Category: Economy

Foreign capital will not solve Filipinos’ inability to apply capital profitably

June 3, 2011April 26, 2018 benign0 41 Comments

In my 2006 book Get Real Philippines Book 1, one of the key solutions I cited to the challenge of effecting fundamental change in the path we have (rather consciously) set for ourselves to chronic impoverishment is to re-evaluate the content of our mass media. I highlighted that it is an easy solution, because much…

Development, Economy, Media

Iran: model of successful population control and an inspiration to Filipinos

May 23, 2011July 23, 2013 benign0 9 Comments

The Iranian experience in implementing a successful population management program has become a model for many countries that seek to overcome the debilitating burden overpopulation presents to development aspirations. The most remarkable aspect of Iran’s program is in how what was once a religious directive to go forth and multiply had been repealed by the…

Development, Economy, Education, Media, Religion, Society

The RH Bill: Economic growth alone will not solve overpopulation

May 20, 2011May 24, 2011 Ilda 23 Comments

I cannot say in absolute terms that I am a strong advocate of the proposed Reproductive Health bill (RH Bill). In a perfect world, we wouldnâ€™t need to introduce such legislation. But we do not live in a perfect world and if one’s intention is to seek flaws in the proposed bill, one will surely…

Development, Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Politics, Religion

Over-population is not just a problem of poor countries

May 20, 2011May 20, 2011 benign0 19 Comments

Think of what it takes to sustain human civilisation at the standards of living we believe that everyone is entitled to. Have we stopped to think what it would mean for a billion Chinese people, say, to have access to a standard of living equivalent to that enjoyed by Western Europe and North America today?…

Development, Economy, Environment, Society, Technology

Overpopulated Philippines: reduced to panhandling for foreign investment

May 11, 2011May 11, 2011 benign0 33 Comments

Everytime I hear this and that initiative to “attract” foreign investment to the country and then see these touted as “solutions” aimed at uplifting Filipinos from the clutches of poverty and the setting of our economy on a “firm” path to prosperity, I find my eyes rolling up to the high heavens as if to…

Culture, Development, Economy, Education

In development terms Philippines is no Manny Pacquiao

May 10, 2011 benign0 9 Comments

In his latest article “Divergent paths“, Inquirer.net columnist Cielito Habito shared some interesting statistics that provide breathtaking insight into the divergence of the fortunes of what were once the “virtual identical twins” that the Philippines and Thailand were back in 1970, that made the two countries the “estranged twins” that they are today. The divergence…

Development, Economy, Money Talks

Nearing his 12th month: But where is the VISION of Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III?

May 6, 2011 benign0 12 Comments

In a previous article, I noted how Manuel Buencamino, a noted apologist of the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III attempted to debunk a remark made by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri that highlighted Aquino’s lack of any sort of vision (the type that refers to the future) for the Philippines. Zubiri said that Noynoy…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics

Media storm raised on prospect of American military return to the Philippines!

April 29, 2011May 16, 2023 benign0 4 Comments

Don’t look now, but some people are getting a bit defensive soon after the Inquirer.net published reports of “high level visits” by American officials to meet with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Olongapo City officials. Specifically US Senators Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran who respectively chair and officiate the US Senate appropriations committee reportedly…

Economy, Government, Media, Politics