From the time we were discovered by the Spaniards up to the present, we have been stuck in a rut, constantly being betrayed by our so-called "leaders" only to be sold out by them again and again.
Our "revolution" was a joke. So was our "independence." Our colonizers have been replaced by the oligarchs who control our politicians and the economy. Both don't have a vision for their countrymen but only for themselves.
You just need to take a look at the national capital region as proof of this. The gap between the rich and the poor is evident. Contrast this with Singapore with its vertical housing developments, complete with rail lines and other modes of transport and hawker centers integrated with open green spaces. It says a lot about its publicly-elected officials who actually serve the public and not themselves. You actually see your taxes at work in the city state.
Contrast this with the Philippines where there is no planning of any kind, at all. Each new President brings with him his allies, who are appointed to key posts. There is no continuity as the policy changes every six years. Any long-term development plan is for naught since every administration has its own agenda.
What's worst is corruption has become the norm. Political dynasties have been the norm since the Spanish period. The Americans didn't institute political reforms because they needed to co-opt the elite in order to control the colony. They only served to reinforce the system and made it worst with the imposition of their own political system of a republican bicameral government.
Even if we were the first Asian colony to be granted indepedence by its colonial master, we are the laggard in the region because the Americans continued to control politics and the economy behind-the-scenes. Americans retained parity rights which meant they were the only foreign investors in the country. They were in power together with the oligarchs whose main goal after the war was to regain the wealth they lost.
Marcos sold us on his new society. It was patterned after Park Chung Hee's development plan for South Korea where he called on the heads of the chaebols and tasked them with industrializing the economy. In Marcos' case, a crony was appointed to oversee a particular industry. He also had his economic managers come up with an industrialization plan, focusing on 11 major industries based on the natural resources the Philippines had the most supply of to export.
Unfortunately, the economic climate wasn't ideal during the late 70s into the 80s and Marcos was also consumed by his own hubris. The only major lender during this time was the IMF-WB which was controlled by the US. There was no way the world's leading hegemon would allow its former colony ruled by a dictator it installed get away with sticking its middle finger up its nose by not renewing the parity rights agreement and shortening the military bases agreement. Marcos found himself deposed in 1986.
Thirty-six years after and Marcos Jr. is President. From 1946 to 2016, our ties to the US were never broken. Duterte was the only President who had the balls to pursue a truly independent foreign policy. He kept yanking Uncle Sam's balls and managed to succesfully return the bells of Balangiga back to the church in Samar where it was taken by American troops as war booty. It may have been symbolic but the symbolism wasn't lost to those who understood Duterte's mindset. He wanted a Philippines that would stand on its own and not be the lackey of any hegemon. Duterte conducted pragmatic diplomacy between the US and China.
It begs the question now, what's next for the country? The political structure is one of the root causes of our being the region's laggard. There is no continuity of policies. We aren't competitive in terms of foreign direct investment because of red tape, corruption, high power and labor costs and our infrastructure deficit. The oligarchs continue their reign over politics and business which is another reason why foreigners prefer to invest in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam instead.
Our education system is in the tank. The level of public discourse is garbage and the same is true with public intellectuals who push for their own biased agendas without even a hint of patriotism. Our politicians have become very brazen in protecting their business interests from their elective posts. Our economy survives because it is consumption-driven. It wouldn't be growing if not for our number one export; the OFWs who toil in other countries and send foreign currency back home.
The pomp and pageantry of the Presidency is back but the hope is gone. Marcos' vision doesn't come with a specific direction. Ben Diokno is no Sonny Dominguez who has skin in the game. American troops are back on Philippine soil. Marcos' independent foreign policy is not so independent what with his pro-US advisers surrounding him. He apparently agrees with the stand because in his mind, his redemption path would be smoother with the US paving the way rather than be identified with China, which the US is now slowly turning into a pariah.
There's not much to look forward to. Marcos is definitely not in the same mold as his father who wielded the powers of the Presidency wisely by keeping the oligarchs and malcontents in line. Our future is tenuous at best. Should China move against Taiwan there is no way we can stay neutral if we allow the Americans to use bases in the country. But in Marcos' mind, there is no way China can defeat the US which is why he has made his choice as to which side he's on.
There is still time for Marcos not to waste the people's mandate. Unfortunately, I don't think he will come to his senses any time soon.
We should all be prepared for the worst should a shooting war break between the US and China over Taiwan.
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