If You Want to Make the Philippines Better, Study... HARDER?

I grew up complaining and complaining about stuff. I always looked at the Philippines as a hopeless case. I hated studying the Tagalog subject--which was mandatory by the DepEd. I was told, "Look lazy bum! If you want to make the Philippines a better place--study harder!" In college, I began to apply myself more seriously even if I didn't graduate summa cum laude. I felt a sense of achievement when I won a commerce award for making an outstanding difference. What I never thought was that during the practicum--it was working smart and not working hard. Sure, hard work is there but smart work allows more hard work to be done at a better pace. Not long after, I took my MBA course but it was also at that time, I was scammed. I discovered I wasn't alone in being scammed--many MBA students were scammed during the same time I was scammed!

However, what I discovered was the problem of saying, "Your grades will determine your future!" It was typical in Philippine schools where teachers would say it either in English, Tagalog, or the local dialect, "With grades like those, why don't you just take HRM?" HRM means hotel and restaurant management. Today, it's called hospitality management. It was a course I dreaded taking back in high school. Today, I still feel the burden I never took that course. I started befriending people in the HRM course, known today as Hospitality Management. Even back then, one classmate of mine said, "The chef's salary is not a small thing!" However, is it or is there a toxic mindset against menial workers here in the Philippines (read here)?

There's one question--is education really the solution that Filipinos need? During the pandemic, I started looking back at education. Was the education really worth it? I wanted to take a doctorate but decided not to. I started reading Warren Buffett out of boredom. I opened a GCash account to buy shawarma from Shawarma Gourmet. I discovered GInvest and found several funds I could invest. I remember having a financial conference during my MBA days. What wasn't really taught was that anybody can invest in stocks through an index fund or any equity fund. I used GCash to invest in GInvest. Now, I'm currently invested in the world market via GInvest. Filipinos can now invest in the world market, such as the use of the ATRAM Global Equity Feeder Fund or other related funds on GInvest.

Study hard, right? Above is a diagram that shows the problem of the education system. Unfortunately, this is the truth about education. It's not the fault of the teachers but the system. The education system can be described as dull and boring. There's the mentality people have, "If you're having fun, you're not learning." Schools can be described as outdated as ever. Recalling my student life, I wrote asking the question if the Philippines is automating or educating students. In Chinese-Filipino schools (where Chinese education became so robotic for some time), a Chinese language teacher (often called siansi, Hokkien for teacher) would often talk about Mencius and Li Bai. I still remember how a Chinese language teacher even asked, "So what did your mother say that you don't want to go to school anymore?" It was during those times I kept getting mad and wanted to quit school. Fortunately, I had a Miriam Defensor-Santiago-type teacher riding on my back during that time. This teacher, stern as she was, wanted to see even the worst students make it.

As I discussed this and that with people after the pandemic, I said, "The teachers just do what's assigned to them." How often is it that the system is blamed (read here)? I remember how often my MDS-style teacher got blamed, how often my Margaret Thatcher-type teacher got blamed, never mind that they were just doing their job. When I mentioned I refused to apologize to the teacher because I hated mathematics back then. I was told that the teacher didn't invent mathematics but she was just doing her job. All of that traces back to the system itself. Schools in the Philippines are required to follow what the DepEd (known as DECS back then) says. Sadly, the Philippines also bought the Prussian education system, and Johann Gottlieb Fitche even said that the aim of education is to destroy free will. Worse, you've got parents getting mad that their children are like robots. Well, isn't it that the school is teaching children to be robots? A good example is mathematics class where students are working with numbers, without knowing their application. That's why it's typical in mathematics class to say, "When am I going to use this?" The teacher is often made to say, "Well, it's required and just study it." Even my good mathematics teacher was powerless against the system she had to follow.

Can we really expect Filipino students to do better by studying harder? The more I read of the discouraging news of Filipino students' low literacy (and social media and blog comments show it a lot)--the more I'm convinced that something is wrong! The Philippines should've entered K+12 decades ago--not just during the late former president Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III's term! What I remember was how often the Filipino First Policy was taught in Values Education (read here). Never mind that the classroom was full of imported equipment, that none of the PCs used during computer class were imported, and that international economics is part of life! We're often told that buying imported products will just benefit foreigners--never mind that the schools were built using foreign equipment. Never mind that the propaganda films were filmed using imported equipment. Then again, I can expect them to say, "Well, we have no choice but to use imported equipment, because foreigners own the means to produce them! (read here)."

What even bothers me is that even honor students from hard-to-enter schools, can be that foolish with real life (read here)! Take Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan (Youth) Partylist who says untrue things about FDI. Can Manuel even prove with studies that FDI will only benefit the oligarchs? The same goes for several economic graduates from schools like Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) and the University of the Philippines (UP). I'm getting disappointed looking at how some people who studied hard to get good grades, are now giving nonsense statements that should deserve a failing grade in economics. However, with our current system, can we really trust the education system that puts more emphasis on grades over learning (read here)? Even worse, they haven't truly addressed how our current Filipino First Policy is doing badly in job creation for Filipinos.

This would also be a consequence of the protectionist education system. People can say that poor people can't afford the schools. That's why I always stressed the need for easing excessive equity restrictions on FDI. The Philippines may not ban FDI completely but certain provisions in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, need to be corrected. The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines may not be the worst but it's certainly not the best. Believing it to be "the best constitution" has only allowed errors to persist. If there were more jobs then salaries are bound to increase (read here). It's because when the demand for labor goes up (due to more job providers)--the supply for labor (which is the workers) will eventually go down. When supply is down and demand is up--the cost of labor has to go up! That's why first-world countries have higher salaries. It's because there are more job opportunities. In turn, more people can afford to enroll in foreign-owned schools if more people have jobs. Local schools will either need to evolve or to perish. If there will be joblessness due to local companies closing down--it's not the fault of FDIs but their refusal to evolve.

If the Philippines wants better education--it should discard Pinoy Pride Economics or the Filipino First Policy out of the window. Instead, the Philippines should learn from other countries' success in their education system. Please, the Philippines is never meant to be isolated from the rest of the world, as a "unique and special nation". Instead, the Philippines is meant to be a global player. People who still think like that should prepare to apply citizenship for either North Korea or Venezuela.

"Filipino First Policy" Has NO PLACE in the Rising Asian 21st Century

I guess nobody saw the Asian 21st Century coming, right? China was once a poor nation but look at it now. Vietnam was once a poor nation but look at it now. Singapore was once a poor nation but look at it now. The late great Lee Kuan Yew wrote his book From Third World to First . I'm afraid some people have been using it to go against the presidency of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. while ignoring what else Lee Kuan Yew had to say. Lee Kuan Yew described the Filipino press to be rambunctious on pages 304-305 which I agree. I'm afraid that the Filipino press may have had a hand in getting rid of any economic or political reforms that could help the Philippines. Yet, one policy has been holding back the Philippines for decades and yes, it's the Filipino First Policy . Reviewing the Filipino First Policy and why it has no place in the rising Asian 21st century I remembered how the values education subject taught Carlos P. Garcia's stupid Filipino First Policy as a Filipino value

The Problem with the Philippine Education System is That It Inadvertently Tends to Make One Stroke One's Ego

What happens is that the traditional Philippine education system focuses too much on monuments of fame rather than learning milestones . It reminds me of the incident where Rep. Raoul Abellar Manuel stressed out he was a cum laude, and that he's not stupid. I feel this is a microcosm of a much bigger problem that happens with the education system. I'm not going to deny that going to the University of the Philippines and graduating summa cum laude isn't an easy feat. However, I wrote an article on what's the use of being a summa cum laude when one opposes badly needed reforms . It's because whether we want to admit it or not, schools focus too much on the ability to memorize without also focusing on the ability to understand . Memory is also the least reliable tool. It would be time to continuously attack the problems of the education system. I felt shamed back then because students were often told, "Your grades will determine your future!" In college, I

Is Anybody Willing to Prove Filipino First Policy Has a Place in the Rising Asian Century for a Million Pesos, Tax Free?

Yesterday was the birthday of former president Carlos P. Garcia, who died in 1971. Garcia is often associated with the Filipino First Policy. Back in the 1990s, I remember how Filipino First Policy was taught in values education classes --never mind the glaring contradictions. The contradictions are that imported equipment was used, or that we can literally never escape the use of imported equipment. I wrote an article discussing why Garcia's Filipino First Policy has no place in the rising Asian Century . I haven't done academic work right now, having been disgruntled by the Filipino education system. Sadly, not even graduate school taught me the basics of stock market investment (such as equity funds) or how Cash 2 Go works. That's why some people say, "It's just a degree!" I often said, "Well your doctor went to college, your lawyer went to college, etc." However, it looks like a college degree may not be for everyone, under K+12! Some people are

The Philippines' Decades-Long OUTDATED Education System

As a child born in the 1980s, I would say I was born during the Marcos Years and I was about a year old when the EDSA Revolution happened. That means I've passed through a lot of stuff rendered obsolete today such as dial-up Internet (which my parents refused to get due to how it interrupted the phone lines unlike the Digital Subscriber Line), cassette players, VHS players, and may I mention the education system . It might be fun to think of times when people of my age group watched The Flintstones or The Flintstone Kids (picture above) during the 1990s imagining school during the stone age. However, these photos today may make me cringe to think about how I grew up in an outdated education system. My recollection of the outdated education system in my eyes from the 1990s before K+12 got implemented My current readings through the book From Third World to First by the late Lee Kuan Yew made me want to write this. The recent chapters I'm in are "Deng Xiaoping's China&qu

Pinoy Pride Economics' Filipino vs. Foreigner False Dichotomy

Two years ago, I wrote about the socio-economic cost of Pinoy Pride Economics . It might be better to call it Pinoy Fried Economics because such mentalities have caused the Philippines to fail. Pinoy Pride Economics has fried up any potential for the Philippines to improve. As it's August, the month is commonly called Buwan Ng Wika (month of the language), the celebrations tend to focus more on the celebration of Filipino Culture instead of Tagalog. I remember Buwan Ng Wika programs tend to showcase how cultural exchange evolved the Filipino Culture--such as showing the Chinese traders and Americans in their interaction with Filipinos. On this very first day of August, I'll discuss the problem of the Filipino vs. Foreigner dichotomy. Last I re-studied Filipino History, I never saw it as once free from foreign influence. The Chinese traded with the Philippines--way before the Chinese Communist of China (CCP) caused trouble because of their country's terrible leadership .

The Insanity of Quoting the Late Lee Kuan Yew About the Marcoses While Ignorning the Rest of His Helpful Advice for the Philippines

It may not be Singapore day yet, it's still July and that event is in August. However, some people are now raising placards all over again because the 17th Philippine president is none other than Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Som people tend to quote from the book From Third World to First . I did buy the book last year and started reading it slowly. I did get a slow read when it came to the late Lee Kuan Yew meeting the late Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. The description of Marcos was anything but flattering. I read the book and LKY mentioned that he was not confident that Marcos Sr. could pay back the money. The Philippines wasn't in the "golden years" as some would like to make it out. Yet, it seems that the only time LKY is ever mentioned is whenenver it's about the Marcoses and tends to be ignored when it's about how the Philippines can improve. Parliamentary system is often viewed in the wrong way Whenever Singapore is mentioned, I tend to talk about the parliamenta

The Economic Ignorance of Saying Landlords and Stock Traders Contribute Nothing to Society

Finding anti-capitalist (or better said, anti-business) wokes on Facebook (of all places) is just plain funny. Maybe, the term socialist isn't so negative since the late Lee Kuan Yew considered himself a socialist, the late Deng Xiaoping is the author of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and Vietnam still considers itself as a socialist country. The picture above this paragraph says that landlords and stock traders allegedly "contribute absolutely nothing to society". I feel compelled to write a bit of a post since, as a business graduate, I do feel insulted. Then again even if I didn't get an MBA--I do still feel insulted myself! How good landlords contribute to society Landlords are often said to be a blight. Some say that it's the "easiest job in the world". However, managing real estate (especially rentals ) isn't as easy as some think. I wrote an essay as to why being a landowner isn't as easy as some people think . I would like to d

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Do econ cha-cha opponents have no choice because FDIs "unfairly" own the means of production (read here )? There's always the tendency to say that they participate in capitalism because they have "no choice" but to participate in it to survive. The screenshot above is of Rosario Guzman of the IBON Foundation . They say that the business owners "unfairly" own the means of production (read here ). The photo above makes me laugh because why in the world are they using a MacPro ? I ask, "If you hate capitalism, why use Apple?" They have their usual rhetoric that it's because the workers should own the means of production as if workers were the ones who bought the equipment. It's as if the workers become the most liable for bad business decisions. One wrong check mark and the company may go south. Another question to fire is, "Did society force you to buy Apple products which you know for well, is rather expensive?" This may mak

It's Not Enough to Have a Good Teacher, You Must Have a System That Encourages Teachers To Do BETTER

It's been some time since Miriam Defensor-Santiago (or MDS for short) died in 2016. It's hard to forget the time she grilled former PNP chief Alan LM Purisima over the demise of SAF-44. While listening to her sermon, I remember the teacher I fondly called "My MDS style teacher!" I still owe a debt of gratitude to her for helping me become better. Yes, she was feisty, and not so many parents liked her temper. However, she was better than that elementary mathematics teacher. I may have not done well in high school but I say she was a good teacher. I failed to think outside the box. She always made us think outside the box. It's easy to say, "Well, we just need good teachers and there's no problem with the system." However, like MDS, I'd react to that and say, "Really?" That was MDS' reaction when Purisima tried to play with words. Purisima was infamous for saying that he didn't give an order and only advice. Even funnier was when

Where's One's Priorities in Complaining About Rising Prices?!

I found this meme on Facebook. For the sake of non-Tagalog speakers, it means: For each one that costs PHP 75.00 no complaints. PHP 50.00 per kilo, always complaining! Last year, I wrote about what's dubbed as pera-normal activities . I would like to write about another cause behind these pera-normal activities. People tend to complain that the prices of goods and services have risen. However, they have no complaints about the rising prices of things they don't need. The meme on Facebook shows two things--the gin and the kilo of rice. I was skeptical about President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.'s promise of PHP 20.00 per kilo of rice. The promise is ridiculous but he won anyway . We can thank the presidential system and the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines for that! Now, critics of Bongbong are demanding PHP 20.00 per kilo of rice. Shouldn't the critics show why it's impossible given the current circumstances? This editorial cartoon from The Mani

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