Too much politics, too little economics

The problem with this country is that a huge number of our citizens spend an outrageous quantum of time and effort playing politics, and too little time making money through productive labor. Instead of focusing our energies on producing goods and services of value that can generate income and provide our needs, people think politics, talk politics and act as if they are petty politicians. Instead of attending to the basic needs of their families, the Filipinos would squander their time and effort making commentaries about political personalities and political issues. Even pedicab drivers or street sweepers dabble on political commentaries. They have developed an inordinate interest on, and love for, elections and political campaigns.

Well, this is perhaps the culture that we inherited from our American colonizers. In fact, it has been said that had the Japanese won the Second World War, the Philippines would have been better off because the Japanese have more focus on economic activities, rather than political preoccupations. The Americans taught us freedom, liberty and independence and human rights but did not teach us  respect for authority, respect for elders, loyalty and work ethic, all of which are the hallmarks of Japanese culture. Our people have not only imbibed the American ways, we became more popish than the pope himself. In practicing our liberties, we have exceeded the bounds and have failed to become team-oriented. 

Our culture was also damaged by 377 years of exploitation and abuses by the Spaniards who taught us to splurge in fiestas and many so-called religious celebrations, which only use the saints as convenient excuses for our “bahala na’’ ostentation and our  “mañana’’  ineptitude and indolence. The Spaniards taught us how to enjoy life but did not mentor us on how to properly earn a living. If the Spaniards did not come at all, and we were tutored by the Chinese, we would have developed more concentration on work and other productive use of our time and talents. Today, we waste our efforts on useless debates and argumentations that cannot put rice into our dining tables, nor a roof over the heads of our homeless Pinoys. 

In Malaysia, where this writer lived as a diplomat in our embassy for three years, I have seen how focused the Malaysians are in their economic activities. Whether they are office workers in Kuala Lumpur, a restaurant owner in Johore, or a fisherman in Penang, a palm oil farmer in Sarawak, or a Casino worker in the Genting Highlands, the Malaysians always think of making money. No one would dare make a political comment about Prime Minister Najib Razak. They leave the politicking on the members of the parliament. They just wanna work, work and earn a living, and save a lot of money.

In Taiwan, where I also worked in our Manila Economic and Cultural Office, as a diplomat, I saw how Taiwanese, including women and children, would work very, very hard. And they have this discipline that they always save at least 35% of their income, invest another 35% and only spend 30%. In the Philippines, our workers spend 150% of their income in mall sales and splurge in expensive cell phones and iPads, on credit at very high interest rates. We do not have a culture that values the importance of savings. What is worse, we are too political. We always rely on government for dole-outs, and always blame the government for social and economic problems created by them, like overpopulation, poverty, and “social injustice.’’

I also lived in Kuwait for quite a time, as an embassy official, and have seen how Filipinos are too fixated on political issues and activities. Even OFWs are too politicized that they are inclined to use political pressures and influence just to get preferential treatment in embassy functions and affairs.

I have not seen an honest-to-goodness attention to economics, to entrepreneurship, to work, productive work. There is too much political gossip and rumor-mongering that often create trouble and dissension. My conclusion is sad but indubitable: Filipinos are political creatures with too little attention to work and productivity. If we can only change this culture and reverse this pattern, this nation, indeed, can still be great.