What does the Philippines dream of?
This is not about the Philippine dream, which probably doesn’t exist, even as the Philippines certainly dreams of many things, and one good way to see those dreams is through the stories that Filipinos like best.
In the Philippines, a lot is felt more than thought. Intellectuals and reformist politicians often aren’t in touch with the popular vibe.
Though Prof. Vicente Rafael has tackled popular culture, and Ninotchka Rosca has asked why Darna needs a stone. So let us have a look at some of the modern equivalents of myths and campfire stories.
Teleserye dreams
The teleserye Maria Clara at Ibarra two years ago had a Gen Z finding herself inside Rizal’s novels, her attitudes clashing with the old ones. Somehow, this was also about how culture changes yet stays the same.
The series Dirty Linen from mid-2023 was about abuse of power, with no heroes at all, mostly victims either of power or the love of power, with the new generation of the powerful trying a fresh start at the end.
Those were the only two Philippine teleseryes I ever watched fully. Other teleseryes do have classic heroes, with Ang Panday (the classic), Ang Probinsyano, and Iron Heart all having the individual male hero.
Darna is different in that she is an alien and needs the stone for power. Another alien hero is Ned Armstrong of Voltes V (not a Filipino series originally but popular, so localized) who is an outcast alien prince.
The recent Incognito teleserye is different in that its confused heroes are a team. What it has in common with Iron Heart is not just one actor but also the moral gray zones. Is that where the Philippines is at today?
Is a country that watches Incognito – and now admires pop idol groups instead of only solo singers – finally realizing the value of teamwork?
Zeitgeist
The spirit of the times is what Zeitgeist means. Geist can also mean ghost, so am I rushing in where Trese fears to tread? What does the movie Kingdom say about the Zeitgeist – or the national unconscious?
I shall answer that with another story in the alternate history genre, somewhere in the time just after the Heneral Luna and Goyo movies.
“Ibinagong Tadhana”
In 1905, circumstances lead to WW1 happening earlier. The America First movement has taken power in the USA, which has officially left the Philippines.
Macario Sakay and Artemio Ricarte are fighting for control of Manila. Luna loyalists have split off an Ilocos Republic. Simeon Ola has created a Bikol Republic with the key abaca trade players’ support.
In China, a constitutional monarchy under Emperor Pu Yi is established. They attack Indochina and force the Nguyen dynasty into exile. One of its princes who flees to Cebu is forced to become a rajah there.
Tacloban has an American teacher who married a Filipina trying to convince Filipinos to unite via his self-published newspaper.
The US Navy still protects the abaca trade at the port of Legazpi City.
Of course, I don’t believe that any network will make this into a movie. The big picture remains elusive, but these are strange times, after all.
Picture by Bing Image creator, based on the prompt “what does the Philippines dream of based on popular teleseryes with both modern and traditional aspects as well as a global context.”
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
I must admit I don’t watch television nor those endless teleserye but I remember when I was in college, I watched Gulong ng Palad with mom and dad. I read a lot now, I have a virtual library at Goodreads and participate in their yearly reading challenge.😍
I watched Maria Clara at Ibarra to NOT look at a Philippines under Marcos Jr., and of course, for me as a fan of Rizal’s writings, it was an interesting journey. Even as the disease of Filipino teleseryes is indeed being too long. I could never have watched Ang Probinsyano.
Dirty Linen I watched because the two main kontrabida Carlos Fiero and Ador Pavia were played by John Arcilla (“Heneral Luna”) and Epy Quizon (“Mabini”) while the antihero seeking vengeance was played by Joel Torre. Both teleseryes wrapped up the stories badly, BTW. Stuff like Batang Quiapo which seems to be the present successor of Ang Probinsyano aren’t my thing and teleseryes with an abroad section like Unbreak My Heart and Incognito have sumptuous cinematography but totally absurd plot lines, so I stopped watching.
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/noli-me-tangere-the-social-cancer-by-dr-jose-rizal-a-complete-english-version-chapter-31-the-sermon-english-version-of-noli-me-tangere_752.html Karl and myself made it into the Noli.
Now it can be revealed, we were sent into the Noli as well to protect the Gen Z Maria Clara Infantes aka Klay, but we had to be corny during mass:
“..Meanwhile, the preacher’s enthusiasm was rising by degrees. He spoke of the times when every Filipino upon meeting a priest took off his hat, knelt on the ground, and kissed the priest’s hand. But now, he added, you only take off your salakot or your felt hat, which you have placed on the side of your head in order not to ruffle your nicely combed hair! You content yourself with saying, ‘good day, among,’ and there are proud dabblers in a little Latin who, from having studied in Manila or in Europe, believe that they have the right to shake a priest’s hand instead of kissing it. Ah, the day of judgment will quickly come, the world will end, as many saints have foretold; it will rain fire, stones, and ashes to chastise your pride! The people were exhorted not to imitate such savages but to hate and shun them, since they were beyond the religious pale.
Hear what the holy decrees say! When an Indian meets a curate in the street he should bow his head and offer his neck for his master to step upon. If the curate and the Indian are both on horseback, then the Indian should stop and take off his hat or salakot reverently; and finally, if the Indian is on horseback and the curate on foot, the Indian should alight and not mount again until the curate has told him to go on, or is far away. This is what the holy decrees say and he who does not obey will be excommunicated.
And when one is riding a carabao? asked a scrupulous countryman of his neighbor.
Then—keep on going! answered the latter, who was a casuist..”
The only Philippine drama I watched at length was about a woman who would transform into a white wolf. Angel Locsin I believe. I don’t remember much of it. I am actually impressed with Philippine video talents, the TV dramas and the advertising, both demonstrating an idealized Americana at the roots with authentic Filipino culture and excellent week to week plots on the dramas. I’ve noted recently that advertising has shifted a bit to show Filipinas as brown rather than pasty white, yet still beautiful. I hope that continues.
I suppose those movie scripts and stagings must be argued about a lot, like are they too close to real and will they get in trouble. Must be a fun industry, although Leah Navarro warned me to keep JoeJr out of that business. Predators. Junior is into economics, finance, and guitar, so I’d calculate he is 66.6% safe.
I suppose it is natural for those of us with a future built into our brains to imagine a Philippines that would cast off the historical/emotional chains that bind it to poverty and get on with jobs and wealth. But the present is very rich just schlepping along from one incident to the next. Edgar baked popcorn by the barrel I think.
Filipino showbiz is not an easy place for sure, but then again, Hollywood has also had its scandals. Those who last over decades as actors or in the music business are very strong people. There are also theater actors hired by movies and teleseryes, like John Arcilla.
The Filipino music business has its linkages with the UP College of Music, for instance, Prof. Kitchie Molina acting as a vocal coach or Prof, Ryan Cayabyab, who composed a major part of the songs popular from the 1970s until the 1990s. The Filipino film business often has UP College of Mass Communication graduates as directors or scriptwriters, or even heads of talent agencies like ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. I guess proximity in QC plays a role in that.
Yes, the scripts often seem to be a delicate balance. Dirty Linen has the matriarch of a gambling business family singing on top of a cockpit, which has maids killed over a decade ago buried under it, possibly alluding a bit to the Manila Film Center, at least some saw that.
Yes, there are more brown beauties and a lot more Visayans in showbiz nowadays. Melai Cantiveros has an interview series in Visayan with Tagalog and English subtitles. Fortunately, seeing only white mestizo or Chinoy features as beautiful is fading a bit. The two Filipino pop idol groups that are very popular now had to contend with being called “looking like fish vendors” (the boys) or “looking like girls from Quiapo” (the girls) at some point.
Probably a less traumatized Philippines would be a bit more boring in its stories. Koreans produced amazing and totally crazed revenge dramas decades ago, with the trauma of Japanese occupation and Korean war not too long ago. K-dramas are top tier but usually clichéd, though they still produce crazy but scary stuff like Squid Game or on the high end stuff like Parasite. The school drama Extracurricular was great too, with honor students tempted by crime and its motto “Some Mistakes can never be erased.” Korean dramas often also have severe bullying in them, and indeed, that society has far worse bullying than the Philippines. Each country has its own dreams and nightmares. The sense of decline in America already was evident in The Wire and Breaking Bad. But the USA today is another story altogether.
Lobo
Ah, right!
That’s nice Ireneo watching those which are based on historical facts. Come to think of it, I don’t even watch movies. The last I remember were decades ago, Harry Potter movie adaptations with my two kids…haha
I did re-read the entire Noli and Fili while watching Maria Clara at Ibarra and also reviewed the historical period. The accuracy of the costumes of that teleserye was impressive, and the language coach was excellent as well. Instead of what Jessica Zafra mocked as balbas and bigote Spanish, the actors spoke proper Spanish of the era, Julie Anne San Jose aka Maria Clara speaking a somewhat Latin American Spanish while Tirso Cruz III aka Padre Damaso spoke Iberian Spanish. Basilio, I forgot who the actor was, pronounced “siya” in the old Tagalog way as “si-ya” and not the modern “sha” which started to become common in the 1970s, Ibarra spoke a quaint Tagalog remiscent of what some friends from Batangas of my age still speak but without the melody of that dialect as Laguna is different.
They only turned the plot into something different, probably to hold an audience more interested in kilig and love teams than a proper story. Filipino teleseryes are filmed just days or weeks (in MCAI it was needed as the historical setting isn’t easy to reproduce) in advance.
At least from time to time, they still
make those historical ones.
GMA excels at historical teleseryes. Pulang Araw is probably good but too close to home as war is happening everywhere nowadays. It is about the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
The Chinoys Dennis Trillo (Ibarra in Maria Clara at Ibarra) and David Licauco (Ibarra’s friend Fidel in MCAI) both play Japanese in Pulang Araw. Trillo plays a brutal Japanese officer while Licauco plays a Japanese businessman torn between Japan and his love for a Filipina.
I watch a lot of teleseryes. Even reruns.
Batang Quiapo seems to be interesting even as I can’t bring myself to watch so many episodes over what becomes years. These stories are like epics of old.
Maybe in a post-apocalyptic future, some Canadians of Ilokano origin will have mixed up Lam-Ang and Ang Probinsyano into the epic Lam-Ang Probinsyano, told by Ez Mil in the time before the Great Collapse.
LAM ANG Probinsyano….LOL!
When I was in the third grade, I mispronounce Biag ni Lam Ang to you know what and everybody laughed except the teacher.
ha, even ejk super witness matobato caused a stir at senate inquiry when he said malibog ako in bisaya when all those inquiry questions came fast at him left, right and center and all clamoring for his immediate response allowing him no time to think, to recall, to breathe, let alone get his mojo going. matobato meant he was confused, nalibog in bisaya, nalito in tagalog, by no means his libido was not in question.
This is what Gemini says about dreams and teleseryes. Three of these points could indeed be distilled into some sort of Philippine dream:
Modern Philippine teleseryes often express dreams related to:
* Romantic love and family: Finding “the one,” building a strong family, overcoming obstacles in relationships.
* Social mobility and success: Rising from poverty, achieving professional goals, providing a better life for loved ones.
* Justice and redemption: Overcoming adversity, seeking justice for wrongdoing, finding forgiveness and second chances.
* Fantasy and escapism: Exploring magical worlds, encountering supernatural beings, experiencing extraordinary adventures.
* National pride and identity: Celebrating Filipino culture, showcasing resilience and strength, promoting positive values.
These dreams resonate with the audience’s aspirations and desires, offering hope and inspiration while reflecting the realities and challenges of contemporary Philippine society.
This was the picture I originally intended to use for the article, but I noticed that the woman was not just dreaming out of her head. We do welcome Vivamax subscribers here but don’t want to shock GMA or ABS-CBN viewers.
I dream of Leni being president and she will make the Philippines great again!
Great AGAIN? Maybe make the country run properly first.
The Philippines was “great” under President Aquino. Honestly and diligently run, a recognized rising star in Asia. What more can you ask for? That a history be replaced or a culture erased? And where exactly are the “great” countries these days? Bogged down in greed and politics and nonsense. Okay, the Nordic countries do better than most. But if a country exceeds its baseline, isn’t it doing great? I personally find the Philippines to be a great place to live. So my vote today is “great”.
I second the motion, the vote today is great. and god save the philippines because nobody can save the vice president!
” But if a country exceeds its baseline, isn’t it doing great? I personally find the Philippines to be a great place to live. So my vote today is “great”.” – Joe Am
I was just responding to Irineo on a different thread about Rizal and the AB classes being out of touch with the DE classes. Could you be out of touch when you say the Philippines is a great place to live? I assume you are not in the DE classes.
Joe is a well-situated American pensioner but doesn’t live in a gated community and has even played basketball with DE Filipinos. He sees the issues but also finds it better there than, as he said, boring American suburbs.
I can see that. I have 3 grandkids that live one mile from us. They enrich my life. I have 1 grandkid who lives 2.5 hours drive away…not good. Don’t spend enough time with him. The eldest of the 4 is 9. Precious years that are passing quickly. If I didn’t have them (primarily the 3 nearby) and their mother who is my daughter, I think life here would suck. Could I make it better in the Philippines. Not sure. I tend to make lemonade if life serves me lemons, so I probably would do okay back in the Philippines. But not sure.
Oh, for DE, it is not great, but then America is not “not great” by having millions of struggling families. Great is what you make of it. Most foreigners come here and grouse about the way people drive eat piss cheat steal or anything that is not what they are used to. I drive like the locals, eat what locals eat, piss on a tree during the long drive to Tacloban, laugh as my wife slips a few hundred to the traffic enforcer to avoid a trip to the LTO, and don’t have to steal. DE’s make a life, amazingly enough, they do. Here. Anywhere else they’d fail, be miserable, and not get to laugh as they manage to laugh.
The Philippines is a beautiful country. You can join a fiesta among people you’ve never met and be treated as if you are their brother. The food is delicious, it is just not an in and Out burger. I am supposed to think it is not great because Duterte is an asshole? And government is corrupt? I do what I can do to attend to those issues and in the meantime live a great life here. Rich with non-monetary experiences. Sorry if I break your misconceptions and enjoy myself in the Philippines. A great country that Filipinos don’t recognize is great.
If you type “poverty” into the search box on the home page, you’ll get a list of articles published here on the topic. I don’t live in a cocoon of elitist splendor here. I struggle to understand. Some issues can’t be cured by executive order. Poverty is one of them. The Philippines is progressing nicely toward middle income standing. It’s better today than 20 years ago when I came here. It will be cruising 20 years from now. I think you need not feel sorry for the nation or those living here, or feel that you in any way have it better. That is elitism.
Here’s my view on cockfights. https://joeam.com/2011/09/26/the-cock-fight-crowd/
Just for comparison, the cockfight chapter of the Noli. CV did mention a comment of Dr. Xiao Chua that Rizal had a colonial education, and indeed, he is more critical of cockfights, even as he describes their social aspect in a similarly vivid way.
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/noli-me-tangere-the-social-cancer-by-dr-jose-rizal-a-complete-english-version-chapter-46-the-cockpit-english-version-of-noli-me-tangere_767.html
Naval, the main municipality on Biliran, has a large building constructed by a former mayor just north of town, built specifically for cockfights. And fiestas have their own smaller, localized versions. They are sport, and the chickens are prized. So I think not much has changed in 125 years. Manny Pacquaio was probably a fighting rooster in a prior life.
I love that chapter on the cockfight and have referred to it many times in discussions with others. Rizal lamented our people “silence and apathy” and our indolence, and moral failure, etc. etc. But not at the cockpit:
>>>In this foyer even the least intelligent takes part in the discussion, while the man of most hasty judgment conscientiously investigates the matter, weighs, examines, extends the wings, feels the muscles of the cocks. Some go very well-dressed, surrounded and followed by the partisans of their champions; others who are dirty and bear the imprint of vice on their squalid features anxiously follow the movements of the rich to note the bets, since the purse may become empty but the passion never satiated. No countenance here but is animated—not here is to be found the indolent, apathetic, silent Filipino—all is movement, passion, eagerness. It may be, one would say, that they have that thirst which is quickened by the water of the swamp.<<<
Joe Am wrote: “…or tossing my trash out the window for someone else to pick up. I already find relief along the roadside now and then. It is really convenient.
“It’s a style, for sure . . . some aspects better, some worse than the sanitized and rule-bound western norms.”
I have done that, here in the US…tossed something on the road…basically because I could not find a nearby trash can. Then I think back to my Filipino heritage so I don’t feel guilty…and I must admit the thought comes to me “boy, that felt good…that felt convenient” and I did feel a little superior that someone else would have to pick up that little piece of candy wrapper or whatever.
Having said that, there is a hill that I climb here in San Jose, CA. It takes about 20 mins. and it is steep enough to raise my heart rate for that long, and it has vacant land on both sides where cows craze. It overlooks Santa Clara Valley…used to be orchards but now are a zillion buildings and homes. Young couples like to drive up there, have a drink or two and look at the view and lord knows what else. They toss their trash out the window, even though there are trash bags placed by the city at a few intervals. Not as convenient as just throwing your trash out the window.
On these walks, I and one other individual actually pick up this trash and place it in the trash liners as we get our exercise regimen in. I have to admit, after we are done, the place looks great! and of course, I feel great. It is my tiny contribution to good ol’ USA…. 🙂
Meanwhile, the homeless population creates trash where it requires institutional trash removal. Very amazing stuff…creates unsightly ugliness all over the place. Fortunately, our government takes care of it now and then and keeps things at an acceptable level.
I have more comments on our “great Philippines” as Joe Am affectionately calls Inang Bayan. I’ll try to give them after Joe Am’s posts. Am still learning how to maneuver in this site, how to find posts, etc.
My grandfather, who was judge in Daraga, Albay, certainly was among the better dressed even as his time was in the 1940s and 1950s. He had a rooster is what I know. He also had a tricycle business on the side for a while.
There was a Filipina I talked to who asked me if I saw anything good in the Filipino way, and I said that the almost human computer like capabilities of kristos in cockpits could be utilized for something else, the people are not stupid. Well, she cringed. Went to Canada for good later.
Gideon Lasco, a mountain climber and anthropologist (his book The Philippines is not s small country is great) said that the Filipino habit of throwing trash by the roadside might be a legacy of the times when most packaging there was biodegradable. That wasn’t too long ago.
This blog started off as Joe America’s journal about his new home and slowly became a place with social, historical, and political commentary. A lot of participants like sonny, JPilipinas and the no longer active caliphman were migrants to the USA like you. Some had migrated to Oz.
Karl Garcia and Giancarlo Angulo are in the Philippines. Joey Nguyen is Vietnamese-American and a bit of a newcomer here as well. We haven’t had newcomers in a while. Joey has been to the Philippines way more than I have since I left. You will get a feel of this blog with time.
Re Indolence of the Filipino, this is what Gemini says Rizal wrote:
..In “The Indolence of the Filipino,” José Rizal argued that the supposed laziness of Filipinos was not an inherent trait but rather a result of various factors during the Spanish colonial era. He pointed to issues like the lack of opportunities, poor education system, and unjust social structures as contributors to this perceived indolence.
Rizal emphasized that Filipinos were not naturally lazy and that they had a rich history of hard work and industry before the arrival of the Spanish. He believed that with proper education, reforms, and a sense of national pride, Filipinos could overcome this perceived indolence and achieve progress..
“Rizal emphasized that Filipinos were not naturally lazy and that they had a rich history of hard work and industry before the arrival of the Spanish. He believed that with proper education, reforms, and a sense of national pride, Filipinos could overcome this perceived indolence and achieve progress.” – Gemini, from Irineo
This may be wishful thinking on Rizal’s part. This guy I knew while I was in college invested in a steel hull fishing boat. I remember his complaint was that when he had a full catch, his crew would not show up for 2 or 3 days!
Then my wife’s parents had a farm in Mindoro. They allowed their workers to plant vegetables or anything they wanted in between the coconut trees if they wanted to. Nobody wanted to.
Also, my wife’s father often said to his son who he wanted to take over the farm: “If you show up at 6 a.m., the workers start working at 6. If you show up at 10, they will start working at 10. His son liked to show up late, after all, he was the boss, eh?
When you are lazy, easy money becomes very attractive. An outfit that isn’t corrupt can be very efficient and productive. So why not make our government efficient and productive – because it requires major thinking and we’re too lazy to do that. Not enough money? Heck, a fellow who is a crusader against corruption in the Philippines tells us he estimates 700 billion is lost in corruption every year. During the American period, I am told that to be in the Civil Service was a badge of honor…you got a pretty good salary. Almost immediately after independence, I understand we began underpaying civil servants. It was understood that it was “up to you” to make up the difference…with a “wink” of the eye. These are things I heard and read about, so I cannot say for sure that is what happened. All I know is what I see…underpaid civil servants like teachers, and each “finding a way” to supplement that sort of salary. And as a local tells me frequently, of the big-time thieves “nobody goes to jail.”
Hey, I do have to add that I consider myself lazy. The “puede na” attitude is strong in me.
“Lack of opportunities” hits like a sledge hammer. And yet today’s leaders don’t see it. They seek to provide jobs, not mandate careers.
hi, cv, I’m lazy sometimes too. we take a break to smell and enjoy the roses, to have a walk in the park, to have a yakka with our neighbors, to spend times with our loved ones, etc. we cannot be expected to operate at full speed and full throttle all the time, everytime, else we work ourselves to an earlier grave.
sometimes, we slow down to think where we are heading, and how to get there, to experience new things, to delight in little pleasure like maybe, winning the lotto! haha.
but when we work, paspasan kami, and work like there is no tomorrow, fully engaged and goal oriented. take no prisoner attitude, sounds crazy but that’s what productivity demands.
“The Philippines is progressing nicely toward middle income standing.” – Joe Am
I’m glad you think so….I’m so down on the Philippines that I could use some good news from there if ever there is any. I felt as you do back in the 60s when I was a teenager. Then came Marcos’ second term and the eventual collapse of the country. So finger’s crossed on your optimism. I suspect the overpopulation will just devastate the country, in addition possibly to AI taking away jobs in the BPO industry.
Yes, the 1960s, when Manila had the most modern American cars and looked far more “magarbo” than Singapore. When Sokor was poorer than the Philippines. The first Filipina nurses came to Germany, where I live, in the early 1970s. South Korean nurses as well, except that they went home to a country that was advancing. The Filipinas mostly stayed here. The peso to dollar exchange rate was way better. Interestingly, the good times did persist until 1982 for some people, so people’s memories lie and make it seem that Marcos was the one who was responsible for a “Golden Age.” And by 1986, Cory was left holding the stick, and the problems she had inherited from Marcos have been blamed on her. This is why testimonies of people like you are important. Gaslighting by so many people makes one question one’s sanity eventually.
Others don’t gaslight but seem to have had the neuralyzer applied to them by the Men in Black. Maybe that is one reason why the Philippines is The Land of Constant Beginnings, as author Ninotchka Rosca wrote. History looks like Groundhog Day but in different variations.
I mentioned the risk that the Philippines will act, like so many times in its past, like a one day millionaire. Hope that indeed a good President takes over in 2028 and Marcos Jr. does not get into a new version of 1982 before that. Joe has his eyes on the goal of a good 2028 coalition..
It seems the Philippines has rigging an election down to a science, and controlled by the bad guys….so what are the chances of getting a “good president” elected in 2028. I think it is nil. A fellow I know who used to work for IBM in the Philippines talked about the “Ocho Derecho” rigging of the elections in 2018. I guess it was a mid-term election and he said the cheating done there through the Smartmatic machines was a pre-curser to the smooth operation done in May 2022 by BBM. Does that ring any bells to you?
The birth rate has been coming down steadily and AI is creating new BPO jobs, not taking them away. JP Morgan just added to its investment here. I think you are operating on outdated impressions of the Philippines. The oligarchs here are good. The government is flakey, but they get the essentials done. Remittances are a steadying force. Could it blow up, sure. My bookie’s sleeping off his Saturday night bash, but I suspect he’d back my sense of the nation. It’s steady as she goes.
“I think you are operating on outdated impressions of the Philippines.” – Joe Am
I sure hope so….my impressions from other Pinoys, both in the Philippines and overseas, is that the election was stolen, and that PBBM took money from Phil Health…and I am told Phil Health is unable to pay claims yet supposedly had a surplus? How does that work.
My sister-in-law who retired in the Philippines with her husband was all excited about Phil Health because she said the premiums were so cheap compared to the US! She and her husband paid up a full year in advance, I recall. I worked in insurance in the 80s here in the US, and I was always warry of Phil Health and its cheap premiums. Sure enough, when she had her first set of claims, she said it was worthless and it was better for them to keep the premiums.
I am told that the Philippines is not attractive to foreign investors and most go elsewhere to like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia or even Vietnam. Power rates are high, I am told…that is a cost to manufacturing. Infrastructure is poor. The competitors of the Philippines have governments that work with business to make them more competitive. I’ve heard that the Philippine government still works against business. It was that way back in the 70s when I was still there.
But hopefully you are right….
Phil Health has been incompetently run, 95 billion was transferred to pork (I think) but the transfer is being challenged in court. The agency is financially sound and covers about 20% of member health claims.
Power costs are indeed a barrier to attracting foreign investments. But GDP growth remains sound just above 5% percent year, comparing well against other Asian countries.
I offer the following as balance to what you are hearing.
https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2025/02/06/651523/phl-may-need-50m-sq-m-of-industrial-space-by-2035/
Thanks, Joe Am for the Business World article and the optimistic report from PRIME, which I believe is a real estate developer. I must confess that I don’t have confidence in the Philippine government as a partner in progress. I can see the Philippine economy being somewhat like that Spanish Navy ship that had to be towed into position to face Commodore Dewey because it could not operate under its own power. But that is just me so we will have to see. Try not to forget the plight of the D and E folk. It seems they only get the crumbs. Filipinos deserve better than that. Oh, and whenever you think of it, do send me positive economic news, but hopefully of the objective type. I know everything is at least somewhat biased, but let’s just do our best.
Well, you can do whatever research you choose. I’m not in an enduring argument but feel obligated to respond when I think you make anecdotal remarks that don’t give the complete picture. I have a long history of debate with the anti-pinoy crowd and find it unendingly amusing that I praise the Philippines as they, as Filipinos, run her down.
No problem, Joe Am….they used to say you can get the real picture by checking the lines at the US Embassy. Last time I was there was in the late 70s to 1980. My line was 2 years long, Second Preference, husband of Green Card holder. But my intention is not to bash the Philippines but to give as objective a view as possible. By mentioning the lines at the embassy, am I bashing the Philippines or talking about facts? I have a doctor acquaintance who really bashes the health care system in the Philippines. He warns Pinoys visiting Boracay to make sure they get a good physical before leaving. He said if you get a heart attack there you will probably die from it. He is retired and in his 80s, so most of his audience are in the same age range. I learned a lot from him…apparently there was a Golden Age of Doctors which I guess is those who are now in their 80s. Apparently our medical schools were the best in Asia in the 50s and early 60s. And he claims they produced great doctors. I think he says there were 9 medical schools then, now there are 52. And he says doctors in the Philippines cannot pass the exams in the US, so they become nurses instead. Thank goodness for that Golden Age because my wife (I did not know her then) had open heart surgery there at St. Luke’s on España Extension (became E. Rodriguez Ave. I think) back in 1971. She used to brag that her doctor went to the US annually for updated study and training. When we were on our last cruise, we chatted with a nice Filipina crew member. She told us it was easier to get a job on a cruise ship by going to Kuala Lumpur and applying over there, not in Manila. I forget the details why. Anyways, keep up the conversation and don’t mind my “bashing”….just counter with what you can and I’ll read them and probably pray the optimism is worth some money to some especially Ds and Es back home.
You are talking about a fact regarding lines at the Embassy, but it is anecdotal, and has its peculiar context. Well, there are 113 million souls here, and not enough jobs, so what’s an embassy to do? I’m not denying the poverty, the incompetence, the entitlement and impunity, or the corruption. They are facts. I’m saying the Philippines is a great place to live, for myself and I expect many others. I see the constant need of Filipinos to bash themselves as a part of the problem, sort of a multi-pronged inferiority complex arising from the fact that it is an orphan nation unloved by the occupiers, which include the dynasts. Filipinos have little confidence in themselves, it seems to me. The only way out of this negative washing cycle is to understand the nation, be proud of all the things it does right, and move forward with confidence knowing that it is a great place with great people, all worthy of good treatment. Not unending criticism.
I am sure you recall sonny’s comment on how he took one of the last ships from Manila to San Francisco in the late 1960s, where he was amazed at how huge the Golden Gate bridge was, and how large the longshoremen both black and white were, now CV similar to me left the Philippines around four decades ago and I for sure was fascinated by German autobahns and all that. Rizal wrote in the Noli about how Ibarra went home and saw the same lantern that was broken years ago still broken. A lot of us educated Filipinos are shaped by those biases.
In fact, I have found it quite weird when I have written about Filipino popular culture in this blog that there is hardly any response, and a lot of the AB Filipinos who might be reading here are wondering what the hell is Irineo crazy? They do often live in a world that is different from that of cockfights, singing contests and teleseryes, with notable exceptions like Will and Aldub. As Joey mentioned inside the walls, which is what Intramuros means, not among their people. Of course, we who are abroad are further away. Trying to understand a very changed country.
There are layers, still, concentric around the cities. The outlying towns are growing more sophisticated, wider roads, more cars, more parking spaces for the cars. Still pedicabs, a joy to ride. Naval got a jollibee maybe 7 years ago and a McDonalds this year. A Gaisano mall is coming. They built a big new hospital a little outside of town up by the police encampment. They cemented the road leading to our little sitio. Water is metered now. I go to Cebu for first class medical care and they’ve certifiably saved my life. The malls are first class there, the BPO and condo buildings going up steadily. A bazillion cars. There’s money in the Philippines. It is being pushed out. The price of land is going up. I read that the nation will need some 50 million square meters of space for commercial/manufacturing expected to come in over the next 10 years. It’s a developing country, in motion.
Thanks for that picture, as all I have been getting in the past years are bits and pieces, as if most Filipinos and not even the papers see the big picture. It makes sense to me now, and I see the main challenges remaining as:
1) getting more of a manufacturing base to not rely only on services and tourism, not let Vietnam get everything leaving China. PNoy was correct in attracting car manufacturing and more. Relying too much on OFW and migrant money when rich countries are in trouble is iffy.
2) Marcos Jr. should be careful not to kill the goose that lays golden eggs. His father also coasted along a strong economic foundation left by Macapagal while he is coasting on the foundation Arroyo and PNoy built, and Duterte fortunately didn’t manage to destroy.
3) Political tribalism is a risk. Some liberals are attacking Marcos Jr. – in exactly the same way PNoy was attacked in his days. Some are even taking up the debt narrative the Duterte supporters are using even as Duterte made the most debt – just to hit back at Marcos.
Noranians and Vilmanians probably have outgrown the time when they went to “war” over their idols. Political fandoms sometimes have grandfathers in them. Seems there as well the big picture – of what is good for the nation – is lacking. Let’s see how this all goes.
“Let’s see how this all goes.” – Irineo
I hear ‘ya. With regard to getting a manufacturing base, our government puts up a lot of obstacles to people wanting to put up a manufacturing base. We feel we are entitled and people will come anyway because we are so nice and hospitable. Not likely….people will go where it is easy. Now I remember a white fellow at Nestlé in the Philippines (I was applying for a job back in the 70s) said that the good thing about investing in the Philippines is it is “easier” and I put that in quotes as I understood him to be doing. I think he meant that unlike in first world countries where you have to deal with all the regulations, in the Philippines, a little grease money and you’re off to the races. You just have to make sure you are greasing the right people.
But seriously, this grease way of doing business is slow and inefficient when you are competing against the likes of Vietnam, Malaysia, and now maybe even Indonesia. Investors have choices. Remember Lucy in Charlie Brown had this expression on the baseball diamond: “How can we lose when we’re so sincere??” Apparently, sincerity goes only so far, if you know what I mean.
Nice synopsis. Yes, we’ll see.
“There’s money in the Philippines.” – Joe Am
But will it last? Is what you are seeing from a loan, where interest only is paid? Will it reach a point where the loan needs to be re-structured because we cannot afford the interest, and then the peso is devalued as one of the conditions of the re-structuring of the loan? Price of land is going up, but how does a Pinoy buy land in the Philippines? Can he take out a loan?
Yes, it can and will last. There is tremendous commercial activity here. A sound banking system coddled by bank regulators. BPO industry. Remittances. The price of land is up because business people are paying the going rate downtown and the increases roll out to adjacent areas, waves of prosperity, because they are making money. You’d be surprised at the number of 15 million peso condos, and above, in Cebu.
“In fact, I have found it quite weird when I have written about Filipino popular culture in this blog that there is hardly any response, and a lot of the AB Filipinos who might be reading here are wondering what the hell is Irineo crazy?” – Irineo
I hear ‘ya, and I might be interested, and being for the most part retired, I expect I’ll have the time to give you a response or two.
Thanks. The question about the spirit of the times in today’s Philippines was a question to those back home though, I thought they would know.
Maybe they know but won’t tell, or can’t express it. If they don’t know, it could be because life can indeed still be hard in the Philippines with a lot of hassle, so there is no time to reflect. If there is time, maybe most don’t reflect as independent thinking isn’t really taught there?
Joe has time, a sense of safety with his US pension, and a habit of reflecting on matters. That is why he was able to answer my initial question. Karl gave an answer, too. Giancarlo told me long ago in our group chat that Ang Probinsyano was a change from Darna as he relied on his own skills, not on magic, even as the strategy he used to win was perdeganas IIRC. Joey has given a lot of direct information from talking to many DE people. Finally Gemini gave me an answer that makes sense, though I try to check stuff out first before asking AI.
“The Philippines is progressing nicely toward middle income standing.” – Joe Am
Nice to see that the “Sickman of Asia” is on the road to recovery. I worry about the role AI will play, even for First World countries. I remember when the train was first invented back in the 19th century, there were those who said that the human body was not designed to travel that fast. AI speeds things up so fast, I wonder if the human body (and mind) was designed to travel that fast?
That’s a global problem, for sure. I’m hoping it will help clean up some of the bad thinking that is now prevalent on social media. We see it used constructively here to build insights. The problem is not the technology but the greedy people running it, I think. And the warmongers.
“Rich with non-monetary experiences. Sorry if I break your misconceptions and enjoy myself in the Philippines. ” – Joe Am
No, don’t apologize. I’m glad people are enjoying things over there…you have dignity, something Rizal saw that too many of his countrymen back in his day did not have.
I don’t have too much money here in the US and my wife and I raised our 3 kids on a lot of non-monetary experiences. I call it our Filipino Heritage! But I think we are rare…a lot of my fellow Pinoys sacrificed time with growing kids in the name of “piling and heaping” of things they could never have afforded had they remained in the Philippines. My wife and I are quite happy with how things turned out. I tried to teach my kids over the years that what is important is family and relationships and we are to use “things” to build strong families and relationships. If the things get in the way, like too much overtime, or too many high payments on things bought on credit, get rid of those things.
@IBRS
Thinking that we were once great in no illussion of grandeur. You introduced Dreaming then dreaming of good times should be allowed
Yes, one can mistake great again as sounding like MAGA or Makoy’s 1965 inaugural speech as I did, or interpret it like Joe in a more positive way. Maybe it did irritate me a bit that the commenter seemingly just reacted to the title.
I understand.
ps illusions of grandeur sounded better than delusions
Re dreams, I think mapping dreams to goals is best.
Gemini mentioned family, success, justice, adventure, and national pride as dreams that Filipinos have based on teleseryes. See my comment on that.
Actual opportunities, especially at home, translate to family and success, and with enough money adventure through travel is possible, not just seeing foreign places in teleseryes. A lot of Filipinos with means travel more than ever. In the 1970s, travel was for “crazy white tourists.”
Justice is something that good government advocates should focus on so that Filipinos don’t fall for Tulfo or tokhang. In that sense, I am a centrist liberal as my ideas of social justice are left of center, but my sense of law and order is center-right. Bavarian influence, I guess.
Joey is right in that true national pride can be derived from succeeding as a nation to give jobs to people in the country, better than from false mythologies like the Kingdom movie. Funny how Vic Sotto is the Lakan of Kalayaan in Kingdom, but also the horned Boazanian King in Voltes V.
Correction: The Boazanian Emperor in Voltes V legacy is played by Christian Vasquez, not Vic Sotto.
Follow up to that EOP news.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2032478/english-only-policy-must-be-addressed-up-sentro-ng-wikang-filipino?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery
Right, EOP is in many places as the SWP head noted. Many think Morissette is pasosyal, but she just sounds like that because she went to an EOP school in Cebu. She had to take Tagalog classes when she started singing in Manila.
Well, the quoted professor is emphasizing cultural aspects which don’t help people get a job. If you can retain Filipino languages and get a job, great. But my view is that you ought not limit Filipinos by making them deal in a regional language. If the villagers in village A were required to speak only the local dialect, they couldn’t get a job in Manila even. Education is growth. Restraining it for pride is anti-growth.
As for identity, formal Tagalog doesn’t express the present state of Philippine culture. It is indeed a fluid entity. I’m just leaving this Gemini summary of what Prof. Vicente Rafael wrote about Filipino slang here as it fits:
..Vicente Rafael has indeed written about Filipino urban slang, particularly in relation to how it reflects and shapes social identities and power dynamics. Here are some key points about his work in this area:
“Taglish, or the Phantom Power of the Lingua Franca”: In this essay, Rafael explores the phenomenon of “Taglish,” a mix of Tagalog and English, and how it has become a dominant form of urban slang in the Philippines. He argues that Taglish is not simply a hybrid language but a complex linguistic phenomenon that reflects the country’s colonial history and ongoing negotiation of identity.
Conyo language: Rafael has also written about “Conyo” language, a particular type of Taglish spoken by the upper class in Manila. He examines how Conyo is used to create and maintain social distinctions, often serving as a marker of privilege and exclusivity.
Slang as resistance: In his broader work, Rafael suggests that slang can be a form of resistance against dominant languages and cultures. By playing with language and creating new forms of expression, speakers can challenge existing power structures and assert their own identities.
Overall, Vicente Rafael’s work on Filipino urban slang provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between language, culture, and power in postcolonial societies. He highlights how slang can be both a reflection of social realities and a tool for social change..
The Jamaicans also switch between patois, their “reggae talk,” and formal English.
Those who want people to accept a national language have to make sure it is somewhat real. Meanwhile, it is good and correct to keep the Filipino advantage in English.
EOP except during Filipino classes which I might daresay is the thing happening to those who enforce EOO and if that is the case then there is no problem. There would be no need to fear about disappearing languages. And this means jobs.
There is no chance that 180 languages will all survive. At worst, maybe a dozen to twenty languages will be left and at best around 30-50, depending on which major IP communities decide to continue to speak their languages. Barkadas will keep inventing own slang, though.
It is like the last isolated mountain languages and dialects of the Alps are probably doomed as the young move to cities and learn majority languages. The dialects of Swiss cantons will survive as the evening news is in them, and they use them in offices but write in High German.
Need not fear may also mean it may happen anyway so face the music.
Facing the music like the video below shows that the Visayans are determined to preserve their language. PUHON, it will still exist in a hundred years.
I asked myself how my alternative historical fantaserye would converge into the present time. Maybe the Philippines would have been united under 20 years of Japanese occupation and become independent in 1960 allied to Korea. I asked Bing AI to draw me a Philippines with such a history at around 2015 and this was what came out:
I also asked Gemini what could have happened with the premise of my fantaserye and this was what it said:
“If the USA had left the Philippines in 1905, the country’s development would likely have taken a significantly different path. Here are some potential scenarios:
1. Early Independence and Potential Instability:
The Philippines would have gained independence much earlier than it did in 1946. However, this early independence might have come with significant challenges.
The newly independent nation could have faced internal conflicts and power struggles among different factions vying for control. The Philippines was already experiencing revolutionary movements against Spanish rule, and these could have continued or evolved into civil wars without a strong central authority.
External threats from other colonial powers like Japan or European nations could have also posed a risk to the Philippines’ sovereignty.
2. Different Colonial Influence:
If the US had not been present, other powers might have sought to fill the vacuum. Japan, with its growing interest in Southeast Asia, could have exerted greater influence or even attempted to annex the Philippines.
European powers like Britain, France, or the Netherlands, already established in the region, might have also tried to expand their colonial holdings.
This would have meant that the Philippines’ culture, language, and political systems could have been influenced by a different colonial power, leading to a vastly different national identity.
3. Economic Development:
The absence of US influence could have led to a different economic trajectory. The Philippines might have developed a more diversified economy, less reliant on specific export crops favored by the US market.
However, it could also have faced challenges in attracting foreign investment and developing its industries without the established trade relationships and infrastructure development that came with US presence.
4. Political Development:
Without the US system of government imposed, the Philippines might have developed its own unique political system. This could have led to a more indigenous form of democracy or perhaps a different power structure altogether.
The development of political institutions and a stable government could have been slower and more turbulent without the guidance and influence of the US.
5. Regional Relations:
The Philippines’ relationships with its Asian neighbors would likely be different. Without the US presence in the region, the dynamics of power and alliances could have evolved in various ways.
The Philippines might have forged stronger ties with other Southeast Asian nations or developed a different stance in regional conflicts and cooperation.
It’s important to remember that these are just potential scenarios. The actual course of history is complex and unpredictable. However, it’s clear that the Philippines without US influence from 1905 would be a very different nation today.”
The picture, not too different from the Philippines of today, and Gemini’s as always sober analysis does prove what Joey has been saying about the lost cause narrative re the Philippine Republic..
Irineo, I am curious how Gemini would project what the Philippines would become HAD THE U.S. STAYED. Can it speculate without using knowledge of what actually happened, but instead use the same tools it used in speculating what would have happened had the US not stayed? I suspect it would come up with a rosier outlook than the reality we see today. I see the close ties with the US as an asset, not a liability, IF ONE HAS WHAT IT TAKES to take advantage of such an asset. Lee Kuan Yew had to chase after Britain to stay involved with Singapore. The British left Singapore a third world country full of corruption? Why chase after Britain? Lee had his reasons and I forget what they were. But bottom line, it worked for them.
Here you go:
If the USA had stayed in the Philippines until 1960, the country’s development could have been significantly different in several ways:
Potential Benefits:
Economic Development: Continued US presence could have led to more significant investments in infrastructure, industry, and education. This could have resulted in a stronger and more diversified economy.
Political Stability: The US presence might have provided more stability, potentially preventing the rise of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand Marcos.
Geopolitical Influence: The Philippines could have become a more critical US ally in the region, potentially leading to greater security and diplomatic influence.
Potential Drawbacks:
Delayed Independence: The Philippines might have experienced a longer period of transition towards full independence, potentially hindering the development of a strong national identity.
Neocolonial Influence: Continued US presence could have perpetuated economic and political dependence, limiting the country’s ability to chart its own course.
Social Tensions: The presence of a foreign power for an extended period could have led to increased social tensions and resentment, potentially hindering national unity.
Overall, the impact of the US staying in the Philippines until 1960 is complex and multifaceted. While there could have been potential benefits in terms of economic development and political stability, there were also risks of delayed independence and neocolonial influence. Ultimately, it is impossible to say for sure how the Philippines would have developed differently, as history is shaped by a multitude of factors.
Okay, my curiosity is satisfied, hehehe
Maybe we should add to the picture that a lot of nationalistic Filipinos were not too happy with parity rights after Independence, and there was even one man who threw a grenade at President Roxas due to that. Joey has mentioned that a lot of companies in the Third Republic were American-owned. I know two examples, GMA, which was founded by Uncle Bob (for sure you will have seen his shows) and Philtranco, which was founded by Americans in the colonial period. GMA was taken from Uncle Bob during Martial Law when parity was not extended.
Mining companies like Benguet Consolidated, Marcopper etc. were controversial American-owned companies, but Marcos cronies taking them over proved totally greedy.
I am too indolent to read up in the 1995 Mining Act but I suspect it was botched.
The Philippines and its economy seem to be a similar story to the Philippines and its defense. Wanting to be as independent as possible but for a long time struggling to get stuff working.
It may well be though that slowly, the country is growing up in spite of so many false starts.
The 1995 Mining Act was definitely botched and is currently being cleaned up under . . . “ta dah!” . . . President Marcos. The new law has a neat kicker that mining companies will be granted a five-year right to export raw ore, but thereafter must process in the Philippines. So they have to build processing plants. Seems rather ingenious to me. They have also adjusted the taxation schemes.
@Irineo
Have you seen the movie 1521?
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt12802672/
I saw the summaries and concluded the story was way too stupid to watch.
It’s even worse than the Spanish Magellan and Elcano movie.
Putting in a Pocahontas style story is too much.
It is a dream after all. The Babaylan ended up with the Pigafetta like character in another life.
I saw a Vivamax version of a Babaylan and his man but no Magellans there j.
That Magellan film starring Danny Trejo isn’t a dream of Filipinos. It was neither made by Philippine outfits nor popular among Filipinos. I would rather include GOT and LOTR or most of the Marvel movies than that.
Asked Gemini about the foreign movies Filipinos like and what it says about them.
Filipinos have a diverse taste in movies and series, influenced by both Western and East Asian cultures. This reflects their unique history and cultural identity, which blends elements from both regions.
Western Movies and Series:
Hollywood blockbusters: Filipinos enjoy action-packed, big-budget films with special effects and well-known actors. This reflects a desire for escapism and entertainment, as well as an appreciation for high-quality production values.
Romantic comedies: These films are popular for their lightheartedness and relatable themes of love and relationships. This suggests a value placed on romance and emotional connection.
Drama series: Filipinos often follow Western drama series that offer complex characters, intricate plots, and social commentary. This indicates an interest in thought-provoking content and stories that reflect real-life issues.
East Asian Movies and Series:
Korean dramas (K-dramas): These series have gained immense popularity in the Philippines due to their compelling storylines, attractive actors, and relatable themes of family, friendship, and love. This suggests a cultural affinity with South Korea and an appreciation for their storytelling style.
Japanese anime and manga: These forms of media have a dedicated following in the Philippines, particularly among younger audiences. This reflects an interest in Japanese culture and its unique artistic style.
Chinese martial arts films: These films have a long history of popularity in the Philippines, particularly those featuring iconic actors like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. This indicates an appreciation for action-packed entertainment and martial arts culture.
Aspirations and Apprehensions:
The popularity of these movies and series can offer insights into the aspirations and apprehensions of Filipinos:
Desire for progress and success: The appeal of Hollywood blockbusters and drama series may reflect a desire for personal and societal advancement, as these films often depict characters overcoming challenges and achieving their goals.
Value placed on relationships: The popularity of romantic comedies and K-dramas suggests a strong emphasis on family, friendship, and romantic love in Filipino culture.
Appreciation for cultural diversity: The consumption of both Western and East Asian media indicates an openness to different cultures and a willingness to embrace diverse perspectives.
Concerns about social issues: The interest in drama series that tackle social issues may reflect anxieties about problems such as poverty, inequality, and corruption.
Overall, the diverse taste in movies and series among Filipinos reflects their multifaceted cultural identity and their aspirations for a better future, while also acknowledging their apprehensions about the challenges they face.
Kasambahay wrote this earlier in the thread, but I could not find a “Reply” button to it.
“but when we work, paspasan kami, and work like there is no tomorrow, fully engaged and goal oriented. take no prisoner attitude, sounds crazy but that’s what productivity demands.”
I hope so. I think productivity in the Philippines is low, compared to the competition, especially other countries. That is why we cannot absorb corruption as well as some of our neighbors. A guy I knew from Taiwan told me that there is plenty of corruption in Taiwan, but that it is mostly in the top…not in the bottom levels. I think in the Philippines it is top to bottom, am I right on that?
Corruption is accepted practice in the Philippines, from legislators to LGU heads to beat cops and fixers. It’s how poorly paid people get well paid. Money circulates back into the economy, but usually as wasteful or secondary-value road or other construction projects, and not as primary high ROI endeavors. The economy ramped up above 6% when Aquino got investments on a productive path and bogged down under Duterte who accomplished little. Marcos is also bogged down by passing pork to legislators and LGUs.
One has a choice in knowing this, throw one’s hands in the air and wail, weep, and be miserable, or simply understand the why of it, the forces at play, and try to shape them to better outcomes. It’s a free choice. Neither of them detracts from to point that the Philippines is a great place to live. Peaceful, not full of racial hate or bad people, just a good deal of incompetence, offset by the competence of the oligarchs, BPOs, OFWs, and hard working souls.
Here is Google’s AI assessment of JP Morgan’s recently announced increased investment in the Philippines.
“Yes, JP Morgan is planning to increase its investment in business process management (BPO) operations in the Philippines. The bank is also working with the government to include Philippine government bonds in its bond index.
Explanation
JP Morgan is a global financial services firm that has been operating in the Philippines since 1961.
The bank’s corporate center in the Philippines has over 20,000 employees who support the bank’s global operations.
JP Morgan is looking to expand its BPO operations in the Philippines.
The bank is also working with the government to include Philippine government bonds in its bond index.
The inclusion of the Philippines in the index could attract foreign investment, which could lower borrowing costs for the government.
Benefits of JP Morgan’s investments
The bank’s investments could help create jobs for underserved communities.
The bank’s investments could help small businesses become more sustainable.
The bank’s investments could help marginalized people access affordable financial products.
The bank’s investments could help strengthen the country’s investment attractiveness. “
Great…but instead of “could help” we need “is helping”…agree? I like the expression: “Don’t tell me, show me.” 🙂
Well, I thought that part of the summary was pretty much nonsense gibberish, but the info about bonds and additional investment in fact is doing, not showing.
Amen to that….but in the meantime, Philippines better watch out because foreign investors have Vietnam to look at. My accountant is from Vietnam in he doesn’t trust the communist government. Thus he and his wife bought two condos in Thailand. His wife is Thai. They first bought only one as a vacation home…walking distance to a great beach, and they have a great view of the ocean. Then another unit became available at a good price so the guy bought it and plans to turn into an Airbnb. I forget where in Thailand, but it is not in Bangkok. He raves about the food in Thailand, and the way they treat foreigners. He said one time he and his wife were in town somewhere and a vehicle was going around announcing something. He asked his wife what the guy was saying and she said he was telling the people to be nice to the tourists! hahaha Also I looked into the record of the Philippines w/ regard to manufacturing and it isn’t that good. Service industry has won out, and I do feel AI is going to cut into that despite your optimism. AI is advancing at a frightening warp speed and Philippines might find itself up a creek w/o a paddle in as soon as a year or two. The other day I tried to talk to a human at Citi Costco Visa and it wasn’t easy. I eventually got to a human by pressing “O” every time they asked me what I wanted to do. After I think for “Os” I finally got handed to a human being.
Every nation has goods and bads and needs to look out for itself, especially with the US goiing full on white nationalist lunatic. The Philippines is a wonderful place. Definitely able to get along at its own pace, in its own ways. Green, that’s the color of the Philippines outside of Manila. In oceans of blue, under skies of blue, and occasionally grey hell-storms. English speaking Spanish Asia, no place like it in the world. I have no trouble if people search out their destinies in Thailand or Viet Nam. They do have their allure.
“One has a choice in knowing this, throw one’s hands in the air and wail, weep, and be miserable, or simply understand the why of it, the forces at play, and try to shape them to better outcomes. It’s a free choice. Neither of them detracts from to point that the Philippines is a great place to live. Peaceful, not full of racial hate or bad people, just a good deal of incompetence, offset by the competence of the oligarchs, BPOs, OFWs, and hard working souls.” Yes, I remember one of my first comments when I was “fresh off the boat here in the US was that “things work!” The pay phones work (you don’t always get busy signals), the vending machines work, when you go in to get something at a place that is supposed to have it they generally have it! You can get from point A to point B in a reasonable time. I loved it. My first job was 15 minutes or 20 minutes from home, partly on a freeway. I loved it. That is a good word for it: Competence! Oh, I’m also an outdoor pers
The average commute time in Los Angeles 31.3 minutes. If I had a BPO job in Cebu my commute time from the condo there would be 9 minutes. The malls here are first class, no problemo. Electronic banking is whiz-bang proficient. My money zips around at the speed of electricity, buying things, investing, paying taxes, electricity, and water, and keeping my visa current. I have a wide choice of beaches, and there is even an island off the coast of Biliran, uninhabited, for a special adventure. We live on a mountain, part of an active volcano. We’ve been to Hong Kong Disneyland and Universal Studios Singapore, 2 hours max, dined in Kuala Lumpur and cruised the underground river on Palawan, helmets on head to ward off the bat shit. There are pedicabs in downtown Naval for a competent gadabout, or motorcycles and cars in Cebu, 5 minutes away by app. And the car goes by ferry now and then, quite fun. We avoid Manila like the plague, but it’s got lots of jobs I’m pretty sure.
Yes, my wife has always said, life is great in the Philippines, if you have money. Will executives from J.P. Morgan also avoid Manila like the plague? Once I was watching a video on YouTube about a white tourist showing how much fun he was having in Palawan. I commented to my wife that he wasn’t protecting himself from the sun. Sure enough by the end of his video he was in pain from sun burn. One of the doctors in my email group disagreed that malnutrition was a problem in the Philippines. When she vacationed there, which was frequently (doctor money I guess), she said she saw no signs of it! She was quickly apprised of the problem especially among children by one of the locals in our group. The situation regarding education in the Philippines is tragic, and malnutrition is one of the problems, not just rote learning or methods of instruction.
Much good work is done in the Philippines by people with money helping those without. As I said elsewhere, we cannot change history (pro-life conservatism inspiring families with 10 kids) or erase a culture (non-nationalistic me-first needs arising from lack of money and opportunity), but we need not contribute to the problem by kicking the dog.
Here’s an idea. Instead of just saying the Philippine education system is tragic, identify a way to make it less so. Take the matter of sex education. Secretary Angara has called for inputs on it. The conservative block here has one set of ideas, the liberal quite a different set. Secretary Angara follows me on Twitter. Write up an assessment, look at how other conservative nations have dealt with it, compare alternatives and put together recommendations. Submit your write-up to me at societyofhonor@gmail.com. I’ll publish it and tag it to Secretary Angara on Twitter.
“Here’s an idea. Instead of just saying the Philippine education system is tragic, identify a way to make it less so. Take the matter of sex education. Secretary Angara has called for inputs on it. The conservative block here has one set of ideas, the liberal quite a different set. Secretary Angara follows me on Twitter. Write up an assessment, look at how other conservative nations have dealt with it, compare alternatives and put together recommendations. Submit your write-up to me at societyofhonor@gmail.com. I’ll publish it and tag it to Secretary Angara on Twitter.”
Sounds like a plan, JoeAmerica. I’ll email you directly. I don’t want to muddy up the excellent apolitical discussions in this blog. I know a crusader in the Philippines who needs a critical mass base to improve the effectivity of his crusade for a better Philippines. His name is Mar Tecson, originally from Bulacan, the province of Marcelo H. del Pilar. He wrote this book “Inequality: Economic Tyranny.” I looked the book up and on Amazon I found this: >>This book presents our problems and struggles under the pro-minority-rich bias of globalization. It tackles issues that our nation has to grapple with in its pursuit of economic equality, good governance, and economic progress. It does not stop at citing problems. It also presents doable solutions or reforms based on the author’s insights from his past relevant work in the private and public sectors, where he was an insider in the past oil industry regulation. With the available doable solutions, it is now up to our Executive, Legislative, Commission on Audit, and other government officials, as public servants, to serve with honor, understand our problems, and act on the proposed solutions—to address, once and for all, the economic inequality in our midst.<<
What I like about Mar is that he speaks plainly and he understands the limitations of our society and culture. As such, he goes after what he terms “doable solutions” not “pie in the sky” type declarations that self-promoting politicians like to use. I will include him in my email to you and introduce the two of you to each other. Hopefully something good can come out of it. His background, I believe, is accounting…specifically Audit. As a result, he sees the friggin’ holes in government through which money is stolen in the billions of pesos! He wants to plug them. Like the word in your blog, I believe he has “Honor.” BTW, I love the title of your blog: Society of Honor. I love the virtue of Honor…I love a lot of the virtues, probably because I lack them, but do strive for them. Thanks to historian Prof. Xiao Chua, who I met (by listening to a lecture of his) through conversations in your blog, I learned that “Liga” (as in La Liga Filipina), and “Society”, and “Katipunan” pretty much mean the same thing. So all of this is resonating in my person, and to be honest, I’m feeling a little bit of cautious excitement. This all will probably go beyond the goals of Sen. Angara and sex education…but we will see. Maybe Angara will be interested, or maybe he knows some movers and shakers in Philippine society who would be interested. In any case…wait for my email. I’ll be busy today with life…my 9-year-old granddaughter who is the apple of my eye has a flag football game, and also there is a Super Bowl party at their house later. So it may take a day or two. Take care…
That’s terrific, I look forward to the article. Enjoy the game and the party. Fantastic first priority. I’m also glad you like the blog title. It is a nice standard for the debate style we try to promote here. I would note that we have a slogan, too. “O’ rise ye land of happy fools!” It often seems to fit well, too.
Thanks, awaiting that article as well. Some other articles you may find interesting as input or for your curiosity:
These also for additional perspective:
More:
Have you heard of Agutaya island? That is where Angat Buhay has helped and where VP Leni noted that many children were bansot, meaning stunted due to malnutrition. Amanpulo, the luxury resort island is not too far away.
Both leading Filipino pop groups have members who recall not having enough to eat at times, even if luckily for them, it didn’t affect their growth as one can’t be too short as pop idol. Singer Katrina Velarde, who grew up selling sampagita in Tondo, is 4 foot 11, certainly due to poverty. The Philippines can be seen as emerging, and as such, it has its struggles. I mean, even India, which sends rockets into space and is a global player, has huge pockets of poverty that remain. Many Eastern European countries just two decades ago had huge issues, rural and urban..
The US is currently curtailing aid to the most devastated areas on the planet by cutting off USAID, so that Trump can continue tax cuts for billionaires. It is cutting lunches for schoolkids and meals on wheels serving poor people. I don’t think Americans have much of a platform to stand on to judge wealth disparities in other nations.
I agree that the US does not have a leg to stand on with regard to wealth disparity issue. I remember Rizal’s defender at his Fort Santiago trial in 1896 said, after Rizal was found guilty: “Today I am not proud to be a Spaniard.” I have to admit that now with regard to being an American. But my father always told me as I was growing up in the Philippines: “One thing about Americans is they love to fight!” I am hoping that we put up one helluva fight against Trump and his Project 2025 or whatever else plan he is implementing. I wonder what would happen if Putin causes an international crisis and we are forced to “United we stand” as in 9/11. Are we going to have to unite under an incompetent POTUS? How is that going to work?
I agree Americans are in for a rough time.
“My money zips around at the speed of electricity, buying things, investing, paying taxes, electricity, and water, and keeping my visa current.” – Joe Am
So funny…do you talk like that when sitting with the Ds and Es? Back in my day (60s and 70s) you would get mugged, eventually, if you talked like that.
No, Ds and Es don’t read here and may not really grasp satire, or whatever it is that I’m writing. With Ds and Es, I’m a lot simpler and defer to them as my superior. The ones I knew well in a previous iteration of my existence here appreciated that I put their eldest through college.
“The ones I knew well in a previous iteration of my existence here appreciated that I put their eldest through college.” – Joe Am
Good man…I hope that college graduate found a good paying job afterwards. It is unfortunate that person’s parents could not afford their eldest child’s college.
I knew a Filipina lady here who put her daughter in the Philippines through nursing school on a “labandera” income! The daughter was able to immigrate here, and bring her mother…but the daughter couldn’t pass the nursing exams so she never practiced as a nurse. They were Ilocana…hardworking and thrifty folk!
He was hired as soon as he graduated. His degree was Business Administration. I also supported his brother for a time but he couldn’t handle the academics. There were seven kids in all. Dad was a fisherman.
Top to bottom corruption is what I have been saying here for years, but I won’t give up on PH
I look at it as an industry, Karl. The forces that create it are the same that create OFWs and Filipinos moving to the US. Seeking opportunities that Rizal observed can’t be found here. I would be absolutely crushed if you gave up on the Philippines. I know many have, Jim Parades and Leah Navarro seemingly among them, and perhaps even our own NH. I dunno. Duterte was a disaster. Sara would be, too. Very Trumplike, I’d imagine, seeking vengeance. But I’d still not leave. The Philippines is a path, not a place, and, as such, is as rich as can be.
I am here to stay. I like the way you put it: corruption as an industry.
Terrific. Well, we’ve been pounding the drum longer than anyone else, so we have callouses on our hands . . . and brains. 🙂
Yes ” kinakalyo na tayo”.
And I am exhausted at times even if I haven’t been in this half as long.
This is BTW, the poster of the Incognito series. Former military doing black ops. Some have been dishonorably discharged for reasons as trivial as Cadet Cudia, while others really went overboard. Even as I don’t watch it anymore, guilty as charged it is for being OA and MC syndrome, as Joey said. Filipinos might feel MC (main character) indeed watching a Pinoy unit doing CIA-backed full deniability black ops in a Mediterranean Jason Bourne type scenery. The plot is absurd, though, and the naming, for instance, of the two men in front, one is Andres, and the other is JB, aka Jose Bonifacio, is super obvious. Even if their ego and agenda conflict is interesting – I still follow the summaries. Both are somewhat pasaway by nature. The actors did train for six months, and the action sequences are believable. Below is the article about Cadet Cudia.
This was another teleserye with foreign sites, Switzerland and Italy, so expensive for Filipino conditions that ABS-CBN and GMA had to collaborate:
I found it weird as it showed non-Filipinos clearly as Others. That isn’t the way it necessarily is today. It is more like the 1990s and before. One Swiss man was the cliche of the husband who gets himself a Filipina bride. Another Swiss man was too nice and employed illegal Filipinos. There is a trope that happened in this teleserye and in Incognito, that of an Italian harassing a Filipina and a Filipino fighting him. I can’t tell if this is based on anything real. Stopped after I noticed that one of the female characters pronounced Italian grazie wrong. No go!
I asked Bing Image creator to draw Voltes V coming out of the Quezon memorial circle, and this came out. He will certainly save the nation!
Popular shows based on US States they play in certainly show what America dreams..
„Geist can also mean ghost, so am I rushing in where Trese fears to tread? What does the movie Kingdom say about the Zeitgeist – or the national unconscious?“
Hegel’s right , and i think theres a realization around the world that this materialist and too logical way of doing things is probably not the most optimized, the pendulum swings Dionysian now. or right brain approach. and people around the world are going back to that mode. been talking to a bunch of psychics or people who claim to be psychic on Twitter, and their common answers when talking about where their ideas or art (or readings) come from and its that they use their brains/minds as antennas , like just open it up and wait for things to come. cuz it doesn’t come from them. same for artists too, any creatives. and this is exactly how Edgar Lores said Edgar Cayce’s process was. and I remember how Edgar used to say how he would sleep on each of Joe’s articles and go subconscious then the next day write expositories on said topics. well i’ve been using or attempting to use that technique ever since Edgar Lores described that. really useful since. thanks, Edgar (RIP). so maybe more of that. like how Edison would hold bearing balls, and once he’d fall asleep he’d wake up upon balls falling and then write down ideas that came to mind within that moment. So the key is truly in that dream state, Ireneo. So whatever the Philippines dream of, is really not important per se, it just needs to dream more. follow that process. scale that up.
Prof. Vicente Rafael wrote about how the “long 1970s” in the Philippines, aka the Marcos Sr. regime, was a very productive period in terms of culture, even as I get why he as an academic somewhat left out the jeprox subculture (which until now has its descendant, the Quezon City indie rocker subculture and the emo girls of Cubao Expo who tend to flock around them, allegedly) or the Manila Sound or OPM, original Pilipino music – the jeprox more on rebellious, the Manila Sound folks more on hedonistic, and OPM often close to the regime or neutral but you would have the likes of Apo Hiking Society (Jim Paredes, who was featured her and is also Karl’s cousin) turning against the regime around 1983. I believe that the “high culture” of movies and arts as well as the “street culture” of popular music both paved the way for 1986. Now, what seems lackluster about Pink today? They either come with facts and figures, ignoring possibly legit concerns of masses, the Starbucks wokes come with their parroting of US wokeism (much like the rich Filipino “beatniks” of the 1960s were not really rebels like the Beatles, they just followed a trendy style, MLQ3 wrote about this) and the old yellow often come with the memories of 1986 which before most Filipinos today were born. And most will not care too much about art, olds will go to the mall or pray, the young will go to the mall or the gym. Veterans of 1986 tend to have had more depth but might have lost touch to the present.
Re today, the boys who aren’t really boys anymore (two are of age to run for Senator if they wanted) of SB19 have an interesting song out now, it is about the temptations of wealth, strength, appearance, knowledge and power that each of them individually experienced. A bit GOT and LOTR, but with redemption, at least that is my interpretation. By overcoming temptation, they bring a withered tree back to bearing fruit. A real-life “tree” is in BGC as a marketing gimmick now and is quite popular. Check out the video below and see what nerve it strikes. It has subtitles. It is dark, but these are dark times, after all.
https://www.academia.edu/98046380/The_Long_1970s_and_Beyond_Cultural_Politics_during_the_Marcos_Years_and_in_the_Age_of_Duterte this is the long 1970s article I meant, for whoever is interested
Thanks. will read this. I remember Sampaguita ’s Bongahan was also popular in Mango Ave. listening to the song always takes me back there. Aegis and Sampaguita was popular. Janis Joplin raspy voice i think was the connection to both. but the lyrics too am sure spoke to the spirit. Okay, i will go to sleep now per Joe’s advice. but i think this was productive. lol.
The target market for the blog is not philosophers, actually. It is educated people who deal with the peculiarities of Philippine politics and life on these beautiful islands. If they can influence decisions, great. That’s who you should write to.
I do believe a bit of (occasional) reflection on why it is worth it is needed. One of the evergreens of Edgar Lores is this sentimental one, often read over years, 6 times today.
LCPL_X just tends to go on tangents, as Joey remarked. He needs to keep that in check.
Musically speaking, he tends to forget when the part for ad libs ends and he has to return to the melody, a bit like the hairy creature in the video above.