Special Report From A Volunteer

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

Please go to this BLOG for latest in the Philippines dealing with the DSWD response to the calamity.

http://babito.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/repost-dswd-do-not-delay/

The Shameless Filipino Elite

By William M. Esposo Updated February 22, 2009

The most stinging criticism Filipinos will hear from foreigners who have lived here and have gained familiarity with how we have ruined the Pearl of the Orient that our country was once touted to be — is how Filipinos are so proud individually but shameless collectively.

Few Filipinos are aware that many foreigners have observed this hypocrisy in our society. Many Filipinos think that the foreigner is impressed with inane braggadocio, unmindful that Filipinos are only managing to look smaller in the eyes of the alien. The big plunderer thinks that foreigners are awed by the immense wealth that he has stolen. He failed to realize that if they see anything big in him — that is his enormous and irrational greed.

Read Entire Opinion

A Damaged Culture: A New Philippines?

This 1987 Atlantic Monthly article was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in the United States and has remained the subject of controversy and attention in the Philippines. This is the text as originally published in the magazine.

Copyright 1987 Atlantic Monthly Company
The Atlantic Monthly: November, 1987

EDITORIAL — Left behind

Monday, November 5, 2007 - PHILSTAR.COM

The Philippines has inched up in global competitiveness, according to the World Economic Forum. Still, being ranked 71st among 131 countries in the annual WEF Global Competitiveness Report is not much to crow about, especially when the country is rated behind its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Never mind perennial economic achiever Singapore, which might be unhappy with its ranking at seventh place in the Global Competitiveness Index, ahead of Japan and the United Kingdom. Malaysia’s ranking at 21st place was no surprise either; that country left us behind years ago. What should be cause for concern is that the Philippines was rated too far behind Thailand, which placed 28th despite violence and political instability since last year. The Philippines was rated behind even Indonesia, which ranked 54th. Most worrisome of all was that Vietnam was ranked ahead of the Philippines, at 68th place.

The Global Competitiveness Index is based on the quality of infrastructure and institutions, macroeconomic stability, health and primary education, higher education and training, efficiency of the goods and labor markets, sophistication of the financial market, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation. Some 11,000 business leaders in 131 countries were polled, and their rating for the Philippines is not surprising.

The Philippines placed 55th in business sophistication, 62nd in higher education and training and 64th in goods market efficiency. The United States, with its excellent educational and research institutions and technological innovation, was rated the world’s most competitive country, followed by Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Finland, with Chad getting the lowest rating. Last year the Philippines ranked 77th among 117 countries in the GCI.

Local and foreign business groups alike have long expressed concern over the Philippines’ slipping global competitiveness. They have also pointed out the many factors that must be addressed to stop the slide. So far, many of the key concerns have not been addressed. Institutions remain weak. Infrastructure is inadequate, and almost every big-ticket
infrastructure project becomes bogged down in a corruption scandal. The country now faces a crisis in public health care. Education is a disaster, and there is minimal investment in research and technological innovation. Unless dramatic steps are taken soon, the country will see itself being left farther behind by its neighbors.

Red tape

As a foreigner, I have noticed this "why should we care" attitude in government departments during the course of my helping to run a business here. The red tape in the bureaucracy, the gross inefficiencies, the overwhelming time consuming (wasting?) processes and at times sheer laziness of some government staff to give any meaningful assistance or show a real sense of urgency. These are, to my mind, some of the major reasons why foreign business stays away from the Philippines while those already here complain about the difficulty in doing business and getting anything done in a reasonable time frame. And without having to "pay off" someone to achieve it.

One would think such efficiency would make government departments here squirm with embarrassment, but not so. They merely shrug their collective shoulders and don’t seem to care. After all, they’re not there to serve the public. They are there to look after themselves!!! And the government’s spokespeople (i.e. spin doctors) wonder why the country is at or near the bottom of the heap in so many world and regional rankings.

All in the family

DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco - The Philippine Star 04/04/2007

I am disappointed in my idol, Sen. Joker Arroyo, for saying that political dynasties are good. Perhaps Sen. Arroyo merely wanted to say that it is a fact of life in Philippine politics and it isn’t bad per se. It is a cultural thing that cannot be legislated away, no matter that the Constitution frowns on it.

Everywhere you turn today, two or three members of a family are running for public office. ANC reported the other night that a Muslim politician and his three wives are all running for various offices in Basilan. That is taking politics as a family affair to the extreme.

This situation can’t be good for the Philippines. In fact, this could be the very reason why good governance is almost impossible within our political system. The "all in the family" tone to politics has alienated most people from taking a more active part in civic affairs. Family-oriented politics have reduced everyone else to outsiders looking in.

Let me put my fears in context. I think we can trace most of our problems today to an anomaly in the national psyche. We do not have a sense of nationhood… we are unable to think as one Filipino nation. Outside of a rare moment as EDSA 1, we are not inclined to put national interest (something quite abstract) above that of ourselves, our families, our friends, our regional ties, etc. That’s why corruption scandals normally include family members as principals and accessories. The Garcia and Ligot families, for instance, are implicated in the military financial mess now being litigated by the Ombudsman.

PAL Operations in LAX

This is an example of “Our circle of loyalty has a uniquely small radius, limited to family, clan, tribe, ethno-linguistic group, but rarely expanding to cover nation.”

Just observe the Philippine Airlines operation in the Los Angeles International Airport. We have seen the damaged culture in action. Passenger at the end of the line can be served first due to personal connection, as a classmate or kaibigan or cousin of one of the PAL employees to the detriment of the 100 or more passengers who showed up one hour earlier.

LOOKING AT THE SUN

“The Philippines, A Damaged Culture” was published in the November, 1987 issue of the Atlantic Monthly. An expanded version was included in Looking at the Sun.