Why is the Philippines Poor?

I am reprinting an article written many years ago by Dr. Arsenio Martin of Fort Arthur, Texas.  Filipinos who truly love the Philippines should reflect on this.  We direly and seriously need a nationwide values formation program in all levels and sectors of Philippine society. Read on...

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt, that are more than 2000 years old, but are poor.
On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries, and are rich.

The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.

Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture, cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order  and labor, which made it the world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.

Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education, the culture, and flawed tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich and developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect to the laws and rules.
5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.
6. Work loving.
7. Strive for savings and investment.
8. Will of super action.
9. Punctuality.
10. and of course...Discipline

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources.

We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed societies.

Needed: A Campaign for Discipline

There are many people in Philippine society who may not have heard of the word discipline. Check out the MRT or LRT ramps during rush hours. Observe the many jeepneys or buses which block the flow of traffic by stopping and waiting for passengers to embark or disembark in the middle of the street.  Look at how some cars are parked in properly marked parking slots.  See how some cars, jeepneys, or buses cross intersections even when the red light is on. Take note of the litter on the streets. Read about the perennial overflowing of waterways due to the garbage and trash thrown.


Self-discipline is lacking in Philippine society.  During the time of Fidel Ramos, Lee Kuan Yew made a statement that the Philippine needed to develop discipline more than democracy in order to improve. Unfortunately, Mr. Ramos did not agree with this.


Discipline affects attitude. Discipline also breeds respect for others.  The anarchy in the strrets of Metro Manila show that many people do not have the right attitude nor respect for others. An undisciplined person's only concern is himself. This is why it is difficult to make squatters leave a land that does not belong to them.  Even a court order can be powerless to make squatters leave their illegal abode.


The new administration which enjoys a positive and high level of approval from the people can very well take advantage of the opportunity to push a campaign on discipline. A lack of discipline breeds a negative attitude and leads to anarchy.  The absence of discipline is a stumbling block to progress.  

Is It Time for Gondolas in Manila?

Yesterday was a real rainy day. The rains poured and poured though it was not as bad as the rains dumped by Typhoon Ondoy. Unfortunately, the rains were enough to put a lot of places in Metro Manila under water. 


Some residents had to be rescued and evacuated. Several others were stranded. Some brave souls, like my eldest son, plodded through knee high floods just to get home. 


Traffic was snarled.  It took us two and half hours to get to Philam Homes in Quezon City from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pasig City. Some friends got home from Manila pass midnight.


And the rains continued to pour throughout the night.  Thus, the Department of Education had to cancel all classes in the elementary and high school levels.


My question is this?  We experience the rainy season at this time of the year every year. And in the past few years, it no longer takes a typhoon to directly hit Metro Manila to put the metropolis under water. While hundreds of millions have already been spent on flood control projects, the situation simply gets worse every year. 


Is there hope that Metro Manila will have an effective flood control initiative? Or is it time to bring in the gondolas?

Establishing An Anti-Corruption Culture

PNoy is serious about unraveling the web of corruption during his term which will end on 2016. But after 2016, what happens? 

The old guards of corruption are just waiting for 2016 to make a comeback. For sure, they will come back with a vengeance.  After all, they control local politics.

This short respite from the evil of corruption is a welcome break for the Filipino people. For once, the people have hope, and business and investors have confidence in the country.  

Corruption is not limited to people in government. Corruption happens in the private sector as well. Corruption has invaded the soul of the people and exploited the wealth of the Philippines. 

Will PNoy just give us a taste of a government that is free from corruption or will he take the extra mile of creating an anti-corruption culture and mindset that will last way beyond 2016?

PNoy, who enjoys the support of the people, can take advantage of this golden opportunity afforded him to create a culture of anti-corruption. While President Aquino can't do this alone, PNoy must work with civic and religious groups to work towards establishing a culture or a national anti-corruption mindset in all the corridors of government and private businesses, and in all the levels of society. 

PNoy may not be the brightest or smartest president of the country. But if he can establish an anti-corruption culture and mindset in the hearts and minds of the Filipino, PNoy can be the best president of the Philippines.

May this be PNoy's legacy. May this be his gift to the people. 

A Morning With Heidi Mendoza

The convention center of Dumaguete City was filled to the rafters. It was the National Anniversary Celebration of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) last May 7, 2011. Already enriched with the life testimonies of 3 brothers during the BCBP breakfast program, the BCBP delegates from all the chapters and outreaches across the country were treated to a bonus. Heidi Mendoza was invited as a guest speaker. 

In an extemporaneous talk delivered for about an hour and a half, Heidi recalled her experience working on the Carlos Garcia case as an auditor of the Commission on Audit.  She not only shared her personal pain and frustration but that of her husband and her children. It was a clear case of a David fighting the Goliath of a corrupt government bureaucracy. It was an enlightening talk as it came from the heart. Yes, Heidi Mendoza bared her heart to her audience. She recalled the fear and the anxiety she and her family had to endure. There were times that many in the audience cried with her.

Heidi intimated that she draw her strength from God. Yes, from God alone. While the virtue of honesty had been embedded in her heart even as a young child by, believe it or not, her father who was a policeman, she had to depend on God to give her the strength to pursue her crusade for the truth. Against the pleas and the cries from her husband and children, she decided to expose the web of lies and dishonesty behind the plea bargain agreement with Gen. Carlos Garcia. Her children hated her decision. She had robbed them of their freedom to freely mover around. With the threats Heidi had received because of her revelations, her whole family's movements had to be controlled and kept to a minimum for security reasons.

Bells in our hearts rang when she shared her thesis for fighting and ending corruption in our country.  Heidi Mendoza said "that when ones love for God and country is placed above ones love for family, corruption in the country can be eliminated". Wow.  Come to think of it, people who engage in corruption do it to provide themselves and their family with all the material comfort in life. 

This is the core message of Heidi Mendoza.  This is the message that needs to be shared and passed on. It is our love for God and country that should be be our guiding principle in life.

The least we can do..."

"The least we can do in return to this country's taxpayers who paid a huge part of our UP education is to dedicate even just some time of our lives in the service of the Filipino people."

These were the words of John Gabriel Pelias, the 19-year old summa cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP), as he exhorted about 4,000 graduates of UP Diliman last April 15, 2011 to give back to the country.

John graduated with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.016.  His achievement is the highest GWA after World War II and is second only to Exequiel Sevilla who had a GWA of 1.0.

In knowing and understanding his background, we will not only honor him for his achievement but will be inspired by him.

“The lack of money should never be a hindrance, especially to your academic dreams. Money should not be a hindrance to the inborn intellect of a person. It shouldn’t determine if a person will be given a chance to study in UP.” 

Practically abandoned by his parents, John grew up with Lola Sandra who has had no income and has only been depending on her meager savings. But poverty and the absence of his parents did not deter him from doing his best. John did not have any bitterness in his heart. His seemingly negative background only served to strengthen his character. He focused on his dream. John depended on scholarships to fund his education. Even while in UP, he had another scholarship which provided him with a P20,000.00 stipend per semester.

Known as a 'go-to' guy, his fellow Math majors would go to him for help on exams and homework. His summers were spent studying and preparing for the coming semester instead of going on a vacation. He is a regular guy and watches TV, and enjoys anime and romantic comedies.  

He has now applied for a teaching position at the UP Institute of Mathematics while he prepares to take advance studies.  His UP mentors are eagerly looking for scholarships to fund his advance studies abroad.  

An OD Challenge

The Philippines is facing an OD challenge.  I am not referring to overdose. Rather I am talking about organizational development (OD). The current government of PNoy Aquino is facing a huge OD challenge.  He was elected by a huge popular vote. But the people have set such a high expectation and many are expecting miracles from the president. Obviously, PNoy and his team are not miracle workers.  They need the support and cooperation of the people.  


While there are NGOs who have been actively helping with clear and effective programs to push good governance and poverty alleviation, the sheer number of people who are living in poverty make it hard to reach and affect more people. 
The government has earmarked billions to fund the conditional cash transfer program. But will this dole-out program truly help? 


The country can be likened to an organization facing a huge organizational development (OD) challenge. The poor people have to stop thinking like mendicants. Patronage politics foster this kind of mentality among the poor. What the poor people really need is empowerment. We have seen success stories about poor people who when given the opportunities were able to rise above and lift themselves from poverty through proper education and home-based business.


Sec. Jesse Robreo has been actively pushing his agenda of good governance and accountability in his capacity as the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government. It will help if the president will give Sec. Robredo his full trust and confidence. The good governance and accountability agenda will take time to put in place. This is after all something that goes against the grain of traditional politics in the country.


The current government may very well need to tap the services of organizational development (OD) consultants to help change and mold the mindset of the people. It's not easy but it can be done. Only then can the new administration create real change. Only then can our leaders leave a true and lasting legacy that will set the country on its way to prosperity.