The Philippines will be great again

Numerous signs point to an optimistic future for the Philippines. One, the economy is beginning to recover inspite of the prevailing global financial crisis. Businesses are slowly rising to their feet, and recovering their previous losses. Traditional corporate organisations which failed to adapt to fast-rising environmental changes are losing the game; while new and emerging business models are rising to the surface.

This is a time of great innovation---the best innovator wins the entire lot. Those who stick to their former business models are sure losers.

Two, kudos to government for laying the infrastructure needed to move our economy forward. I see some improvements in the countrysides. Of course, these infra projects are still inadequate to meet the rising needs, especially of tourism. Our famed tourism spots are largely under or non-developed. Some say, these adds to the excitement. For backpackers probably, but if you look at the profile of the average foreign tourist going to the Philippines, these are mostly middle- to sixtish people who needs a comfortable way of going to our pristine beaches. They don't need to suffer from using unpaved roads going to, say, Coron or other spots.

What is so promising is the entry of brands into the rural landscape. Malls have sprouted in all major cities and towns throughout the archipelago, and we all know what it means. It leads to sociological changes in the lives of rural folk since exposure to brands means a change in the lifestyle of the consumer.

Globalism has spread itself far and wide and is changing the landscape of our country. With the entry of sophisticated equipment, it is hoped that industries will also modernize itself. Agriculture needs a lot of modernization, and with the slowly improving economy, people will be able to afford buying agri stuff.

Economists say if the country maintains a 6.5% growth in GDP every single year, we will be able to surpass even Singapore and other countries in the region in terms of modernization.

Of course, there will be some problems along the way, like political and peace and order problems. This is where the business community sees government's indispensable role.

Government must ensure that the environment is highly conducive for business, otherwise, these gains will fall by the wayside.

Peace and order is one thorny issue that security agencies of government must try to resolve. I believe the PNP must employ modern technologies in not just crime solution but moreso, on prevention.

We Filipinos must help each other in preserving these small gains, small as they are, but these are obvious signs that our situation is not as helpless as previously assumed.

These times of our discontent

Some of my friends say, write positive things about this administration. Write good things about the President. Okey.


There is such a thing as honesty. When you honestly feel that things are not going the way these should be going, then, you have the responsibility of telling the truth, especially to those who read your blog. A bloggers' responsibility is to his readers and that's undeniable. 


I cannot honestly say that the economy is doing great when I know for a fact that it isn't. This administration says that foreign investors are bullish when in fact, they aren't. Local capitalists, yes, they are making a killing simply because of the inability of government, or let me re-phrase this, government's policy of non-interference in how private businesses conduct their affairs. Government does not realize that its liberal democratic policies are hurting the public. There is such a thing as regulatory powers, which government is supposed to exercise especially in these dire times when local and global economies are experiencing turmoil.


When people are having extremely difficult times coping with a fast constricting economy, crimes go up and the social environment transforms into a dangerous place to live in. Hurting, that is what the public feels right now. 


Consumers are feeling the price crunch and it is too much burden. When times are hard, people tend to save rather than spend their precious pesos and these lead to a depressed retail environment. Just try to go to your favorite grocery and supermarket and you'll realize that half of the people there who go shop buy less and less of the things they need. Clothing stores suffer the most because during these hard times, people prefer to buy food rather than spend their monies going after their favorite dress or shoes. When government do nothing, and let business dictate their own terms, and find it extremely hard to rein them in especially in determination of price, what happens is it leads to the death of small retailers. Small retailers are the first casualties in an economic situation like this, and this bodes ill to those who encourage entrepreneurial pursuits. Aside from seeing the death of small businesses, it also leads to consolidation of medium-sized and big firms. Eventually, in a situation like this, the big firms benefit since they have more capital to sustain themselves while smaller firms find it extremely hard to cope with the times.


And if you look at how things are being managed by the top, you'll find that every single thing is mismanaged. There is no clear policy about anything. When there is fluidity in terms of policy, it bodes ill to those who are dead serious in engaging government from the business standpoint. How will private firms do business with a government who has no clear-cut guidelines? Every single thing is subject to numerous interpretations, based on who you talk to and who you engage yourself with. 


Hence, what can I say except that probably these things are happening because the powers that be want us, ordinary citizens, to just accept our slavery and to lose hope eventually. 


Let me share with one of my most favorite videos. I cry whenever I listen to this. Jessica, really, is all soul.