Business & Economics Perspective Blogger

Some time ago, I wrote a blog entry where I explained that many Filipinos misunderstand what FDI means . Right now, it's time to answer another misconception. It's the misconception that 100% FDI ownership (often just called 100% FDI, which I believe can be a misleading term) means that Filipino businesses will be put out of business . I was thinking about the concept because it's highly misleading .  For one, we're talking about share ownership, not a foreign takeover This comment I read on Facebook is epic levels of foolishness . I decided to translate it into English and avoid naming the person: Do all types of businesses have to be 100% foreign-owned? Even selling *banana cue*? Are eateries, market stalls, barber shops, vape shops, *sari-sari* stores, locksmiths, welding shops, photocopy and printing shops, etc., all going to be 100% foreign-owned?   The question asked by someone I'll just label as Pirate Flag here is downright stupid! It's now time to reall...

China Mike Today is Sergio Osmeña Day, but it is also Mao Zedong's death anniversary. Mao made his most important contribution to history--he finally died . However, Mao's ideas still live on, and he was a propagator of several foolish ideas. The man had military knowledge but may have lacked fundamental economic knowledge. August may be over, meaning Buwan ng Wika (Month of the Language) is over, but Pinoy Pride Economics, aka Filipino First Policy, knows no season . In fact, I want to talk about one of Mao Zedong's incredibly stupid ideas, namely the Great Leap Forward. As I was navigating Facebook, it's easy to see some people (some are probably stubborn boomers ) who still believe that the Philippines must "self-industrialize" through ideas like this on Facebook , of all places: Instead na umasa sa foreign investments bakit di gumawa ng sariling trabaho na atin (Instead of relying on foreign investment, why don't we make our own jobs)?  Let's start...

Daily Tribune Just looking at this picture of Atty. Renee M. Co of Kabataan Partylist  using a MacBook makes me laugh. Honestly? I thought about how I'm often berated that, "What have you done compared to Kabataan Partylist?" I remembered writing an article about the irony of using imported equipment to type information against FDI . Honestly, it gets super funny . After all, Kabataan Partylist is part of the Makabayan Bloc . Groups like Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and League of Filipino Students all fall under the  Makabayan Bloc . Their stance has still been a stone-age understanding of what FDI is all about.  The possibility that Kabataan Partylist members have been telling people that a wage increase, not FDI, is key to long-term growth, using a MacBook, is there In fact, one of the craziest things that Kabataan Partylist said (and probably still stands by) is this idea. They believe that wage hike is what's needed, not more FDI. Do they ...

Taiwan Today The issue with Pax Silica shouldn't be viewed as black and white. Instead, I thought about how Pax Silica's yes-or-no should undergo thorough examination . In fact, the Philippines can set mutual conditions, like every other country, regarding the Pax Silica agreement. It would be a mutual benefit between countries within the Pax Silica. Now, it's time to look at the possibility of Taiwan joining the Philippines Pax Silica .  Let's analyze the possible Taiwan/Philippines partnership with Pax Silica An article by  Tech Pilipinas , written by  Luis Reginaldo Medilo, reveals details that could help the Philippines more than just arbitration: Taiwan is looking to the Philippines’ planned Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, as a potential venue for cooperation in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said this week, as Taipei seeks a role in emerging trusted supply chains across the Indo-Pacific. The P...

Filipino-Japanese Journal Yesterday was the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima . The bombings are often controversial, as they show the history of violence . This reminds me of an argument that I often heard: "If the Philippines didn't have its Marcos Years, we would've still been richer." However, I raise the harsh reality that the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings were far worse than what a kleptocracy can do in 20 years. The devastation was huge. In fact, reading this from the History website article by Sarah Pruitt made me think that this devastation could do more damage than a kleptocracy: On August 6, 1945, just days after the Potsdam Conference ended, the U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped the uranium bomb known as “Little Boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Despite its devastating effects, Japan didn’t offer unconditional surrender right away, as the United States had hoped. Then on August 8, Soviet forces invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria, violating an e...

Let me be clear that not everyone against Pax Silica is automatically against FDI . Right now, my stance is yes to a revised Pax Silica where one may consider selecting areas that would definitely not harm the environment or indigenous people. Some people seek a more balanced view of Pax Silica. It's August 4, 2026, today. Sometimes, I require time to process ideas or responses. Right now, I want to tackle the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (also known as AGHAM ) spokesperson, Dr. Giovanni Tapang, and his response to Pax Silica. From what I heard, AGHAM is actually affiliated with Bagong Alansyang Makayaban (BAYAN), which openly supports the MAKABAYAN Bloc.  As it's already August, it's easy to think of August not just as Buwan ng Wika, but it tends to make National Heritage Month feel nonexistent. This would be a good post to start the month of August 2026.  Focusing on Tapang's statement on Pax Silica first Now, I'd like to tackle what Tapang s...

No gossip, no hearsay, face-to-face debates, liars are slapped in the parliamentary system! Right now, it's best to look at both sides of the equation. We don't want to automatically say, "No to Pax Silica!" or "Yes to Pax Silica!" without understanding that, "Can we have Pax Silica with these adjustments?" I was thinking about how being for or against Pax Silica isn't purely black and white . I discourage thinking in black and white thinking, like how Makabayan Bloc deals with Pax Silica. I would like to write this post to show why the Philippines needs to go for the parliamentary system instead of the usual status quo.  And also a warning to those who keep insisting that " But Marcos Years were parliamentary! " need to try telling that to the real parliamentary countries like Singapore and Malaysia!  Unfortunately, under the presidential system , the very thing that Rep. Atty. Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno has said about Pax S...

Britanica The Pax Silica deal can set out many false dichotomies . We can think about dichotomies like pro-AI vs. anti-AI. Filipino Pride vs. Colonial Mentality, etc. However, it's possible that a person can be for FDI, for AI, and oppose Pax Silica on other grounds . For example, I found some people who actually comment on Facebook like: "Yes to FDI but let's be careful about what we allow." "We can allow 100% FDI, but I don't think the Philippines is fit for Pax Silica." "I'm for AI, but let's face it, we need to think about nature first."  It's a good thing that I'm reading some who oppose Pax Silica aren't raising alarmism like Kabataan Partylist is apparently doing . Right now, I can't really say if I'm for Pax Silica or against Pax Silica. It's because I'm for FDI,  but I'm not for FDI without  reasonable restrictions. What I want to do now is to do some analysis on the situation. Why I definitely w...