Musings from eight years ago for a Better Philippines

April 9, 2025

Saw this in my notes from eight years ago: Three things will guarantee the country’s image as an investment haven: tough bureaucratic and economic reforms, tax system overhaul, and an infrastructure build-up. I believe it was true then, and it is still true now. If you think about it, the groundwork for the last two was already laid with the TRAIN Law, CREATE Law etc., and the Build Build Build project. We need to keep moving forward – and my hope is that our current and future leaders work together in order to change the country for the better. Enough of the politicking.

The ‘Broken Windows Theory’ and Why Sidewalk Clearing Matters

April 2, 2025

Have you heard of the “Broken Windows Theory”? The “Broken Windows Theory,” introduced in 1982 by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, suggests that visible signs of disorder encourage further rule-breaking and more serious crime. This concept uses the metaphor of a building with broken windows, illustrating how unchecked neglect reveals a lack of rule enforcement and a tolerance for negative behaviors. Notably, consistently enforcing laws against minor issues, the “petty” things, actually reduces overall crime incidents. This principle is extremely relevant as numerous “broken windows” currently confront us in the Philippines. How MMDA’s Gabriel Go Fixes “Broken Windows” and Addresses Public Disorder One recent issue that gained viral attention centers on Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Group – Strike Force (SOG-SF)

Birthday Wishes and Calls to #BringHimHome

March 29, 2025

The biggest birthday celebration and call for PRRD’s return home is still ongoing across the Philippines and various parts of the world. These activities are indeed a celebration of his legacy and a protest against his detention. Moreover, it is also a call for his return to the Philippines. Will the protests stop? – I don’t think so. Will it affect the trust ratings of this administration? – It will further go down. Will it affect the winnability of the admin’s slate? – Certainly. I came across a post online that lists all the different celebrations and what they were calling “peaceful gatherings” of different Duterte supporters planned today on PRRD’s birthday. It was an amazing list that showed not just the planned demonstrations in

Judgment Day? Former President Duterte’s arrest by the ICC

March 14, 2025

Everyone’s talking about it – Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague. As of today, March 14, 7:00 a.m., the sentiments regarding the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are varied: Opposition and Skepticism Duterte’s supporters view the arrest as an infringement on Philippine sovereignty and an act of political vendetta. They argue that Duterte enjoyed high approval ratings for his tough stance on crime, suggesting that his actions were in line with public demand for security. There’s skepticism about the ICC’s jurisdiction and motives, with some seeing it as foreign interference. Support for the Arrest Human rights groups and activists have celebrated the arrest, seeing it as a significant step towards justice for the victims

Thoughts about our Economy and the State of the World

March 5, 2025

I attended the Center for Research and Communication’s (CRC) 1967 – 1990 homecoming last February 22, 2025. And it was so great to see friends, batchmates, and the country’s leading economists in one venue! The highlight of the event, of course was listening to the messages of two of the founders of CRC – Jesus “Jess” Estanislao and Bernardo “Bernie” Villegas. They brought up very interesting points for reflection of the economic situation of the Philippines (and the world), which we all could learn a lot from. Let me share with you some snippets of their messages. *** From Jess Estanislao’s Message to the CRC (Jess Estanislao is a Filipino economist, and the Secretary of Finance of the Philippines during the time of President Corazon Aquino). “But we

The Art of Shining Shoes

February 26, 2025

Limpya Bota is a lost art. It was once a ubiquitous part of life, before the advent of those do-it-yourself liquid shoe polish that you buy at the grocery store. You shake it, press it directly on the shoe, slather it all over the surface and you are done. Convenient, yes, but soulless. In Cebuano, Limpya means to clean up, and Bota means boots. It’s exactly the same in Spanish, although with a slightly different spelling. Shoe shiners are called limpiabotas both in Madrid and in Padada. At one point in my past, I was proud to be one of them. You see, it was the 70s. Money was tight, and Papang was still recovering from his accident. We had to pull our weight so

The Most Difficult Times of Our Lives

February 19, 2025

Sometimes, life just gives you one challenge after another – and it’s up to you to see how you can rise to it. Just after my graduation from elementary school, Papang got into an accident. The vehicle he was driving was rammed by a passenger bus. He survived – but he sustained serious injuries. We didn’t have any money, and Papang’s release from the hospital was delayed because we couldn’t pay his medical bill. It was only after he and Mama signed a promissory note that he was able to leave the hospital. Life was tough before, but this accident made it even worse. Papang was bedridden for more than six months. We could not afford a wheelchair, so he was on crutches for more

A Lesson in Perseverance: A Father’s Incentive of Delayed Gratification

February 19, 2025

The Drive to Excel: Scholarship and Perseverance Penury spurred me and my siblings to excel and persevere in our studies. For me, academic excellence was crucial for survival. “Apart from my desire to always excel in academics, it was imperative of me to maintain my scholarship. Otherwise, I would not be able to continue my schooling if we were to pay my tuition and other fees”. Papang’s Bicycle Incentive at Padada Central Elementary School Papang motivated his children with a thoughtful incentive, promising a bike to any child who topped their class at Padada Central Elementary School. For me, the bicycle represented tenacity, convenience, and the primary means of affordable mobility around Padada, which Papang and many others used daily for work. A Symbolic Reward:

The Land of Luck and Opportunity

February 12, 2025

Padada, my hometown, is named after an extinct mangrove species that once was abundant in the region. According to a study by Lucille G. Tanguihan*, “age old tradition” says that the Padada tree brings good luck – whether true or not, no one can truly say. My family is of migrant stock – like most of the inhabitants of Mindanao, we can trace our lineage to those who joined the “Great Exodus” of the 1900s. Mindanao is the land of opportunity, and economic benefit was the primary reason that people flocked to Mindanao, specifically to the province of Davao. (This may be a little hard to believe if all you’ve ever known is the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila life, but I believe this

The Generics Act – Finding a Middle Ground for the Good of the Public

February 5, 2025

We take it for granted now, but back in the 80s and earlier, the brand of medicine that your doctor prescribed you was the one you got. As a patient, you would get the brand that was doc-prescribed – no matter how expensive it was! In the Philippines, cheaper alternatives existed, but the public really didn’t know any better. Unless you were a doctor, you wouldn’t really know the generic name of the medicine. You had to rely on what brand the doctor was pushing. Even the packaging of the drugs only had the brand name, not the generic name. How would the public know that there were cheaper alternatives, that were as effective? All this changed with the Generics Act of 1988, or R.A.

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