We must come out of our pigeonholes.

Else, we will perpetually witness “the blind leading the blind.” That’s how we created a Marcos and a Duterte.

“Mr. Duterte does not have much to show for letting China trample his country’s rights. Only three of the planned 14 Chinese-financed infrastructure projects have broken ground. Of $15bn-worth of promised investment, only $3.2bn made it in 2016-20. And although soft loans and grants from China have risen from $1.6m in 2016 to $590m in 2019, America provided almost as much; Japan’s aid totaled $8.5bn. Unusually for a South-East Asian country, the Philippines still makes more trade with Japan and America than China.

“Nor has the friendly approach restrained China’s maritime expansionism. In March some 200 of its fishing boats—or, as some called them, maritime militias—staged one of the biggest and longest-lasting incursions into Philippine waters.’” [“How not to deal with China,” The Economist, 31st Jul 2021]

In other words, our caste system puts us in pigeonholes. Did we not applaud Duterte’s actions because our reason for being is our national interests?

Aptly said, except that it reveals a myopic value system.

Can we connect the dots from this “universe” to our “culture of impunity”? That the universe’s character is one of dynamism and interdependence. And it is what freedom and democracy and the egalitarian ethos represent. These building blocks of nationhood are a product of experiential education – i.e., to educate our youth, they must live out the education process.

Consider: “The failure of Philippine education is to develop the ability to think, meet new situations, and solve problems one encounters in real life.”

Put another way; nationhood is beyond narrowly defined systems – that are merely human constructs – i.e., they are at the root of tribalism. 

And the best example is US politics. Recall that I have no respect for US politics — and chose not to exercise the right to vote. Why? Padre Damaso is why, i.e., even the Philippine Catholic Church doesn’t identify with him. And Rizal had to pay the price.

Unsurprisingly, tribalism explains the inability of America to attain herd immunity in the fight against the pandemic. And red states account for the rise in Covid-19 cases even much more significant than previous records.

In other words, US dynamism — reflected in the rapid development of the vaccine — suffers from tribalism — as in undermining interdependence. Ergo: the common good comes from the character of creation and the universe, e.g., the photosynthesis phenomenon.

Recall Vice-President Gore demonstrated the “common good” by subordinating his political ambitions to the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Trump and the GOP – after losing scores of cases they filed to overturn the 2020 election – are still perpetuating the big lie.

The bottom line: The character of creation and the universe teed up the value of freedom – as in dynamism and interdependence. Not tyranny — e.g., the tyranny of the minority — manifested in the “big lie” and pandemic hotspots in the US.

Let’s get back to the Philippines. 

Sadly, our instincts spawned our myopia: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism and rely on political patronage and oligarchy that ours is a culture of impunity.

Question: Why aren’t we outward-looking? And forward-looking?

Consider too: Why do we have a fixed mindset and not a growth mindset? Why are we closer to binary than relative thinking?

Because we are a poor nation – our first need is survival? How come Mahathir knew otherwise? “You don't have to love your former colonizer but beg for money and technology. We are poor nations. We cannot go it alone.”

But we are proud Christians! Unsurprisingly, Fr. Bulatao’s research revealed our “split-level” Christianity. And Fr. Gorospe questioned our perception of reality.

Recall the quote from an earlier posting: “When we translate Jesus’ words in Aramaic (instead of Greek), they will read like this: ‘Get up, go ahead, do something, move, you who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for you shall be satisfied.’” [Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation, Center for Action and Contemplation, 24th Jul 2021]

“Those familiar with the blog will recall the 3C’s of the science of “hardy mindset”: (1) Challenge, (2) Commitment, (3) Control. 

“A strong mindset accepts challenges, even daunting ones. In other words, this universe is not a place for Juan Tamad or Bondying. They are not defeatists and instead embrace their commitments knowing full well that they control only themselves.”

How poor are we? (1) We have the worst GINI index coefficient – the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country – among our neighbors (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam); and (2) The worst GDP per capita.

Even Vietnam generates more economic output per capita in USD. Ours is 8.908 (2019). Compare that to Malaysia = 28,364; Thailand = 18,460; Indonesia = 11,812.

Here’s a quote from an earlier posting: “We must generate much more economic output. 

“And we need it in a hurry, like yesterday. That is why the blog has raised the imperative to raise Philippine GDP by $200 billion rapidly. That is what the IRR for CREATE and SIPP must deliver.

“Why? To leapfrog the economic output of our neighbors — which is why they were able to put poverty in the rearview mirror.

“Question: Do we have to amend the Constitution to leverage CREATE and SIPP to (1) put us on equal footing with our neighbors; (2) attract the suitable foreign money and technology; (3) that will aggressively drive our export receipts – i.e., benchmark against Samsung Vietnam because Vietnam arrested poverty?

“That must be the debate amongst our economic managers and legislators, not to keep to a 6%-7% GDP growth rate.’

Sadly, that is way out of our logical yet linear thinking mode.

But then again, it is not new. Recall the comprehensive agrarian reform program and our celebration of the OFW phenomenon. And the tons of money (take $600-million loan) for the 4Ps. And from the private sector, Gawad Kalinga. It doesn’t end there. Think of the LGU initiatives that have gone even further – into devolution.

See above; our pathetic GDP per capita. Wittingly or not, we keep slicing an already slim salami.

Let’s hold it right there.

And how do we free ourselves from la-la land?

We must overcome a myopic value system; recognize the character of creation and the universe — dynamism, and interdependence.

And come out of our pigeonholes. 

Else, we will perpetually witness “the blind leading the blind.” That’s how we created a Marcos and a Duterte.

Gising bayan!