Most Filipinos don’t realize that our country is awash in wasted opportunities since it’s so-called independence from the Americans.
The Americans were responsible for the destruction of infrastructure built during the 300 years of Spanish colonization most of which was lost during World War II. With Japan as its new pawn after the war, the Americans abandoned the Philippines and didn’t allow the payment of the actual reparations needed to rebuild infrastructure.
This resulted in the impairment of economic growth which was compounded by the parity rights granted Americans doing business in the Philippines. Coupled with the oligarchs’ control of politics and business, this is the root cause of our underdevelopment which is why our Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors have zoomed past is.
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Effectively, our political dynasts and oligarchs are our new colonial masters who serve only their own interests. We are their slaves and captive market for their rent-seeking businesses.
Eventually things will reach a point where everything will come to a reckoning because of a black swan event which our economy can’t bear. This is the current Middle East crisis.
Even in the midst of this crisis, each major political bloc is only acting for itself. It’s all about power and money never about the Filipinos.
In his piece today, Lito Banayo writes…
[…] our leaders, elected as well as appointed, continue to bicker even as many continue to steal.
For the first time in our history, our representatives impeached a vice-president, not because the office has any power other than to wait, presently unable in any way to affect our lives for good or for worse.
They impeached her because she would be a likely president two years down the road, and they simply have not groomed anyone who can win over her.
Elimination, disqualification — these are not the right reasons for impeachment.
A change in leadership in 2028 is not the solution. What we need is systemic change. But this won’t happen either because of the poor, which comprises the majority, will never rise against the elite.
For all intents and purposes the Philippines is caught in a vicious cycle similar to a dog running after its own tail.
Each political bloc will claim to be the savior but the truth is none of them are. The only time there will be genuine change is if there will be a true leader who puts the interests of the country and its people first and not just the elites.
And this isn’t happening anytime soon.
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