Some racially-oriented collocations you may have stumbled across would include German engineering and Japanese precision. It gets amusing though when you see those words lined up with our very own Filipino Pride. Are you ready for a deep dive into the cultural DNA behind these either tech-generating or -consuming nations? Let’s go for a quick spin…
The Japanese come from a long cultural tradition of precision and accuracy: their artworks draw from a very fine array of color definitions, origami involves the precise craft of paper folding to bring about 3D creations out of 2D material, and even their architectural woodwork requires precise pieces chiseled to perfectly match and fit with each other like complex interlocking Lego blocks. The best camera makers are Japanese brands because producing lenses that can direct light at precision angles belongs to a people who can handle micron-order intricacies.
Germans even prior to the age of the dreaded Panther tanks, U-boat submarines and Luftwaffe fighter planes during WWII, have been renowned for creating the most complex state-of-the-art machines. Today, Germany exports every sort of sophisticated machine/equipment: from pick-and-place printed circuit board assembly equipment and cutting-edge CNC 3D milling tools, to textile machinery for manufacturing intricately designed fabrics and lithography equipment for nanometer-order chip manufacturing.
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In Japan, their RED series includes 46 hues, with just a couple below to name a few.
Tokiha-iro: Ibis wing color
Sakuranezumi: Cherry blossom mouse
Chōshun-iro: Long spring (season) color
Karakurenai : Foreign crimson
Enji-iro : Cochineal red/rouge
Kokiake : Deep scarlet
Jinzamomi : Thrice-dyed crimson
Mizugaki : Water persimmon
Umenezumi : Plum-blossom mouse
Su’ōkō : Sappanwood incense
Akabeni : Pure crimson (dye)
Azuki-iro : Red bean color
The traditional colors of Japan are a collection of colors traditionally used in Japanese art, literature, textiles such as kimono, and other Japanese arts and crafts. In the Philippines, it’s simpleng buhay with just a choice of pulang-pula, pula or maputlang pula.
Japan’s Toyota started out as a textile manufacturer, when in 1924 Sakichi Toyoda invented the Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom. Expertise in machinery spun off to cars when Toyota automobiles was started in 1933. Toyota Motor Corporation is so huge today it already has an entire city near Nagoya to its name.
Meanwhile on the European mainland front, Germany stands out as the supreme automotive superpower. A simple search on why German cars are so successful will land you at Quora, which explains why these former “Barbarians” (as the Romans called them) are now the kings of the road (while Filipinos stuck in their own world thought the Jeepney was the title holder).
Vivek Tulja, Aerospace Engineer/Scientist, Satellite Communication Expert says…
Germans practically pioneered the modern automotive industry. Here are some of their key inventions:
- Otto Cycle: A thermodynamic process invented by Nikolaus Otto, a German engineer. Petrol (gasoline) engines used in modern cars run on Otto cycle. Otto cycle – Wikipedia
- Diesel Cycle: Invented by Rudolf Diesel, another German engineer. The so-called diesel engines used in heavy vehicles, submarines, and industrial applications got their name from their inventor. Diesel cycle – Wikipedia
- Wankel Cycle: A rotary engine invented by Felix Wankel. Was used in Mazda RX-7. Wankel engine – Wikipedia
Modern automobile was invented by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, and Wilhelm Maybach, all German engineers. They were awarded many patents in the later part of the 19th century. The company that manufactures Mercedes-Benz cars (Daimler Benz) gets its name from its founders. Mercedes-Benz – Wikipedia
Back in the 1920’s, Germany had more than 75 automotive companies. Most of them either died or were acquired during the economic turmoil of that era. One of the companies that survived and did rather well is BMW, which was originally started as an aircraft engine manufacturer (hence the name which means Bavarian “Engine” Works) but soon diversified into motorcycles and cars.
In Japan, the “monozukuri” (making things) culture is so deeply ingrained in their national psyche. Only in recent years have Maker Spaces and Fab Labs begun to catch fire across the globe. Finally some ripples of the wave (albeit late) have begun to reach Philippine shores.
When you ask a typical foreigner what comes to mind first when “the Philippines” is mentioned. In Japan or China, typical passersby would say “Bananas”. In chilly northern Europe they would say “Beaches”. In the US they will likely remember “Imelda Marcos” for her famously absurd collection of shoes.
Despite all the poverty of material to show off, Filipinos will insist on Filipino Pride as the national collocation. Why the obsession on pride when there is hardly anything of intelligence, skill, and monumental achievement we as a people can really put forward before the international community?
Could Pinoy Pride just be like a form of national lipstick trying to mask cracking and bleeding lips that form the gateway to teeth that have not even been brushed and through which the tongue curses and defies those in authority? Could Pinoy Pride be just a desperate appeal to being accepted as a normal (in contrast to subhuman) member of the Homo sapiens species? Or is Feenoy Fried just an inflated colorful air balloon that purports to show some semblance of volume, loftiness and massiveness when there really isn’t anything much inside?
Why did the Philippines end up like a slowly deflating party balloon after the United States just after WWII cut us off from their umbilical cord? It’s likely that Filipinos have been too engrossed about their delusional struggle to regain political power, so that when they were finally set free they never got weaned out of that laban “revolutionary” yet colonial-dependence spirit.
Filipinos never really took the time to seriously reflect and focus on investing towards developing a national culture centered on tapping local creative talent and ingenuity and combining those with available and emerging technologies. They never got to plan out a national strategy or roadmap centered on first empowering the people with a culture of making and perfecting things, and turning that national mindset towards making things more efficiently (engineering) and effectively (business, money making engines, factories) to eventually create job-generating brands worthy of display in the international market.
The biggest conglomerates in the country would not dare venture in manufacturing road-worthy cars, smart phones, computers, submarines, rockets, and microchips. They would rather take the easy route to making money: good old Rent Seeking. San Miguel Corporation has turned its eye towards building highways/skyways and airports, and like NPA rebels are happy to collect “revolutionary tax” from each person to pass through their inconvenience-alleviating “investment”. (Why not assemble EV cars or produce lithium batteries?) The land-guzzling SM group is now into making high-rise condo units. (Why not venture into creating the Facebook platform or Amazon cloud of the Philippines?) All just easy money siphoned off flowing OFW/BPO/tourism cash without really tapping into our young promising pool of Filipino ingenuity. That’s why native Filipinos never really grew their engineering spine and precision DNA.
Even Filipino film makers can hardly produce the quality of graphics that can be presented before an international audience. We are stuck in the kilig (giddy feel), poverty porn, and elicit relationships genre, simply banking on the hybrid Latina looks of Julia Barretto and Liza Soberano. Whereas, erstwhile war-torn South Korea is now producing the likes of Space Sweepers and Okja which showcase the caliber of their likely Silicon Valley trained graphic artists.
So you’re a Filipino. Unfortunately, there really is not much to be proud of as a typhoon/volcano/earthquake- and activist/terrorist/rebel-ravaged country, or as a visa-restricted passport holder of those far flung struggling “China-bullied” islets in the East. We are only proud that (no different from sewer rats and roaches)… We Can Exist with or without your AID, and that we have survived one major calamity or disaster (natural or man-made) after another – surviving with a smile or a song, as a testament to Filipino resilience.
Without Filipinos making their own tech products and producing global brands the whole world will run after like an Apple iPhone/Samsung Galaxy smart phone, we shouldn’t really be parading Pinoy pride around the way the LGBT community (adherents and promoters of dysfunctional disgusting same-sex copulation) seeks and demands public acceptance. It only makes us look pathetic. When we express and brandish Pinoy pride through our capacity to simply BUY and IMPORT Audi sedans and Lexus SUVs from Germany and Japan using our much-deserved hard-begged OFW remittances (because these products of excellence are simply too difficult to make), we should really begin to look for professional help and question our national sanity.
If just one Filipino multi-billionaire with the wherewithal to impact the local industrial landscape will stumble across this article and make the game-changing decision to become the “Vingroup” or “Samsung” of the Philippines, this country will have some ray of hope of not slipping behind Laos and Cambodia in the next lap of the ASEAN grand-prix race. When an esteemed educational institution like UP or Ateneo can come up with just one domestically produced killer product developed using their ultra-high vacuum molecular-beam epitaxy equipment, then probably there is a silver lining.
Would it be too much to hope something will change within our short soon-to-end lifetime? If not, then good luck to the next generation of happy-go-lucky Mabuhay Islanders; you’ll definitely need truckloads of it.
Zealous revolutionary advocate of bringing back common sense for the common good in a land of dysfunctional and delusional zombies.
Filipinos are not are not interested to invent things for use…they are mostly interested in politics…it is the way to power and riches…
I don’t think most pinoys are interested in politics. They are totally clueless on what is going on in Congress. This based on my interaction with them on the streets.
Most of the Filipinos are busy in watching nonsense vlogs and being entertain on daily political circus.
Ouch! The truth hurts.
This is why there is no Tagalog word for “efficiency”.
Either you’re being naive or just being purely dishonest about that. There’s just no changing some people’s mind. I guess that’s why there’s no progression in some of the discussions.
It’s true through. There is no Tagalog word for “efficiency”. What part of that statement is “dishonest” then?
Meron kaya.
Tagalog word for efficiency = episiyensi
You make me fall on my chair
“The biggest conglomerates in the country would not dare venture in manufacturing road-worthy cars, smart phones, computers, submarines, rockets, and microchips.”
The government did venture though in 1973 when it instituted the Progressive Car Manufacturing Program (PCMP), the centerpiece of the manufacturing program of the government of the day. It was followed, in due course, by progressive manufacturing programs for trucks (PTMP) and motorcycles (PMMP).
It was through that program, DMG, a local Volkswagen assembler (and from the same group responsible for the ‘Radiowealth’ TV Brand that pioneered in the manufacture of TV sets in the 1950s.) was able to build the first native national car, the “Sakbayan” (short for sasakyang-katutubong-bayan) based on the Volkswagen Country Buggy.
(Trivia: By 1969, Radiowealth was making color tubes; by 1971, the Philippines, through Radiowealth, had become the third country in the world to manufacture color TV sets.)
Rudy Romero of Manila Standard wrote about it in his aticle, ‘Once there was a PCMP’:
“As a result of PCMP, this country obtained capacity for manufacturing engines, transmissions, electrical systems and stampings. With PCMP, the Philippines had taken a major step in the direction of manufacture of cars in this country. The Filipino people were excited and the business community was enthusiastic. The Philippines was at last shedding its import mentality.”
“For reasons that had to do with the progressive deterioration in the quality of national governance and, by extension, of the business climate, PCMP gradually fell apart. But while it was operational, the program served as a beacon for economic transformation in this country.”
In one video lecture, Herman Tiu Laurel also had this to say about the Philippine car manufacturing program:
“I wanted to give emphasis on the car manufacturing program, kasi ito ang una sa rehiyon. Eh kasi nga yung mga Toyota na nakikita nyo dito ngayon and so on, ginagawan ng engine block d’yan sa las pinas. Yun car bodies sa Mariveles (Bataan), may Ford stamping plant… na malalaking mga press… na yun buong body eh isang bagsak lang buo na yun body.
“But, what happenned, when Cory took power, lahat yan binenta. Yung iba sa Tsina. So we were deliverately being industrialized. Tinanggalan tayo ng kapasidad to produce our own.”
How about this poor man’s sports car? Can we count this in?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYUbTKUJzMc
or this former dancer turned inventor Kyxz Mendiola’s flying machine, the “Koncepto Milenya”.
https://jp.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUSKCN1M619C
So we have a few of those who are trying to make a difference. But, somehow, you are correct about the Filipino multi-billionaires!
Manufacturing industries and other high-value
capital-intensive enterprisee need time and opportunity to take root in a society that lacks a tradition in excellence in those endeavours. Free inflow of capital needs to be regulated to ensure that a balance is struck between encouraging competition and protecting fledgling domestic enterprise.
While prestigious German cars are symbol of German engineering, many of my fellow Pinoys don’t want to phaseout jeepneys because they say it’s a symbol of Pinoy pride. I’m a Pinoy but I firmly believe that the jeepney phaseout is long overdue because it’s obsolete and unsafe. If people are gonna say that jeepneys are still functioning so they should be allowed to be used, then it shows how low their standards are. Also, people shouldn’t use poverty and their livelihood as reasons not to raise standards, especially safety standards.
@No Data, No Problem! How about explaining and convincing your fellow Pinoys what higher standard of modernized transport system on a larger scale are you talking about that can equally balance its dynamics of feasibility, economy and road safety for both the drivers and the commuting public that’s actually existing right now and that can truly replaced the jeepneys, if, say by tomorrow, all those jeepneys will be gone or off the road? To that feeling-special group of single-occupant driving vehicles around that would be heaven if granted. But then, in behalf of those who will be affected, it’s only fair to ask, don’t you think? Show a symbol of national preparedness in that regard and it will be acceptable.
“But then, in behalf of those who will be affected, it’s only fair to ask, don’t you think” this is appealing to the emotions. You should remember the motto “safety first”. The problem is many people think convenience is more important than safety. Sure jeepneys may be convenient because those are almost everywhere and fare is cheap but they’re unsafe. I’m not sure about the modern jeepneys but the obsolete ones are really unsafe, I view those obsolete vehicles as “mobile coffins” and if the obsolete and unsafe jeepneys are all gone, then roads will be safer. They should design modern public transport which can replace the obsolete jeepneys(maybe the modern jeepneys or e-jeepneys can work). If they can’t, then it’s not my fault. Some Pinoys even claim that jeepneys are symbol of Pinoy pride and an icon which should not be phased out but I don’t see why it’s supposed to symbolize pride. The Germany’s BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche can symbolize German pride because those brands produced vehicles with sophisticated technology as result of German Engineering. Give me a good reason why the obsolete jeepneys should not be phased out. Those obsolete jeepneys are symbols of backward development.
“They should design modern public transport which can replace the obsolete jeepneys(maybe the modern jeepneys or e-jeepneys can work). If they can’t, then it’s not my fault.”
@No Data… Now, there is a problem! You’re missing the point. You’re advocating something but you’re almost saying it’s none of your concern? I am not appealing to emotion nor I am asserting an argument. I’m just asking a question.
Rather than think twice, I shall repeat what I already asked:
… WHAT HIGHER STANDARD of MODERNIZED TRANSPORT SYSTEM on a LARGER SCALE are you talking about that can EQUALLY BALANCED its dynamics of FEASIBILITY, ECONOMY and ROAD SAFETY for both the drivers and the commuting public that’s ACTUALLY EXISTING RIGHT NOW and that can TRULY REPLACED the JEEPNEYS, IF, say BY TOMORROW, ALL those jeepneys WILL BE GONE or off the road?
@Nonong it’s better for these jeepneys to be gone than to allow these coffins to be operated because these jeepneys are accidents waiting to happen. Not to mention these are great pollutants too. These are Euro 0 compliant while Europe is already pushing for Euro 5 and Euro 6 compliance as far as I know, especially for their diesel engines.
Again, it is not my job to suggest what transport is good or not but if I may suggest, I would say modern, better and safer trains and buses. You need to understand that safety is more important than the livelihood of jeepney drivers and operators because lives are at stake here. We CANNOT use poverty to lower the safety standards, like my point in my original comment. I’m not a designer or an engineer to answer your question but jeepneys really need to be phased out, that’s for sure and it is the right thing to do and it’s also long overdue.
@No Data, having said none, then, the phasing out of jeepneys obviously will not happen anytime soon, especially if the argument is only driven by an envy of Western excellence and/or seeking entitlements of identification around it to differentiate one’s self with fellow Pinoys.
Even anchoring the arguments with the desired European emission standards will not provide the end solution.
Only if the imagined higher standard of modernized transport system replacement is in place, strong enough to compete with the obsolete, will it happen, naturally, even without further more intervention. People will follow…
@Nonong but obsolete jeepneys need to be phased out, it’s long overdue already.
It’s the government’s job to raise the standards and it’s the manufacturers’ job to meet those modern standards. We cannot settle for “pwede na yan” because that only encourages low standards. When it comes to the road, safety first. Yes, safety first, convenience later. There’s a saying “if you think safety is expensive, try an accident” so I would rather have all the obsolete jeepneys phased out without any replacements than to have these coffins travelling on the road. Besides, if these coffins are gone, roads will be much safer and these coffins are symbol of failure, poverty and backward development.
“There’s a saying “if you think safety is expensive, try an accident” so I would rather have all the obsolete jeepneys phased out without any replacements than to have these coffins travelling on the road.”
But your impression, being just an impression, does not prove anything and being more actually way, way far from the truth.
What we have is a case of having far more private vehicles with single-occupant drivers on the road (than there are public utility vechicles like jeepneys that carry more passengers) that causes not only traffic jams but also high incidences of road safety concerns.
A look at the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) report for 2019, released last year, reveals private cars and motorcycles had the highest involvement in that year’s reported road incidents with the highest tally of resulting fatalities and damage to properties. Out of the total number (100%) of vehicles involved, private vehicles account for more than 50%, being the highest, while PUJs like the jeepneys only account for a low of 4.36%.
But don’t take my word for it. If you wanna see the numbers yourself, read and weep:
https://mmda.gov.ph/images/Home/FOI/MMARAS/MMARAS_Annual_Report_2019.pdf
I have to agree with your statement though that the government needs to raise the standard for public transport and to be certain that such standards are met. But, I don’t know do you intend to “have all the obsolete jeepneys phased out WITHOUT (emphasis is mine) any replacements”. Be more specific please.
You want the people to walk (for short distances), jog (for medium distances) or run (for far and longer distances) in order for them to move from point A to point B? (Just kidding of course…) There are options, but, with the jeepneys out of commission, will there be enough support to accomodate the greater commuting public? Will it hamper economic activity? What do you think, honestly?
When you’re too fixated with your borrowed arguments and just stop right there without going further to think, you tend to ignore what’s the point being raised, then, you end up missing the point. You cannot replace something with nothing. And you do not actuate as a pragmatic advocate with something non-existent. The medium is the message.
“There are options, but, with the jeepneys out of commission, will there be enough support to accomodate the greater commuting public? Will it hamper economic activity? What do you think, honestly?”
Like I said, if you think safety is expensive, try an accident. Besides, most of the accidents happen because most drivers in Ph are undisciplined and disobedient to traffic laws. Obsolete jeepneys are major risk to road safety and no road discipline and etiquette are also major risks.
There are actual solutions to the increasing traffic jams caused by private vehicles and keeping the obsolete jeepneys is not one of them. The solutions are:
1. Abolish provincial rate salaries
2. Put development and commercialization in provinces instead of centralizing development and commercialization in Metro Manila
If these 2 are done, traffic congestion will be reduced.
3. Build more bridges, roads, railroads and subways
4. Buy better trains.
Besides, without obsolete jeepneys, people, including the gov’t would probably be forced to think of something better. These obsolete jeepneys are just “band aid solutions” to the bad traffic condition.
Great! At least, now you’re talking. Good luck with that!
Btw, what’s with your statement down below? It does not jive. But I’ll leave it at that. No battery.
“These obsolete jeepneys are just “band aid solutions” to the bad traffic condition.”
You raise a good point there on the safety standard of the vehicle design. It’s probably one of the things reinforcing the dysfunctional thinking in Pinoy culture. You know, if standards are low in something basic, why bother with the more difficult things?
There is nothing to be proud of on the jeepney since they are just an overdecorated jeeps. It is not an invention or innovation to think of.
It is really a pity you really had to add this to your article:
“we shouldn’t really be parading Pinoy pride around the way the LGBT community (adherents and promoters of dysfunctional disgusting same-sex copulation) seeks and demands public acceptance. It only makes us look pathetic.”
A Filipino invented the Moonbuggy
A Filipino also was the head engineer of the Mars Rover
I hope you’re joking because the story about the moon buggy being invented by a Filipino is a hoax. That Filipino engineer submitted a moon buggy design to NASA but it was not selected. I also couldn’t find a proof which says that a Filipino was the head engineer of the Mars Rover. All I know is a Fil-Am engineer helped in landing the Perseverance Rover on Mars but that’s it.
This makes me proud to be a Filipino!
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/19/nasa-mars-perseverance-rover-filipino-american.html
But then guess where he got his college degrees!
You can’t really make a fair comparison between cultures without considering the history of their evolution. That is if you want to be precise.
to think about it… i agree
That’s right, cultures aren’t equal much the same way people are not equal. Some are born lucky with the means (either luck, lineage, brains or talent or all or combinations of these) to materially succeed. Some are destined to be losers. Others are able to cleverly play the hand dealt them and still be successful.
Benign0, you forgot those who are born unlucky with no or lesser means to materially succeed.
Just to be clear about it: Diwata’s post, I think, was meant as a criticism of your article.
I’m sorry. Just realized, it’s not your article.
How can there be a tagalog word for science if there’s none for efficiency? ? Isn’t that an insult to logic?
@BenThere: Unfortunately life — and Mother Nature — are inherently unfair. From a humanities perspective, people (or entire nations for that matter) don’t “deserve” to be unlucky. But then one can also argue that luck is not an entitlement. So bottom line is, people live and die unfairly or succeed or fail unfairly and that’s just the way it is.
That’s a possibility, benign0. But I would argue then that there is “cumulative amount” of unfairness, and that we must all strive to achieve the utopian fairness in our world when unfairness is the undesirable thing, and fairness is the desirable.
Remember that the most happiest countries in the world are those with the least amount of unfairness.
Somebody can have advantage in one thing and disadvantage in another. Doesn’t that cause some humility? And fairness shouldn’t be confused with homogeneity. The idea is just nonsensical. The fact that we abide and live by rules says we have good faith and expect a sense of fairness from others.
@Diwata I’m a little confused here: What idea, which is nonsensical, are you talking about?
Yes, those are facts of life. Some have the cumulative advantage, while others are not able to cope.
It becomes problematic when comparing leads to denigrating. It can’t be a competition all the time. Or else no one wins.
Actually, competition is relentless and a constant fact of life. For one thing, we are a product of and shaped by billions of years of relentless competition. All of the awesome technology we enjoy today are outcomes of war and competitive pressures of the free market. If there is any denigrating going on, well, that’s just a hazard that comes with the territory and just another thing that all parties in this competitive landscape need to deal with.
@Benign0: What about Linux and other opensourse technology? These are not an outcome of war and competitive pressures of the free market. Or what?
@Benthere
There’s no argument that there are inherent differences- either by nature or a result of external conditions. What’s unacceptable is misbehavior because of perceived supremacy over another. Such problem is also manifest in the way private entities wield more power than governments. Sorry to confuse you. it’s just not a simple idea.
You guys dont get it. Success is not measured by material objects or monetary gains.
Success is measured by the quality of your life in the things that matter:
1. Family
2. Love
3. Happiness
4. Friends and Community
Using this metric, Filipinos win by a landslide compared to “modern countries” who are materially wealthy but live sad and depressing lives.
@ProudFilipino:
Just a reminder, people that are materially wealthy does not necessarily also live sad and depressing lives. They can also be rich in happiness etc.
@BenThere: The platforms and networks on which these run on are products of war. The development of digital computing as we know it today was fast-tracked in World War II owing to pressure to crack encrypted Nazi communications, for example. The Internet was developed by a military agency which sought to put up a networking protocol resilient enough to survive a nuclear war.
The list goes further, on and on.
@benign0
I disagree: Linux was not a product of war. But I do agree that the digital development was an outcome of the cold war.
If you claim, that since Linux couldn’t exit without the digital development so Linux is a product of war, then you must also claim that the wheel was also a product of war. Inwhich you or anyone else cannot know for certain. You must prove this before you can claim it as true.
“You guys dont get it. Success is not measured by material objects or monetary gains.”
@ProudFilipino
Monetary gains can be entirely separate from material objects/resources. We shouldn’t be trapped into thinking that material objects are not required to have a good quality of life. Just like you have a physical body in order to function, you need instruments as extension of human performance. Wealth can be worthless if the person is incapable of creating value. A resourceful community would have less need to compete and is able to contribute instead. I guess you could say competition (in a certain context) is a constant thing, but if unchecked it can be destructive.
@Juan you raise some good points
But my point is that people like @Benign0 are so impressed with the technological and financial progress of South Korea (Samsung, LG, Hyundai, KIA, etc) but he fails to point out (I know he knows this) that South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world (like Japan)
So what if we dont have Samsung, LG or Hyundai? I choose a happy life than have bunch of suicidal people like in South Korea because they have forgotten what is truly important in life:
1. Family
2. Love
3. Happiness
4. Friends and Community
I know of and have witnessed a few instances that might confirm that impression on the South Koreans. It can also the case that quality of life is sacrificed in exchange of material riches and prestige, especially if their ways are inefficient. I recall a supposed remark from the late Steve Jobs, (paraphrasing) where he said that technology cannot be the solution without resolving the deeper socio-political problems. Bottom line is to know what matters and what should be at the top of your list.
ProudFilipino is going to a bakery ordering a loaf of bread and will pay with ‘love’. That is his fantasy world he lives in.
Spot on, Robert!
And how do you expect to live? From clean air? And in your list, you dont mention education. So school is not important? Wow.
@Robert
I assume you live here in the Philippines? Why is that? Let me guess, life is happier here correct? Or easier because you are “white”?
If life was way happier for you in whatever Western Country you came from, then you would not be here, correct? Why stay here if it so bad? You are here because you are living the good life.
You are not alone. A lot of Westerners and Koreans actually call the Philippines home now. Why? Because they chose happiness. This is what the Philippines get right.
@ProudPinoy: Those are all non-sequitur arguments making it all about race or personal circumstances. Really DISHONEST argumentation there that’s just so typical.
The BIG assumption you make here is that the Philippines is some sort of fairy land where happiness cannot be bought. The facts are different though. You actually need money to be happy at a fundamental level. This fantasy that money is immaterial to happiness is just typical loser mentality — a belief held mainly by people who are hopeless at making enough money and who then convince themselves that money is not important.
Isn’t clean air more fundamental than money? Technically speaking.
ProudFilipino,
pls inform me how you got here in the first place. By ‘here’, I mean on this GRP website. Are you using a smartphone, a laptop, tablet, desktop? How did you pay for that/those items? (Or did you steal it?)
Great article Zaxx. Thought-provoking and simply brilliant. Sock it to them!
Which reminded me, not known to many, there’s a shipbuilding industry in the country. And there is promise for the Philippines to become a global shipbuilding hub.
In fact, an old report from Nikkei Asia said that, in 2010, the country surpassed its European rivals and has since become the fourth-biggest shipbuilding nation, after China, South Korea and Japan.
While foreign companies turn Filipino workers into overseas leaders, when will the Filipino multi-billionaires decide to get into the act?
ProudFilipino says: March 18, 2021 at 1:39 pm
@Robert
I assume you live here in the Philippines? Why is that? Let me guess, life is happier here correct? Or easier because you are “white”? If life was way happier for you in whatever Western Country you came from, then you would not be here, correct? Why stay here if it so bad? You are here because you are living the good life. You are not alone. A lot of Westerners and Koreans actually call the Philippines home now. Why? Because they chose happiness. This is what the Philippines get right.
@ProudFilipino,
I have to admit that I am ‘white’ but I also have to disappoint you by saying that I dont live permanently in the Philippines. The climate there is much better than in my country and the cost of living in the Philippines is much cheaper than in mine. I found my girlfriend there. For the rest, I engage a lot of challenges over there regarding the differences in culture. To name just a few: mano, utang na loob, bahala na, traffic, air pollution. However, I must say that I do like the jeepneys. They are very uncomfortable (for a guy like, being 6’3″). They have something nostalgic. Same with tricycles: uncomfortable like hell but again nostalgic.
Ghostwriter says: March 18, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Isn’t clean air more fundamental than money? Technically speaking.
Well, I dont think so.
– I need liquids/beverages/water, or I will die after a few days if I dont drink
– I need food or I will die after a few weeks, when I dont.
(Food for thought: do you know anybody who ever went for a thirst-strike? Instead of a hunger-strike? That is because people/humans can do longer without food than without liquids).
Air / clean air is readily available for free.
And how do you think you can obtain both (food + liquids)? For free? In my neck of the woods, one needs money to get both items.
Yeah, makes me wonder when they’ll charge for breathable air. Wait, perhaps some people invest to move to another place to avoid air pollution! I don’t know Robert. Do you seriously want this kind of discussion?
germany is best known for hitler and nazism, and japan for their porn exports. you are best known for your bigotry against gays whose lives you know nothing about yet presume to call disgusting. at least give people context before they’re convinced by your “ideas”
for the rest of you that have not yet performed a self lobotomy, happiness is found through relationships not material garbage. #yourwelcome
Are you sure about that? How about what a certain German said about not attaching yourself to people but to goals?
nietzsche? i dont think he claimed the royal road to happiness is the manufacture and consumption of more stuff.
We don’t need Nietzsche to know that simple truth. The royal road to happiness is not the empty goal of having more stuff or artificial assets. There is no real shortage with responsible economics.
It’s ironic you resort to racial stereotypes while spewing unoriginal virtue signalling without as well understanding the basis of the article. How about make an original and mature commentary for once?
it was the writer who was racial its literally the second word of the article. i just pointed out that these two countries caused pain and suffering to millions during ww2. now if you’re going to point them out as models of ideal “cultural dna” then you have to honestly say these people were ok with slaughtering jews and “lesser asians”. not doing so speaks volumes. understood idiot?
in short writer simply pointed out only positives in germans and Japanese history and only negatives in pilipino history, and called it a day. editor accepted and here we are, i demolish it in one paragraph hehehehe its lazy thinking u knw it
@greengrin how is that racial stereotypes? WW2 is a horrible event and I agree that Germany and Japan caused pain and suffering to millions during WW2 but those are the past. Those countries are beautiful despite their history. They bounced back after WW2 and became first world countries while Philippines was strong back then but now, Philippines is nothing but a 3rd world country now. The writer is simply stating that we should follow the examples of German engineering and Japanese precision, not the false sense of pride most of our proud countrymen have.
“germany is best known for hitler and nazism, and japan for their porn exports.” Do you know that the use of the Nazi symbol is illegal in Germany? You act like Philippines is a saint but it’s not. Japan also has renowned car manufacturers which produce good mass production cars like Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Honda etc. Sure they may not be as good as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche but they’re more affordable and still renowned. These countries you think are bad are actually better countries than the Philippines now. I would choose these 2 over the Philippines anytime, especially Japan because most people there are respectful, honest and disciplined.
While Germany and Japan have renowned car manufacturers and engineering, what can Philippines produce? It’s really pathetic when people are posting “proud to be Pinoy” comments whenever an international sport champion or singing contest winner has a Filipino blood.
If you wish for Philippines to rise, the first step is to recognize the problems and abolish the false sense of pride.
you can talk about german or japanese manufacturing, or you can talk about the hubristic pride that some filipinos exhibit. but to cast a “cultural dna” to explain everything is lazy thinking u know it and i know it.
for example after ww2 these two countries were heavily subsidized by uncle sam as they were frontiers during cold war. meanwhile we got the bell trade act. learn some history lest you become easily convinced by these pseudo intellectuals
Yes they were. And they showed a huge return on that investment by recovering from the devastation of their defeat and went on to regain their place at the top of the First World.
If you want the Philippines to be the next Germany or Japan, then encourage the government to imitate some acts of first-world countries, not those poor Filipinos who have no means and resources. As I see it so far, this government is still enjoying the pwede na yan mentality today. Just look at all those incompetence they created and you can be convinced they are engaging in pwede na yan mentality when they are supposed to be the pioneering of change for this country in this modern age. More Filipinos become unemployed and are uninspired especially this pandemic period.
You can’t just judge all Filipinos. Some Filipinos are very professional and excellent in their own craft and they don’t deserve this kind of unfair criticism of yours. Don’t you think they want this country to be first world too but then they cannot do all those things you have mentioned above, or what they achieved so far are not enough to make the Philippines a developed country even after they worked so hard and did all the right things they can do in their lives until they retire?
How about you zaxx? You are a Filipino too. What did you do with your knowledge in this article that will make it materialize into reality and rival the Philippines with that of Japan and Germany you have mentioned other than being an article writer? I want to know. If you expect other poor private Filipino citizens to do that then you are wasting your time. Better do it yourself as you can completely control yourself and better encourage the government to do those things since they are mandated by laws, they have money and resources to make a change for this country. And convince yourself to be a partner with the government since you have all those bright ideas. Let see where it leads in future. Then write an article here your accomplishments rather than expecting those from other Filipino people to do those real actions while you yourself is just waiting here and just criticizing. Please make the Philippines proud of you. Please make pinoy pride the real deal.