The Philippines is healthy, not hopeless and not helpless
Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
The Philippines is a power-based democracy, by which I mean it is fundamentally democratic but with a strong layer of entitlement and impunity the higher one gets in its various dynastic bubbles. The top dynasts these days are the Marcos and Duterte dynasties. Interestingly, Duterte used his presidency to erode democratic institutions while President Marcos is using his to respect and build democratic institutions.
- The Supreme Court, once a bastion of political obedience, has gone back to interpreting the law.
- The House is hell-bent to get Duterte impunity out of government, an odd amalgamation of leftists and pork-endowed Marcos loyalists aiming to impeach the Vice President after PNP packed Papa off to the ICC.
- The Senate muddles along, a body fully representing Filipino love of entertainment, fixers, indolence, and lack of accountability.
- The US remains ironclad in its support of Philippine defense, packing the country full of iron armaments whilst inspiring AFP to develop plans in case China attacks Taiwan. AFP is happy to do this, having the confidence of a three-point gunner with a superstar feeding him the ball.
- The useless Ombudsman will get replaced later in the year, another door to Duterte impunity likely to slam shut.
- Justice is starting to return to the Department of Justice as even Secretary Remulla admitted Duterte dropped the ball by not investigating cop killings. We are witness to a slow arduous return of crimefighting to the various agencies tasked with this. Marcos kicking the POGOs out was huge.
- The Philippines is putting together formal defense agreements with the UK, France, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Singapore, and I suspect Viet Nam, Malaysia, and South Korea will also become partners at some level. South Korea already supplies arms. Building international ties is a significant Marcos achievement.
- The economy keeps chugging along, stabilized by OFW remittances and oligarchs who build build build. Yes, poverty remains a problem, but it is doing a slow dissolve as riches ooze outward like water seeking its proper level.
If you look around the planet, you see a lot of strife within other countries. Social ignorance from social media lies, conspiracies, and angst; frustration that there is no where to go; and a whole lotta hate and anger. The Philippines is stable by comparison. The legislature is dealing with social media problems, the country has a place to go (improving the lives of its people), and Filipinos are a laid-back substantially peaceful crowd of 115 million souls.
The Philippines marches to the beat of her own drum these days. China forced this. It was either bow down or stand up. President Aquino, then President Marcos, stood up.
The Philippines is healthy, not hopeless and not helpless. The nation is unique in Asia, English speaking, mixed Asian and Western business and cultural traits, standing as the gateway to the Pacific for China, and as the gateway to Asia for the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
The Philippines may just be entering her golden age if leaders can continue the Marcos fandango, a complicated dance that twists across the global parquet floor, tapping then soft-shoeing then spinning an elegant pirouette, to find a rightful place among historically dominant nations by chance of history and current events.
Alex Eala is the Philippines, in my mind. Young, developing, attractive, talented.
Now, how to get 115 million souls to work as purposefully as she does.
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Cover photo from Instagram Behindasia account, from original work of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus 3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
“Alex Eala is the Philippines, in my mind. Young, developing, attractive, talented.”
In my mind, too!!!
like they said, the proof in the cake is in the eating. and as such, cake has to be sliced and judged and then eaten. see if it stands up to expectation.
and maybe as such again, in philippines, clean data is probly hard to come by with many may be used to telling lies as in the previous admin just to make themselves or their agencies appear productive, progressive and on top of things. like the link posted herein. apparently transport authorities have been fudging compliance rate of consolidating public utility vehicles, summat obscuring and misleading ang ginawa nito. now, I wondering tuloy, how many other govt agencies are doing the same thing, making themselves palatable to public perception, and not telling the true state of their affairs.
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/7/dotr-chief-unconsolidated-jeepney-drivers-will-be-allowed-on-roads-again-1846
I am maybe pasaway and summat remorseful. I sure can see and hear the beating drums of progression only if I dont look closer and deeper and seeking 2nd opinion. that’s the heckler in me.
The automation of government services is proceeding slowly but steadily and I think will do a lot to stop corruption and improve the delivery of services. Yes, it’s still a rough and tumble country but is moving steadily forward and up.
My observation is IT vendor dictation.
IT vendor palakasan.
Once former malakas na vendor becomes mahna in the next admin then move on to the next vendor.
Examples
90s Customs Modernization
90s PPA Modernization
Various LTO Modernizations
This is the recipe for disaster for non continuity of programs and brain child initiatives
Technology outdates technology I suppose. The new Customs system is supposed to remove a lot of paper, so whatever modernizations they had before certainly weren’t very modern. I’m optimistic, although it seems to me I recall LTO staffers rebelled against new systems, so maybe I shouldn’t be optimistic. Philippine bread receives Philippine butter.
Those Luddites!
In the states there is also a massive streamlining and buyback, maybe we do it better through a win win.
improve fund sourcing for pensions and streamline pensions then part of the problem will be no more.
Well said, Kasambahay. Thanks!
Re Alex Eala, below video is of her presscon happening right now.
The last Pinay tennis hope was Diane Castillejo and this lass’s achievements surpassed Castillejo’s methinks.
Professional sports can be grueling, and it is not uncommon for young stars to fizzle out. Hope this doesn’t happen to Eala.
At least in sports if you can’t do you train others.
The thing that impressed me with Alex Eala is her mental method, a disciplined routine to compartmentalize distractions to focus on the match. She even blanks out the fans and then aggressively attacks everything. No weakling this one, physically or mentally. I won’t even get into her modeling photoshoots which are spectacular. She seems to me to own the world, at 19.
Very impressive Girl
SMC river Cleanup is a big deal and very good news. I hope it isn’t rinsecsnd repeat sysyphian.
https://betterrivers.com.ph/our-impact/featured-stories/our-work-continues