When will we ever learn to fix ourselves?

Last Nov.29th and on Dec.1st we wrote columns with comments from the new book entitled “Why Nations Fail” authored by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. I had no idea that the books authors; Acemoglu and Robinson would be in Manila in a Forum entitled “Why Nations Fail and the Philippine Case hosted by the Harvard Alumni Association, the Makati Business /Club, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Foundation of Economic Freedom (FEF) and the World Bank. If I knew about that forum, I would have flown to Manila to attend as the Philippines was sadly missing in their research on the origins of power, poverty, prosperity and poverty.

Thanks to the Internet, at least, I got a bird’s eye view of what was discussed during that forum. A crucial point for the two authors would be where to place the Philippines in their research? For years we have known that we are very unique in Asia in the sense that we have no similarities with our Asian neighbors, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Japan or Korea.

The closest to us are Indonesia and Malaysia… but due to their Muslim religion, we are so far apart in our faith and culture. Indeed, the Philippines are closer to Latin American countries like Brazil or Argentina. Argentina had their Evita, while we had our Imelda. So many similarities there in the sense that we are both considered a 3rd world country.

Since the Martial Law days, we have analyzed what’s the problem with this country and I have written numerous columns pointing to so many issues that still haunt us today…that after 400 years in the convent, 50 years in Hollywood, the Philippines today is still being colonized by an ethnic group called the Tagalogs… and their imposing for all Filipinos to learn their own language and denying the people of the Visayas to be taught our mother tongue is clearly a weapon that colonizers use even today.

If both authors Acemoglu and Robinson only ventured to come to Cebu, they would have seen and learned about the history of the Visayans… that our ancestors come from the Sri-Vishayan Empire. In short, we were never a nation… but a bunch of small nations having their respective languages, many of which are unintelligible from one another. But due to our 400-year subjugation by Spain… and later conquered and bought by the United States in the Treaty of Paris, we were “forced” to be one nation even if we are a totally diverse culture.

Then came Philippine Independence on July 4,1946. We used the 1935 Constitution, the best we ever had… though it allowed the Americans to ransack our natural resources with impunity. Then on Sept. 1972, then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos threw out that Constitution and embraced a military dictatorship. He then hijacked the on-going 1971 Constitutional Convention and when they were done… had it ratified in 1973 as the Marcos Constitution…, which was a Parliamentary one… with a rubber stamp Parliament.

Then came the 1986 EDA Revolt where the Filipino people literally threw out the Marcoses and his constitution, but only to return the oligarchy back to their old ways. Then Pres. Cory Aquino came up with the 1987 Constitution that today, inhibits our economic and political growth. As author James Robinson says due to “extractive institutions.”

Indeed the two authors are so correct in their assessment about the Philippines; that we are ruled by an “exclusive” political (Just look at the Senate) elite that rules out everyone except their own kind. Thanks to the 1987 Constitution that Pres. PNoy Aquino refuses to amend. So where to next? Can we Filipinos learn to fix whatever is wrong with us? I hope so.

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The Blackbox:

Just when you thought Christmas music was getting boring because we get to hear Christmas songs or carols year in and year out. Then, as promised, my new compadre, the great Visayan songwriter and singer and businessman Jose Mari Chan (JMC) sent me three CDs of his latest albums, entitled, Jose Mari Chan “Love Letters and Other Souvenirs”, then the other is also named “Souvenirs” by Jose Mari Chan. The last one was Jose Mari Chan’s “Going Home to Christmas.” Since it’s Christmas season, I immediately placed the CD in my car… and all I can say is congratulations JMC, you did a great Christmas album on this one.

            I’m a bit sentimental or as Tagalogs would say, “pusong mamon”, when track 5 played “Christmas Moments” I submit the words brought me back to my younger days when we spent Christmas with the family… and later my own family. I usually listen to my music via my iPod, but this time it’s back to the DC’s for me until I figure out a way to put in these JMC CDs in my iTunes. Thanks again JMC for the sentimental Christmas gift of your songs. I’ve always loved his hit “Beautiful Girl”… but this Christmas CD; will certainly be part of my collection of Christmas songs. Merry Christmas JMC!

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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.

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