Philippines: 19th Richest Country by 2050

The statistics and the analyses on poverty incidence in the Philippines are distressing. They will make you grab the nearest paltik and shoot the politician next to you.

My contention, however, is that the Philippines is not that poor. The Pinoy is not that poor. And yes, we need the politicians. Just look at how that priest in Pampanga is running the local government.

Why do I say the Philippines is not that poor? Let me cite some data:

1. The Philippines is a large country and a large economy. The population is 92 million, the 12th largest in the world. Only China, India, the US, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russian Federation, Nigeria, Japan and Mexico are bigger.

We are the same size as Vietnam. We are bigger than Germany 82.7 million, Thailand 65.3 million, France 60.9 million, the UK 60 million, Italy 58.2 million, Korea 48 million, Spain 43.6 million and Argentina 39.5 million.

The Philippine gross domestic product in purchasing power parity is worth $327 billion, according to the World Bank 2008 World Development Report and $319 billion, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook October 2008. That makes it the 36th largest economy in the world, out of 200 countries. The Philippines is the ninth largest economy in Asia.

We are bigger than Hong Kong, Norway, Chile, Portugal, Singapore, Vietnam, Ireland, UAE, Kuwait, and New Zealand. Switzerland, home to the largest hoard of hidden wealth in the world, is just slightly bigger.

In the whole of Asia, only eight other countries are bigger than the Philippines in GDP PPP – China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.

2. As a domestic market, the World Economic Forum classifies the Philippines as the 33rd largest market in the world. Domestic market here means GDP plus value of imports of goods and services minus exports. RP is bigger than Austria, Malaysia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Portugal, Vietnam, Chile, Hungary and yes, Singapore.

In October this year, the IMF classified the Philippines as a newly industrialized country with estimated its nominal GDP per capita at $1,908.

Per capita, the Gross National Income, per World Bank 2007 data, is $1,620, 50 percent more than Vietnam’s $790. Even in per capita PPP terms, we are richer than the Vietnamese—$3,730 vs. $2,550, a difference of $1,180 or 46%. Of course, we could have been far richer if we had grown as fast as Vietnam.

In the eight years from 2000 to 2007, the Philippine average GDP growth was 5.14%. That of Vietnam was 7.63%, 48% faster. But who is happier—the Filipino or the Vietnamese?

3. The Philippines has ten million expatriate workers, the so-called overseas Filipino workers (OFW). There are 16 million families in the Philippines. That means 63% of total households in the country have an OFW. Two of every three families.

This year, the 10 million overseas Filipino workers will remit $18 billion. That’s an average remittance of $1,800 per worker. Divide that by 5.5—the average of Filipino family size and you get $327.27 additional per capita income. Add that to the domestic $1,620 per capita income and you get a per capita income figure closer to $2,000. In other words, one can conclude that 10 million households—two of every three—are middle class.

Compare that to the ten million households in America who are technically bankrupt because their homes have less value than the loans borrowed with which to buy them.

4. The Philippines is unique as a poor country. Filipinos spend more for e-loading and texting than for their milk, coffee, patis and even Jollibee. Is that the behavior of poverty-stricken people?

The Filipino farmer is productive only half of the time. He has plenty of spare time. He uses that to drink gin or beer with his barkada, make bets at the cockpit, and make love. He breathes fresh air, eats his wife’s cooking and listens to the latest two-bit political commentator on the radio. His wife, meanwhile, watches the latest telenovela.

Is he happy? Yes. Is he poor? Yes.

5. Philippine presidents are supposed to be corrupt, from Roxes to Quirino to Marcos to the present one - at least (if) you believe our NGOs and civil society groups. Ferdinand Marcos is supposed to have stolen $10 billion. Joseph Estrada is supposed to have stolen several billions too. And Gloria Arroyo topped the two.

Up to 40% of our budget goes to graft.

If it is true our Presidents, as well as all other politicians, steal so much, how come the Philippines is still standing as an economy? And based on the World Bank, IMF and WEF data, we are not doing very badly. The only conclusion: We have so much wealth which not even record thievery by each administration can finish. Or our Presidents are honest, after all.

If it is true we are that poor the Philippines should have been a goner long time ago. Just like Iceland whose banking system collapsed and whose savings evaporated.

Dr. Arsenio Balisacan praises how Vietnam has sharply cut down its poverty.

Vietnam, however, is a very different economy from the Philippines. The value added of agriculture in the Philippines is 14% of GDP. That of Vietnam is 20%. The services sector accounts for 55% of the Philippine GDP and 38% of Vietnamese GDP. Household spending is 80% of Philippine GDP, 67% of Vietnamese GDP, and 57% of Thai GDP.

The Philippines is not an agricultural country. It is a services economy. It is a consumption economy, just like the US. In services, it seems easier to created value added without adding to employment. That is why growth, no matter how dramatic, does not readily translate into large employment gains. Nor do its benefits cascade down to the masses. The result is growth with poverty all around.

Please remember that according to the World Bank itself, growth will always be uneven. Poverty will always be with us.

It is much easier for Vietnam to respond to poverty problems than the Philippines. Vietnamn is not a Christian country. You don’t have cardinals and bishops telling the government what to do, though sometimes Buddhist monks burn themselves to death to make a point.

Vietnam has a much larger agricultural base, thanks to the Mekong River Delta. And if food is half of consumption, then having a large agricultural base is a distinct advantage in addressing poverty problems.

In the light of the financial meltdown in the US and the ensuing global economic slowdown, how will the Philippines fare?

I think the Philippines will do better than most countries in the world.

We are not that dependent on the world as the other countries. Philippine exports as a percentage of GDP is only 41%, unlike Malaysia’s 109.6%, Vietnam’s 78.2% and Thailand’s 73.2%.

According to Goldman Sachs, the Philippines will be the 17th richest country in the world by 2050 with GDP of $3 trillion. We will be bigger than Italy, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh in that order.

In 2050, China will be the richest country in the world, with GDP of $70.7 trillion, 1.8 times No.2 which is the US, with $38 trillion, followed by India $37 trillion, Brazil $11.6 trillion, Mexico $9.34 trillion, Russia $8.58 trillion, Indonesia $7 trillion, Japan $6.67 trillion, UK $5.13 trillion, Germany $5 trillion, Nigeria $4.64 trillion, France $4.59 trillion, South Korea $4 trillion, Turkey $3.94 trillion, Vietnam $3.6 trillion, and Canada $3.14 trillion.

By 2050, per capita, the Philippines will be the 19th richest, with $20,500. With current per capita income of $2000, Filipinos will make an additional $440.48 each year over the next 42 years to reach to the $20,500 per capita income.

At 49 to $1, $440.48 is an additional income of P21,583 per year or an extra P1,800 per month. That’s like saying your average Meralco bill will be free every month over the next 42 years.

This is not to say we should not pay attention to poverty. We should.

To me, there are three main causes of poverty - the unequal distribution of wealth, the Catholic Church, and the incompetence of government.

Only ten families plus the government own most of the 100 largest companies in the Philippines. The same families bankroll political ambitions and candidacies which in turn serve vested interests. It is a vicious circle.

Many tycoons and taipans do not pay the right taxes.

In this country, business, big or small, is a family affair.

In the 1970s, Jaime Cardinal Sin declared a preferential option for the poor. Help the poor. Fight for the rights of the poor. After 30 years, the number of poor doubled.

The record of the Catholic Church in helping the poor is disappointing.

This is ironic considering that the poorest regions in this country, outside of the Muslim areas, have the highest Catholicism. Bicol, one of the poorest regions, is 98% Catholic.

In the last 30 years, according to World Bank data, the Philippines registered per capita growth of 0.2%, the slowest in the world, bar none. Now that’s incompetence.

What to do then with poverty?

My solution: Go abroad. Or join a family.

______

It took me some time to finish typing this article written by Tony Lopez, Chairman/President/EIC of BizNewsAsia. I posted this for the reason that it is very different from other writings about our economy in the sense that it offers us a brighter future to look forward to. I believe most of the things mentioned above, although some of them might be hard to swallow for some people.

I agree with the author admitting that the Philippines is not an agricultural country but a service economy and a consumer at that. For a long time, we believed that we are an agricultural country, in which our economy relies on growing crops like palay, corn, coconut, etc. It maybe the case prior to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, but not anymore now. I’d like to add something to the comparison of Vietnam to our country, Vietnam doesn’t suffer as much as we do when raining season comes. Our land might be more fertile than them (this I’m not sure about), but I’m sure that more typhoons pass our country thus, spoiling our ricefields before harvest season.

Lastly, I share the same belief that the Catholic Church is largely to be blamed also for our poverty.

*Antonio S. Lopez was awarded the Gusi Peace Prize for Journalism 2008. He has covered 5 Philippine Presidents from Marcos to Aquino to Ramos to Estrada and to Arroyo. One thing common between me and the author is we celebrate our birthdays on the same date (Nov.25).

Education: Journalism and Economics, magna cum laude, University of Santo Tomas 1970; MBA Courses Ateneo de Manila University 1976-77; Global Journalism, University of Stockholm, Sweden 2005.

Source:

Antonio S. Lopez, The Philippines is not the poor.

BizNewsAsia vol.6,no.40., p.4-5.

Manila Times

Contact the Author: biznewsasia@gmail.com

Posted by leeangelo at 11:47 am | permalink

Previous Comments

WOW! NAMAN!

naks! inspiring! napaka-positive! tnx for sharing that article.

kaya naman kasi talaga nating mga Pinoy ‘yan e… we have the resources. ang yaman-yaman ng bansa natin. ang ganda-ganda.

at ang mga pinoy, kahit na kung anu-ano pang pinagsasasabing panlalait ni Chip Tsao, e marami tayong pantapat na positive na mga pahayag ng mga dayuhan about sa atin sa kanya. Ang latest na natutuhan ko ay tungkol sa history natin sa 2nd volume ng buru quartet ni pramoedya ananta toer ng indonesia. na-amaze ako sa mga sinabi niya tungkol sa ‘Pinas at mga Pilipino.

Kaya nating umunlad, umangat, iyon nga lang, kung anu-anong kabulastugan lang talaga ang pinaggagagawa kasi natin. ooops, kabulastugan talaga ang word. hehe. pis!

Posted by xdalisayx at April 20, 2009, 7:14 pm

I’m not impressed. Looks to me like the writer used facts to do a spin. With the same facts, a writer can claim that RP is in fact in a very bad condition.

“In the whole of Asia, only eight other countries are bigger than the Philippines in GDP PPP – China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. ”

How many countries are there in ASIA Anyway? LOL. It’s like saying, oh I’m the Top 20 in a class of 25!

Posted by J at April 21, 2009, 6:40 pm

Thanks for commenting xdalisayx! Tama ka, marami tayong maipagmamalaki sa ating bansa; hindi lang sa mga likas na yaman kundi tayo mismong mga Pilipino. Talented tayo at makatao, maliban nalang sa mga iba na sumisira sa imahe ng bansa natin.

Isa ako sa mga taong naniniwala na may pag-asa pa tayong umunlad uli gaya nung mga panahong tinitingala ang Pilipinas sa Asya.

Posted by leeangelo at April 22, 2009, 8:32 am

Thanks for the comment Jj! Certainly we’re neither in a very good condition if we compare what we have accomplish as a nation compared to our Asian neighbors in the past 20 years. But in terms of being affected by the US meltdown, I believe we’re better than them. This might be the reason why Sec.Margarito Teves was named the Best Finance Minister in Asia. Wait, let me search..

Teves is Asia’s best finance minister - The Banker
01/08/2009 | 09:30 AM (GMANews.TV)

MANILA, Philippines - Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves has been named “Best Finance Minister” in Asia, a title given by London-based international finance magazine, The Banker.

The recognition is published on the January 2009 issue of The Banker, which is part of the Financial Times group. The magazine is on its eighth year of giving the award.

In his letter of notification to Teves, The Banker finance editor Philip Alexander said the decision on choosing the best finance minister is a result of a survey conducted with economists and bankers “and therefore represents a real vote of confidence by the markets.”

“Survey respondents mentioned that, thanks to progressive improvements in revenue collection, lower public debt levels and more stable finances at the state-owned enterprises, the Philippines has entered the current global credit crunch in a much less vulnerable position than during the past financial crises,” Alexander said.

The thing now is that more foreigners should be able to recognize these efforts to regain investor confidence in the country. And of course, this should start from us Filipinos.

To Filipino investors: Keep your money in the country to fuel our economy. Foreign nationals are doing the same thing that’s why up to this point we have a net outflow of investments.

Posted by leeangelo at April 22, 2009, 8:47 am

Upang patuloy ang paghinga, kailangan nating kumain, upang maging tanyag kailangan umibabaw.

Ikinahihiya mo ba ang pagiging Pinoy?

Mayaman tayo sa semilya, tingan ang mga batang parang hinihipan lang, dumadami na.

Mayaman tayo sa kaibigan, salat tayo sa kayamanan.

Mayabang tayong mga Pinoy. May katulong sa bahay kahit pwede namang wala, maawain at mapagmahal kasi tayo.

Posted by J.Kulisap at May 7, 2009, 5:24 pm

it is not impossible for the philippines even getting to the top ten economic power by 2050 IF our government by 2010 changes the messes that arroyo administration have than in our country just this may or i think april i have known that an economist lined-up the philippines with new second world countries whose expected by 2013-2015 to be happened but if happened very early 2009 then its not impossible for us to get to first world status by 2015 again read the (IF) which makes a stand a chance to be in the top 10 by 2050 i doubt bangladesh,pakistan,iran,egypt,nigeria and the viets can surpass philippines if the edsa didn’t happen in marcos era we are now not having this problem because if marcoses term finished we could have been a first world by 1990 and what we are getting problem of by now is defeating japan and western powers economy and even U.S

Posted by joesel at May 10, 2009, 12:54 am

i always wondered why they blamed our president GMA nasa isip kasi ng mga kababayan natin is corrupt un idol ko but its nit, we are doing well, we are one of the fastest growing economies in the world..

corruption is not the problem, we are the problem, kasi hindi natin mahal ang bansa natin, kung kaya nating mahalin ang bansa natin aangat tayo at hindi bababa ang tingin sa tin ng mga dayuhan gaya ni chip tsao, hindi natin sila masisisi, at tsaka kaya ba natin iyakan ang bansa natin? mayaman tayong bansa, we can show it to the world that filipinos are one of the best people and the philippines as well will be one of the richest in the world… sana matauhan ang ating mga kababayan na wag sisihin si pres. GMA..

and were a catholic nation we can really make our dreams fulfilled, gusto ko lang magcomment dito para sa ting mga kababayan

at tsaka hindi masarap mangarap kaya if you think that im crazy maybe you think but i just want to open the minds of all filipinos to love their philippines…

Posted by george gervin at June 9, 2009, 11:44 pm

i luv philippines

someday philippines is one of the richest
country in the world

Posted by mark hartel at June 12, 2009, 11:50 pm

We have lakas-paggawa by 2020 because the Philippines is isang batang populasyon with a high literacy rate (92%). Unlike Japan, isang matandang populasyon (20% 65yrs old above) kaya, the Japan needs some prof. workers in some country like the Phil. kasi nga, nagreretiro na ung mga local workers nila. Ibig sabihin, dahil batang populasyon ang Pilipinas, magiging malaking tulong ito sa hinaharap… Mga 18-30yrs. old, 55% sa kanila ay magtatrabaho (10% tambay at walang ginagawa, 35% still nag aaral.) Yun lang.

Posted by espionage at June 13, 2009, 8:11 am

How many countries are there in ASIA Anyway? LOL. It’s like saying, oh I’m the Top 20 in a class of 25!

>>>There are more or less 50 countries in Asia, FYI, Sir/Ma’am J, including the newly-created states that are given nods to or not. Being at the eighth spot is not bad.

Yes, before we were second to Japan in Asia but here we are again in the top ten. For an NIC, is it still bad for us to be at number number? Yes, it’s not something to be really proud of but it’s something that we can look forward to. See? In 40 years, we will be bouncing back further to be at the 17th spot IN THE WORLD. From 36th in the world to 17th. That’s almost racing past half of the other contenders in a race. If you look at your history books, how long did it take the former British empire to overtake Spain to be the wealthiest, most powerful empire in the world? 50 years or so.

If you come to think of it, the Philippines at this point is one of the front runners in the Asean region and in the Far East. A few decades still, it’s most likely going to be a front runner of the entire Asian continent, maybe even the entire Asia-Pacific region.

To quote Lea Salonga, “Why not the world?”

Posted by Kevin at June 14, 2009, 8:14 am

well the reason that we put the blame to our president is because she is the PRESIDENT.

she is the only government oficial that the entire filipino people know.

dahil siya lang ang kilala natin at siya yung nasa pinakamataas na posisyon. malamang siya lang ang masisisi. kaya ganun.

aaminin ko nung una. galit na galit ako sa kanya lalo’t sa asawa nya pero nung maglaon napagtanto kong sa nangyayari ngayon di nya lahat kasalanan to kasalanan ko rin.

reklamo ko ng reklamo pero ala akong ginagawa. di pala may ginawa ako, ang umasa ng umasa sa iba na sya ang gagawa o kikilos sa pagbabagong inaasam ko.

kaya hangang ngayon ala pa ring nangyayari…

sa economics class nga namin nung highschool natanong nung teacher kung kami ang magiging pulitiko mangungurakot ba kami… lahat kami, hindi halos kundi lahat sumagot ng oo.

natatawa ko pag naaalala ko

ngayon alam ko na kung bakit ganun ang sagot ko kasi nung mga panahon na yon mahal ko lang ang sarili ko at ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. ala akong pakialam sa ibang pilipino…

sa opinyon ko…

tama ka ang totoo nating problema ay hindi natin mahal ang isa’t - isa. hangang ngayon nasa atin pa rin yung mentality ng kanya-kanya. pag ilokano ka mahal mo lang ang kapwa mo ilokano at ala kang pakialam sa mga bisaya.
(opinyon ko lang naman yan)

pero syempre umaasa at nangangarap pa rin ako na sa hinaharap uunlad tayo.

ang hirap man gawin. pinipilit ko ang sarili kong magtiwala sa gobyerno natin dahil syempre sila ang ating gobyerno. sino pa ba ang magtitiwala sa ating gobyerno kundi tayo ring mga mamamayan nito…

ngayon sinisikap kong magsimula ang pagbabago sa sarili ko. mahalin ang kapwa pilipino at magtiwala sa gobyerno. oo di mawawala ang corruption dahil nandyan na talaga yan. kaylangan lang nating tangapin

Posted by kojo at June 20, 2009, 3:12 pm

————PLEASE CORRECT THIS ONE————–
By 2050, per capita, the Philippines will be the 19th richest, with $20,500. With current per capita income of $2000, Filipinos will make an additional $440.48 each year over the next 42 years to reach to the $20,500 per capita income.
———————————————————–
hindi po kc inningclude ng wikipedia ung ibang country dun sa “gdp per capita” table..nakalagay naman po dun eh.. iningclude lng nila ung mga countries n nsa next-11 at bric tska ung ibang g8…panu nmn ung australia?? hehe,,

Posted by Zai at July 3, 2009, 9:34 pm

Thanks for the comments J.Kulisap, joesel, george gervin, mark hartel, espionage, Kevin, kojo! Your comments raised points and added insights on the subject. My pleasure! ^_^

Ms./Mr. Zai, I have added yours too. This article was lifted from BizNewsAsia (source cited above). Mr. Tony Lopez’s email link is also there for further queries.

I did some searching..meron pong Australia sa list.. here’s the link/url:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

For quick reference, here’s what I got:

List of Countries by GDP (PPP) per capita

IMF (2008)
123rd Philippines 15th Australia

World Bank (2007)
111st Philippines 13th Australia

CIA World Factbook
132nd Philippines 19th Australia

Posted by leeangelo at July 6, 2009, 2:03 pm

I hope I’m still alive in 2050. If this is true, I’m going back to the Philippines

Posted by Leona at July 20, 2009, 11:57 am

I believe in that, Philippines will be one of those powerful countries someday. As a Filipino businessman we all know that this was going to happen which is by destined and hard works.. keep the energy!! -jh

Posted by noodellbox at October 17, 2009, 7:15 pm

para po sa lahat ng bumabasa sana po matauhan po tayo this coming election at piliin natin ang tunay at mayroong kakayahang pamunuan ang bansang pilipinas

nahuhuli na po tayo, kasali ang pilipinas sa top 10 largest economy in asia, hindi deserving ang bansa natin makasali sa top 10, mas deserving sa mataas na rango ang bansang pilipinas na halos lahat ng resources na kailangan ng isang mundo ay na sa kanya na

piliin po natin ang dapat mamuno huwag tayong maging bulag, hindi po ako nangangampanya pero share ko lang po na ang bansang pilipinas ay nangangailangan ng isang tao na gaya ni richard gordon bilang isang pinuno ng isang tanyag at makasaysayang arkipelago sa pusod ng karagatang pasipiko

matauhan po tayo, im a fan of cory ofcourse but yun lang yun mahal ko siya, at na touch ako sa mga sinanasabi sa kanya ng kaniyang mga anak during jesicca soho show in gma, pero di ko matanggap na nasabi ni noynoy habang may nagtatanong sa kanya na reporter na sabi if your the president of the republic of the philippines what will happen on hacienda luisita? he replied, sa akin bayun? hindi naman sa akin yon eh

sana po piliin natin ang ating iboboto dahil marami tayong kababayan na kumikita ng hindi tataas sa 2 dolyar, maraming iskwater, madumi, at pati ang maynila naaapektuhan

this nation will be great again if there is a man who would rule honestly and despite having a people of almost 50% poor he can possibly turn this mega island to become a united philippine islands that having a national language, shared cultures and traditions and someday, somehow 5 years from now we will be great again

salamat po

Posted by george gervin at January 8, 2010, 5:11 pm

para po sa lahat ng bumabasa sana po matauhan po tayo this coming election at piliin natin ang tunay at mayroong kakayahang pamunuan ang bansang pilipinas

sana po piliin natin ang ating iboboto dahil marami tayong kababayan na kumikita ng hindi tataas sa 2 dolyar, maraming iskwater, madumi, at pati ang maynila naaapektuhan

salamat po.

Posted by george gervin at January 8, 2010, 5:13 pm

check this out: http://www2.goldmansachs.com/ideas/brics/book/BRICs-Chapter13.pdf

most of the datas used in this article came from a report from goldmansachs.

Posted by up_mc at February 10, 2010, 4:44 pm

mahirap po tau…khit sabihin 36th wealthiest country tau….napakalaki nmn ng utang ntin… decada bago ma bayaran…

Posted by eljun at March 11, 2010, 1:25 pm

worse excuse for poverty ever…
By our own government statistics, poverty increased from 2003 to 2006. this is despite sustained economic growth that this administration never fails to trumpet.

And the government cannot claim success by pointing to the improved economic conditions experienced by OFWs and their families. The labor export policy is a sorry excuse for our government’s failure to develop the local economy.

In 1956, the country imported 30,000 tons of rice. The World Bank said then that the marginal importation of rice will eventually stop as investments in agriculture boost productivity and output. Ha! this year we will be importing 2 million MT of rice. I’m not saying agri output has been stagnant. I is just that population growth has negated he impact of increases in output. At least the part about the intransigence of the Catholic hierarchy was spot on.

And the part were the author says we are a consumption economy is disingenuous. We have been a consumption economy since the 1950’s with consumption accounting for 80% of GDP back then. We have never invested much in our country which is why we are poor. The various governments throughout our history have failed in mobilizing national resources to build up the economy.

“RP is bigger than Austria, Malaysia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Portugal, Vietnam, Chile, Hungary and yes, Singapore.”

All of those countries are either advanced or industrialized or have much larger GDP per capita than the Philippines.

“In the whole of Asia, only eight other countries are bigger than the Philippines in GDP PPP – China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.”

to whom exactly are we comparing ourselves to? The Bangladeshis? the Afghans? The North Koreans????

And while I am sure that Filipinos in 2050 will be glad with their good economic fortune, it does little to relieve the poverty and hardships millions upon millions of our countrymen experience today.

Posted by shinji at March 17, 2010, 9:17 pm

That’s not impossible, we are rich in natural resources… Sana lng matuto na ang mga Pilipino mag lagay ng tao sa pwesto. Ang gusto kasi ng karamihan ay artista, sikat, mga nag papa uto sa mga pekeng plataporma, mabigyan lang ng konting pera boto na agad sa taong yun. Sana mag karon ng taong mamumuno ng tapat.

Posted by Rhian at April 4, 2010, 10:43 pm

This is one of the best article i have red already tnx to you

Posted by harold at May 18, 2010, 2:44 pm

not 19 number 2 in 2011

Posted by klarence at July 12, 2010, 7:27 pm

I certainly agree with you, we are doing our very best to fight the poverty. The church, the incompetent government and the Capitalist world are ruining every Filipinos dream to overcomee poverty. I do believe that in due time will be better off.

Posted by joanne siano at August 15, 2010, 9:36 pm

Bakit kaya yung ibang pinoy pag may positive na

balita, sinasabi nilang hindi totoo? or ang nangyayari

nagiging 1-1=0 (positive commends, then reply sila ng

negative comment ), Kung wala silang tiwala na ang

Pilipinas ay makakaahun, ibig sabihin wala silang

kwenta (losers), Basta naniniwala ako kahit mataas o mababa ang GDP ng

Pilipinas sa darating ng mga panahon, KARANGALAN ko na naging parte ako ng

kanyang ekonomiya. kung nagmamahal kayo, di ba marunong kayo mag BAKA SAKALI?

Malay nyo nga nyo nga naman pag gising natin isang umaga maganda ang balita.

Naniniwala ako ang sino mang hindi marunong magtiwala, ay hindi nagtitiwala sa sarili.

at ang mag taong walang narating ay nagsasabing walang pinagkatandaan ang bansang

kanyang kinalalagyan.

Posted by Dee Jay at August 21, 2010, 3:22 am

pls ang masasabi ko lang baguhin natin ang ating ugali,pag mamahal,at respito sa kapwa at tiwala,ay mag simula sa bahay.hang gang sa boung pilipinas.dito tayo a angat.actually we are 15 years allready behind thailand.but during 1960 we are the second wealthiest country in east asia second only to japan.so i believed that we already pick up the bottom,1990 our economy are started to recover since during the world war 2. dive nose economy.2010 now many filipino produced high skilled workers,and very educated.our generation x and y are the one who can produced good quality to shape our economy.

Posted by thess at August 23, 2010, 3:37 pm

bakit ganun naisama ang catholic church sa pagiging mahirap ng pilipinas? bkt? ano? saan? kailan? dahil? naisama ang catholic church?

Posted by nagtatanong lang po at September 9, 2010, 9:47 pm

Well i am glad that there is a positive article about the Philippines. for the skeptics out there hindi lang galing sa wikipedia ang mga statistics na pinakita, it is from IMB and World Bank and nabasa ko rin ito sa ilang books.
i also agree with his point of view, the main problem of the country is the society itself. our society is very backward largely because most of us are religious fanatics. hinda masamang maniwala sa Diyos nakakaganda nga ito kasi nakakapagbigay ito ng pag-asa, pero lahat ng sobra masama. dahil dito marami sa kababayan natin ang nagkakaroon ng maling paniniwala halimbawa akala nila kapag nagdsal lang sila siswertihin sila kahit wala silang ginagawa.
mali ring ikumpara ang Pilipinas sa ibang mayamang bansa kasi medyo hindi maganda ang pwesto ng Pilipinas sa mundo. hindi tayo daanan ng major trade tulad ng singapore at hong kong kulang din tayo sa mga mineral na kailangan para maging fully industrialized tayo (pero kasali tayo sa NIC ibig sabihin industrialized na tayo)
mali ring sisihin ang mga namumuno kasi laging magsisimula sa baba ang pagbabago kahit na ang pinakmagaling na lider pa ang mamuno kung sarado ang isipan ng pinamumunuan walang mangyayari
again prediction pa lang naman iyon hindi pa natin alam kung anong mangyayari pero maganda kung magiging totoo iyo sa madaling salita kailangan natin ng social reform na hindi nagawa noong People Power 1(actually naging mas abusado ang mga karaniwang Pilipino pagkatapos ng People Power 1)

Posted by abel at September 14, 2010, 2:45 pm

sa aking palagay kaya nasama ang catholic church dahil tanggi sila sa mga pills para mapigilan ang pagdami ng tao sana magka totoo dahil marami pang nakabaon sa pilpinas na hndi natin alam hehehe sana nga magkatotoo yan noh mahal ko ang pilipinas kaya lang eh ang mga nakaupo naman eh narrow minded kng hndi nasira ang economy ng pilipinas noong pagkatapos ng world war cguro nataasan natin ang japan dahil kasama tau sa richest eh kaya lng narrow minded tau sana may umupo pagdating ng panahon na opened minded at ang mga pilipino magtrabaho sa bansa natin at hndi sa ibang bansa alipin tau doon hndi ba kalungkot…. dahil tau rin naman di ba tamad yun mga iba ang favorite word natin bahala na manana habit atsaka tangkilikin natin ag sariling atin dahil pag sa ibang bansa eh syempre sa kanilang produkto yun eh sila ang yumayaman sa kanila yun eh made in china remember hehehe marami taung ganun eh…. hahaha kahiya aminin marami taung made in china diba wag nating isisi sa gobyerno hehe tau rin naman tulungan natin ang kapawa nating pilipino yayaman tau nyan tlaga totoo cnasabi ko hehe sana wag nyo akong pagtawanan… TULUNGAN NATIN BANSA NATIN AT ANG KAPWA NATING PILIPINO cheers up!:-)

Posted by khit ano at October 31, 2010, 10:05 pm

hello,,hndi na kaya poor ang bicol,,,,especially camsur

Posted by gb at December 11, 2010, 12:55 pm

Look at your point in Number 3, 63% of Filipinos have OFW or 2 out of the 3, THAT alone shows that Philippines cannot provide opportunity to its people. Stop Misleading people, Philippines will never be economic tigers of Asia, because we lack focus. Look at Singapore, they have better Laws, better Management and Japan, they invested well on Technology, China has mass production, Philippines?? Call Center, Good Singers, oh come on! Economically speaking we’ll never be as good as you imagine, I’m not a Bad Guy, I dont wanna keep our kababayan’s hope up. And by the way, I’m an OFW and I’m a 22 year old, have a good job in Manila but it doesnt allow me to start building a good future for myself

Posted by Eric at January 17, 2011, 4:06 am

nice information…i like your post friend

Posted by perlunya web komunitas event organizer at January 21, 2011, 8:36 am

Since we are bound by the conclusion that by the next 40 years the philippines will top some of the countries. Then, there’s no time to waste. Make progress. Study well. Coz every minute you spend in school is a sacrifice of what you could have done for yourself and for the sake of your future as well.

Posted by bracz at February 10, 2011, 11:44 am

wow… isa po ito sa mga idedefense ko sa ETHICS namin… salamat po dito…

may tanong lang po sana ako…. kasi po habang binabasa ko ang blog ninyo.. expect ko na ang isa sa mga POSSIBLE cause ng poverty is ung imperyalismong bansang amerikano… pero hindi ko naman po sinasabi na totoo ito.. kasi maraming nagsasabi na ito DAW talaga ang tunay na ugat ng kahirapan dito sa Pilipinas at nagiging Puppet lang daw ang mga pangulo ng bansa natin sa Imperyalismong Amerikano… so totoo po ba ito?? nacu-curious po kasi ako ehh…

please don’t get me wrong…

Posted by mara at February 18, 2011, 7:56 pm

Salamat sa mga nagcomment: Leona, noodellbox, george gervin, and the rest!

@ up_mc- you’re right, most of the figures where based on the Goldman Sachs’ report. Mr. Lopez (the author) probably used it since the Report was one of the most optimistic data for the country.

@eljun- tama ka, talagang marami tayong utang. Kahit ang Estados Unidos na pinakamarapangyarihang bansa sa ngayon ay lubog sa utang. Sa katunayan ang Tsina ang pinakamalaking pinagkakautangan na bansa ng Amerika ay may pautang na $891.6 billion sa kanila. Dala rin marahil ng globalisasyon na ang pinakabuhay at ang “Credit Economy.” Siguro, ang masmagandang itanong ay kung nakakagamit ng maayos ang mga inuutang, dahil kung sa ikaaayos/ikalalago naman ang pag-utang, hindi naman ito masama.

@shinji- you raised valid points on your comment. Even if we’re being compared to say Bangladeshis, I believe they are not far behind. This is really a wake up call for us (leaders and private citizens alike). I’m glad that the Aquino administration is becoming strict with GOCCs and GFIs. NFA’s move during the last administration was a big mistake, and we are seeing the effects now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

@Rhian- tama ka dyan! Tao rin kasi ang naglalagay sa mga nakapwesto sa pamahalaan.

Thanks for your views harold, klarence, joanne siano!

Posted by leeangelo at March 1, 2011, 4:13 pm

Tama ka Dee jay, dapat laging positive attitude. Pero tama rin na hindi natatapos sa pagiging positive ng isang tao, dapat ay may gawin din tayo.

Highly skilled Filipinos are building the economies of other nation (UAE, Saudi, etc) pero dito sa Pinas, ilan nalang talaga ang marunong na natitira. Kulang kasi ng incentives ang gobyerno kasama na dyan yung maliit na sweldo kaya mas pinipili na ng nakararami ang mag ibang bansa at makipagsapalaran. I like you post thess.

@nagtatanong_lang_po- dahil marahil sa one-sided na pananaw ng Simbahan Katoliko sa usapin ng family planning. Di maiaalis na nagiging scarce ang resources natin nganit patuloy pa rin sa paglobo ang population.

@abel, khit ano- thank you for posting your views!

@gb- isa ako sa bilib sa pamumuno ni Gov. Lray Villafuerte dahil napasigla nya ang turismo sa probinsya nya. Cam Sur na ang No.1 Tourist Destination sa Pilipinas. Sana mapatupad nya ang iba pa nyang mga programa.

@Eric- I share the same sentiment.

Well said bracz! ^_^

@mara- pwede nating masabi na isa nga ang imperyalismo ng Amerika na rason. Ngunit kung ating babalikan ang kasaysayan, matapos mabuwag ang USSR, natapos din ang Cold War. Namayani ang idiolohiyang Demokratiko/Kapitalismo sa mundo. Dito na rin nagsimula ang World Trade Organization na naglalayong tanggapin ng mga bansa ang Free Trade. Bakit ko nga ba nasabi ang tungkol sa Cold War kanina at anu pa ang kinalaman nito? Hindi maitatanggi na nabawasan ang Foreign Aid ng Amerika sa kakampi nilang mga bansa dahil wala naman na silang kalaban ‘di tulad ng dati. (Syempre nandyan ngayon ang “Al Queda” at ang mga “rouge states.”) Kumplikado ang usapang imperialismo at globalisasyon dahil patuloy pa rin itong nangyayari at nababago ngayon, at buong mundo ang apektado.

Posted by leeangelo at March 1, 2011, 4:47 pm

I think that we should change our mindset…as well the usual pleas to curb corruption.

We needed a new Filipino. Who only looks at his past as an inspiration to do better, and if the past is unsavory, will learn to prevent it in the future.

And our mindset of blaming America for our problems…is it that we, and not just people on top, are to blame for this mess?

And Shinji, do you have trust on your Filipino self? I certainly think you have. You don’t want the Philippines to remain as it was, right?

The real cause why the Philippines is a bit slower than our neighbors is the lack of embracing of capitalism. Sorry to say, but many of our people who go to the universities get their economics wrong.

http://markhumphrys.com/poor.html

At katawa-tawa naman ito. Mahirap yung mga Negro sa Amerika, pero may flat-screen TV? At kaya “mayaman” sila ay binabayaran ng gobyerno nila through the taxes of the middle class…

Ibig sabihin, mindset ay problema rin aside from corruption. We stop attributing our ills from richer countries and corrupt officials, but rather on our exercises in stupidity.

And poverty is caused usually by bad ideas. Kagaya ng ghetto culture.

http://markhumphrys.com/capitalism.html

Atsaka actually ang luho maganda eh. Ilagay lang sa tamang daan eh. Ang luho, despite all the agitprop we receive from universities and certain institutions, eh ang talagang main factor para yumaman.

In any case, we rich and middle class Filipinos, the latter in which I belong, for getting this far. Tulungan nating makaakyat sa economic ladder ang mga mahihirap? Of course. Pero yung paraan nila, nasa kanila na iyun.

At yung idea na ang Catholic church eh ayaw talaga ng condoms, actually belief nila iyan eh. It’s true na dapat mas enhanced ang wealth distribution system natin, at ang government at mga private sector eh tumutulong naman eh. Ang China, medyo palpak ang one-child policy pero mataas ang GDP. Sa tingin ko, pwede yung RH bill, pero yung private sector na lang ang mag-pondo, huwag nang makialam ang gobyerno. May mga bansa namang walang RH programs malaki ang populasyon, karamihan mahirap, pero maganda naman ang takbo ng ekonomiya.

My advice is to reduce the size of the government. Let the private sector do the jobs the government incompetently does: this is a major factor in why corruption increases.

Atsaka i-amend naman ang constitution ng konting konti lang. Yung about foreign ownership of property in the Philippines. Ganito na lang. Yung anong practice para sa mga Filipino businesses sa ibang bansa, kunwari eh Saudi Arabia, eh pag yung isang Saudi company ang mag-iinvest sa Pilipinas, eh yung method nila ang gagamitin natin.

Eto lang yung sa tingin ko.

Posted by kyuzoaoi at March 6, 2011, 3:53 pm

agree ako d2,kait hindi ako nkatapos ng collage,ang dami ko ng npag-aralan tungkol sa ekonomiya ng pilipinas,sa tingin ko unti-unti n ntin nraramdaman ang paglaki ng ekonomiya ntin,ksi talga nmng katiwa-tiwala ang pinunu ntin ngayu,kya marami ng investors ang pumapaxok d2 sa ating bansa,kya lng nmn tyu nsasabing mahihirap,ksi tyu2ng mga pinoy din lng nmn ang ng sisiraan sa bawat isa ee,may ng sasabi n ah hindi n yayaman ang pilipinas,pero sa totoo lng mayaman n ang bansa ntin,at kya nmn marami ang walang hanap-buhay ee ayaw ksing maghanap,isa tyung new industrialize n bansa,ang daming ng kalat n trabho jan,lalu n metro manila,sunggaban nyu ng sungaban,isipin n lng ung mga dating mahihirap n bigalng yumaman,gawin nyung inspirasyon para masabi nyu sa sarili nyu n “ah kya ko din yumanan”kung marami ang yayaman mas mapapa aga ang pag angat ng ekonomiya ng pilipinas,siguro mga after 30yrs nsa top 20 n din cguro tyu, cguro mas mayayaman p ntin ang china pag dating ng araw, alam nyu b mayaman nga china,pero dahil sa laki ng papulasyon nila,mas marami p ang nagugutom sa knila,cguro ang buong papulasyon ng pilipinas ang katumbas ng mga taong nagugutom sa knila,ang dapat cguro nting gayahin ee ang mga bansang USA at japan,jan ntin mkikita bagaman mas malalaking papulasyon din jan sa knila kesa d2 sa pinas,mga 2-3% lang sa mga bansang yan ang talgang ngugutom,kya qng magpapatuloy ang magadang pamumuno d2 sa atin tapos sabayan p ng maaayus n mamayan,tsak mas mgiging mabilis ang paglaki ng ekonomiya ntin,

Posted by economistboy at March 22, 2011, 11:32 am

very nice article! happened to stumble here by chance!

I however disagree with the last statements stating that the rich dont pay tax and if you’re poor you go abroad.

1. if rich dont pay tax properly, they should be improsined for it. in fact they do pay tax properly..they are just better in shielding themselves from the full impact of tax.

2. though i do agree of going abroad. i feel that filipinos shoudl come back and be entrepenuers..help our country not through remitances but through job creation

www.top10evrything.com
www.guidetocebu.com

Posted by Chris at July 1, 2011, 2:20 pm

you just enlightened my mind. PHILIPPINES still HAVE HOPES. i hope goldman sachs mean it.

Posted by Aldwin Gregorio at July 27, 2011, 7:52 am

Thanks for sharing this articles full of hopes for this oppressed country.

I agree with the position of the writer that the best best way for the lower class to be lifted up from poverty is TO GO ABROAD.

Here in the Philippines, middle class working in government holding key positions place their children in government agencies and offices in order for them to stable and remain in the middle class.

Middle class belongs to the business sector remains in business. Middle class invest much for the education of their children.

Middle class who cannot commit itself in doing business accumulate enough finances in order for them to go abroad for migration. Many skilled workers and professionals do this way.

Approximately 10 million Filipinos work and reside abroad.

Millions of families afford to send their children to college thru their dollar remittances.

Farmers sell their lands for the sake to send a son/daughter in college. A family needs at least PhP 200,000 budget (at current prices in a state university offering PhP5,000 tuition fee per semester) for a Four year (4) college education of One Child.

PhP 200,000.00 will cost approximately 1/3 Has.
PhP 60 per square meter of an average distant rice land.

Filipino poor or belong to lower class mortgage their house and lot, or land for the processing of papers to work abroad of their family member. And most families (if not all) of overseas workers have far better standard of living compared to a family earnings are being derived in our country.

Today’s trend that most of our educated fellow Filipinos have a dream of working abroad, in cases that they cannot be employed here, or their earnings is not enough to support their family needs.

I believe that most of our citizens now believe thru working abroad could lift-up their family from poverty. They may be now TIRED waiting for the HELP from Government and from the ELITE HIGHER CLASS.

There is no such Brain Drain. Educated Filipinos just realized that Hope, Freedom and Progress for this Oppressed Country (where Justice, Wealth and happiness are mostly enjoyed by few) can be attained out side. Remember it is related to the way of our Propagandists like Rizal, Lopez-Jaena and M. H. Del Pilar. They fought for the welfare of the Filipinos in general and the overseas workers are more specific, they are fighting for the welfare of their families.

And so be it. FILIPINO DIASPORA for the common benefit of their family and HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT to OUR ECONOMY THRU REMITTANCES.

Posted by Dan Canerous at August 10, 2011, 1:01 pm

with all your good points, the most irrational is blaming the Catholic church…

Posted by Mark Nel Venus at September 3, 2011, 7:06 pm

Catholic Church could be root cause if poverty because of their antagonism with the government.

Posted by Boyet at September 16, 2011, 11:57 pm

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Philippines: 19th Richest Country by 2050

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