How do you tell that the economy is really improving?

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: We can only say that our economy is improving if our hairline is not in recession, our waist no longer suffers from inflation, and together they don’t put us in deep depression.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: We have official as well as international statistics to look at but critics keep pointing to people who prefer to remain poor by not striving.  

Less people wanting to leave the country

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: If the Filipino diaspora starts to wane, then the economy must really be improving. It would mean that more employment opportunities and good-paying jobs are being developed, encouraging our workers to stay put.  Reports have it that some 10 per cent of our total population has already left to live and work abroad for lack of better work opportunities here. As soon as reverse emigration ensues, then the economy has improved considerably.  

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: The way to tell that the economy is improving is if more manufacturing industries are set up to absorb the work force, the GNP grows by eight to 10 per cent in 15 consecutive years, and there are more entrepreneurs.  

Abelardo Abilay, Laguna:The economy is improving if there are more smiles and less hunger around us. This can only happen if more people are employed and educated; salaries are sufficient and food supply is enough; the crime rate is minimal and traffic is controlled; infrastructure and health centers are sprouting; foreign investors and tourists are swarming; and overseas Filipino workers are staying.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: When our modern heroes (OFWs) begin to come home because work is now available here to support their family, then our economy is really improving.  

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The Philippine economy is not really improving as of now because the majority still rely on jobs abroad to improve their lives. Our government does not even financially support Filipino inventions and this is the reason why our intellectuals end up improving the economies of the First World and Second World countries. Our economy will improve if we change our values and attitudes toward progress.  

When there is peace in our land

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: You know that the economy is improving when there is peace in our land. There is more infrastructure, more malls being built, condo units on the rise, more links from North to South of the country, more jobs due to call centers invested by foreigners, more schools being built, increased remittances from OFWs, etc. These are signs of an improving economy and I hope that the country will do better because of the new leadership we’re about to have right now.  

Overcrowded shopping malls

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: From what I feel and see, the economy must really be improving a lot. Why, shopping malls in Metro Manila like MOA, Glorietta, Robinsons and Divisoria, etc., to name a few, are always teeming with people on a shopping spree. Car parks are full of nice cars. Almost all the people in the streets have cellphones. Ang daming pinapatayong mga malalaking gusali at malalaking bahay.Ganito ba ang naghihirap? Mga tamad at umaasa lang sa kapwa ang naghihirap at nagugutom.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas: Overcrowded malls and public markets on Sundays and holidays of the year are basic evidence of an improving economy of the country.  

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Previously, high beer sales were used as the gauge of an improving economy. But right now, we also have higher cellphone load requirements and mushrooming massage spas, and this tells that business is booming.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: 1) My neighbors get late-model cars without selling their old ones beforehand; 2) The lines in fastfood counters are longer than usual; 3) Devotees who walk on their knees praying for a solution to financial problems are getting rarer; 4) Signature apparel and accessories outlets open in malls; 5) Fellowships/churches sprouts like mushrooms, hoping to attract 10 per cent to join them; 6) My kids drink San Mig Light instead of Red Horse; 7) My wife buys a Nokia N99 and doesn’t text me for pasa load; 8) My eight cats eat Whiskas and not sardines while my dog Marge eats spareribs spiked with Alpo. 9) My 50-year old girlfriend foots the bill when we have lunch at our favorite restaurant.  

Healthcare system has improved

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. First, the jeepneys will slowly be going, going, gone; there won’t be any more pushcarts buying old newspapers and junk; no more children selling sampaguita and begging in the streets. You won’t see squatter rooftops as you descend to land in Manila, the healthcare system has improved, and many more that are too many to list down. Just look around you if you know of somebody who lives in the squatter having coffee at Starbucks, then definitely the economy is improving.  

Lucas Madamba, USA: A good sign is if there are abundant developments in healthcare, education, infrastructure, marine, wildlife, agriculture, science and technology as these are the main factors.  

Cheaper prime commodities

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: To every housewife of this country, the economy is really improving when prices of all prime commodities get cheaper.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: If the price of galunggong is pegged at P80 per kilo or below, that’s an indication that the economy is really improving.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Our economy is improving if the peso can buy more goods and services and the gap between the rich and the poor is reduced to a tolerable level.  

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: When people have jobs and they can buy basic goods and services.  

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: The economy is improving globally. However, its impact cannot be felt so much here because prices of prime commodities, oil products, electricity, water, transportation, etc. remain high. This is not entirely GMA’s fault, though. The two main culprits are overpopulation and corruption. Our bloated population is overtaking whatever gains we have economically speaking. Unemployment keeps rising because the government hardly entices investors to come here and create jobs because of too much red tape and corruption, unless these are curtailed. Noynoy’s administration will encounter many setbacks before it can attain economic progress.  

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Our economy isn’t improving. I know because the size of our pan de sal is getting smaller everyday. That’s my gauge of our economy.  

Politicians act like the economy is growing

Rey Onate, Palayan City: When oligarchs can contribute millions of pesos in election campaigns and they frequently spend their vacations abroad, then they are enjoying the improvement in our economy.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: With a fattened pork barrel for solons and an all-too-expensive globetrotting PGMA, yes, I can tell, our economy is growing, but only for a chosen few.  

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: I can tell that the economy is improving if ordinary Filipinos, especially those from the CDE classes: could manage to eat at least three times a day; could send their children to school and sustain their schooling; have a roof over their heads; and there are: less crimes, especially those against persons and property; no more kidnappings; no holdups and proliferation of illegal drugs in the streets and schools, then our economy is really improving. However, basing on the present situation wherein only the lifestyles of elected political and government leaders and their families are improving especially in their spending patterns and extravagance, while ordinary destitute Filipinos wallow in extreme poverty and could hardly eat, we cannot equate this with economic improvement.  Rather, it is the total reverse, thus a hypocrisy.  

When I can feel it myself

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: I can’t tell that the economy is improving because I’ve never felt it in the first place. This exiting administration is all cosmetics and self-serving stats.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: This early, I couldn’t tell if our economy is improving. Di ko pa nararamdaman.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: I would say that it’s improving when I feel it myself, like when I can easily budget the salary of my husband because basic goods remain at level price and are very affordable; when I see outside a booming construction business where owners are private individuals; when I see no beggars on the streets; when everyone has stable jobs that could sustain their daily needs; when the streets are cleared of bums and other undesirable elements; when many tourists can walk down our major roads freely without any danger; when I see no dilapidated structures along streets and along railroad track; when squatters could own a modest house. Manila could use a total makeover. Ang daming looban where bad elements can hide when pursued by law enforcers. It is also overlypopulated.   

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: It’s not from the many skyscrapers and elevated highways that we can say that our economy is improving, but from our living conditions and those of our people.  

If Filipinos enjoy three square meals a day

Leonard Villa, Batac City: If the unemployment rate goes down, consumer spending goes up, and all Filipinos enjoy three square meals a day, we can tell that the economy is improving.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: I can tell that the economy is improving if the poor begin to eat three meals a day.  

More trade and travel

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Look around you. Everywhere in the country there is a frenzied movement of people and goods, by car, bus, ship or plane. With much money circulating, the economy is really on the upswing.  

Felix Ramento, USA: We may not have noticed it but the sheer number of our people taking airplanes to get to their provinces and other local destinations is already an indication that our economy is improving.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: There are more jobs, businesses are booming, there are more opportunities for everyone, many improvements in infrastructure, public offices, schools, etc. and everyone feeling upbeat about the future.  

Francis Santos-Viola, Quezon City: I can tell that the economy is improving when construction resumes in many sites around here that were abandoned during the 1997 crisis.  

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: If your eyes are open only to the eyesores around you, then the economy is hardly improving, but the varied activities everywhere in the country will surely tell you otherwise.  

No more streetchildren

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: The economy must be improving if there are no more children/beggars in the streets, mass demonstrations, domestic helpers, and contractualization in companies. We would have a low crime rate and lower prices of commodities.  

When my life gets better

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: It’s when paycheck after paycheck, I still get something in excess, month in, month out, and do not merely try to make both ends meet. That’s when I can really say that the improving economy has already trickled down to its intended beneficiaries, we the teeming vast millions of less privileged.  

When economic vultures are slayed

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Our economy is improving when we see indisputable signs that the beasts and vultures in our economy, the super thieves in government and business who keep plundering our nation’s wealth, are one by one being slammed in jail. That way, national debts and poverty would in due time be erased.  

It’s not growing fast enough

Edwin Monares, Rizal: The economy is improving. The increase in population results in an increase in demand, hence the economy will grow. However, the rate at which the economy should grow to elevate the living standards of those living below the poverty line, which comprise a large chunk of the population, is far behind the rate that will impact dramatically in our country’s quest for national development.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: The economy is improving in spite of global economic turmoil and too much politics but only at a slow pace.  

ON LUISITA LABOR CASE

Patrick Miranda, Marikina City: I believe that CJ Corona’s order to review the Luisita labor case is a way to get back at Noynoy. Obvious na obvious.  

Best Wishes To Our President & Vice-President

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: May God’s grace be released to them so they will have God’s wisdom, patience, love and justice to enable them to face the big national and international problems and issues affecting us. We must rally behind them to help plug the big holes in our ship so that our nation will not sink in the vast Pacific Ocean and our honor and dignity as a people will be restored.  

REACTION

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: Phil. STAR shows bias against the former NEDA chief in its June 22 frontpage title article, “Neri posts bail, evades arrest”. My lawyer-daughter from San Beda Law school tells me that.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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