Ten Reasons The Philippines Won’T Shrug Off Its Laggard Label

[Papa Carl]

This is a very well written article by Justin Calderon. 

 

Controversial, maybe.

 

Accurate, undoubtedly

 

However what I liked about it, is that although it may be presenting some negatives, it is not necessarily a view that there is no hope, in fact it is presented in the vein that there is hope.

 

I for one found it a good read, and will admit to agreeing with much that was stated.

 

 

I for one, believe that the Philippines is on the way up, and some self reflection is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

http://investvine.com/ten-reasons-the-philippines-wont-shrug-off-its-laggard-label/?goback=%2Egde_1483687_member_254706913

 

 

It's definitely more fun in the Philippines!!!

 

 

Papa Carl

[Guy F.]

I really expected worse- 6th out of 10 is really a middle of the road performance.

 

The article makes no mention of population control (or lack of same). Too many people leads to excessive poverty and is a drag on economic growth.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

Just read the whole thing.  I can't argue with a bit of it.  But in my own selfish way I am ok with that.  The exchange rate is good for me.  If the economy improves i will have to move to Cambodia!  (not really a bad prospect..)

[Bruce]

I generally distrust writers who have downloaded a thesaurus and keep it loaded and running in the background. Nothing new and exciting in what he says. Simply reformatting and restating the work of others has limited value.

 

Word for word, point for point, I think JJ Reyes is better informed and can better articulate the points with less pompous wording and at the same time, offer a workable start to a solution to the problems that are solvable! Remember that not all problems are solvable.  

[Thomas]

I'm worried about the custom in export. E g I heared of one company, who got their export container stucked in custom "for ever" both costing rent and not geting paid for the products  :bash:  I don't know if they managed to avoid bankrupsy because of that. For a small business it can be catastroph to get one container stucked.

Such made I'm probably to affraid of that to start the business (refining farmers product) which was my favorite otherwice. (Expensive production equipment, but good pay for the products too, but if the container get stucked in the custom, then I don't get any pay  :)

[JJReyes]

"I cried because I had no shoes, till I saw a man who had no feet." Old Arab saying.

 

Sure. Everything in the article is accurate. The Philippines is facing tremendous challenges. So is every nation on earth in their own way. What this article and similar ones fail to include is the human factor. Filipinos lacking in material wealth, are they absolutely miserable? Inequities will always exist. Even in the United States. Filipino poor try to make do as best as possible. American poor have more social services and support available, yet they seem to be more miserable for some unknown reason.

 

If you compare Filipino and American poor, Filipinos are better off because of their "bahala na" or "never mind" attitude.      

[MikeB]

If you compare Filipino and American poor, Filipinos are better off because of their "bahala na" or "never mind" attitude.

I think it's more to the fact that they learn early on that complaining is futile.

[Papa Carl]

"I cried because I had no shoes, till I saw a man who had no feet." Old Arab saying.

 

Sure. Everything in the article is accurate. The Philippines is facing tremendous challenges. So is every nation on earth in their own way. What this article and similar ones fail to include is the human factor. Filipinos lacking in material wealth, are they absolutely miserable? Inequities will always exist. Even in the United States. Filipino poor try to make do as best as possible. American poor have more social services and support available, yet they seem to be more miserable for some unknown reason.

 

If you compare Filipino and American poor, Filipinos are better off because of their "bahala na" or "never mind" attitude.      

 

Well said, I guess that was my point about this article, there was very little to argue with and it was generally accurate.

 

However with all the negative statements it did not say...."stay away", it did not say "it is hopeless" and I believe that is because the writer knows Filipinos and knows also that it is the Filipinos that make this place a great place, not the beaches, not the industry, not the politicians etc. etc.

 

I have read many articles by the writer and I do like his accuracy, he knows how to write about something and keep it about a subject without getting personal, it is about issues not about a person.

 

 

Papa Carl

[i am bob]

I fully agree with Papa Carl...  The author truthfully presented some of the main negatives that have to be corrected for the Philippines to advance but at no time does he say that the Phils aren't getting better or for others to stay away.  And he accurately states what many of us have been saying all along.  Yes, I AM echoing what Papa Carl said but, if it's the truth, do we shy away and not say it again?  I, for one, think that the Philippines - with a few proper breaks and continued good government - will become a very great (greater) country to live, work or play.

 

For those who are cynical about what is happening in the Philippines, tough.  It is improving.  It is getting better.  Maybe things aren't going as fast as you want them to but, if that is the case, perhaps if you want to volunteer your time to the government so that things will move faster?  Then you won't have as much time to make yourself look so bad making fun of someone like this author who is trying to help us all.

[MikeB]

For those who are cynical about what is happening in the Philippines, tough.  It is improving.  It is getting better.  Maybe things aren't going as fast as you want them to but, if that is the case, perhaps if you want to volunteer your time to the government so that things will move faster?  Then you won't have as much time to make yourself look so bad making fun of someone like this author who is trying to help us all.

I don't understand the "author who is trying to help us all" comment. In his latest SONA address the President referred to the Philippine people as "his bosses". Do you think the typical citizen would agree that things are improving and "getting better"? The current administration is little more then halfway through and plagued with many of the same old problems as the previous, and the previous, etc. One of it's main objectives, passage of the RH bill, has once again been scuttled. Perhaps you can cite some examples, but be careful of government statistics like unemployment figures of 7%.