Business & Economics Perspective Blogger

Henry Rose Lee There's always the statement about stubborn boomers, isn't there? I'm glad not every boomer I meet is stubborn. There's this sad truth— we have boomers who tend to think everyone after them is "having it easy"—all the while ignoring the convenience cost . As of recent, I thought about how funny Facebook posts can be against the Philippines and foreign investments. I could see some classic Gen Z rants (done by the now-defunct Philippine Anti-Fascist League) posting against FDI as "destructive and exploitative". I often assume that there's a pipeline of ideas, like the parents were probably members of Makabayan Bloc's fronts. This time, I want to focus on a particularly funny pattern I wish I noticed sooner. That pattern is all about Filipino boomers (1946—1964) using foreign-made smartphones to type anti-FDI rants ! I noticed several anti-FDI rants (especially in the comments section  of several constitutional reform pages or in...

Ateneo de Manila   It's sad, but life can get complicated. I'm currently having a series of lessons learned from certain health problems, for taking my health for granted. Right now, I'm thinking about making a blog entry on another person that I admire in the world of business and economics, namely Indian Singaporean, and founder of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy , Kishore Mahbubani. It was last October 2, 2026, when Mahbubani went to the Ateneo de Manila University, one of my dream universities back when I was younger. It was too bad I was in the middle of recovering from health issues that may kick in unawares in my 40s. When I think about it, I wonder if Hilario Davide Jr. even had the chance to be there, and I assume that the two probably met because they were both grandfathers who were once United Nations diplomats . Insights given by Mahbubani at the ADMU I gave thought to how Mahbubani recommends the Philippines, as a fellow ASEAN member, to deal with the ...

Foreign Trade University I opened my mobile phone and found an article from the Inquirer  that said the Philippines must adopt Southeast Asian models. Not surprisingly, the IBON Foundation was highlighted as among those who made the case. This is an excerpt from the Inquirer article: For Ibon Foundation, “the government should be able to control local oil prices and should not have to pass the burden of rising global prices on to consumers, as shown by other Southeast Asian countries with stronger state intervention.” It cited Vietnam, where oil prices are capped and the Price Stabilization Fund is tapped . It should be crazy that IBON should mention Vietnam. However, IBON continues to promote a flawed view on Foreign Direct Investment . Months ago, IBON (via its executive director, Jose Enrique "Sonny" Africa) even gave a flawed proposal in Follow the Money . Sure, Vietnam has these policies on capping and a price stabilization fund.  What has allowed Vietnam to successfull...

News Feed 360 A few days ago, I wrote an article where I talked about whether or not the best source for anti-reform Filipinos is well— chismis ?  This time, with the news from Business World  that Taiwan plans to build a $1-B plant in Clark City, I felt the need to write a "follow-up" to my article on the best source being chismis.  THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said company is building a $1-billion manufacturing facility in New Clark City (NCC), Tarlac. The agreement has been signed and an advance payment was made, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang told reporters last week. He said the facility will be located within Filinvest Innovation Park in New Clark City, Tarlac, making it one of the biggest locators in the estate . Mr. Bingcang said the facility will specialize in technology-related manufacturing, without providing details or identifying the company. However, this article will not focus on the business opportuni...

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...