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 saying that Filipino First Policy works. One of the sources mentioned is the late Alejandro Lichauco, who died in 2015. The Bohol Provincial Library cites this of Lichauco and Garcia:
CPG adopted the “Filipino First” Policy to promote greater Filipino participation in business, and to put the Filipinos in control of the economy. After which, according to the economist Alejandro Lichauco’s book (1988) “Nationalist Economics,” during CPG’s time, the Philippines was the Tiger Economy in Asia. And by the end of his term, the Philippines was the only leading economy of Southeast Asia.
Where's the proof of Lichauco's claim in his book then? You can write a book all you want. However, if the data is faulty then the book is just a book. A thesis is just a thesis and it can be full of misinformation. Andrew J. Wakefield wrote several studies to cite vaccines cause autism. Wakefield's studies were refuted. There's a statement in English that says, "Words are like leaves. It's rare to find fruit among them." Take note that Lichauco was also part of IBON Foundation--the favorite source of many anti-reform people, aside from Hilario G. Davide Jr. and the Monsod couple. When I quote a foreigner, these people hypocritically say, "Why are you quoting a foreigner instead of a Filipino." However, they may be rejoicing when a foreigner arrives such as the incumbent Pope of Catholicism, a delegate from another country looking at the human rights situations, etc. Why would they oppose FDIs but welcome the ICC or EU delegate? IBON is still used as a source by anti-reforms like Wakefield is used as a source by the anti-vaccine movement. They wouldn't accept any sources except from within their circle.
The big problem with Lichauco's claims is the lacking evidence. When did the Philippines become a tiger economy thanks to protectionism? An irony when you think that Lichauco has Chinese ancestry. The one who helped Garcia's Filipino First Policy was a Chinese Filipino. One anti-FDI idiot I met on Facebook was surnamed Lao, admitting he was also Chinese by blood. In short, they have foreign blood. Today, the stupidity even goes further when you've got xenophobic Filipinos ranting stupidity on American-based platforms like Facebook. When I raised the issue, "Are all your stuff made in the Philippines?" They would mockingly answer, "Not that question again!" They may even say that they have no choice because foreigners "unfairly" own the means of producing equipment (read here). Even funnier is when they're ranting for Filipino First recording it with an iPhone or iPad. That's why I wrote asking if they were forced to buy the luxury products went they could buy non-luxury products.