Here is a hypothesis: We can’t problem solve because we are blind to figure out “where we are.”
We keep learning about how we continue to plunge the abyss – i.e., how many of us have Mongolia on our bucket list? It is the only neighbor left that can leave us in the dust.
What more – what crisis – are we waiting to fall upon Juan de la Cruz?
Let us pause right there – and ponder.
Gising bayan!
Consider: “Over the years, it has become evident that more than economic reforms — many good ones of which are now in place — it is political and electoral reform that this country direly needs. Article II, Section 26 of the Philippine Constitution lays down the guiding policy on this: ‘The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.’” [“The reform we need,” Cielito F. Habito, NO FREE LUNCH, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6th Jul 2021]
With due respect to Ciel, we need more than reform. We must reinvent ourselves.
For example, there are good elements in our Constitution. However, we know that it has restraining features – particularly the economic provisions – and that is why there have been endless talks to amend the Constitution.
Moreover, “It is obvious that the Philippine Government is struggling to comply with the constitutional mandate that the State is obliged to provide free quality education at the basic education level for all Filipino children and youth. The inadequacies of the State are either due to limited funds or poor governance or both.” [“Human Side Of Economics,” Bernardo M. Villegas, BusinessWorld, 6th Jul 2021]
What is the prescription, then? “In the Philippines, the private sector is frequently obliged to provide by default. An outstanding example in education is the non-profit organization founded in 2006 by top CEOs, the Philippine Business for Education (PBS). This NGO is the business community’s response to the need for greater education and economic alignment. Its advocacies include teacher quality and workforce development.” [Villegas, op. cit.]
The good news is that we are not alone. Even in the US, the private sector has had to take the bull by the horns.
However, we are not the United States. They take one misstep after another, yet they have the means and the capability to keep reinventing themselves. That is why they call their brand of democracy an experiment – and not cast in stone.
For example, “Alaska and Maine and over 20 cities, the latest being New York, have adopted ranked-choice voting to overcome the federal system that is rigid — you can only ever vote for one candidate for one position at a time. The system allows voters to choose candidates in the order of their preference, to yield a winner who most appeals to the most people.” It is not necessarily a perfect system, but the referenced states and cities chose to experiment.
That is not surprising, given that innovations are a product of experimentation, not a claim of perfection. And that holds for the American brand of democracy and free-market systems.
On the other hand, we Filipinos, given our instincts, are not predisposed to reinvention. Why? Because rank has its privileges, we in the Philippine elite class won’t see how ruinous a caste system is. It goes against the grain and the character of creation and the universe. That is why the blog continually speaks to dynamism and interdependence.
Note that the blog, which has been saying the same thing repeatedly through more than a dozen years, carries the title “Philippine Economy: Reinventing Ourselves.”
Why? Consider our instincts: We are parochial and insular. So, we value hierarchy paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.
Unsurprisingly, two top Philippine economists raised the challenges of political dynasties and good governance.
Still, are they missing something? If, indeed, we want to amend the Constitution because of its restrictive economic provisions, what can we do about it? What have been the most significant barriers to the effort? It is an oligarchy – represented by our tycoons and the top slice of the private sector – and Juan de la Cruz himself because of our value system. See above re our instincts.
Given our value system, how do we expect to figure out “where we are” as a nation – and economy?
For example, should our economic managers and top economists wrestle with the question, “How did Vietnam – replicating the experience of the Asian Tigers – lure Samsung to make them the regional manufacturing hub of their smartphones? Moreover, to add insult to injury, they contribute far greater to their economy than our top eight companies – combined – to ours.
On the other hand, we have been working on 50 or so industry road maps and have no tangible outcome to show that will come close to what the Vietnamese have done — and why they put poverty in their rear-view mirror.
But we play a different game than Vietnam. We said that when the Asian Tigers orchestrated the exact export-driven model. We don’t have the resources and expertise to win in the export arena. That is our parochial and insular self, speaking — because the neighbors aren’t different from us.
That’s why the blog often speaks to the real world. Is this universe characterized by dynamism and interdependence — too farfetched for Juan de la Cruz?
Recall too that the blog often questions our inability to prioritize – i.e., that we frequently fall into the trap of a classroom exercise — if not the crab mentality.
Furthermore, it reflects logical and linear – and incremental – thinking. Again, unsurprising because the brain’s chamber that does creative and lateral thinking is not well-developed due to infrequent use by humankind. In short, day-to-day life demands logical and incremental thinking, not creative or lateral thinking.
Nevertheless, given the static “state” we embrace reflective of our caste system, how do we even begin to question our inability to problem-solve?
Moreover, stagnation will only magnify our shortcomings given the demands of the 21st century, i.e., innovation and global competitiveness – and thus the requisite skills of (1) Critical thinking, (2) Creativity, (3) Collaboration, (4) Communication.
Here is a quote from an earlier posting: “But what is critical thinking? It is the practice of solving problems, among other qualities. In addition to working through issues, solving puzzles, and similar activities, critical thinking also includes an element of skepticism.
“This is important in the 21st century because it is more complicated than ever to verify accurate information (primary thanks to the Internet).
“Critical thinking empowers students to discover the truth in assertions, especially when it comes to separating fact from opinion.
“With critical thinking, students do not just learn a set of facts or figures. Instead, they know 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.” [“What Are the 4 C’s of 21st Century Skills (?),” Bri Stauffer, Applied Educational Systems, 7th May 2020]
Are we surprise why we cannot problem-solve?
Of course, we disagree. Question: If we are that good, see above; Samsung Vietnam contributes far greater to their economy than our top eight companies – combined – to ours.
Still, we like to lionize our tycoons given our value system.
We can’t problem solve because we are blind to figure out “where we are.”
We keep learning about how we continue to plunge the abyss – i.e., how many of us have Mongolia on our bucket list? It is the only neighbor left that can leave us in the dust.
What more – what crisis – are we waiting to fall upon Juan de la Cruz?
Let us pause right there – and ponder.
Gising bayan!
No comments:
Post a Comment