A beautiful country

Sometimes the kindest words about our country come from foreigners. Just listen to German Ambassador Axel Weisshaupt, who brought German journalists and corporate executives to Leyte earlier this month for a German-initiated environment project.

Our correspondent reported that Weisshaupt lauded his compatriots who "braved all the bad news about political turmoil and natural disasters" in the Philippines to go to Baybay, Leyte.

"You will see that a lot of these negative headlines are overdrawn and by no means representative of this country," Weisshaupt said.

He reportedly hoped his compatriots would "leave the prejudices behind" and would "experience the Philippines as what it really is: a beautiful country with the most hospitable people."

Weisshaupt’s kind words are all the more appreciated after the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping of foreigners including Germans from Malaysia’s Sipadan island on April 23, 2000, and with the continuing woes of Germany’s Fraport AG in trying to recover its investment in the NAIA Terminal 3.

New US Ambassador Kristie Kenney also had kind words about our country when she addressed the American Chamber of Commerce recently, the negative headlines notwithstanding. The general theme of her speech was in fact upbeat, pointing out that the Philippines could rise to the top of Asia’s heap.

Being diplomatic, of course, is part of a diplomat’s job description; diplomats are not expected to bad-mouth the host country. But they’re not required to give undue praise either, or to constantly see a glass half-full.

You hear similar words of encouragement from foreigners who have been here long enough, who have seen much of the country outside Metro Manila, or who are determined to invest in the Philippines for the long term.

As one prominent diplomat said, days before his departure for another posting, "The place grows on you… you never want to leave."

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Traveling abroad you will often be surprised by foreigners who have the fondest memories of visits to our country, traffic gridlocks and all. Most of them, I must concede, are those who have visited places outside dirty, crowded, chaotic Metro Manila, remembering the capital chiefly for its dining and entertainment – a break from nature trips in the provinces.

I once watched a spectacular documentary of marine life in a "geode" – a huge cinema a technical notch above the I-Max, giving you the feeling that you are right there underwater with the fish and anemone. When the film credits came on, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the documentary was shot in Palawan’s Tubbataha Reef, a protected marine park in the Sulu Sea that encompasses 33,200 hectares of coral reefs.

Our environmentalists are busy promoting eco-tourism, and are achieving some success, although mainly in places without serious security problems.

The dive sites look promising even in the island chains of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan, but those provinces will need a break from extremist violence if locals want to benefit from tourism. I know foreign investors who are ready for all sorts of challenges in doing business in this country, but will never venture into those three provinces. For them the risks are simply not worth it.

Too bad the natural beauty of the three provinces will have to remain unappreciated. We do have a beautiful country, as the German ambassador said, and we do have the most hospitable people. One foreigner often cites the "endearing charm" of ordinary folks wherever he goes in this country.

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If we have a beautiful country with rich resources and many good people, why is the Philippines in such a mess? Foreigners may have the kindest words for us, but they also can’t help noticing that only 30 years ago, we were the most promising country in Asia. What happened to us?

We are increasingly coming across such observations — in international surveys, studies, speeches and even in casual conversation with impartial observers.

The kindest thing that can be said is that our country is a promise unfulfilled.

That diplomat who said the Philippines grows on foreign guests also expressed sadness over our propensity to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

Another foreigner who has followed developments in the Philippine diaspora often asks me why Filipinos do well everywhere except in their own country.

I can only say that we are all partly to blame for perpetuating dysfunction and resisting reforms. We are suffering from systemic failure, weak institutions, complacency and the firm belief that everything will get better by and by because we have a direct line to God and God loves us.

Meanwhile, our neighbors – if they believe in deities at all – are moving on the premise that God helps those who help themselves. And they are sprinting ahead of us.

Our leaders and policy-makers are still living in an age before the Internet, CNN and mobile phones; some are living even in an age before jet travel. Because their worldview stops at the water’s edge, and even at the municipal border, they are blissfully unaware that the world is watching us, rolling its eyes at every Pinoy foolishness duly reported on cable news.

Even the Catholic Church, often described as influential, has not been influential enough to effect change. The late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, disappointed over certain developments after the 1986 people power revolt, nagged his flock endlessly about the "kanya-kanya" mentality or selfishness of Filipinos. The nagging fell on deaf ears. We are as hopelessly selfish and parochial in our dealings with each other and the world. Those who manage to develop a global perspective go overseas.

In our moments of despair, we hang on to words of encouragement. It is a beautiful country, we have great people and so much potential.

What have we done in the past 30 years?