they haven’t tried before. That doesn’t mean every student will become an artist or a writer. Instead, it means they’ll be able to look at a problem from multiple perspectives — including those that others may not see.
“Creativity allows students to embrace their inner strengths from big-picture planning to meticulous organization. As students learn about their Creativity, they also learn how to express it in healthy and productive ways. More importantly, they also become motivated to share that Creativity with others. Just like with Critical thinking, that makes Creativity contagious.
“One student creates a new or innovative solution to a problem. Then, when they share it, the next student can become inspired to try something similar. That’s not to say every single creative endeavor will be a ringing success. Students will fail at some point, and some of their ideas simply won’t work. But that’s okay.
“The point of Creativity is to encourage students to think differently than convention demands. They don’t have to do things the same way. Instead, they can figure out a better way. Students don’t have to embrace their Creativity alone, either. Creativity works best when combined with the next 21st Century skill.
“Collaboration. It is the practice of working together to achieve a common goal.
“Collaboration is essential because whether students realize it or not, they’ll probably work with other people for the rest of their lives. Virtually every job requires someone to work with another person, even if it’s for something as simple as what to get for lunch.
“Practicing Collaboration and teamwork helps students understand how to address a problem, pitch solutions, and decide the best course of action. It’s also helpful for them to learn that other people don’t always have the same ideas that they do. As students practice Collaboration more and more, they’ll learn that they have almost none of the same ideas that others do.
“This can affect students in one of two ways. First, it could discourage them since nobody seems to agree with them that often. Second, it could embolden them because they realize they’re bringing something unique to every conversation.
“As a teacher, it’s crucial that you encourage students to look at themselves through that second lens. That way, students learn that they should speak up when they have an idea. They may not be on the money 100% of the time — and some of their peers may have strong, opinionated reactions — but it’ll teach them to speak up when they’re working with others.
“Communication. It is the practice of conveying ideas quickly and clearly.
“Communication is often taken for granted in today’s society. After all, if you say something, that means you conveyed an idea, right? Not exactly. In the age of text-based communications — SMS, emails, social media, among others — it’s never been more critical for students to learn how to convey their thoughts so that others can understand them.
“That’s because text-based communications lack tone, which is critical to understanding the context of someone’s words. Still, even in situations where the vocal sound is available, students need to learn how to communicate effectively.
“That includes minimizing tangents, speaking directly to an idea, and checking other participants to make sure they’re engaged. Reading an audience — even if it’s just two other people in a group discussion — lets students determine whether they should keep expanding on an idea or wrap up their point.
“Their audience could even be their family at Thanksgiving dinner. The point is that as students practice Communication, they become better at efficiently conveying an idea without losing their point ‘in the weeds,’ so to speak. With Communication locked down, students can streamline their ideas and make a positive impression on them.” [https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/four-cs-21st-century-skills]
Why is Juan de la Cruz out-of-step given the demands of the 21st century?
Recall our instincts: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism that we rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.
We are in a downward spiral. And it has nothing to do with our acceptance or not. It is that we’ve been left behind – even by the likes of Vietnam. Will it be Cambodia soon – or Laos?
Until we recognize that this universe is dynamic, we won’t undo our static bias. Our definition of linear and logical won’t bridge the story of creation or the big bang to the present-day Juan de la Cruz.
That explains our caste system. “Here is a land in which a few are spectacularly rich while the masses remain abjectly poor. And where freedom and its blessings are a reality for a minority and an illusion for the many. Here is a land consecrated to democracy but run by an entrenched plutocracy, dedicated to equality but mired in an archaic system of caste.
“But the fault was chiefly their own. Filipinos profess the love of country, but love themselves – individually – more.” [Ninoy Aquino, Foreign Affairs magazine, July 1968; Stanley Karnow, New York Times Magazine, “Cory Aquino’s Downhill Slide,” 19th Aug 1990.]
Consider: It is logical to celebrate our GDP growth rate that had been in the range of 6%-6.5% for several years. Yet why haven’t we lifted Juan de la Cruz? Because our per capita income won’t allow him to make, both ends meet. And why he has to become an OFW.
In the meantime, we created a handful of billionaires, and our eight top enterprises made it to the Forbes list. In our caste system, these realities are just that, realities we have to swallow.
And it brings us back to our static world view. For example, our MSME bias is for the government to provide entrepreneurs more assistance. But as the UP ISSI study concluded, that is not why our MSMEs are not pulling their weight.
Our mindset is no different from why we celebrated the OFW phenomenon, and that is, we must create jobs, and MSMEs do.
To create jobs is linear and logical, but we can’t see beyond that? Can we do critical thinking?
Where are the 4Cs – the skills – demanded by the 21st century? And we don’t have to look far. Our neighbors are demonstrating them in spades.
Consider: Critical thinking teaches students to question claims and seek the truth.
How come we never questioned the wisdom of our service-consumption economy? On the other hand, wealthier countries moved up to “industrial-investment economies.”
Instead of being inquisitive, we take the path of least resistance, that we can’t be Singapore or Vietnam or whoever else. We are Filipinos and are proud of it.
And is that the kiss of death?
If we’re not predisposed to Critical thinking, how can we move on to the next C, Collaboration, the practice of working together to achieve a common goal?
What is the common good – or how can we define and agree upon it – if we take on predetermined ideas? For instance, we value parochialism and insularity and hierarchy and paternalism. And they don’t give room for Critical thinking and Collaboration – nor Communication?
The bottom line: our caste system shuts out – everything else.
Gising bayan!
“Here is a land in which a few are spectacularly rich while the masses remain abjectly poor. And where freedom and its blessings are a reality for a minority and an illusion for the many. Here is a land consecrated to democracy but run by an entrenched plutocracy, dedicated to equality but mired in an archaic system of caste.
“But the fault was chiefly their own. Filipinos profess the love of country, but love themselves – individually – more.” [Ninoy Aquino, Foreign Affairs magazine, July 1968; Stanley Karnow, New York Times Magazine, “Cory Aquino’s Downhill Slide,” 19th Aug 1990.]
“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]
“True social reform has little to do with politics. To unmoor ourselves from the burdens of the past, we must be engaged in the act of continual and conscious self-renewal. All men are partially buried in the grave of custom. Even virtue is no longer such if it is stagnant.
“Change begins when we finally choose to examine critically and then recalibrate the ill-serving codes and conventions handed down to us, often unquestioned, by the past and its power structures. It is essentially an act of imagination first.” [David Henry Thoreau; American essayist, poet, and philosopher; 1817-1862]
“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]
“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]
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