Skip to main content

The Foolishness (and Hypocrisy) of Wanting Imported Luxury Items as Christmas Gifts While Opposing BADLY NEEDED Economic Reform

I wrote about the Filipino obsession with the iPhone a few months ago. With Christmas being a few days away, I wrote that post to address the foolishness (and hypocrisy) of wanting imported luxury items for Christmas. One of the greatest wishlists that someone in the Philippines could have composed of imported luxury items. It shouldn't be just a bag--it should be something like the latest Prada or Hermes. It shouldn't just be a smartphone or a new tablet--it should be an iPhone or an iPad. Some Filipinos may have even pestered their OFW relatives to bring them the latest imported luxury item. Never mind that working abroad, separated from loved ones, is anything but glamorous.

Ironically, some people who want imported luxury items still oppose economic reform. I mentioned how Apple has a huge factory in Communist Vietnam. I wrote an article where I discussed Lego operating a factory in again, Communist Vietnam. Just think for the moment if I talk to them, who are either wishing for Apple gadgets or having them now. I could start talking about why the Philippines needs to get rid of the Filipino First Policy and allow more FDIs to enter. It could be either in person or on Facebook.

I would expect some dumb answers which are very common. The reasons I tend to state are as follows:

  1. "But the Philippines is not this or that country!"
  2. "But only FDIs will get rich when you let them invest in the Philippines!" (Read rebuttal here)
  3. "But letting FDIs invest here will mean there will be no jobs for Filipinos!" (Read rebuttal here)
  4. "Foreign investors are invaders! They will invade the country and destroy our sovereignty!" (Read rebuttal here
  5. "We need more wage increase, not more FDIs!" (Read rebuttal here)
  6. "No to foreign imperialism! Filipino Pride!" (Read rebuttal here)
Those same reasons I listed above that might barely cover the long range of stupid answers. It would be very stupid if they're all anticipating those imported luxury items (and maybe, blaming the rich for their poverty at the same time). Even funnier is if they write all the false flags about FDIs and MNCs using their iPads and iPhones. They will say they're "simply forced to participate to survive". Were they forced to buy Apple products when they could've had cheaper substitutes? Maybe, they're also carrying those iPads and iPhones in imported luxury bags. Some people hate the rich, for simply being rich, because they want to have what the rich have, without working for it. 

They've already contradicted themselves with their Christmas wish. How can people who are calling for the Filipino First Policy be using imported luxury items? How can the same people who say that only FDIs will get rich in investing in the Philippines be saying this while using imported luxury items? The sheer contradiction is there. Didn't they just "empower" the "imperialists" by buying imported luxury items? Don't tell me those they call "imperalists" forced them to buy those luxury items? They could've bought other non-luxury items.

I'm really going to laugh at the stupidity of the situation. Why can't they think of a better Christmas wish with a more open economy for the Philippines? Just imagine saying FDI will ruin the spirit of the Philippines (all the while, most Filipinos are Catholics) while wishing for imported luxury bands. 

Popular posts from this blog

Wanting Wealth WITHOUT Financial Discipline

Many people want to be rich, but not so many people want the discipline on how to be rich. Isn't that the plain hard truth ? As I do this sideline blog , I contemplated whether I should write another post after writing several posts years back, or when I wrote about Venezuela as a cautionary tale . Back on topic, I thought about how financial discipline is something often overlooked. It's easy to talk about Christmas since that's probably the most wonderful time of the year to be spendthrift , only to find out that one's broke by the New Year . The cycle of reckless financial habits tends to restart in January, even when January becomes that time of reckoning between debtors and creditors! January 2026 will end, February 2026 comes, and then the cycle of financial recklessness continues. It's the same cycle over and over! Last Christmas, I remember how DTI Secretary Christina Roque spoke about the PHP 500.00 noche buena, for a family of four . I called it tactless b...

The Philippines will NEVER Get Richer by Blaming Its Richer Asian Neighbors

Gemini AI Updated: September 27, 2025 It would be nice to talk about the typical blame game in the Philippines. I could remember that, as a child and a teenager, I had this habit of blaming people I disliked for my failing an exam. The reasons are mostly imagined. What I remembered in my later college years was when I met a couple of super irresponsible students. They had this attitude to say something like, "My parents don't care if it'll take me 20 years to finish my bachelor's degree." Some people even say something like, "It's the fault of the rich that we are poor." It was a backfire when I told such people, "Isn't it any wonder why your finances are down? It's because your parents don't even value the money when they don't care if it'll take up to 20 years to finish college!"  Understanding the blame game and why it feels so good Psychology Today presents this on why some people will always blame others . These fin...

Venezuela as a Cautionary Tale on #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba, Nationalistic Pride, Welfare State Economics

The Sunday Guardian Years ago, I wrote about Venezuela's pride and protectionism , under a more "formal" style of writing compared to my latest posts. I decided to use an even "less formal" and "less academic" tone since I'm not writing a term paper. Instead, it's like how a professor and a student discuss the thesis using first person over third person, using contractions, etc., while the thesis doesn't use such tones. Back on track, I thought about the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro can spark debate. Was it a violation of sovereignty? I'm no expert on international law. However, Venezuelans can be seen celebrating Maduro's arrest. Right now, I'm using Gemini AI and Google search to help me find some sources for this blog. It's because I don't want my blog to become another gossip central, but a place to discuss facts with my own personal opinions (making sure they don't  derail the facts).  I used Venezuela ...

Helping Others is Good But Not to One's Own Expense

I advocate for helping others. I believe in helping others but there were times I overdid it. One time, I gave up so much that I had to be stopped. I was told, "If you gave everything now, how can you help others later?" I would donate some sums here and there, without thinking much. I'm not going to write them all. Some of them left me good while others left a bad taste (and a bad record) for me to endure. Sure, I want to help people but I tend to overlook the consequences. Some of the bad habits I had in the name of helping others are like: Being too generous with buying with credit. Eventually, I lost a lot of money which was never recovered . Some seasoned entrepreneurs may admit their own falls including the credit trap pitfall. Being too willing to give a discount without thinking about how it'd affect profits. Sure, a cheap price can draw people near. However, there are times when the prices of goods and services need to be raised to keep a business running. I ...

Hussam Middle Eastern Restaurant: A Trip Into Authentic Syrian Cuisine At Ayala Center Cebu

  The last time I ate at a Hussam Middle Eastern Restaurant branch last year, I couldn't give a good assessment. I haven't been to Hussam's main branch at Il Corso, so I didn't formally meet its owner, Hussam Alfakeh Alkourdi. The branch I ate was in Ayala Center Cebu instead. This is the interior of the restaurant. Ayala Center Cebu has Persian Palate on the third floor, above Timezone. Hussam is near one of the entrances of Ayala Center Cebu--near a Chinese restaurant. Persian Palate was my entry point to Middle Eastern cuisine.  Hussam serves authentic Syrian food. There are dishes similar to those from the Persian Palate. They serve Syrian bread, different from my favorite Pita bread served at Shawarma Gourmet (read my review here ), a Lebanese restaurant. So far, I tried their mixed meat platter with Syrian bread. My second dish there was actually baked Arabic rice with grilled beef kebab. I love their tomato sauce (which I mistook for ginger sauce) and garlic sauc...