“The only constant is change.” But, unfortunately, this innocuous phrase has a pace in the homeland that leaves a lot to be desired. I can’t think of a better metaphor than Rip Van Winkle’s 20-year slumber but waking up to see nothing had changed. This article will chronicle my own experiences to show how cultural impediments can obfuscate changes and retard growth.
An op-ed by columnist Segundo Romero “What Are We Missing,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 27, 2021, caught my attention. In a nutshell, it was a lament about the hollowness of the current pandemic response to education. The column cites an article by Ben Williamson et al., titled: “Pandemic politics, pedagogies, and practices: digital technologies and distance education during the coronavirus emergency” It tells us that “it appears clear that certain actors in the ed-tech industry are treating the crisis as a business opportunity, with potentially long-term consequences for how public education is perceived and practiced long after the coronavirus has been brought under control.”
Superimpose that statement with an October 27,( 2021) Inquirer news item: “P.H. still at the bottom of COVID-19 economic resilience ranking” (the item ranks the Philippines at the bottom of the Southeast Asian rankings re: our coverage of everything COVID from vaccinations to economic recovery ) Further, the Philippines was also listed last among 151 countries worldwide in Nikkei Asia’s COVID-19 Recovery Index on October 6.
Creating new business opportunities, whether in public education or anything unrelated to a pandemic, is how new businesses are created. “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” is a well-worn proverb that is the driving force of many startups. Online education has opened many possibilities for students in remote areas. These courses are otherwise not available (in foreign languages as an example ) in a traditional classroom or for students with anxiety disorder.
Pandemic or not, hybrid education is here to stay. English and maths tutors have now become a most sought-after asset among college and university students. So naturally, they are pleased with the demand. Some have gone further by starting their tutoring franchises, rivaling the more established ones like Kumon, Sylvan, or Kindercare. It’s a 1.3 billion industry with an annualized pre-pandemic U.S. growth of 5.7%. With this kind of action, the “app” people are already gearing up to fill the demand.
In the same article, Mr. Romero, further asserts ” I worry especially about an aspect of Philippine life that is so intangible it is easy to neglect: civic education. We have been operating at a civic deficit over several decades. This civic deficit is what has prevented Filipinos from the blessings of good governance ” He bemoans the loss of daily routines brought on by the pandemic: Flag Ceremonies, recitation of “Panatang Makabayan,” PMT and worries about the “platformization of pandemic pedagogy.” He argues that it ” is not a transient threat and that it can change the way we teach our children how to take care of themselves and the country.”
I don’t know the writer, but this is just like listening to a ” litany of losses” prewar seniors love to dwell on. A romantic notion of the past, when the world was big, and living was simple; ” a piece of cake,” if you will. Well, I grew up in that world of civic education, of GMRC ( Good Manners and Right Conduct ) as a school subject. Opening prayers at the start of every course, regular confession, retreat, required Sunday mass in a parochial school. Where do you think all these eventually took us?
A “PATHETIC LAGGARD” AND OTHER MONIKERS
To say that we have not done well is a colossal understatement. Columnist Cielito Habito recently called us a “Pathetic Laggard.” Other sobriquets include an “Economic Basket Case,” and the “Sick Man of Asia” Persistent poverty and inequality are the hallmarks of a citizenry steep in symbolism led by a succession of “kleptopoliticians” ( In the Forbes list of the ten most corrupt leaders of the world, two were Philippine presidents # 2 was Marcos ( 5 to 10 B, U.S.), and # 10 was Estrada ( 70 to 80 M ). There is no truth to the rumour that Erap complained about being dead last on the list.
Religious fatalism, flawed policy-making, and poor governance continue to haunt us—a legacy of our reluctance to change. We are mired and still wallowing in a backward and absolutist mentality. Indeed, if we follow an old Filipino proverb, ” Ang hindi lumigon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan”. It is a craving ( even threatening ) for the past more than a call to be forward-looking. Unfortunately, we take too much stock with the past and are not progressive enough in our mindset.
It’s admirable to be respectful to our elders. But this should not be confused with trusting the “wisdom of the elders.” That was relevant when the world stood still for a long time; Mr. Romero’s world, if you will. Elder’s wisdom in today’s context is backward thinking. They don’t understand globalization, climate crisis, or lithium batteries. Clueless on viral evolution and how vaccines work. They will continue to call to their Gods for intercession. We have had this kind of ethos for too long. The chickens have now come to roost. We need to overhaul our psyche like Singapore or Vietnam, which I reckon, would be a future South Korea!
A key difference in our approach to civic education compared to Japan or Singapore is our emphasis on a GMRC ( this became part of the K-12 curriculum when RA 11476 was signed into law in 2020 by…, one Rodrigo Duterte ) a perfunctory exercise with little to show for. ( if our behaviour on a four-way-intersection is any indication, GMRC, in my opinion, is a miserable failure. And that’s with lights and traffic enforcers. Good grief!).
On the other hand, Japan, Singapore, or Taiwan’s approach goes beyond the cursory. Civic education with these countries fosters social cohesion, communitarianism, and harmony. We did not coin the terms “crab mentality” for nothing. Do you think 12 years of GMRC would do away with this awful propensity of ours? Intriga is a national pastime.
When Philippine bus companies tried to institute an “honour system” for fares, they had to cancel the programme within weeks when it was found that only 30% took to it. In Japan or Canada and many other countries, the Honour System is a fact of life, in transport, cashierless groceries, now even for proof of vaccination. We have no GMRC subject in our schools in Canada, no flag-raising ceremonies, nor Pledge of Allegiance. We are not a flag-waving, “Maple Leaf-in-the-porch” kind of people like Americans do ( Homicide rate / 100K is 6.5, the same rate in the Phil.; Canada has 1.8 Japan has 0.3 ). Are you keeping up with mass shootings in the U.S.?
Canada has had a very long history of civic responsibility since the signing of the Magna Carta in England in 1215. In 1982, the Constitution was amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We have a very well-tested conflict of interest legislation. Bet on a Royal Commission for even a whiff of scandal. All these do trickle down to a more responsible citizenry.
Canadian’s moral code does not come from religious origins. Filipinos are fond of asking for guidance from a mythical deity. If we believe that “proof is in the pudding,” this has not worked well for us and, by extension, for the country. We have been genuflecting for at least five centuries. We have had thousands upon thousands of priests and nuns, bishops, and cardinals to no avail. Our mentors ( Belgium and Spain ) have legalized abortion, divorce, and assisted suicide. (what I call the three pillars of secularism) So what gives? That’s easy: unlike us, they are not afraid to grow, evolve and change!
EARLIEST LESSONS ON PREJUDICE
Religious prejudice came very early in my life. If the entire community belongs to one religious sect, and then you are trusted in a mixed neighborhood, it is an invitation to feel somewhat aloof when your numbers seem to suggest the “rightness” of your belief. Our ancestral home was next door to a Seventh Day Adventist ( Sabadista ) family, and next door to them was an Iglesia Ni Kristo church. My family, especially the catholic parochial school where I attended, were very explicit on non-participation in their liturgy. Beyond that, they took a firm position into the mortal sin territory even by just being inside their church, reading their bible, and even the act of “looking” at the church–a complex undertaking when the INK church is fronting the main street. So there we were, covering half of our faces when we passed by.
The Seventh Day Adventist church was a large house with Saturday services held on the upper floor. Because it is only next to our house, we could see and hear the liturgy. My natural curiosity had taken me to all lengths to peep in both churches. The lesson of the day was all about sin. But it was no odds, as instructed, you go to confession, and all is forgiven. It would have been a great teaching moment about tolerance, but the myopic, thoughtless padre chose two Hail Mary’s instead. Such pathetic, heedless crud! It’s a microcosm of why Religion is the most significant source of hatred and intolerance.
The implied lesson from that experience was the prejudice that was the fallout of ” yours is right, and theirs is wrong.” No single voice taught me about respect and tolerance of belief that is different from mine. Incidentally, all the three sects, one where I belong and the other two, all have the same God, but no one dared to bring this point out. I could have been an atheist since grade six if I had been smart enough and not intimidated by hellfire! But that was out of the question. No ten-year-old understands anything outside of sectarianism. ( not there, not then )
RACIAL BIAS
Our exposure to other races in the late 50s was limited to CICM priests mainly from Belgium and prominent Chinese merchants in the public market. From the beginning, I can remember, I was already biased against the Chinese. It was a reflection of the communities’ feelings towards these expatriates. Clearly, the Belgian clerics had the utmost respect from the populace. They could do no wrong. As a young boy, I remember my fascination with their whiteness. I believed the prevailing assumption that they bathe in milk. It came about when the market folks kept seeing their houseboy buying litters and litters of milk regularly. ( a plausible suspicion because most Filipinos are lactose intolerant and don’t consume milk beyond infancy. Oh, they also have a bathtub, according to the local chatter)
It’s different from the way we treat the Chinese. We called them names. An enduring one goes like: “Intsik beho, tulo laway.” It did not matter that they offered the best selection of hard-to-find items in the two large outlets in the local market. They also supply the small stores around town, and on their pedal bikes, they sell freshly baked “pandesal” to the masses. I will never forget this Chinese “pancitan” in the carinderia section of the market. It was the best “pancit guisado” ever!
It never mattered that it’s practically next door to the public latrine ( oh, what a freaking mess; there was enough ammonia coming from that hole to declare a public emergency by today’s standards ). Amidst the jumble of electrical wires covered in flies, squealing pigs, and the stench of the nearby abattoir, dammed the stink, I loved that “guisado.”
Loyal customers that we were, we never saw the Chinese merchants as just residents making a living, even though most ( could be all ) of them were Filipino citizens and spoke Tagalog.
In retrospect, I think my experience was a window to the larger community. I saw the acquiesence of our people in the presence of the white folks but not so with the Chinese. ( at the time, exposure to other Asians was rare, as most non-Filipino merchants were Chinese and few East Indians )
THE STATE OF PLAY TODAY
Fast forward today. What has happened since is a matter of public record. I need not elaborate on the China miracle. Only to remind us that everything we see in China today is a product of a little over 40 years, since the death of Mao TseTung and the take over of Deng Xiaoping in 1978. There is a chip shortage in the U.S., shutting down car production in the prominent G.M. and Ford plants. Source of these Chips? Taiwan! ( Pop: 24 M )
What happened to “Mr. Beho, tulo laway”? You are shopping in his malls and eating his fast food! Dufus! Some 80% of the wealthiest families in the Philippines are of Chinese ancestry. They are also the biggest employers of Filipinos today.
Sensing the turn of events in China, the current government has aligned itself with the Chinese, to our detriment. We are powerless as they grab territories, fish our waters, and generally give us the finger as they laugh all the way to the bank.
Why are we a “Pathetic Laggard” ( the context of this Habito’s phrase is about our bottom-dwelling economic performance relative to our ASEAN counterparts )? Because we have a cultural and religious impediment that makes us more resistant to change. We can add our cynicism borne of distrust of our political and institutional systems. It’s enough to make you cry when a college-educated Filipina serves you coffee, immersed in gossip ( “hoy, ano ulam ninyo kagabi?” ), giggling all day, seemingly content with her lot. Contrast that with a Pakistani mother, with a thick review folder, preparing for a Nursing equivalency exam while babysitting her child. ( I do see them all the time out in our condo pool area )
We are too risk-averse to have a progressive mindset, preferring the security of a low-paying job instead of the wide-open possibilities that abound. Our community and political presence also have a lot to be desired. Despite our high immigration numbers in Canada and the U.S., we have the lowest participation rate in local, provincial (or state ), or federal government affairs.
SAIGON PARK IN THE HEART OF MISSISSAUGA
This project deserves some attention, even if only to provide insight into how a public park could be built and named after a specific immigrant group. I have walked and enjoyed this marvel in winter and at other times of the year. It’s a flood mitigation project with walking trails, park benches, interpretation centre, befitting a well-developed park. And then it occurred to me why Saigon Park and not Manila Park or, for that matter, not Seoul or Warsaw Park.
The Vietnamese community, to their credit, put up a tremendous lobby and maybe a financial contribution. So here’s a small (Filipinos outnumber them by 3 to 1 in Mississauga ), relatively recent immigrant community able to sell the idea of honouring the refugees of Vietnam into Canada by naming a park on their behalf. Now there is a smattering of Rizal’s bust or monument in other parts of Canada. A recent (2019 ) park in Brampton is named after Jose Rizal, but the scope has no comparison with Saigon Park. The size ( 8.7 acres) and location ( Matheson / Hurontario ) are first class.
If FCT ( Filipino Centre Toronto ) is looking for a better legacy than the pickle they have created, start lobbying for a Philippine-inspired development or a third-party managed endowment fund ( for a Drug Rehab Centre, perhaps). Use those millions for something that future generations of Filipinos can be proud of. More fashion shows, buffets, and holiday hampers? Can we think beyond this pedestrian-inspired bullshit? Surely, we have the numbers and the money to think big. By the way, start spending before the till is picked clean. Mama Mia, Here We Go Again, My My!
“Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future” -John F. Kennedy
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!